The Airports Authority of India (AAI), Regional Headquarters (Northern Region), has opened applications for its Apprenticeship Training Programme 2026-27. This drive offers 205 seats. These cover Graduate, Diploma, and ITI Trade candidates. Training happens across airports and offices throughout North India. Let’s go through everything, step by step.
1. Recruitment Overview
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| Organisation | Airports Authority of India (AAI), Regional Headquarters (Northern Region) |
| Advertisement Number | 01/2026/APPRENTICE/GRADUATE/DIPLOMA/ITI/NR |
| Engagement Type | Graduate Apprentice, Diploma Apprentice, ITI Trade Apprentice |
| Governing Act | Apprentices Act, 1961 |
| Training Year | 2026-27 |
| Training Duration | One year |
| Total Seats | 205 |
| Mode of Application | Online — NATS portal (Graduate/Diploma) and NAPS/Apprenticeship India portal (ITI Trade) |
AAI runs and manages civil airports across India. This apprenticeship gives fresh graduates, diploma holders, and ITI-trained candidates real, hands-on exposure to aviation infrastructure and operations.
2. Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Notification release date | 14 August 2026 |
| Online application start | 14 August 2026 |
| Online application close | 16 September 2026 |
| Age reckoning date | 16 September 2026 |
You’ve got roughly a month here. That’s more breathing room than some of AAI’s other regional drives — use it well.
3. Vacancy Details
AAI Northern Region has announced 205 total seats, split into three categories:
| Category | Seats |
|---|---|
| Graduate Apprentice | 80 |
| Diploma Apprentice | 65 |
| ITI Trade Apprentice | 60 |
| Total | 205 |
These seats are spread across ten fields of specialisation in total. The exact discipline-wise split (how many seats go to Civil, Electrical, Mechanical, COPA, and so on) is listed in the official notification PDF. Since AAI has stated these seat numbers are provisional and may shift, always check the latest breakdown directly from the source before you apply.
One firm rule to remember: you can apply for only one discipline. Apply for more than one, and AAI will reject all your applications outright.
4. Eligibility Criteria
Domicile Requirement
This drive is region-specific. Only candidates domiciled in these states/UTs are eligible:
- Chandigarh
- Delhi
- Haryana
- Himachal Pradesh
- Jammu & Kashmir
- Leh Ladakh
- Madhya Pradesh
- Punjab
- Rajasthan
- Uttar Pradesh
- Uttarakhand
If you’re from outside this list, this particular notification isn’t for you — but AAI runs similar drives in other regions (Eastern, Western, North Eastern) around the same time, so it’s worth checking those too.
Passing Year
You must have passed your qualifying course — Degree, Diploma, or ITI — in 2024 or after.
Educational Qualification
Graduate Apprentice: A full-time, regular 4-year Degree (B.E./B.Tech, or equivalent like BCA) in the relevant discipline, recognised by AICTE.
Diploma Apprentice: A full-time, regular 3-year Diploma in Engineering, from an AICTE-recognised institution.
ITI Trade Apprentice: An ITI/NCVT certificate in the relevant trade (such as COPA or Stenography), from a recognised institution.
Age Limit
- Minimum: 18 years
- Maximum: 26 years, as on 16 September 2026
- SC, ST, OBC, and PwBD candidates get age relaxation, as per Government of India guidelines.
Who Can’t Apply
Two groups are not eligible:
- Candidates who have already completed an apprenticeship anywhere before.
- Candidates with one year or more of apprenticeship training or job experience after getting their essential qualification.
5. Selection Process
Here’s the good news — there’s no written exam. Selection runs entirely on:
- Academic merit. AAI shortlists candidates based on the percentage of marks scored in their qualifying Degree, Diploma, or ITI course.
- Document Verification. Shortlisted candidates must produce original certificates matching their application details.
- Medical Fitness. A basic medical check confirms you’re fit for the training role.
Category-wise reservation (SC/ST/OBC/EWS) follows standard Government of India norms. If a reserved seat has no suitable candidate available, it typically gets filled from other categories.
6. Stipend Structure
Your monthly stipend depends on which category you’re apprenticing under:
| Category | Approximate Monthly Stipend |
|---|---|
| Graduate Apprentice | Up to ₹15,000 |
| Diploma Apprentice | Around ₹12,000 |
| ITI Trade Apprentice | Around ₹9,600 |
This stipend typically comes through a combination of AAI’s own contribution and Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) support from the Government, similar to other apprenticeship schemes under the Apprentices Act.
A few more points worth knowing:
- Training runs for exactly one year.
- This is training, not a job offer. AAI takes on no obligation to give you regular employment once your apprenticeship ends.
- Your training location is final once allotted. No requests for a location change will be entertained later.
7. Application Fee
There’s no application fee for this recruitment. It’s completely free to apply, for candidates of every category.
8. How to Apply
The application route depends on which category you’re applying under.
For Graduate & Diploma Apprentices — Use the NATS Portal
- Visit nats.education.gov.in.
- Register as a student, and complete your profile fully.
- Search for the establishment: “Airports Authority of India – RHQ NR, New Delhi”, using establishment code NDLSWC000002.
- Open the apprenticeship opportunity listed and click Apply.
- You’ll see a confirmation message: “Successfully applied for the training position. Based on availability, you will be contacted by the establishment.”
For ITI Trade Apprentices — Use the NAPS/Apprenticeship India Portal
- Visit the NAPS/Apprenticeship India portal.
- Register and complete your candidate profile.
- Search for the establishment using code E05200700101, or by name — “Airports Authority of India – RHQ NR, New Delhi.”
- Open the relevant apprenticeship listing and click Apply.
Important: Only applications submitted through the official NATS/NAPS portals count. AAI does not accept applications through email, post, or any other channel.
9. Frequently Asked Questions
205 seats — 80 Graduate, 65 Diploma, and 60 ITI Trade Apprentice positions.
16 September 2026. The application window opened on 14 August 2026.
Only candidates domiciled in Chandigarh, Delhi, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Leh Ladakh, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, or Uttarakhand, who passed their qualifying course in 2024 or after.
No. Selection is based entirely on academic merit, followed by document verification and a medical fitness check.
Up to ₹15,000 per month for Graduate Apprentices, around ₹12,000 for Diploma Apprentices, and around ₹9,600 for ITI Trade Apprentices.
No. This recruitment is completely free to apply for.
No. Applying for more than one discipline leads to automatic rejection of all your applications.
No. AAI has clearly stated this is a training programme, with no obligation to offer regular employment afterward.
Across various airports and AAI offices in the Northern Region, including Delhi, Amritsar, Jaipur, Lucknow, Dehradun, Srinagar, Leh, Shimla, Varanasi, and several others. Once allotted, your location cannot be changed.
Graduate and Diploma apprentices apply through the NATS portal. ITI Trade apprentices apply through the NAPS/Apprenticeship India portal.
10. Official Links
| Resource | Link |
|---|---|
| Official Notification – AAI NR Apprentice Recruitment 2026-27 | Download PDF |
| NATS Portal (Graduate/Diploma Apprentices) | nats.education.gov.in |
| Official AAI Website | aai.aero |
Read the complete official notification before applying, and check the exact discipline-wise seat breakup for your qualification. Apply for only one discipline through the correct portal — NATS for Graduate/Diploma, NAPS for ITI Trade — since applying for more than one leads to automatic rejection.
Leave a Comment