Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) has released Advertisement No. PR/P/Apprentice/60(2026-27) dated 14 July 2026, inviting applications for engagement of Apprentices at its Panipat Refinery & Petrochemical Complex under the Apprentices Act, 1961/1973. A total of 1,450 apprenticeship seats are on offer across Trade and Technician Apprentice categories.
1. Recruitment Overview
This is one of the largest apprenticeship intakes announced by a Maharatna PSU in 2026, spread across 11 trade/discipline codes ranging from Chemical Plant Operations to Fitter, Diploma Engineering trades, Secretarial Assistant, Accountant, and Data Entry Operator roles. The engagement is purely a skill-building initiative under the Apprentices Act — it does not carry any promise of regular employment at the end of the training period.
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Recruiting Unit | Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL), Panipat Refinery & Petrochemical Complex |
| Advertisement No. | PR/P/Apprentice/60(2026-27) |
| Notification Date | 14 July 2026 |
| Total Apprenticeship Seats | 1,450 |
| Nature of Engagement | Apprenticeship (Trade & Technician), under Apprentices Act 1961/1973 |
| Application Mode | Online — NAPS/NATS portal + mandatory Microsoft Forms |
| Written Exam | None — selection is merit-based on academic marks |
| Official Website | www.iocl.com |
With no written exam involved, this recruitment lives or dies on your existing academic percentage — there’s no second written-test chance to make up for a weaker mark sheet, which makes it a fundamentally different kind of opportunity from typical PSU recruitment drives.
2. Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Online Application Opens (NAPS/NATS + MS Forms) | 14-07-2026 (10:00 Hrs) |
| Online Application Closes | 12-08-2026 (17:00 Hrs) |
| Tentative List of Candidates Called for Document Verification | 20-08-2026 |
| Tentative Document Verification Dates | 27-08-2026 to 03-09-2026 |
| Date of Reckoning Eligibility Criteria (age & qualification) | 31-07-2026 |
Since eligibility is locked to 31 July 2026 rather than the application closing date, candidates whose final-year results are declared just before or after that specific cut-off should read the qualification clause carefully — a result declared even a day late could change your eligibility status entirely.
3. Vacancy Details
| Code | Trade/Discipline | Qualification | Training Period | Total | UR | EWS | SC | OBC(NCL) | PwBD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 101 | Trade Apprentice – Attendant Operator (Chemical Plant) | B.Sc. (Maths, Physics, Chemistry or Industrial Chemistry) | 12 months | 274 | 120 | 28 | 52 | 74 | Nil |
| 102 | Trade Apprentice (Fitter) | Matric + ITI Fitter (2 yrs, Pass class) | 12 months | 314 | 138 | 31 | 60 | 85 | 20 |
| 104 | Technician Apprentice – Chemical | Diploma in Chemical/Petrochemical Engg./Chemical Technology/Refinery & Petrochemical Engg. | 12 months | 327 | 144 | 33 | 62 | 88 | Nil |
| 105 | Technician Apprentice – Mechanical | Diploma in Mechanical Engg. | 12 months | 83 | 37 | 8 | 16 | 22 | 6 |
| 106 | Technician Apprentice – Electrical | Diploma in Electrical/Electrical & Electronics Engg. | 12 months | 277 | 121 | 28 | 53 | 75 | 15 |
| 107 | Technician Apprentice – Instrumentation | Diploma in Instrumentation/Instrumentation & Electronics/Instrumentation & Control/Applied Electronics & Instrumentation Engg. | 12 months | 70 | 31 | 7 | 13 | 19 | 5 |
| 108 | Trade Apprentice – Secretarial Assistant (Panipat) | B.A./B.Sc./B.Com | 15 months | 21 | 9 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 4 |
| 108 | Trade Apprentice – Secretarial Assistant (New Delhi) | B.A./B.Sc./B.Com | 15 months | 9 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| 109 | Trade Apprentice – Accountant | B.Com | 12 months | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 110 | Trade Apprentice – Data Entry Operator (Fresher) | Class XII pass | 12 months | 55 | 24 | 5 | 11 | 15 | 5 |
| 111 | Trade Apprentice – Data Entry Operator (Skill Certificate holder in Domestic Data Entry Operator) | Class XII pass + Skill Certificate | 12 months | 18 | 8 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 1 |
| Total | 1450 | 637 | 145 | 276 | 392 | 58 |
Notes on vacancy distribution:
- There is no reservation for Scheduled Tribe (ST) category in the state of Haryana, so this notification carries none.
- Seat numbers are tentative and can be revised up or down at the Corporation’s discretion, in line with Presidential Directives on reservation.
- Codes 110 and 111 (Data Entry Operator — Fresher vs Skill Certificate holder) are interchangeable if suitable candidates aren’t available in one category — unfilled seats in one may be filled from the other.
- PwBD seats are identified only under Codes 102, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110 and 111 — Codes 101 and 104 have no PwBD seats, since petroleum refining is classified as a hazardous process and PwBD engagement is restricted to roles where it’s safe.
- A candidate with a B.Sc. (Physics, Maths, Chemistry/Industrial Chemistry) background can apply to only one of Code 101 or Code 108 — not both. Similarly, a B.Com holder can apply to only one of Code 108 or Code 109. Applying to more than one trade/discipline gets your application rejected outright.
4. Eligibility Criteria
Qualification cut-off: You must have already passed your qualifying exam as on 31-07-2026 — candidates awaiting results are not eligible to apply.
Marks requirement: Minimum 50% aggregate marks in the qualifying Class XII/Graduation/Diploma course (relaxed to 45% for SC and PwBD candidates against seats reserved for them). The qualification must be from a recognised Board/University/Institute as a regular full-time course — part-time, correspondence, and distance-education qualifications are not accepted.
ITI candidates (Code 102): Only pass marks are required, but only a regular full-time ITI course recognised by NCVET/SCVT is considered.
Branch/subject restriction: Only the specific branch/subject listed against each trade code is accepted — a Diploma or degree in an unrelated branch will not be considered, even if the level of qualification matches.
Age Limit (as on 31-07-2026)
| Category | Age Limit |
|---|---|
| General / EWS | 18 – 24 years |
| SC | Relaxation of up to 5 years |
| OBC (NCL) | Relaxation of up to 3 years |
| PwBD | Relaxation of up to 10 years (irrespective of reserved seat) |
| PwBD + SC | Additional 5 years on top of PwBD relaxation |
| PwBD + OBC(NCL) | Additional 3 years on top of PwBD relaxation |
Age is verified strictly against your Matriculation (Class X) certificate/mark sheet — no other document is accepted as proof of date of birth.
Who is NOT eligible:
- Candidates whose result is still awaited as on 31-07-2026.
- Candidates holding higher professional qualifications like B.E./B.Tech, MBA, CA, LLB, or MCA — or pursuing and completing one before joining the apprenticeship.
- Engineering graduates, Diploma holders, or Vocational Certificate holders with 1 year or more of job experience after acquiring their qualification.
- Candidates who completed their qualifying course more than 5 years ago as on 31-07-2026.
- Anyone applying for more than one trade/discipline (all such applications are summarily rejected).
- Candidates whose earlier apprenticeship contract was terminated due to their own failure to fulfil contract terms.
Repeat apprentices: If you’ve completed apprenticeship training before in a different trade/discipline, you can still apply — but a minimum 1-year gap is required from the date of completion (with some exceptions for contracts terminated due to employer failure, health, financial hardship, relocation, or language barriers, where the gap requirement is reduced to 3 months, and waived entirely for women).
5. Selection Process
Unlike most PSU recruitment drives, there is no written examination for this apprenticeship. Selection runs purely on academic performance and document scrutiny:
- Merit Ranking — Candidates are ranked in descending order of the percentage of marks obtained in their qualifying course (aggregate across all subjects/years/semesters), against the trade/discipline they applied for, subject to meeting the eligibility criteria.
- Tie-breaker Rule — If two or more candidates have the same percentage, the older candidate (by date of birth) ranks higher. If the date of birth also matches, the candidate with a higher percentage in Matriculation is placed ahead.
- First-timer Preference — Candidates applying for apprenticeship training for the first time get preference over repeat applicants.
- Document Verification — Shortlisted candidates, based on merit-list position and seat availability, are called for document verification with originals and self-attested copies.
- Pre-Engagement Medical Fitness — Only candidates declared medically fit as per the physical fitness standards under the Apprentices Act are considered for final engagement.
- Offer of Engagement — Issued only after documents and medical fitness are both cleared and found in order.
Filling every seat isn’t guaranteed — the notification explicitly states seats may remain vacant if suitable candidates aren’t available, and no candidate can claim a right to engagement on that basis.
6. Salary & Stipend Structure
Apprentices under this scheme are not on a regular salary — they receive a monthly stipend as prescribed under the Apprentices Act, 1961/1973, the Apprentices Rules 1992 (as amended), and IOCL’s own guidelines. The exact stipend amount varies by trade code and qualification level per the statutory rates in force.
Additional service conditions include:
- Personal Protective Equipment: Apprentices under Codes 101, 102, 104, 105, 106 & 107 receive one pair of safety shoes and a helmet (returnable at the end of training).
- No HRA or Company Accommodation is provided.
- General Leave: 32 days (8 days per quarter), including medical grounds.
- Casual Leave: 12 days per calendar year (pro-rata).
- Accident Insurance Coverage is provided throughout the training period.
- Unused leave lapses at the end of the apprenticeship period — it doesn’t carry forward or get encashed.
Completing the apprenticeship carries no obligation on IOCL’s part to offer regular employment, and apprentices cannot claim any employment right on the basis of having completed training.
7. Application Fee
The official notification does not specify any application fee for this apprenticeship engagement — the process runs through registration on the government NAPS/NATS portals combined with a mandatory Microsoft Forms submission, with no fee payment step mentioned anywhere in the advertisement.
8. How to Apply
This recruitment uses a two-step application process — both steps are mandatory, and missing either one means your application won’t be considered at all.
Step I: Register & Apply on NAPS or NATS Portal
For Codes 101, 102, 108, 109, 110 & 111 — register on the NAPS portal: https://apprenticeshipindia.gov.in/
- Select “Apprenticeship Opportunities” from the top menu.
- In the search filter, set location to IOCL, Panipat Refinery & Petrochemical Complex and select your trade.
- Log in with your basic details and complete registration as guided by the portal.
For Codes 104, 105, 106 & 107 — register on the NATS portal (Board of Apprenticeship Training): https://nats.education.gov.in
- After registration, apply to the IOCL Panipat Refinery & Petrochemical Complex advertisement from your dashboard.
Establishment IDs to use while applying:
| Portal | Establishment ID |
|---|---|
| NATS | NHRPPC000003 |
| NAPS | E10150600035 |
Step II: Fill the Microsoft Forms (Mandatory)
After successfully applying on NAPS/NATS, you must also submit your details on the Microsoft Forms linked via www.iocl.com — this is compulsory, not optional. Submit only one response.
Path on IOCL website: www.iocl.com → “What’s New” → Engagement of Apprentices under Panipat Refinery & Petrochemical Complex 2026 → “Detailed Advertisement” (to read the notification) → “Click here to Register/Apply on NAPS/NATS” → then “Click here to submit additional information on Microsoft Forms.”
Critical requirements:
- Use the same email ID and mobile number across both NAPS/NATS and the Microsoft Forms — mismatches can cause rejection.
- Your email and phone must stay active for at least the next one year, since all future communication happens only through website/email/SMS.
- Double-check your Enrollment/Student/Registration number matches exactly across both steps.
- Only one trade/discipline can be applied for — applying to multiple leads to summary rejection.
- For Code 108 (Secretarial Assistant), specify your preferred location (Panipat or New Delhi) in the Microsoft Forms; applying for both locations gets you rejected.
Documents to Keep Ready for Document Verification
- 10th pass/Matriculation certificate (proof of date of birth)
- Class XII marksheet / semester-wise ITI, Diploma or Graduation mark sheets
- Final passing certificate (Class XII/ITI/Diploma/Degree) from the respective Board/Authority
- CGPA-to-percentage conversion certificate, if applicable
- Certificate of date of result publication from your institute’s Principal, if not mentioned on the mark sheet
- SC/ST/OBC(NCL)/EWS/Disability certificate in the prescribed format, as applicable
- Skill Certificate (for Code 111 applicants)
- Printout of your NAPS/NATS registration with applicant details
- Signed Affidavit (Annexure-I format) confirming compliance with apprenticeship eligibility conditions
- One original photo ID: Aadhaar/PAN/Voter ID/Driving Licence/Passport
Fraud alert: IOCL has explicitly cautioned candidates against dubious agencies or individuals circulating fake job announcements via email or social media. Rely only on www.iocl.com and official Employment News/Press Notifications for anything related to this recruitment.
9. Frequently Asked Questions
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| How many total apprenticeship seats are available? | 1,450 seats across 11 trade/discipline codes at Panipat Refinery & Petrochemical Complex. |
| What is the last date to apply? | 12 August 2026, 17:00 Hrs, for both NAPS/NATS registration and the Microsoft Forms submission. |
| Is there a written exam for this recruitment? | No. Selection is entirely merit-based on percentage of marks obtained in the qualifying course. |
| What is the age limit? | 18 to 24 years as on 31-07-2026 for General/EWS, with relaxation for SC (5 yrs), OBC-NCL (3 yrs), and PwBD (10 yrs) candidates. |
| Can I apply for more than one trade/discipline? | No. Applying for more than one trade leads to automatic rejection of the application. |
| Is there an application fee? | No application fee is mentioned in the official notification. |
| What is the minimum qualifying marks requirement? | 50% aggregate (45% for SC and PwBD candidates against reserved seats) in the relevant qualifying course. |
| Do I need to apply on more than one portal? | Yes. You must apply on NAPS or NATS (Step I) and then mandatorily fill the Microsoft Forms (Step II) — both are compulsory. |
| Does completing the apprenticeship guarantee a job at IOCL? | No. IOCL has no obligation to offer employment after apprenticeship completion, and apprentices cannot claim any employment right on that basis. |
| When will document verification be held? | Tentatively from 27 August 2026 to 03 September 2026, for candidates shortlisted around 20 August 2026. |
10. Official Links
- Official Notification PDF: Click Here
- Microsoft Forms (Step II — Mandatory): Click Here
- NAPS Portal (Codes 101, 102, 108, 109, 110, 111): https://apprenticeshipindia.gov.in/
- NATS Portal (Codes 104, 105, 106, 107): https://nats.education.gov.in
- Official IOCL Website: https://www.iocl.com
- Queries/Clarification: 0180-252-2048 | prpcrecruitment@indianoil.in
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