CPCL Apprentice Recruitment 2026-27: Trades, Stipend, Eligibility and Portal Guide
Chennai Petroleum Corporation Limited (CPCL) has opened its apprentice engagement for 2026-27, and this one is unusually wide. Ten trades are on offer, running from a plain 10th pass service role right up to an MBA (HR) post. If you finished your course between 2022 and 2026 and want a paid start inside a central PSU recruitment drive, this deserves a careful read. The stipend runs from ₹4,800 at the entry end to ₹12,300 for the degree-level trades, and the whole process is online through the government apprenticeship portals.
One thing to settle first: CPCL has not printed a vacancy number anywhere in this notification, so nobody can tell you how many seats exist. Apply on the strength of your eligibility, not on a count. The last date is 12 October 2026, and your age is reckoned on 1 October 2026. This guide covers every trade, the qualification each one asks for, which of the two portals is yours, and the conditions that can quietly end your candidature. Keep GovtJobsAlert.in open while you fill the form.
Key Highlights of CPCL Apprentice Recruitment 2026
CPCL is a central public sector refinery in Chennai, and it runs this engagement under the Apprentices Act, 1961 as a skill-building initiative. Trade, Technician and Graduate Apprentices are covered in one advertisement, which is why the qualification range is so broad. For readers tracking government jobs in Tamil Nadu, few openings this month accept 10th pass and post-graduate candidates side by side.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Organisation | Chennai Petroleum Corporation Limited (CPCL) |
| Advertisement Number | HRD:03:26, dated 22 September 2026 |
| Engagement | Trade, Technician & Graduate Apprentices 2026-27 |
| Trades Notified | 10 trades across 8 serial numbers |
| Number of Vacancies | Not specified in the notification |
| Stipend | ₹4,800 to ₹12,300 per month, by trade |
| Job Location | Chennai, Tamil Nadu |
| Application Mode | Online only, through NAPS or NATS |
| Last Date to Apply | 12 October 2026 |
CPCL Apprentice 2026 Trade-Wise Vacancy Details and Stipend
The notification has no vacancy column and prints no total, so the number of seats is simply not stated. What it does give in full is the trade list, the stipend and the portal for each one. Read the serial numbers closely: Sl. No. 2 and Sl. No. 8 each hold two separate trades, with different qualifications and stipends, so ten trades sit across eight serial numbers.
| Sl. No. — Trade | Stipend Per Month | Portal |
|---|---|---|
| 1 — Trade Apprentice (ITI Passed) | ₹11,040 | NAPS |
| 2 — Designated Trade: Laboratory Assistant (Chemical Plant) | ₹12,300 | NAPS |
| 2 — Optional Trade: Guest House Service Asst. (Food & Beverages for canteen & Housekeeping) | ₹8,200 | NAPS |
| 3 — Graduate Apprentice: Non-Engineering Degree | ₹12,300 | NATS |
| 4 — Graduate Apprentice: Secretarial Office Assistant – Oil & Gas | ₹12,300 | NAPS |
| 5 — Optional Trade: Executive (Human Resource) – Oil & Gas | ₹12,300 | NAPS |
| 6 — Graduate Apprentice (Degree in Engineering) | ₹12,300 | NATS |
| 7 — Technician Apprentice (Diploma in Engineering) | ₹10,900 | NATS |
| 8 — Trade Apprentice: Data Entry Operator (Fresher Apprentice) | ₹4,800 – ₹9,600 | NAPS |
| 8 — Trade Apprentice: Data Entry Operator (Skilled Certificate Holders) | ₹9,600 | NAPS |
What Is the Eligibility for CPCL Apprentice Recruitment 2026?
Educational Qualification
| Sl. No. — Trade | Prescribed Qualification |
|---|---|
| 1 — Trade Apprentice (ITI Passed) | Matric with a regular full-time 2-year ITI course recognised by NCVT or SCVT in Fitter, Welder, Electrician, Mechanic Motor Vehicle, Machinist, Mechanic Refrigeration and Air Conditioning, Instrument Mechanic, Draughtsman (Civil), Draughtsman (Mechanical), or Computer Operator and Programming Assistant |
| 2 — Laboratory Assistant (Chemical Plant) | Passed B.Sc. in Chemistry, with Physics, Mathematic or Biology |
| 2 — Guest House Service Asst. | 10th Pass |
| 3 — Graduate Apprentice: Non-Engineering Degree | BA, B.Com, B.Sc, BCA or BBA degree |
| 4 — Secretarial Office Assistant | Graduate in any discipline (non-engineering) |
| 5 — Executive (Human Resource) | MBA (HR), MSW, or a 2-year full-time Post Graduate Diploma in Personnel Management or in Personnel Management & Industrial Relation |
| 6 — Graduate Apprentice (Engineering) | Passed BE or B.Tech in Chemical, Mechanical, Electrical & Electronics, Electronic & Communication or Instrumentation, Civil, Computer Science, Information Technology, Fire & Safety, or Environment Protection & Safety |
| 7 — Technician Apprentice (Diploma) | Passed Diploma in Chemical, Mechanical, Electrical & Electronics, or Electronic & Communication or Instrumentation |
| 8 — Data Entry Operator (Fresher) | Class 12th passed but below graduate |
| 8 — Data Entry Operator (Skilled Certificate Holders) | Class 12th passed (but below graduate), plus a Skill Certificate of “Domestic Data Entry Operator” for training of less than one year, issued by an awarding body recognised under the National Skill Qualifications Framework or another authority recognised by the Central Government |
Whichever row is yours, the marks bar is the same and it is strict: First Class in the qualifying examination of your discipline, with at least 60% marks — 55% for SC, ST and PwBD. The qualification must come from a recognised institution, and no equivalent qualification other than those listed will be accepted. That last line matters most for ITI certificate holders and for engineering degree and diploma holders whose branch is worded differently on the certificate — check it before you apply.
Age Limit
| Detail | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Minimum Age | 18 years as on 1 October 2026 |
| Maximum Age | 26 years as on 1 October 2026 |
| Relaxation | As per Presidential Directives on Reservation |
🎂 Not sure if you meet the age criteria? Use our free Age Calculator for Government Exams to find your exact age on the cut-off date and instantly check your eligibility — including any age relaxation you qualify for. →
The notification prints no category-wise relaxation figures — only that relaxation will be given as per Presidential Directives on Reservation. Work out your exact age on 1 October 2026 first, and if you are close to 26, confirm your relaxation on the portal before counting on it.
What Is the Stipend and Salary for CPCL Apprentice 2026?
The stipend is set by trade, so your row tells you the monthly amount or band.
| Stipend Per Month | Trades That Get It |
|---|---|
| ₹12,300 | Sl. 2 Laboratory Assistant, Sl. 3, Sl. 4, Sl. 5 and Sl. 6 |
| ₹11,040 | Sl. 1 Trade Apprentice (ITI Passed) |
| ₹10,900 | Sl. 7 Technician Apprentice (Diploma) |
| ₹9,600 | Sl. 8 Data Entry Operator (Skilled Certificate Holders) |
| ₹8,200 | Sl. 2 Guest House Service Asst. |
| ₹4,800 – ₹9,600 | Sl. 8 Data Entry Operator (Fresher Apprentice) |
For apprentices engaged under NATS, 50% of the total stipend is paid by the Government through Direct Beneficiary Transfer (DBT). That half only reaches you if your bank account is Aadhaar-seeded and DBT-enabled, so fix that before you apply, not after.
Notice the jump inside Sl. No. 8: the same 12th pass candidate moves from the ₹4,800 – ₹9,600 fresher band to a flat ₹9,600 by holding the Domestic Data Entry Operator skill certificate. If you have it, apply under the skilled stream. The notification lists the stipend only and does not state the length of the apprenticeship or any other benefit.
What Is the Selection Process for CPCL Apprentice 2026?
| Stage | What It Involves |
|---|---|
| Shortlisting | A merit list formed on the percentage of marks obtained in the essential qualification applicable to your trade |
That is the whole method the notification prescribes — one merit list per trade, built from your qualifying-examination percentage. Your marksheet does all the work here. The notification describes no further step beyond this shortlisting, so treat it as the position as on the notification date and check the portal before you count on anything more.
Who Is Not Eligible for CPCL Apprentice 2026?
These are the lines candidates skim past, and each one can end your application on its own.
| Condition | What It Means for You |
|---|---|
| Year of passing | Only those who passed their final exams in 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025 or 2026 are eligible to apply |
| Awaiting results | Candidates awaiting results are not eligible — a pending final semester rules you out |
| Job elsewhere | Candidates who have undergone a job elsewhere for one year or more are not eligible |
| Equivalent qualification | No equivalent qualification other than those mentioned will be considered eligible |
| Minimum marks | First Class in the qualifying examination with at least 60% marks (55% for SC/ST/PwBD) |
| Recognised institution | The prescribed qualification must have been acquired from a recognised institution |
| Profile completion | You must be registered on the apprenticeship portal with 100% profile completion |
| Mode of application | Applications must be submitted online through the respective apprenticeship portal only; no other mode will be entertained |
| DBT account (NATS) | NATS candidates must hold an active Aadhaar-seeded, DBT-enabled bank account and submit those details at the time of application |
How to Apply Online for CPCL Apprentice Recruitment 2026?
Two different portals apply, and which one is yours depends on your serial number. NAPS covers Sl. No. 1, 2, 4, 5 and 8 — the ITI Trade Apprentice, both Sl. 2 trades, the Secretarial Office Assistant, the HR Executive and both Data Entry Operator streams. NATS covers Sl. No. 3, 6 and 7 — the non-engineering Graduate Apprentice, the engineering Graduate Apprentice and the Technician Apprentice. Register on the wrong portal and your application never reaches CPCL. Both links are listed separately in Essential Links below.
| Step | Action |
|---|---|
| 1 | Find your trade in the table, note its serial number, and fix your portal — NAPS for Sl. 1, 2, 4, 5 and 8, NATS for Sl. 3, 6 and 7 |
| 2 | Register on that portal using the matching link in Essential Links below, and complete your profile to 100% |
| 3 | NATS candidates: keep your Aadhaar-seeded, DBT-enabled bank account details ready — they must be submitted with the application |
| 4 | Log in to the same NAPS or NATS portal using your User ID or email ID |
| 5 | Search the Apprenticeship Openings and apply with “Chennai Petroleum Corporation Limited” as the Establishment Name |
| 6 | Complete or update your profile by uploading every required document |
| 7 | Submit online before 12 October 2026 and save the confirmation |
Keep your qualifying-examination marksheet ready before you start, and — if you are applying under the Sl. 8 skilled stream — your Domestic Data Entry Operator skill certificate. The portal asks you to upload all required documents before you submit. If the portal itself gives you trouble, CPCL’s HR Department accepts queries by email at the address printed in the notification PDF.
What Are the Important Dates for CPCL Apprentice Recruitment 2026?
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Notification Date | 22 September 2026 |
| Application Start Date | Not stated in the notification |
| Age Reckoned As On | 1 October 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply Online | 12 October 2026 |
Is There an Application Fee for CPCL Apprentice 2026?
| Category | Fee |
|---|---|
| All categories | Not mentioned in the notification |
The three-page notification does not mention an application fee anywhere — no fee clause, no payment mode and no exemption list appears in it. That silence is not a written confirmation that the engagement is free, so follow whatever the NAPS or NATS portal itself asks of you when you register.
CPCL Apprentice Recruitment 2026: Essential Links and Notification PDF
- Download CPCL Apprentice Recruitment 2026 Official Notification PDF
- Register Online on the NAPS Portal for CPCL Apprentice Recruitment 2026 (Trade / ITI — Sl. No. 1, 2, 4, 5 & 8)
- Register Online on the NATS Portal for CPCL Apprentice Recruitment 2026 (Graduate / Diploma — Sl. No. 3, 6 & 7)
- Visit CPCL Careers Official Website
- Join WhatsApp Channel for Government Jobs
- Join Telegram Channel for Government Jobs
If your qualification matches a row in the trade table and you are between 18 and 26 on 1 October 2026, there is no reason to wait. Fix your portal first, finish your profile to 100%, and submit well before 12 October 2026 rather than on the last evening. For more such openings, keep checking the latest government job notifications on GovtJobsAlert.in.