NICL Graduate Apprentice 2026 Notification: State-wise Seats, Eligibility and NATS Process
Good news for graduates who want a year of real insurance-sector training. National Insurance Company Limited (NICL), a Government of India undertaking, will engage 200 Graduate Apprentices under the National Apprenticeship Training Scheme (NATS). The apprenticeship runs for 12 months with a monthly stipend of ₹15,000. If you are looking for a start in the banking and insurance sector, this is worth your time.
Please remember one thing before you get excited: this is an apprenticeship, not a job. Applications are open from 4 November 2026 and close on 18 November 2026, and you must apply only through the NATS portal. Read this full article carefully, because the conditions are strict. GovtJobsAlert.in has put every important point in one place for you.
Key Highlights of NICL Apprentice Recruitment 2026
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Organisation | National Insurance Company Limited (NICL) |
| Scheme | NATS, under the Apprentices Act, 1961 |
| Post | Graduate Apprentice |
| Total Seats | 200 (provisional) |
| Duration | 12 months |
| Monthly Stipend | ₹15,000 |
| NATS Enrollment ID | EWBPNC096867 |
| Application Window | 4 November 2026 to 18 November 2026 |
| Qualification | Regular full-time graduation in any discipline |
The seat count is provisional. NICL can increase or decrease the seats for any state, and can cancel the process at any stage without giving a reason.
NICL Apprentice Vacancy 2026: State-wise Seats
You can apply for one state only, so choose carefully. NICL may allot your seat in any district of the state you pick, as per its administrative need.
| State | Seats |
|---|---|
| Assam | 30 |
| Gujarat | 22 |
| Chhattisgarh | 20 |
| Rajasthan | 20 |
| Uttar Pradesh | 14 |
| Madhya Pradesh | 12 |
| Punjab | 12 |
| Jharkhand | 10 |
| Karnataka | 10 |
| Kerala | 10 |
| Maharashtra | 10 |
| Uttarakhand | 10 |
| West Bengal | 10 |
| Tamil Nadu | 10 |
| Grand Total | 200 |
The notification gives only state-wise totals. It does not publish a category-wise split of these seats, so we are not inventing one. It says the Apprentices Act reservation guidelines for SC, ST, OBC and PwBD will be followed.
NICL Apprentice Eligibility Criteria 2026
Educational Qualification
You must have passed Graduation (Regular, Full time) in any discipline from a university or institution recognised by AICTE, DOTE or UGC. You must have appeared, passed and hold the degree certificate as on 1 April 2026. If you are a graduate looking for government jobs, check the table below carefully.
Only candidates with a 100% complete profile on the NATS portal can apply.
| Condition | What it means for you |
|---|---|
| Post-graduates | Not eligible if you hold a Post-Graduate degree or an Integrated Postgraduate course |
| Unrecognised institution | Not eligible if you graduated from an institution not approved by AICTE, DOTE or UGC |
| Work experience | Not eligible with one year or more of work experience in a Government, Government Undertaking or private organisation as on 1 April 2026 |
| Earlier apprenticeship | Not allowed if you did apprenticeship earlier with NICL or any other organisation, are doing it now, or were terminated midway |
| Nationality | Indian citizen, or a subject of Nepal or Bhutan, or a Tibetan refugee who came before 1 January 1962, or a person of Indian origin who migrated from the countries named in the notification |
Nepal, Bhutan, Tibetan refugee and migrant candidates need a certificate of eligibility issued by the Government of India.
Age Limit
The age limit is 21 to 30 years as on 1 April 2026. You must be born not earlier than 1 April 1996 and not later than 1 April 2005, both days included.
| Category | Upper Age Relaxation |
|---|---|
| SC / ST | 5 years |
| OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) | 3 years |
| PwBD (General / EWS) | 10 years |
| PwBD (SC / ST) | 15 years |
| PwBD (OBC) | 13 years |
🎂 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. →
OBC seats are only for Non-Creamy Layer candidates. If you are in the creamy layer, you get no OBC relaxation or reservation and must choose General or General-PwBD. An OBC candidate must submit a Non-Creamy Layer certificate on the Government of India format, issued between 1 April 2026 and the date of taking up engagement.
What is the Salary (Stipend) for NICL Apprentices 2026?
The stipend is ₹15,000 per month for the full 12 months. It is paid in two parts.
| Component | Amount |
|---|---|
| Paid by NICL every month | ₹8,850 |
| Government share, credited by DBT | ₹6,150 |
The apprentice gets no other allowance or benefit. No deduction is made for leave approved by the designated employee, but for every other absence the stipend is cut pro-rata. You get one day of leave per month, which carries forward, but only 4 leaves can be taken at a time, and unused leave lapses when the contract ends.
PF, ESI and bonus do not apply to this engagement.
What is the Selection Process for NICL Apprentice 2026?
| Stage | Detail |
|---|---|
| Shortlisting | Done by the Board of Practical Training (Eastern Region) from NATS application data, on percentage of marks in the qualifying graduate degree |
| Tie-break | If marks are equal, the older candidate is placed higher |
| Document verification | Shortlisted candidates appear in person at NICL offices; call letter is sent to the registered email ID |
| Final engagement | Contract of Apprenticeship with NICL, approved in the NATS portal |
Marks are counted up to two decimal places. If your result is in CGPA, OGPA or GPA, convert it to a percentage using your university’s formula and enter that. Shortlisting is solely on the information you furnish online, so any mismatch found at document verification means your application is disqualified summarily.
A call for verification is not a guarantee of selection. The final list depends on seats available in your state. NICL does not pay TA, DA, boarding or lodging for the verification visit.
Important Conditions That Can Cost You the Seat
| Condition | What it means for you |
|---|---|
| Percentage of marks | If you do not enter the percentage in the “% of marks / CGPAx10” column, your candidature will not be considered |
| Incomplete application | Applications without supporting documents will be rejected outright |
| Name spelling | A name that differs from your certificates may disqualify you |
| Canvassing | Canvassing or pressure in any form disqualifies your candidature |
| False information or ineligibility | Candidature will be cancelled and you will not be allowed in any future selection process; even after engagement the contract can be ended without compensation |
| Missing originals | If you fail to produce original documents with self-attested copies at verification, you become ineligible |
| Documents at engagement | Not submitting the required documents at engagement means cancellation and debarment from any later stage |
| Not an employee | Apprentices are not employees of NICL and get no employee benefits |
| No job promise | NICL has no obligation to offer a job, and there is no regular appointment after the year ends |
Apprentices are also prohibited from joining or forming any union body. The BOPT has not authorised any person to liaise on its behalf, so beware of touts.
Important Dates for NICL Apprentice Recruitment 2026
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Online application starts | 4 November 2026 |
| Last date for online registration | 18 November 2026 |
| Document verification | Call letter sent to registered email ID |
The notification mentions no application fee. Do not apply late: an incomplete or erroneous application received after the due date will be rejected.
How to Apply for NICL Apprentice Recruitment 2026
This is a two-step process. First you register on NATS and get an enrollment number. Only then can you apply, by searching NATIONAL INSURANCE COMPANY LTD on NATS. Links are in Essential Links below.
| Step | Action |
|---|---|
| 1 | New to NATS? Open the NATS portal, click Student, then Regular Student, then Student Registration |
| 2 | Complete the registration form. A 12-digit unique Enrollment Number is generated; note it down |
| 3 | Already enrolled? Simply log in with your email ID and password |
| 4 | Under “Apply against advertised vacancies”, search NATIONAL INSURANCE COMPANY LTD |
| 5 | Click Apply. The status will show as “applied” |
Before you start, upload these in your NATS profile: degree certificate, provisional certificate, consolidated mark sheet, Aadhaar card, bank passbook in your own name and a latest passport-size photo. Your name, parents’ names, Aadhaar number and qualification must match your educational documents exactly. Keep your email active, because all communication goes only there. For more such openings, see recent results and fresh notices.
Essential Links for NICL Apprentice Recruitment 2026
- Download Detailed Advertisement PDF for NICL Apprentice Recruitment 2026
- Apply Online for NICL Apprentice Recruitment 2026 – 200 Graduate Apprentice Posts, Apply Online by 18 November (NATS) (Register/complete 100% profile on NATS, then apply against NICL)
- Visit NICL Apprentice Official Website
- Official Notification Page for NICL Apprentice Recruitment 2026 – 200 Graduate Apprentice Posts, Apply Online by 18 November (NATS)
- Join WhatsApp Channel for Government Jobs
- Join Telegram Channel for Government Jobs
If you held a recognised regular degree on 1 April 2026, have no PG degree or earlier apprenticeship, under a year’s experience, and were 21 to 30 (plus relaxation), apply. Complete your NATS profile first, enter your marks correctly, and submit well before 18 November 2026. Keep visiting GovtJobsAlert.in for more government job updates.