NICL Apprentice Recruitment 2026: 200 Graduate Apprentice Seats, ₹15,000 Stipend, No Exam, No Fee
Quick Highlights at a Glance
Table of Contents
- What Is the NICL Apprentice Recruitment 2026?
- NICL vs NIACL: Two Different Apprentice Drives
- About National Insurance Company Limited
- Important Dates
- State-Wise Apprentice Seats
- Eligibility Criteria
- Who Cannot Apply: The 5-Point Disqualification Test
- Age Limit, Relaxation and Date-of-Birth Windows
- Stipend: How the ₹15,000 Is Paid
- Application Fee
- Selection Process: Merit Without an Exam
- How to Apply on the NATS Portal
- Document Checklist
- Leave, Attendance and Termination Rules
- What Happens After 12 Months
- General Instructions and Common Mistakes
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Important Links
1. What Is the NICL Apprentice Recruitment 2026?
National Insurance Company Limited (NICL) is engaging 200 Graduate Apprentices for a 12-month apprenticeship under the National Apprenticeship Training Scheme (NATS), with a stipend of ₹15,000 per month, no application fee and no written exam. Applications are accepted only through the NATS portal from 04 November 2026 to 18 November 2026.
The engagement is governed by the Apprentices Act, 1961. Seats are spread across 14 states, with Assam (30 seats) and Gujarat (22 seats) carrying the largest allotments. Shortlisting is handled not by NICL itself but by the Board of Practical Training (Eastern Region), Kolkata, which ranks applicants purely on the percentage scored in their graduation degree. Shortlisted candidates are then called by email for in-person document verification at an NICL office.
Because there is no exam, the entire contest is decided by data you type into your NATS profile: your graduation percentage, your date of birth and your category. A single wrong entry, such as an incorrectly converted CGPA, can push you down the merit list or get you disqualified at verification. This guide focuses on those decision points, not just the headline facts.
Editorial Note: This article is prepared by the Vacancy Vedika Editorial Team from the official NICL notification dated 04 November 2026 (issued jointly with BOPT Eastern Region). All figures for dates, seats, age and stipend come from that notification. Calculated values, such as date-of-birth windows, seat percentages and annual stipend totals, are our own arithmetic on the official numbers and are labelled as such. Always cross-check with the official notice before applying.
2. NICL vs NIACL: Two Different Apprentice Drives
NICL (National Insurance Company Limited) and NIACL (The New India Assurance Company Limited) are two separate public sector general insurers, and their 2026 apprentice drives follow completely different rules. Many search results and AI-generated summaries mix them up, so candidates often prepare for an exam or keep a fee ready that this NICL drive does not require.
NIACL ran its own apprentice recruitment in June–July 2026 for 550 seats, with an application fee, an online test and a stipend of ₹12,300 per month. NICL's drive, notified on 04 November 2026, is smaller but simpler: it has no fee and no test, and it pays more each month.
| Parameter | NICL Apprentice 2026 (this drive) | NIACL Apprentice 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | National Insurance Company Limited | The New India Assurance Company Limited |
| Headquarters | New Town, Kolkata | Mumbai |
| Notification period | November 2026 | June 2026 |
| Seats | 200 | 550 |
| Monthly stipend | ₹15,000 | ₹12,300 |
| Application fee | Nil | Charged (category-wise) |
| Written exam | None — graduation % merit | Online test |
| Shortlisting body | BOPT (Eastern Region) | NIACL / BFSI SSC process |
| States covered | 14 | Pan-India |
Check the name before you click: On the NATS portal, search for "NATIONAL INSURANCE COMPANY LTD" and confirm the establishment code EWBPNC096867. Applying to a different insurer's listing does not count as an application to NICL.
3. About National Insurance Company Limited
National Insurance Company Limited is a Government of India–owned general insurance company, established in 1906 and headquartered in New Town, Kolkata. It operates a wide branch network across the country, which is why apprentices may be posted to any district within the state they choose.
Organization Profile
- Full Name: National Insurance Company Limited (NICL)
- Status: Government of India Undertaking (Public Sector General Insurer)
- Founded: 1906
- CIN: U10200WB1906GOI001713
- Head Office: Premises No. 18-0374, Plot No. CBD-81, New Town, Kolkata – 700156
- NATS Establishment ID: EWBPNC096867
- Shortlisting Partner: Board of Practical Training (Eastern Region), Kolkata
- Website: nationalinsurance.nic.co.in
For an apprentice, the practical value of a year at NICL lies in exposure to general insurance operations such as policy servicing, claims documentation and branch administration. That exposure is relevant for later insurance-sector exams and private insurer roles, although, as explained in Section 15, the apprenticeship carries no promise of a job.
4. Important Dates
The NICL apprentice application window runs for 15 days, from 04 November 2026 to 18 November 2026, and the cut-off date for age and qualification is 01 April 2026.
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Notification issued | 04 November 2026 |
| Online application opens (NATS) | 04 November 2026 |
| Last date for online registration | 18 November 2026 |
| Crucial date for age & qualification | 01 April 2026 |
| OBC-NCL certificate validity window | Issued between 01 April 2026 and date of joining |
| Document verification | Call letter by registered email (date to be announced) |
| Apprenticeship duration | 12 months from engagement |
Why 01 April 2026 matters: The cut-off date sits seven months before the application window. Your degree must already be in hand by that date. A candidate whose final-year results came out in May or June 2026 is not eligible, even if they hold the degree today.
5. State-Wise Apprentice Seats
NICL has distributed its 200 apprentice seats across 14 states, and a candidate can apply for only one state. The table below adds each state's share of the total, which we calculated from the official seat counts.
| State | Seats | Share of Total (calculated) |
|---|---|---|
| Assam | 30 | 15% |
| Gujarat | 22 | 11% |
| Chhattisgarh | 20 | 10% |
| Rajasthan | 20 | 10% |
| Uttar Pradesh | 14 | 7% |
| Madhya Pradesh | 12 | 6% |
| Punjab | 12 | 6% |
| Jharkhand | 10 | 5% |
| Karnataka | 10 | 5% |
| Kerala | 10 | 5% |
| Maharashtra | 10 | 5% |
| Uttarakhand | 10 | 5% |
| West Bengal | 10 | 5% |
| Tamil Nadu | 10 | 5% |
| Grand Total | 200 | 100% |
Three things the seat table tells you
- Assam alone has 30 seats, equal to Maharashtra, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu combined. Graduates applying for Assam have an unusually large share of this drive.
- Eight of the 14 states have exactly 10 seats. In large states such as Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu, where graduate applicant pools are huge, 10 seats implies a very high merit cut-off.
- Many states have no seats at all, including Delhi, Bihar, Odisha, Haryana, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Goa, Himachal Pradesh and all North-Eastern states other than Assam. Candidates from these states would have to choose one of the 14 listed states.
Choosing your state: a four-question decision guide
Because each candidate gets only one state, the choice decides which merit list you compete in. The notification does not list domicile as a condition, so the decision comes down to practical factors. Use these questions before you click Apply.
| Question | If Yes | If No |
|---|---|---|
| Can you live and work for 12 months on ₹15,000 in any district of that state? | Keep the state on your list | Drop it; NICL can post you anywhere in the state |
| Can you reach that state for document verification at your own cost? | Keep it | Drop it; no TA/DA is paid |
| Does the state have 20 or more seats (Assam, Gujarat, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan)? | More room in the merit list | Expect a tighter cut-off with 10–14 seats |
| Do you speak the local language of the posting area? | Easier day-to-day work with customers and staff | Not a stated requirement, but plan for it |
Provisional seats: NICL states that these numbers are provisional and may change based on actual requirement. Category-wise (UR/SC/ST/OBC/PwBD) seat splits are not published in the notification; reservation follows the Apprentices Act guidelines.
6. Eligibility Criteria
To apply, you must be a regular, full-time graduate in any discipline, aged 21 to 30 on 01 April 2026, holding your degree by that date, with a 100% complete NATS profile and no previous apprenticeship.
Educational Qualification
- Graduation in any discipline (B.A., B.Sc., B.Com., BBA, BCA, B.E./B.Tech, etc.)
- Must be a regular, full-time course
- From a university or institution recognised by AICTE, DOTE or UGC
- Exam passed and degree held on or before 01 April 2026
Nationality
- Citizen of India, or
- Subject of Nepal or Bhutan, or
- Tibetan refugee who settled in India before 01 January 1962, or
- Person of Indian origin migrated from specified countries (Pakistan, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, several East African nations, Vietnam) to settle permanently
- Non-citizen categories need a Government of India eligibility certificate
NATS Profile
- Profile must be 100% complete on the NATS portal
- Graduation percentage must be entered in the "% of marks / CGPA×10" field
- Name, parents' names, Aadhaar and qualification must match certificates
State Choice
- Apply for one state only
- NICL may allot any district within the chosen state
- Domicile is not listed as a condition in the notification
Distance and open degrees: The notification specifies "Regular – Full time" graduation. Degrees earned through distance, correspondence or open learning modes do not meet this wording and are likely to be rejected at document verification.
7. Who Cannot Apply: The 5-Point Disqualification Test
The NICL apprenticeship is meant for fresh graduates, so the notification excludes anyone who is over-qualified, already experienced or previously trained as an apprentice. If any one of the following applies to you, you are not eligible, and an application could be cancelled even after you join.
| # | Condition | Effect | Practical Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | You hold a postgraduate degree or completed an integrated PG course | Not eligible | Applies even if the PG is in an unrelated subject |
| 2 | Your graduation institution is not approved by AICTE, DOTE or UGC | Not eligible | Verify your institution before applying |
| 3 | You have one year or more of work experience (government, PSU or private) as on 01 April 2026 | Not eligible | Experience under 12 months does not disqualify you |
| 4 | You have already done an apprenticeship under the Apprentices Act, with NICL or anyone else | Not eligible | Also applies if you are currently in one or were terminated midway |
| 5 | Your graduation was not regular, full-time | Not eligible | Distance and open-mode degrees fall outside the wording |
Post-engagement risk: NICL and BOPT reserve the right to terminate an apprentice immediately, without compensation, if any of these conditions is discovered after joining. The NATS portal keeps a record of past apprenticeship contracts, so a previous engagement is easy to detect.
8. Age Limit, Relaxation and Date-of-Birth Windows
The base age limit is 21 to 30 years as on 01 April 2026, which means a General or EWS candidate must have been born between 01 April 1996 and 01 April 2005, both dates included. Reserved categories get relaxation in the upper limit only.
| Category | Relaxation | Effective Upper Age | Earliest Permitted Date of Birth (calculated) |
|---|---|---|---|
| General / EWS | — | 30 years | 01 April 1996 |
| OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) | 3 years | 33 years | 01 April 1993 |
| SC / ST | 5 years | 35 years | 01 April 1991 |
| PwBD (General / EWS) | 10 years | 40 years | 01 April 1986 |
| PwBD (OBC) | 13 years | 43 years | 01 April 1983 |
| PwBD (SC / ST) | 15 years | 45 years | 01 April 1981 |
| For every category, the latest permitted date of birth is 01 April 2005 (minimum age 21 is not relaxed). | |||
PwBD refers to persons with benchmark disabilities as defined under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016. OBC candidates in the creamy layer get no relaxation and must apply as General.
Pro Tip: Age also matters for ranking. When two candidates have the same graduation percentage, the older one is placed higher in the merit list. So a higher age within the limit is a small advantage in a tie.
9. Stipend: How the ₹15,000 Is Paid
Each NICL apprentice receives ₹15,000 a month, paid in two separate credits: ₹8,850 from NICL and ₹6,150 from the Government of India through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT). No other allowance or benefit is paid.
Stipend Structure
Why the stipend arrives in two parts
Under NATS, the cost of the stipend is shared between the employer and the Central Government. The ₹6,150 government share is exactly half of ₹12,300, which is the revised minimum monthly stipend for graduate apprentices after the 2025 stipend revision. In our reading of the figures, the Government reimburses half the statutory minimum, while NICL pays the other half plus an extra ₹2,700 on top of the floor. This is an inference from the published amounts, not a statement in the notification.
| Component | Monthly | 12 Months (calculated) | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| NICL share (credited by NICL) | ₹8,850 | ₹1,06,200 | 59% |
| Government share (DBT to bank) | ₹6,150 | ₹73,800 | 41% |
| Total | ₹15,000 | ₹1,80,000 | 100% |
How NICL's stipend compares with the NATS floor
NICL pays ₹2,700 a month above the revised graduate minimum of ₹12,300, which works out to ₹32,400 more over the full year (our calculation). That premium comes entirely from NICL's own share, since the government's DBT component stays fixed.
| Benchmark | Monthly | 12 Months (calculated) |
|---|---|---|
| NATS revised graduate minimum | ₹12,300 | ₹1,47,600 |
| NICL Graduate Apprentice 2026 | ₹15,000 | ₹1,80,000 |
| Difference | +₹2,700 | +₹32,400 |
What reduces your stipend
- Approved leave: no deduction.
- Any other absence: stipend is cut pro-rata for the days missed.
- No PF, ESI or bonus applies, so there are no statutory deductions from the stipend either.
Bank account readiness: The government's ₹6,150 reaches you through DBT, so the bank account in your NATS profile must be in your own name. A passbook in a parent's name or a mismatch between account name and certificates can delay the DBT share for months.
10. Application Fee
There is no application fee for the NICL Graduate Apprentice 2026 drive for any category. Registration on the NATS portal is also free.
| Category | Application Fee |
|---|---|
| General / EWS / OBC | Nil |
| SC / ST | Nil |
| PwBD (all categories) | Nil |
Fraud alert: Anyone asking for money to "confirm" an NICL apprentice seat is not authorised. BOPT (ER) has stated that it has not appointed any agent or organisation to coordinate on its behalf, and canvassing of any kind leads to disqualification.
11. Selection Process: Merit Without an Exam
NICL apprentices are selected solely on the percentage of marks in graduation, calculated up to two decimal places, followed by in-person document verification. There is no written test or interview.
You apply against NICL's advertised vacancy on the NATS portal before 18 November 2026. Only profiles that are 100% complete are considered.
The Board of Practical Training, Eastern Region, ranks applicants by graduation percentage, state by state, using only the data in your NATS application.
If two or more candidates have the same percentage, the older candidate is ranked higher.
Shortlisted candidates receive a call letter only on the email ID registered in their application. There is no SMS or postal communication.
You report to the assigned NICL office with original documents and self-attested photocopies. No travel or lodging allowance is paid.
Engagement begins only after you sign the apprenticeship contract with NICL and it is approved on the NATS portal, subject to seats available in your state.
The CGPA conversion trap
If your university awards CGPA, OGPA or GPA rather than marks, NICL requires you to convert it using your own university's official formula and enter that percentage. The NATS field is labelled "% of marks / CGPA×10", but multiplying by 10 is not always your university's formula. Some universities use different multipliers or deduct a constant.
| Situation | Risk | What to Do |
|---|---|---|
| You enter CGPA×10, but your university's formula gives a lower figure | Inflated percentage; mismatch caught at verification leads to summary disqualification | Use the university formula printed on your marksheet or published by the university |
| You enter CGPA×10, but your university's formula gives a higher figure | You under-rank yourself on merit | Use the university formula and keep its proof for verification |
| You leave the percentage field blank | Application not considered at all | The percentage field is mandatory; fill it in |
Worked example: how ties and conversions play out
Consider three hypothetical applicants for the same state. Their positions show how the two-decimal percentage and the date-of-birth tie-break decide the order.
| Applicant | Result Format | Percentage Entered | Date of Birth | Merit Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Applicant A | Marks | 78.45% | 12 March 2001 | 1 |
| Applicant B | CGPA 8.10, university formula gives 76.20% | 76.20% | 05 June 1999 | 2 (older in tie) |
| Applicant C | Marks | 76.20% | 20 August 2002 | 3 |
Had Applicant B typed 81.00% (CGPA × 10) instead of the university figure, B would have jumped to first place on the online list and then been rejected at document verification when the mark sheet showed a different conversion. The safest entry is always the one you can prove with a document.
No correction later: Shortlisting relies only on what you enter online. Any discrepancy found at document verification leads to summary rejection, and being called for verification does not guarantee selection.
12. How to Apply on the NATS Portal
All applications go through the NATS portal at nats.education.gov.in. There is no separate form on NICL's website. The steps depend on whether you already have a NATS account.
Category A: Already enrolled on NATS
Sign in to the NATS portal with your registered email ID and password.
Confirm the profile shows 100% complete, the percentage field is filled, and all six documents listed in Section 13 are uploaded.
Open "Apply against advertised vacancies" and search for NATIONAL INSURANCE COMPANY LTD (Establishment ID EWBPNC096867).
Click Apply for your chosen state. The status should change to "Applied". Take a screenshot as proof.
Category B: First-time NATS enrollment
On the NATS portal, go to Student, then Regular Student, then Student Registration.
Fill in personal, educational and bank details exactly as they appear on your certificates. A 12-digit enrollment number is generated once enrollment is complete.
New profiles can take time to be verified on NATS. Register early in the window rather than close to 18 November 2026.
Log in, search for NATIONAL INSURANCE COMPANY LTD under advertised vacancies, apply, and confirm the "Applied" status.
Pro Tip: The email ID you register on NATS is the only channel NICL will use to call you for verification. Use an address you check daily and add NATS and NICL addresses to your contacts so the call letter does not land in spam.
13. Document Checklist
You need six documents uploaded to your NATS profile before you apply, and the originals plus self-attested copies at document verification.
| # | Document | Upload on NATS | Bring to Verification |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Degree certificate | Yes | Original + copy |
| 2 | Provisional certificate | Yes | Original + copy |
| 3 | Consolidated mark sheet | Yes | Original + copy |
| 4 | Aadhaar card | Yes | Original + copy |
| 5 | Bank passbook in the candidate's own name | Yes | Original + copy |
| 6 | Recent passport-size photograph | Yes | Extra copies advisable |
| 7 | Proof of date of birth (e.g. Class 10 certificate) | — | Original + copy |
| 8 | Caste / OBC-NCL / EWS / PwBD certificate (if applicable) | — | Original + copy |
| 9 | University's CGPA-to-percentage conversion proof (if applicable) | — | Recommended |
Degree certificate vs provisional certificate
NICL lists both the degree certificate and the provisional certificate among the documents to upload, and the notification requires that you possessed the degree as on 01 April 2026. If your university has not yet issued the final degree, upload the provisional certificate and consolidated mark sheet, and make sure both carry a result or issue date on or before 01 April 2026. A provisional certificate dated after that cut-off is a strong signal at verification that you did not meet the qualification date.
Four fields that must match your certificates
- Your name, spelled exactly as on your mark sheets
- Your parents' names
- Your Aadhaar number
- Your educational qualification
OBC candidates: Your OBC Non-Creamy Layer certificate must be in the Government of India format and issued between 01 April 2026 and the date you join. A certificate issued earlier in 2025 will not be accepted.
14. Leave, Attendance and Termination Rules
NICL apprentices get one day of leave per month, can carry it forward, and can be terminated after 15 consecutive business days of unauthorised absence. They are trainees, not employees, and have no union or staff benefits.
| Term | Rule | What It Means for You |
|---|---|---|
| Status | Apprentice, not employee | No staff benefits, perks or allowances beyond the stipend |
| Working hours | Company's standard office hours | Same hours as the branch or office you are posted to |
| Leave entitlement | 1 day per month, credited at the start of the next month | Up to 12 days across the year (calculated) |
| Carry forward | Unused leave carries to the next month | Unused leave lapses when the contract ends |
| Maximum at one time | 4 days | Plan longer breaks, such as exam travel, within this cap |
| Prior permission | Required for every leave | Leave without approval is treated as absence and reduces stipend |
| Holidays | As observed at your posting office | Follows local office calendar |
| Unauthorised absence | More than 15 consecutive business days triggers a 3-day email notice | An unsatisfactory or missing reply can lead to termination |
| Union activity | Prohibited | Apprentices cannot join or form a union |
| PF / ESI / Bonus | Not applicable | Labour benefit laws do not apply to the apprenticeship |
Pro Tip: If you plan to sit government exams during the apprenticeship, bank your monthly leave early. Because unused leave carries forward but only 4 days can be taken at a time, saving leave from the first few months gives you a cushion for exam dates later in the year.
15. What Happens After 12 Months
The apprenticeship contract ends automatically after 12 months, and NICL has no obligation to offer a permanent job. Apprentices are relieved from their posting office on completion.
Completing the apprenticeship does not give any right to absorption or regular appointment at NICL. What you gain is a year of documented work in a public sector insurer, a NATS completion record, and stipend income during that year. Many candidates use the period to prepare for insurance-sector officer and assistant exams, where practical exposure to policies and claims is useful background.
Is this apprenticeship right for you?
The NICL apprenticeship suits fresh graduates who want paid, documented experience in a public sector insurer and can accept a one-year horizon. It suits candidates with a permanent job offer, a near-term postgraduate plan, or a need to stay in a state without seats much less well.
| Your Situation | Fit | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Fresh graduate preparing for insurance or banking exams | Strong | Stipend plus daily exposure to insurance operations |
| Graduate with under 12 months of private-sector experience | Good | Still eligible; adds PSU experience to the CV |
| Planning to start a PG course within the year | Weak | Leaving midway wastes your one apprenticeship chance |
| Holding a regular job offer | Weak | No absorption guarantee and no PF or ESI |
| Unable to relocate within the chosen state | Risky | District allotment is NICL's decision |
It uses up your apprentice eligibility: This notification, like most graduate apprentice notices, excludes anyone who has already done an apprenticeship under the Apprentices Act. Completing this engagement will likely rule you out of future PSU apprentice drives, so weigh it against other offers.
16. General Instructions and Common Mistakes
Most NICL apprentice rejections come from data errors in the NATS profile rather than from eligibility. The key instructions from the notification, rewritten for clarity, are below.
- Apply for one state only; NICL may post you to any district in that state.
- All communication comes only to the email ID in your application; keep it active throughout.
- Incomplete applications, or applications without supporting documents, are rejected outright. Documents sent separately are not accepted.
- Your name must match your certificates exactly. Any alteration can disqualify you.
- Do not change your appearance significantly until the engagement process is complete.
- False information or suppressed facts lead to cancellation at any stage, and can also bar you from future selection processes.
- No TA/DA, boarding or lodging is paid for attending document verification.
- NICL may change seats in any state or cancel the process entirely without giving reasons.
| Common Mistake | Consequence | How to Avoid It |
|---|---|---|
| Applying to NIACL's listing instead of NICL's | No application reaches NICL | Search NATIONAL INSURANCE COMPANY LTD, ID EWBPNC096867 |
| Using CGPA×10 when the university formula differs | Rejection at verification or lost rank | Enter the university-converted percentage |
| Profile below 100% complete | Application not considered | Fill every field and upload all six documents |
| Bank account not in candidate's name | DBT share delayed or blocked | Upload your own passbook |
| Old OBC-NCL certificate | Treated as General; may lose eligibility if over age 30 | Get a certificate dated 01 April 2026 or later |
| Hiding a previous apprenticeship or 1+ year job | Termination without compensation | Check the disqualification test in Section 7 |
| Registering on NATS on the last day | Profile not ready in time | Register by mid-November |
17. Frequently Asked Questions
Below are the most commonly asked questions about the NICL Graduate Apprentice Recruitment 2026. If your question is not answered here, refer to the official notification or write to the NICL and BOPT helpdesk addresses in the Important Links section.
18. Important Links
| Description | Link |
|---|---|
| Apply Online (NATS Portal) | Apply Here |
| NICL Official Website | nationalinsurance.nic.co.in |
| NICL Personnel Helpdesk (email) | ho.pers@nic.co.in |
| NATS Student Support (email) | natssupport_student@aicte-india.org |
| NICL Apprentice Vacancy Breakdown 2026 | Read Guide |
| NICL Apprentice Eligibility 2026 | Read Guide |
| NICL Apprentice Age Relaxation 2026 | Read Guide |
| NICL Apprentice Stipend 2026 | Read Guide |
| NICL Apprentice Selection Process 2026 | Read Guide |
| How to Apply for NICL Apprentice 2026 | Read Guide |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
The last date to apply is 18 November 2026. Applications opened on 04 November 2026 and are accepted only through the NATS portal. Register early, because new NATS profiles can take time to be verified.
No. There is no written exam or interview. The Board of Practical Training (Eastern Region) shortlists candidates purely on the percentage of marks in graduation, up to two decimal places, followed by in-person document verification.
Apprentices receive ₹15,000 per month for 12 months. NICL credits ₹8,850 and the Government of India credits ₹6,150 directly to the apprentice's bank account through DBT. No other allowance is paid.
No. The application fee is nil for all categories, and NATS registration is also free. Anyone asking for money to secure a seat is not authorised.
Regular, full-time graduates in any discipline from an AICTE, DOTE or UGC-recognised institution, aged 21 to 30 years as on 01 April 2026, who held their degree by that date and have a 100% complete NATS profile. Upper age relaxation applies for SC/ST (5 years), OBC-NCL (3 years) and PwBD (10 to 15 years).
No. Candidates with a postgraduate degree or integrated PG course, or with one year or more of work experience as on 01 April 2026, are not eligible. Anyone who has already done or is doing an apprenticeship under the Apprentices Act is also excluded.
No. NICL (National Insurance Company Limited, Kolkata) and NIACL (The New India Assurance Company Limited, Mumbai) are different insurers. NIACL's 2026 drive had 550 seats, a fee, an online test and a ₹12,300 stipend; NICL's drive has 200 seats, no fee, no exam and a ₹15,000 stipend.
Use your own university's official conversion formula, not a blanket CGPA × 10, and enter the result in the NATS "% of marks / CGPA×10" field. A figure that does not match your documents leads to rejection at verification, and leaving the field blank means your application is not considered.
Seats are available in 14 states: Assam (30), Gujarat (22), Chhattisgarh (20), Rajasthan (20), Uttar Pradesh (14), Madhya Pradesh (12), Punjab (12), and 10 each in Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Uttarakhand, West Bengal and Tamil Nadu. You can apply for one state only.
No. The contract ends after 12 months and NICL has no obligation to offer regular employment or absorption. Apprentices are not treated as employees and PF, ESI and bonus rules do not apply.