NICL Graduate Apprentice Engagement 2026–27 (200 Seats)
National Insurance Company Limited (NICL), a premier Public Sector General Insurance Undertaking wholly owned by the Government of India, has officially invited online applications for the engagement of 200 Graduate Apprentices for the financial year 2026–27 under the Apprentices Act, 1961 and the National Apprenticeship Training Scheme (NATS). The online application portal is live on nats.education.gov.in from 04 November 2026 to 18 November 2026.
This opportunity is strictly an Apprenticeship Training engagement for a fixed term of 12 months under the Apprentices Act, 1961. It is NOT a permanent government job, regular vacancy, or probation appointment. National Insurance Company Limited (NICL) has no obligation whatsoever to offer permanent employment, absorption, or regularization upon completion of the training period.
National Insurance Company Limited (NICL) has released the official recruitment advertisement for the engagement of 200 Graduate Apprentices across 14 Indian states for the financial year 2026–27. Headquartered in Kolkata, West Bengal, NICL is one of India's oldest and leading public sector general insurance corporations operating under the Ministry of Finance, Government of India.
The 12-month training program is designed to provide comprehensive practical exposure to university graduates in the general insurance sector. Selected apprentices will receive a consolidated monthly stipend of ₹15,000 (comprising ₹8,850 paid by NICL and ₹6,150 funded by the Government of India through Direct Benefit Transfer).
Selection will be conducted without any written examination or interview. The Board of Practical Training (Eastern Region), BOPT (ER), will shortlist applicants strictly on the basis of their percentage of marks in the qualifying graduation examination, followed by document verification at NICL regional offices. Eligible graduates must submit their application on the National Apprenticeship Training Scheme (NATS 2.0) portal using the NICL Enrollment ID EWBPNC096867 on or before 18 November 2026.
NICL Graduate Apprentice Recruitment 2026: Overview
| Organisation | National Insurance Company Limited (NICL) |
| Enterprise Type | Government of India Undertaking (Ministry of Finance) |
| Advertisement Title | Advertisement for Engagement of Apprentices for the year 2026-27 |
| Engagement Scheme | National Apprenticeship Training Scheme (NATS) & Apprentices Act, 1961 |
| Total Training Seats | 200 Seats (Across 14 States) |
| Training Duration | 12 Months (One Year) |
| Monthly Stipend | ₹15,000 per month (NICL: ₹8,850 + Govt DBT: ₹6,150) |
| Application Mode | Online Only via NATS 2.0 Portal (nats.education.gov.in) |
| NICL NATS Enrollment ID | EWBPNC096867 |
| Application Dates | 04 November 2026 to 18 November 2026 |
| Selection Method | No Written Exam / Interview – Merit Shortlisting on Graduation Marks |
| Application Fee | Nil (No Application Fee Mentioned) |
| Official Website | nationalinsurance.nic.co.in |
NICL Apprentice 2026: Important Dates
| Event / Milestone | Official Schedule |
|---|---|
| Official NICL Notification Release Date | 04 November 2026 |
| Online Application Starts on NATS Portal | 04 November 2026 |
| Last Date to Submit Online Application on NATS | 18 November 2026 (11:59 PM) |
| BOPT (ER) Merit Shortlisting Notification | Communicated via registered email only |
| Document Verification at NICL Regional Offices | To be intimated to shortlisted candidates |
| Commencement of Apprenticeship Training | Upon approval of contract on NATS portal |
State-Wise Vacancy Distribution (14 States – 200 Seats)
A total of 200 Graduate Apprentice training seats are distributed across 14 states in India. Candidates must review the official state-wise allocations before applying:
| # | State Name | Total Sanctioned Seats |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Assam (Highest Allocation) | 30 |
| 2 | Jharkhand | 10 |
| 3 | Chhattisgarh | 20 |
| 4 | Gujarat | 22 |
| 5 | Karnataka | 10 |
| 6 | Kerala | 10 |
| 7 | Madhya Pradesh | 12 |
| 8 | Maharashtra | 10 |
| 9 | Rajasthan | 20 |
| 10 | Uttar Pradesh | 14 |
| 11 | Uttarakhand | 10 |
| 12 | West Bengal | 10 |
| 13 | Punjab | 12 |
| 14 | Tamil Nadu | 10 |
| - | Grand Total (14 States Combined) | 200 |
Crucial State Allocation Conditions:
- Single State Rule: A candidate is permitted to apply for only ONE state. Submitting applications for multiple states will lead to cancellation of candidature.
- District Allotment: NICL reserves the absolute right to allocate training in any branch or office situated in any district of the chosen state as per administrative convenience.
- Provisional Seats: The number of seats is tentative and subject to modification based on the company's operational requirements.
Eligibility Criteria: Educational Qualifications & Exclusions
Mandatory Educational Qualifications
- Must have passed a Graduation Degree (Regular – Full Time) in any discipline (B.A., B.Sc., B.Com, B.Tech, B.E., BBA, BCA, etc.).
- The university, college, or deemed institution must be recognized by AICTE, DOTE, or UGC.
- Cut-off Date: Candidates must have appeared for the final exams, cleared all subjects, and possess the Degree Certificate as on 01 April 2026.
- NATS Portal Requirement: The candidate must possess a 100% completed student profile on the NATS 2.0 portal with graduation marks entered in the "% of marks / CGPAx10" column.
Candidates NOT Eligible to Apply (Strict Prohibitions)
As stipulated in the official NICL notification, the following candidates are strictly barred from this engagement:
- Candidates holding a Post-Graduate Degree or who have completed an Integrated Post-Graduate Course (M.A., M.Sc., M.Com, MBA, M.Tech, etc.).
- Candidates who completed graduation from an institution not approved by AICTE, DOTE, or UGC.
- Candidates with one year or more of prior job experience in any Government organization, PSU, Autonomous Body, or Private enterprise as on 01 April 2026.
- Candidates who have already undergone or completed apprenticeship training in NICL or any other organization under the Apprentices Act.
- Candidates currently undergoing apprenticeship training with any establishment.
- Candidates whose previous apprenticeship contract was terminated midway.
Age Limit & Permissible Age Relaxation (as on 01 April 2026)
The crucial reference date for determining the age criteria is 01 April 2026:
| Category | Permissible Age Range | Maximum Age Limit |
|---|---|---|
| Unreserved / General / EWS | Born between 01.04.1996 & 01.04.2005 | 21 to 30 Years |
| Other Backward Classes (OBC - Non-Creamy Layer) | 3 Years Upper Age Relaxation | Up to 33 Years |
| Scheduled Caste (SC) / Scheduled Tribe (ST) | 5 Years Upper Age Relaxation | Up to 35 Years |
| PwBD – General / EWS | 10 Years Upper Age Relaxation | Up to 40 Years |
| PwBD – OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) | 13 Years Upper Age Relaxation | Up to 43 Years |
| PwBD – SC / ST | 15 Years Upper Age Relaxation | Up to 45 Years |
*Note: OBC candidates falling under the Creamy Layer must apply under the General/Unreserved category and are not entitled to reservation or age relaxation. OBC-NCL certificates must be in the prescribed Government of India format issued between 01 April 2026 and the date of joining.
Monthly Stipend & Funding Break-up
Apprentices are not entitled to any other allowances, Dearness Allowance (DA), House Rent Allowance (HRA), medical insurance, bonus, or provident fund benefits.
Selection Process: 100% Merit-Based Shortlisting
The selection methodology is transparent and straightforward:
- BOPT (ER) Shortlisting: The Board of Practical Training (Eastern Region), Kolkata will shortlist eligible registered candidates based solely on the percentage of marks obtained in the qualifying Graduation Degree examination up to two decimal places.
- Conversion of CGPA/GPA: Candidates whose universities evaluate through CGPA, OGPA, or letter grades must convert their scores to a percentage using the official formula of their respective university before entering it on the NATS portal.
- Tie-Breaking Criteria: If two or more candidates secure the same percentage in graduation, the candidate senior in age will be placed higher in the merit list.
- Document Verification: Shortlisted candidates will be notified exclusively through their registered email IDs and required to appear in person with original certificates at designated NICL offices.
- Contract Generation: Following successful physical verification and medical fitness, the apprenticeship training contract will be executed on the NATS portal.
Step-by-Step Guide: How to Apply via NATS 2.0 Portal
Category A: For Candidates Already Registered on NATS
- Visit the official NATS portal: nats.education.gov.in.
- Log in using your registered Email ID and Password.
- Navigate to the "Apply against advertised vacancies" section on your student dashboard.
- In the establishment search bar, enter "NATIONAL INSURANCE COMPANY LTD" or search by Enrollment ID:
EWBPNC096867. - Select the vacancy for your chosen state and click on "Apply".
- Confirm submission and verify that the status displays "Applied".
Category B: For First-Time Users (Fresh NATS Registration)
- Visit nats.education.gov.in.
- Click on Student > Regular Student > Student Registration.
- Fill in your personal details, Aadhaar number, contact information, and academic history.
- Upon successful completion, a unique 12-digit NATS Enrollment Number will be generated.
- Log in to your newly created account, go to "Apply against advertised vacancies", search for "NATIONAL INSURANCE COMPANY LTD" (ID:
EWBPNC096867), and submit your application.
Mandatory Instruction on Percentage Entry:
The official NICL notification explicitly directs candidates to upload their provisional certificate or consolidated mark sheet and enter their graduation percentage in the NATS profile under the "% of marks / CGPAx10" column. Candidates who fail to enter their numerical percentage will be summarily disqualified from shortlisting.
Documents Required for NATS Profile & Verification
NICL Apprentice Recruitment 2026: Official Links
| Apply Online on NATS 2.0 Portal | Apply on NATS |
| NICL Apprentice Official Notification PDF | Download PDF |
| National Insurance Company Ltd (NICL) Portal | Visit NICL |
| Explore Central Government Jobs 2026 | View Central Jobs |
| All India Graduate Jobs Hub | View Graduate Jobs |