IOCL Apprentice 2026: Direct Recruitment for 342 Posts

New Delhi, February 13, 2026: Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL), a powerhouse in India’s energy sector, has officially invited applications for its 2026 Apprenticeship Program at the Paradip Refinery in Odisha. This recruitment drive aims to fill 342 vacancies across various technical and non-technical disciplines.

For young aspirants looking to kickstart their careers in a “Maharatna” PSU, this is a golden opportunity to gain hands-on industrial experience and a monthly stipend.

Overview of Vacancies

The recruitment covers a wide range of trades for ITI holders, Diploma engineers, and Graduate degree holders. Here is a breakdown of the key positions:

• Trade Apprentice (Attendant Operator – Chemical Plant): 114 Posts
• Technician Apprentice (Electrical): 68 Posts
• Technician Apprentice (Chemical): 50 Posts
• Technician Apprentice (Mechanical): 40 Posts
• Trade Apprentice (Fitter – Mechanical): 30 Posts
• Other Roles: Includes Data Entry Operators (DEO), Secretarial Assistants, and Accountants.

Eligibility Criteria

To ensure your application is successful, you must meet the following parameters as of January 31, 2026:

1. Educational Qualification

All qualifications must be from a recognized Board/University as a regular full-time course with a minimum of 50% marks (45% for SC/ST/PwBD candidates).

• Trade Apprentice (Attendant Operator): 3-year B.Sc. (Physics, Mathematics, Chemistry/Industrial Chemistry).
• Trade Apprentice (Fitter): Class 10 (Matric) with a 2-year ITI in Fitter trade.
• Technician Apprentice: 3-year Diploma in the relevant engineering branch (Chemical, Mechanical, Electrical, or Instrumentation).
• Trade Apprentice (Accountant): Graduate degree in Commerce (B.Com).
• Data Entry Operator: Class 12 pass (Skill Certificate required for certain codes).

2. Age Limit

• Minimum Age: 18 Years
• Maximum Age: 24 Years
• Relaxation: Upper age limit is relaxable by 5 years for SC/ST, 3 years for OBC (NCL), and 10 years for PwBD candidates.

Selection Process: No Written Test

Unlike many competitive exams, the selection for the IOCL Paradip Refinery Apprenticeship is purely merit-based.

1. Merit List: Candidates are shortlisted based on the aggregate percentage of marks obtained in their qualifying examination (ITI/Diploma/Degree).
2. Tie-Breaking: If two candidates have the same score, the older candidate is given preference. If the birth dates also match, the candidate with higher marks in Matriculation (Class 10) is prioritized.
3. Document Verification (DV): Shortlisted candidates will be notified via email for physical verification of original documents.
4. Medical Examination: Final selection is subject to meeting the prescribed medical fitness standards of IOCL.

Important Dates

Mark your calendars to ensure you don’t miss the deadline:

How to Apply: Step-by-Step Guide

Eligible candidates must follow a two-step registration process to be considered:

• Step 1: Portal Registration
  • Trade Apprentices (ITI/Graduate): Register on the NAPS portal (apprenticeshipindia.gov.in).
  • Technician Apprentices (Diploma): Register on the NATS portal (nats.education.gov.in).
• Step 2: IOCL Application
  • Visit the official IOCL careers page at www.iocl.com/apprenticeships.
  • Locate the link for Paradip Refinery 2026 Engagement.
  • Fill out the additional information via the provided Microsoft Form/Online Link.
  • Upload necessary documents (photo, signature, and certificates) and submit.

Final Word

While an apprenticeship at IOCL provides excellent training and a stipend as per the Apprentices Act, it is important to remember that this is a temporary engagement. Completion of training does not guarantee permanent employment within the corporation, though it significantly boosts your resume for future PSU and private sector roles.