National Insurance Company Limited (NICL) has released the advertisement dated 4 November 2026 for the engagement of 200 Graduate Apprentices under the National Apprenticeship Training Scheme (NATS), as per the Apprentices Act, 1961, for the year 2026-27. Graduates from any discipline can apply online from 4 November to 18 November 2026 through the NATS portal (nats.education.gov.in).
The apprenticeship is for 12 months with a monthly stipend of ₹15,000. There is no written examination — shortlisting will be done by the Board of Practical Training (Eastern Region) on the basis of the percentage of marks in the qualifying graduation degree, followed by in-person document verification. Candidates can apply for only one state.
This article covers the complete details of the NICL Graduate Apprentice Recruitment 2026-27 — important dates, state-wise vacancy details, eligibility, age limit, application fee, stipend, selection process and the step-by-step application procedure — all taken from the official advertisement.
Recruitment Overview
| Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Recruiting Body | National Insurance Company Limited (NICL) |
| Recruitment Name | Engagement of Graduate Apprentices for the year 2026-27 (under NATS, Apprentices Act 1961) |
| Advertisement Date | 4 November 2026 |
| Post Name | Graduate Apprentice |
| Total Seats | 200 (provisional) |
| Training Period | 12 months |
| Application Mode | Online only (NATS portal) |
| Official Website | https://nationalinsurance.nic.co.in |
Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Advertisement Released | 4 November 2026 |
| Online Application Starts | 4 November 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply Online | 18 November 2026 |
| Document Verification | After shortlisting (in person, at NICL offices; call letter by registered email) |
Vacancy Details
NICL has announced 200 provisional Graduate Apprentice seats across 14 states. A candidate can apply for only one state. The state-wise distribution is as follows:
| State | Total Seats |
|---|---|
| Assam | 30 |
| Gujarat | 22 |
| Chhattisgarh | 20 |
| Rajasthan | 20 |
| Uttar Pradesh | 14 |
| Punjab | 12 |
| Madhya Pradesh | 12 |
| Jharkhand | 10 |
| Karnataka | 10 |
| Kerala | 10 |
| Maharashtra | 10 |
| Uttarakhand | 10 |
| West Bengal | 10 |
| Tamil Nadu | 10 |
| Total | 200 |
The number of seats is provisional and may vary as per the requirement of the Company.
Educational Qualification (Eligibility)
- The candidate must hold a Graduation degree (Regular – Full time) in any discipline from a university or institution recognised by AICTE / DOTE / UGC.
- The candidate must possess the degree certificate as on 1 April 2026.
- The candidate must have a 100% complete profile on the NATS portal to be eligible to apply.
Candidates who are not eligible to apply:
- Holders of a Post-Graduation degree or an integrated Post-Graduation degree.
- Candidates who have already undergone apprenticeship training earlier.
- Candidates who have one year or more of work experience as on 1 April 2026.
Age Limit
| Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Minimum Age | 21 years |
| Maximum Age | 30 years |
| Age Cut-off Date | 1 April 2026 |
| Date of Birth Range | Born not earlier than 1 April 1996 and not later than 1 April 2005 (both dates inclusive) |
Relaxation in the upper age limit is available as follows: SC/ST — 5 years, OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) — 3 years, and PwBD — 10 years (General/EWS), 15 years (SC/ST) and 13 years (OBC).
Application Fee
No application fee is mentioned anywhere in the official notification — no application or examination fee is prescribed for this apprenticeship.
Stipend
| Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Monthly Stipend | ₹15,000 per month |
| NICL Share | ₹8,850 per month |
| Government Share | ₹6,150 per month (through Direct Benefit Transfer) |
| Training Period | 12 months |
| Other Allowances / Benefits | None |
Apprentices are not employees of the Company, and the apprenticeship does not carry any obligation of regular employment with NICL after completion of training.
Selection Process
Selection for engagement as a Graduate Apprentice will be made through the following stages:
- Shortlisting by BOPT (ER) — The Board of Practical Training (Eastern Region) will shortlist candidates on the basis of the percentage of marks in the qualifying Graduate Degree (up to two decimal places; CGPA will be converted as per the university's formula). In case of a tie, the candidate with the older date of birth will be preferred. There is no written examination.
- In-person Document Verification — Shortlisted candidates will be called for document verification in person at NICL offices. The call letter will be sent to the candidate's registered email ID.
- Final Engagement — Final engagement will be made after successful document verification and approval of the apprenticeship contract in the NATS portal.
How to Apply
- Visit the NATS portal nats.education.gov.in and register yourself, then complete your profile 100% — only candidates with a fully complete profile are eligible to apply.
- On the NATS portal, search for the establishment "NATIONAL INSURANCE COMPANY LTD" (Establishment ID: EWBPNC096867).
- Select the Graduate Apprentice opportunity and choose only one state from the 14 states listed in the advertisement.
- Fill in the application form carefully and verify all details before submitting.
- Submit the application online before 18 November 2026. Applications are accepted only through the NATS portal — no application form exists on the NICL website itself.
- Keep checking your registered email ID for the document verification call letter after shortlisting.
Important Links
| Description | Link |
|---|---|
| Official Advertisement (NICL Website) | https://nationalinsurance.nic.co.in |
| Apply Online (NATS Portal) | https://nats.education.gov.in |
| NICL Official Website | https://nationalinsurance.nic.co.in |
FAQs
Q1. How many vacancies are there in the NICL Graduate Apprentice Recruitment 2026-27? A total of 200 provisional Graduate Apprentice seats are available across 14 states for the year 2026-27.
Q2. What is the last date to apply for the NICL Graduate Apprentice 2026-27? The last date to apply online through the NATS portal is 18 November 2026.
Q3. What is the educational qualification required for the NICL Graduate Apprentice post? Candidates must hold a Graduation degree (Regular – Full time) in any discipline from a university or institution recognised by AICTE / DOTE / UGC, with the degree possessed as on 1 April 2026.
Q4. What is the age limit for the NICL Graduate Apprentice Recruitment 2026-27? Candidates must be 21 to 30 years old as on 1 April 2026 — that is, born between 1 April 1996 and 1 April 2005 (both dates inclusive). Age relaxation is available for SC/ST, OBC and PwBD candidates.
Q5. Is there any application fee for the NICL Graduate Apprentice 2026-27? No. The official notification does not mention any application or examination fee.
Q6. What is the stipend for NICL Graduate Apprentices? The monthly stipend is ₹15,000 for the 12-month apprenticeship — ₹8,850 paid by NICL and ₹6,150 paid by the Government through Direct Benefit Transfer.
Q7. How are candidates selected for the NICL Graduate Apprentice posts? There is no written examination. Shortlisting is done by the Board of Practical Training (Eastern Region) on the basis of graduation percentage, with ties broken by older date of birth, followed by in-person document verification at NICL offices.
Q8. Is the NICL Graduate Apprentice a permanent job? No. It is a 12-month apprenticeship under the Apprentices Act, 1961, and it does not guarantee regular employment with NICL after completion of training.
Q9. Can I apply for more than one state in the NICL Graduate Apprentice Recruitment? No. A candidate can apply for only one state.