IOCL Apprentice Recruitment 2026: 637 Vacancies at Panipat Refinery

Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) has officially released a major recruitment notification for the engagement of 637 apprentices at its Panipat Refinery & Petrochemical Complex located in Haryana. The online registration process is currently active and will continue until February 20, 2026, at 5 PM. Interested and eligible candidates must apply through the official IOCL website at iocl.com.

Candidates are required to complete a two-step application process, which includes mandatory registration on the designated apprenticeship portal before submitting their online application.

Vacancy Details and Distribution

A total of 637 apprentice positions have been announced across various trades and technical disciplines. The key posts include:

Trade Apprentice - Attendant Operator (Chemical Plant)
Trade Apprentice (Fitter) - Mechanical
Technician Apprentice - Chemical
Technician Apprentice - Mechanical
Technician Apprentice - Electrical
Technician Apprentice - Instrumentation
Trade Apprentice - Secretarial Assistant (Panipat and New Delhi)
Trade Apprentice - Accountant
Trade Apprentice - Data Entry Operator (Fresher and Skill Certificate Holders)

The vacancy distribution across categories is as follows:

Unreserved (UR): 282 seats
Economically Weaker Section (EWS): 63 seats
Scheduled Caste (SC): 121 seats
Other Backward Classes Non-Creamy Layer (OBC-NCL): 171 seats
Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD): 25 seats

There is no reservation for Scheduled Tribe (ST) candidates in Haryana for this recruitment drive. The training period for most positions is 12 months, while the Secretarial Assistant role requires a 15-month training period.

Educational Qualifications and Eligibility Criteria

Candidates must have passed the required qualifications in regular full-time mode from recognized educational institutions. The specific educational requirements vary by position:

Attendant Operator (Chemical Plant): B.Sc. with Physics, Mathematics, and Chemistry or Industrial Chemistry
Fitter: Matriculation (Class 10) with ITI certification in Fitter trade
Technician Apprentice posts: Diploma in the relevant engineering discipline
Secretarial Assistant: Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.), or Bachelor of Commerce (B.Com)
Accountant: B.Com degree
Data Entry Operator: Class 12 pass (with Skill Certificate required for Code 111)

Candidates must have secured at least 50% aggregate marks (45% for SC and PwBD candidates against reserved seats). Those who completed their qualifying examination more than five years before January 31, 2026, are not eligible to apply.

Important exclusion: Candidates holding higher professional qualifications such as B.E., B.Tech, MBA, CA, LLB, or MCA are specifically not eligible for these apprentice positions.

Age Limit and Relaxation

The minimum age requirement is 18 years, while the maximum age is 24 years as of January 31, 2026. Age relaxation will be provided according to government norms:

5 years for SC candidates
3 years for OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) candidates
10 years for Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (with additional relaxation for SC/OBC PwBD candidates as applicable)

Selection Process and Methodology

There will be no written examination for this recruitment. Selection will be based entirely on the percentage of marks obtained in the required qualification. A merit list will be prepared in descending order of marks.

In cases where candidates have identical marks, preference will be given to the older candidate based on date of birth. If the date of birth is also identical, marks obtained in Class 10 will be considered for tie-breaking.

Shortlisted candidates will be called for document verification. Final selection is contingent upon successful document verification and meeting the prescribed medical fitness standards as per IOCL guidelines.

Stipend and Training Conditions

Selected apprentices will receive a monthly stipend as per the provisions of the Apprentices Act and company regulations. However, no company accommodation or House Rent Allowance (HRA) will be provided to apprentices.

Apprentices will be entitled to leave as per established rules. All selected candidates must meet the specified medical fitness standards. IOCL has explicitly stated that successful completion of apprenticeship training does not guarantee permanent employment with the company.

How to Apply: Two-Step Process

Candidates must complete both steps below for their application to be considered complete:

Step I: Register and Apply on NAPS/NATS Portal

For Codes 101, 102, 108, 109, 110, and 111: Register on the National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS) portal at apprenticeshipindia.gov.in
For Codes 104, 105, 106, and 107: Register on the National Apprenticeship Training Scheme (NATS) portal at nats.education.gov.in

After registration, candidates must apply for the opportunity at IOCL Panipat Refinery & Petrochemical Complex using the correct establishment ID.

Step II: Complete Google Form Submission

After applying on the NAPS/NATS portal, candidates must fill and submit the Google Form available on the IOCL website. Submission of both steps is mandatory, and incomplete applications will be rejected.

Candidates are strongly advised to use a valid email ID and mobile number, as all official communications will be sent through email or posted on the official website. For detailed information and regular updates, candidates should frequently visit the official IOCL website at iocl.com.