Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL), Pipelines Division, has invited online applications for around 500 apprentice posts under Advertisement No. PL/HR/ESTB/APPR (2026), dated 6 November 2026. The apprenticeship covers Technician and Trade Apprentice posts in seven trades across five pipeline regions of the country, and applications are open from 6 November to 5 December 2026. Please note clearly: this is an apprenticeship engagement for training under the Apprentices Act, 1961, and it does not guarantee employment with Indian Oil after the training ends.
Vacancy Details
Around 500 apprentice seats have been announced, and the number is tentative and may change as per the notification. The seven trades are Technician Apprentice (Mechanical), Technician Apprentice (Electrical), Technician Apprentice (Telecommunication and Instrumentation), Trade Apprentice (Assistant-Human Resource), Trade Apprentice (Accountant), Data Entry Operator (Fresher Apprentice) and Domestic Data Entry Operator (Skill Certificate Holders). The apprenticeship is offered across the Eastern, Western, Northern, Southern and South Eastern pipeline regions, and the training period is 12 months from the date of engagement.
Eligibility Criteria
Candidates must be between 18 and 24 years of age as on 30 November 2026, with age relaxation applicable as per government rules for reserved categories. The prescribed qualification for each trade must already have been passed on 30 November 2026, which is the cut-off date for reckoning eligibility. Since the qualification differs by trade, applicants should read the official notification carefully and apply only for the trades for which they are fully eligible.
Important Dates
Online applications for IOCL Pipelines Apprentice Recruitment 2026 opened on 6 November 2026 and close on 5 December 2026. Candidates must first register on the NATS portal (nats.education.gov.in) or the NAPS portal (apprenticeshipindia.gov.in), depending on the trade, and then register on the Indian Oil Pipelines portal at plapps.indianoilpipelines.in. Both steps must be completed within the same window, and candidates should not wait until the last day, as the portals usually see heavy traffic near the deadline.
Selection is merit-based on the percentage of marks in the qualifying examination, and there is no written test and no personal interview for this recruitment. The official notification does not specify the stipend amount or the application fee, so candidates should check the official notification and the IOCL website for any update on these details before applying.
How to Apply
First, register on the NATS or NAPS portal as applicable for your trade, then open the Indian Oil Pipelines portal at plapps.indianoilpipelines.in and complete the registration for Advertisement No. PL/HR/ESTB/APPR (2026). Fill in personal and educational details carefully, upload the required documents and submit the application before 5 December 2026. Keep a copy of the submitted application for future reference, and check the official IOCL website regularly for the merit list. Also read: RRB NTPC Undergraduate Recruitment 2026 for 1,688 posts
With around 500 seats, no written test and a 12-month training period, the IOCL Pipelines apprentice drive is a strong opportunity for ITI, diploma and graduate holders to gain experience in India’s largest oil company. Remember it is a training engagement and not a permanent appointment. Also read: Indian Bank Apprentice Recruitment 2026 for 1,500 seats
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