Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) has released the IOCL Paradip Refinery Apprentice Recruitment 2026 notification for the engagement of 582 Apprentice vacancies across 10 trades at its Paradip Refinery, Odisha. Eligible candidates with qualifications such as Class XII, ITI, Diploma, B.Sc., B.Com., and B.A. can apply online through the prescribed application process from 29th June 2026 to 28th July 2026 (5:00 PM). The selection will be based on merit, and no written examination will be conducted.
The recruitment covers Trade Apprentice, Technician Apprentice, and Graduate Apprentice positions in disciplines including Chemical, Mechanical, Electrical, Instrumentation, Fitter, Secretarial Assistant, Accountant, and Data Entry Operator. In this article, you can check complete details about IOCL Paradip Refinery Apprentice Recruitment 2026, including vacancy details, eligibility, trade-wise qualifications, age limit, stipend, important dates, selection process, required documents, and the step-by-step online application process.
Urgent Notice
Online Application Window: 29th June 2026 (10:00 AM) to 28th July 2026 (5:00 PM) The application process has two mandatory steps — registering on the NAPS or NATS portal (depending on your trade code), followed by filling a Microsoft Form. Both steps must be completed for your application to be considered.
IOCL Paradip Refinery Apprentice Recruitment 2026Quick Overview
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Issuing Authority | Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL), Paradip Refinery |
| Advertisement No. | PDR/HR/01/Apprentices-26 |
| Notification Date | 29th June 2026 |
| Total Vacancies | 582 |
| Number of Trades | 10 (Codes 101, 102, 104–111) |
| Engagement Type | Apprenticeship under the Apprentices Act, 1961/1973 |
| Application Mode | Online — via NAPS/NATS portal + Microsoft Form |
| Selection Mode | Merit-based (no written test) |
| Application Window | 29.06.2026 to 28.07.2026 (5:00 PM) |
Important to know upfront: This is an apprenticeship engagement, not a job. The notification clearly states that IOCL has no obligation to offer employment after the training period ends, and an apprentice cannot claim any right to employment merely on completing the apprenticeship.
IOCL Paradip Refinery Apprentice Recruitment 2026 Vacancy Details
| Code | Trade/Discipline | Total | UR | EWS | SC | ST | OBC(NCL) | PwBD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 101 | Attendant Operator (Chemical Plant) | 180 | 71 | 18 | 29 | 40 | 22 | 0 |
| 102 | Fitter | 59 | 24 | 6 | 9 | 13 | 7 | 4 |
| 104 | Technician (Chemical) | 130 | 52 | 13 | 21 | 29 | 15 | 0 |
| 105 | Technician (Mechanical) | 60 | 24 | 6 | 10 | 13 | 7 | 4 |
| 106 | Technician (Electrical) | 80 | 31 | 8 | 13 | 18 | 10 | 5 |
| 107 | Technician (Instrumentation) | 20 | 9 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 2 |
| 108 | Secretarial Assistant | 23 | 9 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 4 |
| 109 | Accountant | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 110 | Data Entry Operator (Fresher) | 20 | 9 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 3 |
| 111 | Data Entry Operator (Skill Certificate Holder) | 9 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Total | 582 | 234 | 58 | 93 | 128 | 69 | 23 |
Honesty check: Code 103 does not appear in this advertisement — the numbering simply jumps from 102 to 104, so don’t be confused if you’re looking for it. Also, the PwBD column is a horizontal reservation (a sub-quota drawn from within UR/EWS/SC/ST/OBC, not an extra add-on), and it’s available only for Codes 102, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, and 111 — Codes 101 and 104 show zero PwBD seats, as identified by the management. The notification also clearly states that the number of seats is tentative and may increase or decrease, and that if suitable candidates aren’t available to fill seats under Code 110, those seats may be filled from Code 111 candidates, or vice versa, as per the selection criteria.
🎓 Eligibility Criteria
Trade-Wise Qualification
| Code | Trade | Qualification Required | Training Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| 101 | Attendant Operator (Chemical) | 3-year B.Sc. (Maths, Physics, Chemistry, or Industrial Chemistry) | 12 months |
| 102 | Fitter | Matriculation + ITI in Fitter Trade (min. 2 years, Pass class) | 12 months |
| 104 | Technician (Chemical) | 3-year Diploma in Chemical/Petrochemical Engg./Chemical Technology/Refinery & Petrochemical Engg. | 12 months |
| 105 | Technician (Mechanical) | 3-year Diploma in Mechanical Engg. | 12 months |
| 106 | Technician (Electrical) | 3-year Diploma in Electrical Engg./Electrical & Electronics Engg. | 12 months |
| 107 | Technician (Instrumentation) | 3-year Diploma in Instrumentation Engg./Instrumentation & Electronics/Instrumentation & Control Engg./Applied Electronics & Instrumentation Engg. | 12 months |
| 108 | Secretarial Assistant | 3-year B.A./B.Sc./B.Com | 15 months |
| 109 | Accountant | 3-year B.Com | 12 months |
| 110 | Data Entry Operator (Fresher) | Class XII pass | 12 months |
| 111 | Data Entry Operator (Skill Certificate Holder) | Class XII pass + Skill Certificate in “Domestic Data Entry Operator” | 12 months |
Minimum Marks
- 50% aggregate marks for General/EWS/OBC candidates (Class XII/Graduate/Diploma holders)
- 45% aggregate marks for SC/ST/PwBD candidates against seats reserved for them — this is simply the standard 50% requirement relaxed by 5% for these categories, not a separate additional relaxation
- For ITI (Fitter, Code 102) candidates specifically, the eligibility is just a Pass — the 50%/45% rule does not apply to ITI qualifications
- If your marksheet shows CGPA/OGPA/Letter Grade instead of percentage, you must get a conversion certificate from your University/Institute confirming the equivalent percentage
- No claim of an “equivalent” qualification will be entertained — your certificate must directly match what’s specified for the trade
Age Limit (as on 30th June 2026)
- Minimum 18 years, maximum 24 years for General/EWS candidates
- Age relaxation:
- 5 years for SC/ST candidates
- 3 years for OBC (NCL) candidates
- 10 years for PwBD candidates (irrespective of reservation)
- 5 additional years for PwBD candidates who also belong to SC/ST, and 3 additional years for PwBD-OBC(NCL) candidates, against their respective reserved positions
- Only the Matriculation (Class X) Marksheet/Certificate is accepted as proof of age
Key Disqualifying Conditions — Read Carefully
- Candidates whose qualifying exam result is still awaited cannot apply
- Candidates already holding (or pursuing) BE/B.Tech, MBA, CA, LLB, MCA or any equivalent higher qualification are not eligible, regardless of trade applied for
- Candidates with 1 year or more of job experience after completing their Engineering/Diploma/Vocational qualification are not eligible
- Candidates who completed their prescribed qualification more than 5 years before 30.06.2026 are not eligible
- Only regular full-time courses are accepted — part-time, correspondence, or distance-education qualifications are not eligible
- Diploma/Graduation/ITI must be in the exact branch/subject specified for that trade code — qualifications in unrelated branches won’t be considered
- Candidates with a Diploma via recognized lateral entry (Class XII Science or ITI admitted directly into the 2nd year of a Diploma course) are also eligible, provided they meet the prescribed marks based on the aggregate of all semesters
- Under Code 110, only a “Fresher Apprentice” is considered — meaning a non-graduate candidate who hasn’t undergone any institutional training or skill training before taking up this apprenticeship
- Under Code 111, the Skill Certificate in “Domestic Data Entry Operator” must be for a training course of less than 1 year, issued by a body recognized under the National Skill Qualifications Framework or another Central Government–recognized authority
- Applying for more than one trade/discipline will lead to summary rejection of all your applications
Re-Applying After a Previous Apprenticeship — Specific Gap Rules
If you’ve already completed an apprenticeship under the Apprentices Act in a different trade/discipline, you can still apply here, but the required gap period depends on exactly how your earlier apprenticeship ended:
- Normal completion or any other ending: minimum 1-year gap required, as on the date of reckoning eligibility (30.06.2026)
- Terminated due to the employer’s failure (under Section 11 of the Act): no gap required at all
- Terminated by you due to health/financial hardship, relocation, transportation, career change, or language barrier: minimum 3-month gap required — and there’s no waiting period at all for women candidates in this scenario
- Terminated due to your own failure to fulfil the contract terms: not eligible to reapply at all
If selected, you’ll need to submit a signed Affidavit (Annexure-A) at the time of document verification, confirming which of these scenarios applies to you.
PwBD-Specific Eligibility Note
A “Person with Benchmark Disability” is defined under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 as someone certified with 40% or more of a specified disability. Given that petroleum refining is a hazardous, complex industrial process, not every disability category is eligible for every trade — only specific categories are considered: Low Vision/Blindness, Hard of Hearing/Deafness, Musculoskeletal conditions (including Dwarfism, Acid Attack Victims, Cerebral Palsy, Leprosy Cured), or a combination of these (Multiple Disabilities). PwBD candidates must submit a Disability Certificate issued by the competent authority as per the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Rules, 2017 — without this, their PwBD candidature won’t be considered.
Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Online Application Opens (NAPS/NATS + MS Forms) | 29th June 2026, 10:00 AM |
| Last Date to Submit Online Application | 28th July 2026, 5:00 PM |
| Tentative Publication of Document Verification List | 5th August 2026 |
| Tentative Document Verification Dates | 11th August 2026 to 18th August 2026 |
| Date of Reckoning Eligibility (age & qualification) | 30th June 2026 |
Stipend & Other Conditions
Honesty check: The notification does not specify the exact stipend amount — it only states the rate will be as prescribed under the Apprentices Act 1961/1973, Apprentices Rules 1992 (as amended), and IOCL’s own guidelines. Candidates should check IOCL’s official source for the exact figure.
| Benefit | Details |
|---|---|
| Personal Protective Equipment | One pair of safety shoes & a Helmet (returnable after training) — only for Codes 101, 102, 104, 105, 106 & 107 |
| HRA/Company Accommodation | Not provided to apprentices |
| General Leave | 32 days (8 days per quarter) during the apprenticeship, including medical grounds |
| Casual Leave | 12 days per calendar year (pro-rata) |
| Holidays | As observed at the establishment where training is undergone |
| Unused Leave | Lapses at the end of the apprenticeship period — no carry forward |
| Insurance | Covered under Accident Insurance Coverage |
| Discipline | Governed by the Certified Standing Orders applicable to workmen at the establishment |
| Travel Reimbursement for Document Verification | SC/ST/PwBD candidates only — single second-class railway fare, to and fro, by the shortest route, only if the distance is 30 km or more, on production of the ticket |
| Training Period Extension | The apprenticeship period may be extended under certain circumstances, as provided under Rule 7 of the Apprentices Rules, 1992 |
How to Apply – Step by Step
This recruitment has two separate mandatory steps, and the first one depends on which trade code you’re applying for.
Step I — Register and Apply on NAPS or NATS Portal
If applying for Codes 101, 102, 108, 109, 110, or 111:
- Register on the NAPS portal: https://apprenticeshipindia.gov.in/
- Select “Apprenticeship Opportunities” from the top menu, choose IOCL’s Paradip Refinery location, and select your trade.
- Log in with your basic details and complete the registration carefully.
If applying for Codes 104, 105, 106, or 107:
- Register on the NATS portal (Board of Apprenticeship Training): https://nats.education.gov.in
- After successful registration, apply to the IOCL Paradip Refinery advertisement from your dashboard.
Establishment IDs to use while applying (for both portals):
| Unit | NATS Establishment ID | NAPS Establishment ID |
|---|---|---|
| Paradip Refinery | EORJSC000003 | E07192100001 |
Make sure your profile (personal details, educational details, category, aggregate percentage) appears correctly before applying. Contact the NAPS/NATS office directly for any corrections.
Step II — Fill the Microsoft Form (Mandatory for Everyone)
- After successfully applying through Step I, visit this link and submit your details on the Microsoft Form: https://forms.office.com/r/LZyLWrpk16
- Submit only one response on the Microsoft Form.
- Use the same email ID and mobile number across both NAPS/NATS and the MS Form — and make sure both stay valid for the entire apprenticeship period, since all future communication happens only through website/email/SMS.
Both Step I and Step II must be completed — completing only one of them means your application won’t be considered. It’s entirely your responsibility to ensure that details (including your Enrollment/Registration Number) match correctly across both steps.
Note: Incomplete applications, applications not meeting the eligibility criteria, and applications submitted through any mode other than online will all be treated as “Rejected.” The apprenticeship agreement itself will also be registered online with the respective authorities.
Document Checklist (For Document Verification)
Bring originals plus self-attested copies of all the following, as applicable:
- 10th Pass/Matriculation certificate (proof of date of birth)
- Class XII marksheet, or semester/year-wise ITI(Fitter)/Graduation/Diploma marksheets
- Final Class XII/ITI(Fitter)/Graduation/Diploma certificate from the respective Board/Authority
- Conversion certificate (CGPA/OGPA/Letter Grade to percentage), if applicable
- Certificate from your Principal mentioning the date of result publication (if not on the marksheet) — must also confirm the course was Regular Full-Time and mention your good conduct
- SC/ST/Disability/OBC(NCL) Certificate with required Declaration, or EWS Income & Asset Certificate with Declaration, in the prescribed format
- Skill Certificate in “Domestic Data Entry Operator” (only for Code 111 applicants)
- Printout of your NATS/NAPS portal registration with applicant details
- Signed Affidavit (Annexure-A) confirming compliance with all apprenticeship eligibility conditions
- One original Photo ID — Aadhaar/PAN/Voter ID/Driving Licence/Passport
- Any other certificate/document specifically requested
Worth flagging — the Annexure-A Affidavit: This is a unique requirement specific to this notification. It asks you to declare whether this is your first apprenticeship or a repeat one, how your previous apprenticeship ended (completed/terminated by employer/terminated by you/terminated due to your own fault), and the exact gap period between your first and second apprenticeship. Review this format carefully before the verification date, since it directly affects your eligibility.
🧪 Selection Process
- There is no written test. Selection is purely on percentage of marks (aggregate across all subjects, all years/semesters) in your qualifying exam, arranged in descending order, among candidates registered on NAPS/NATS who meet the eligibility criteria.
- Preference goes to candidates applying for an apprenticeship for the first time.
- In case of a tie in percentage: the candidate senior by date of birth ranks higher. If the date of birth is also the same, the one with a higher percentage in Matriculation is ranked higher.
- PwBD candidates who’ve availed of relaxed eligibility marks are considered against reserved seats only, in order of merit within their category — but a PwBD candidate who only used age relaxation (without any marks relaxation) is first considered against unreserved seats in the general merit order, before being considered against a reserved seat.
- Filling seats is entirely at management’s discretion based on candidate suitability — no claim arises if some seats remain unfilled due to an insufficient number of suitable candidates.
- After the merit list, shortlisted candidates go through Document Verification, followed by a Pre-Engagement Medical Fitness examination. Only those declared medically fit are considered for final engagement.
Key Rules and Disclaimers
- This engagement is governed by the Apprentices Act, 1961/1973 (as amended) and Apprentices Rules, 1992.
- IOCL has no obligation to offer employment after the apprenticeship ends, and apprentices cannot claim a right to employment on this basis.
- Canvassing in any form will render a candidate ineligible.
- Furnishing false or incorrect information at any stage will lead to cancellation of candidature, and the candidate may also face criminal prosecution.
- Even after engagement, if it’s discovered that a candidate doesn’t meet eligibility norms or furnished doctored/false documents, the engagement itself is liable to be terminated.
- Candidates with reported ailments, deficiencies, or abnormalities must declare this while applying. Candidates previously declared medically unfit by any refinery/PSU while seeking apprenticeship or regular employment must also disclose this, along with the reason.
- Candidates must also declare if they have ever been arrested, prosecuted, detained, fined, or convicted, or debarred by any Public Service Commission.
- Any corrigendum, addendum, or notice related to this advertisement will be published only on www.iocl.com.
- Disputes, if any, fall under the jurisdiction of the local court nearest to Paradip Refinery.
- The decision of the Management is final and binding on all candidates regarding eligibility, acceptance/rejection of applications, mode of selection, and cancellation of the selection process — no correspondence will be entertained on these matters.
- Fraud warning (direct from IOCL): Candidates are cautioned against dubious agencies, individuals, or organizations circulating fake job advertisements via email or social media in IOCL’s name. Rely only on www.iocl.com or Employment News/official Press Notifications for genuine information.
Important Links
| Apply Online | Click Here |
| Notification PDF | Click Here |
| NAPS Portal (Codes 101, 102, 103, 108, 109, 110, 111) | Click Here |
| NATS Portal (Codes 104, 105, 106, 107) | Click Here |
| Official Website | Click Here |
| More Odisha Govt Jobs | Click Here |
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the last date to apply for IOCL Paradip Refinery Apprentice Recruitment 2026? The last date to complete both steps of the online application (NAPS/NATS registration and the Microsoft Form) is 28th July 2026, by 5:00 PM.
2. How many total vacancies are there in this recruitment? There are 582 vacancies in total, spread across 10 trades — ranging from 1 seat (Accountant) to 180 seats (Attendant Operator, Chemical Plant).
3. Is this a permanent job at IOCL? No. This is an apprenticeship engagement under the Apprentices Act. IOCL has no obligation to offer regular employment after the training period ends.
4. Is there a written examination for this recruitment? No. Selection is based purely on the percentage of marks obtained in your qualifying examination — there’s no written test or interview.
5. Can I apply for more than one trade? No. Applying for more than one trade/discipline will lead to summary rejection of all your applications. You can apply for only one trade of your choice.
6. Do I need to register on NAPS or NATS? It depends on your trade code. Codes 101, 102, 108, 109, 110, and 111 require NAPS portal registration, while Codes 104, 105, 106, and 107 require NATS/BOAT portal registration. Everyone, regardless of trade, must also complete the Microsoft Form as Step II.
7. What is the age limit for this apprenticeship? Minimum 18 years and maximum 24 years as on 30th June 2026 for General/EWS candidates, with relaxations available for SC/ST/OBC(NCL)/PwBD candidates as per government guidelines.
8. Will I get a stipend during the apprenticeship? Yes, a stipend will be paid as prescribed under the Apprentices Act/Rules and IOCL’s guidelines — however, the exact amount is not specified in this notification.
9. Is there any travel allowance for attending Document Verification? Only SC/ST/PwBD candidates get single second-class railway fare reimbursement (to and fro, shortest route), and only if the distance from their mailing address to the verification venue is 30 km or more.