Indian Overseas Bank (IOB)
Last Date: 20.07.2026

Indian Overseas Bank has opened applications for 750 apprentice posts under the Apprentices Act, 1961, for FY 2026-27. Online registration runs from 7 July to 20 July 2026, with the fee payment window staying open two days longer, until 22 July. Graduates aged 20 to 28 can apply, and the tentative online exam is set for 2 August 2026.

IOB Apprentice Recruitment 2026: Quick Overview

IOB Apprentice Recruitment 2026: Quick Introduction 

Indian Overseas Bank, headquartered in Chennai and operating branches across India and abroad, has released its apprentice engagement notification for FY 2026-27. The bank has been conducting this apprenticeship programme regularly in recent years i.e. in FY 2024-25 and FY 2025-26 with the same 750-seat level. The continued release of this apprenticeship programme shows that it is part of the bank's regular training initiative and not a one-time recruitment.

The apprenticeship is conducted under the Apprentices Act, 1961 through the BFSI Sector Skill Council of India (BFSI SSC), which is designed to provide fresh graduates with practical training and experience in banking operations while receiving a monthly stipend. Candidates should also note that this is not a permanent job recruitment, apprenticeship is a training programme for a fixed period, and completing it doesn't guarantee a regular job in the bank.

Vacancy Details

The total currently available vacancy is 750. the complete State-wise and category-wise distribution of these available seats are as follows: 

Note: The highest number of apprenticeship seats are available in Tamil Nadu (200), the same figure it received last year, followed by Uttar Pradesh (110), Maharashtra (85), Delhi (53), and Bihar and West Bengal (35 each). On the other hand, some states and Union Territories, such as Goa, Lakshadweep, and Dadra and Nagar Haveli, have very few or no seats.
> Candidates should note that the category-wise vacancy distribution has changed if we compare it with the previous apprenticeship recruitment (FY 2025-26), the total number of seats remains 750, but the number of General (UR) category seats has reduced, whereas the vacancies for OBC and SC categories have increased. Also 68 horizontal reservation seats are reserved for Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD), and these seats are distributed among eligible categories such as Hearing Impaired, Orthopedically Challenged, Visually Impaired, and Intellectual Disability.
The Bank has also officially stated that both the total seat count and the reserved breakup are provisional and can change subsequently based on actual requirement.

Application Fee

Application Fee varies across categories, which is shown below:

Note: The application fee must be paid online through the BEEP portal, and online application closes on 20 July 2026, but candidates can complete the fee payment until 22 July 2026. This is because the application submission and fee payment are treated as 2 separate steps on the portal, and if any candidate submits application form on the last date, he/she will get 2 extra days within which they can pay the application fee.
Candidates should also note that the application fee is non-refundable, and once paid, it won't be refunded or adjusted for any future recruitment or apprenticeship process, even if the application is rejected or the candidate is found ineligible.

Age Limit

Candidates age should be between 20 (minimum) and 28 years (maximum) old as on 1 July 2026 if they belong to General or EWS category. In date-of-birth terms, that means being born between 1 July 1998 and 1 July 2006, both dates included. Category wise age relaxation is shown below:

Note: Candidates should carefully read the age relaxation rules mentioned in the official notification (available in the Important Links section toward end of the page). In some cases, SC/ST candidates can claim age relaxation along with one other eligible category, such as PwBD, as per the prescribed rules. However, candidates cannot combine multiple relaxations beyond what is permitted. in the notification.
Another important point is that candidates applying through the National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS) must be below 34 years of age on the prescribed cut-off date. Even if a candidate is eligible for age relaxation under any category, they must still satisfy this maximum age limit wherever it is applicable under the NAPS guidelines.

Educational Qualification

Candidates must have a Bachelor's degree in any discipline from a Government of India-recognized university, and the final result of the graduation must have been declared on or before 31 July 2026. There is no restriction on the stream or subject of graduation, so candidates from any academic background can apply, provided they meet the other eligibility conditions mentioned in the official notification (available in the Important Links section toward end of the page).
Note: Candidates applying through the NATS must meet an additional eligibility condition, which is their graduation result should have been declared between 1 March 2022 and 31 July 2026 (both dates inclusive) and they must also be able to produce their mark sheets along with the provisional or final degree certificate during verification process. Also There is no minimum percentage of marks or specific graduation subject requirment. Therefore, candidates who have passed a Bachelor's degree in any discipline and meet the prescribed eligibility conditions can apply.

Selection Process

Process of selection will mainly follow these stages =  Online written test (objective type), Test of Local Language and personal interaction (if decided by the bank). The structures of the Online Written Exam is shown below:

Note: Online written examination will be conducted for 90 minutes and will consist of objective-type (MCQ) questions. Candidates can appear for the test using their own camera-enabled laptop, desktop, tablet, or smartphone. The notification does not mention any section-wise qualifying marks, Instead, candidates have to secure the overall minimum qualifying marks decided by the Bank. SC, ST, OBC, and PwBD candidates are eligible for a 5% relaxation in these minimum qualifying marks. This means candidates can improve their overall score by performing well across the exam, even if one section is comparatively weaker.
> Candidates who qualify in the online written examination will be called for Local Language Test (LLT), which is conducted during the document verification process and checks whether the candidate can read, write, speak, and understand the official language of the state they have applied for. But if a Candidates can produce a Class 10 or Class 12 marksheet/certificate showing that they studied the required local language will be exempted from appearing for the Local Language Test. After this Bank may also conduct a Personal Interaction, wherever required, and the Final engagement is subject to the candidate being found medically fit.
The final merit list is prepared based on the overall marks obtained by candidates within their respective state and category. If 2 candidates secure the same marks, the older candidate will be given a higher rank.

Salary, Job Location, and Service Conditions

The stipend of this recruitment depends on where the apprentice is posted. Details of which are included below:

Note: For candidates selected through the NATS route, the monthly stipend is paid jointly by the Govt. and Indian Overseas Bank. The Govt. provides ₹6,150 through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) directly to the apprentice's bank account, while the Bank pays the remaining amount. Accordingly, the Bank's contribution is ₹9,350 for Metro branches, ₹8,350 for Urban branches, and ₹7,850 for Semi-Urban/Rural branches. Although the payment comes from 2 different sources, the total monthly stipend received by the apprentice remains same according to the branch category.
> Job location is decided state-wise and selected candidates will be engaged in the state or Union Territory for which they have applied. However, Bank can post them to any branch within that state or UT, depending on its requirements. Candidates should also note that this is a 1-year apprenticeship programme and not a regular bank job, therefore, they are not eligible for benefits such as Provident Fund (PF), allowances, or other employee service benefits. 
> Also there is no official mention of any probation period or service bond, as the engagement is for a fixed training period of 1 year. During the apprenticeship, candidates are entitled to 12 days of Casual Leave (CL) in a year, and not more than 4 days of leave can be taken at one time.

How to Apply

1. Register on the NAPS portal at apprenticeshipindia.gov.in or the NATS portal at nats.education.gov.in, whichever scheme you intend to apply under, and note down your enrolment number.
2. Visit www.bfsissc.com or https://beep.bfsissc.com and open the Career Opportunities page for the IOB Apprenticeship Program FY 2026-27.
3. If registered on NATS, log in at nats.education.gov.in/student_type.php and apply against Indian Overseas Bank's advertised vacancy under "Apply against advertised vacancies."
4. If registered on NAPS, go to apprenticeshipindia.gov.in/apprenticeship/opportunity, search "Indian Overseas Bank" under Search By Establishment Name, click View, then click Apply for this Opportunity.
5. Fill in the online application form with accurate personal, educational, and category details, entering your NAPS or NATS enrolment number where asked.
6. Select only one State or Union Territory for engagement, preferably your home state, because applying to more than one is not allowed.
7. Upload your photograph, signature, and required documents in the format and size specified on the portal.
8. Pay the application fee online through BEEP between 7 July and 22 July 2026, based on your category and gender.
9. Review every entry carefully before final submission, since the application cannot be withdrawn or edited once submitted.
10. Download and save the confirmation printout, since you will need to carry it to document verification.

Required Documents and Important Instructions

Keep these below mentioned documents ready in original along with self-attested photocopies for the document verification or personal interaction stage:

•  Printout of the valid communication for personal interaction or reporting
•  Printout of the email received from BFSI SSC containing your submitted application data
•  Proof of date of birth, such as a birth certificate or Class X mark sheet showing DOB
•  Photo ID proofs such as, Passport, Aadhaar, e-Aadhaar, PAN, Driving Licence, or Voter's Card
•  Consolidated mark sheets and certificates for your educational qualification
•  Caste certificate in the prescribed Government of India format, for SC, ST, OBC, or EWS candidates
•  Disability certificate from the District Medical Board, for PwBD candidates
  
  A few Important instructions candidates should note carefully:
  > Candidates applying under the OBC category must submit a valid Non-Creamy Layer (NCL) certificate issued on or after 1 April 2026, and certificate must contain the required Non-Creamy Layer declaration. If the certificate does not meet these requirements, the candidate will have to apply under the General (UR) category.
  > Candidates should also follow all examination rules carefully. Taking photos, screenshots, or recording the online examination in any form is treated as misconduct and may lead to disqualification and other action as per the Bank's rules.
  

Reading these important practical points may help you better understand this recruitment:

Understanding the Three-Portal Application Process

apprenticeship follows a different application process from most bank recruitments, therefore, before applying through the BFSI SSC BEEP portal, candidates must 1st complete their registration on the applicable NAPS or NATS portal and obtain a valid enrolment number. Candidates should complete this registration carefully before starting the application, because Using incorrect registration details or getting confused between the NAPS and NATS enrolment numbers can create problems during the later stages of the recruitment process, especially during document verification. 

Know the Stipend Structure

The monthly stipend of ₹14,000 to ₹15,500 may look similar to the starting salary of some bank jobs, but it is different from a regular bank employee's salary and hence, not eligible for benefits such as House Rent Allowance (HRA), Dearness Allowance (DA), Provident Fund (PF), or other employee benefits. Candidates should also remember that this is a 1-year apprenticeship programme, and there is no guarantee of a permanent job after its completion. But the important thing is that, this apprenticeship will help you gain practical banking experience, develop job-related skills, and strengthen your profile for future banking recruitments such as IBPS and SBI examinations.

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❓Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How many vacancies are available in IOB Apprentice Recruitment 2026?

There are 750 apprentice vacancies for FY 2026-27, spread across states and Union Territories, and this figure includes backlog seats from earlier cycles.

What is the last date to apply for IOB Apprentice 2026?

Online applications close on 20 July 2026 on the NAPS and NATS portals, while fee payment through BEEP stays open two days longer, until 22 July 2026.

Who is eligible to apply for this recruitment?

Indian citizens holding a graduation degree in any discipline from a recognised university, with the result declared on or before 31 July 2026, and falling within the prescribed age band, can apply.

What is the age limit, including relaxations?

The base limit is 20 to 28 years as on 1 July 2026 for General and EWS candidates. SC and ST candidates get a 5-year relaxation, OBC non-creamy layer candidates get 3 years, and PwBD candidates get 10 years, though NAPS-registered candidates cannot exceed 34 years regardless.

What qualification is required for IOB Apprentice 2026?

A degree in any discipline from a Government of India recognised university is sufficient. No specific subject, stream, or minimum percentage is mentioned in the official notification.

What does the selection process involve?

Selection runs through an online written test of 100 marks, a Local Language Test conducted during document verification, and a final document verification or personal interaction, followed by a medical fitness check.

What is the salary or stipend for IOB apprentices?

The monthly stipend is Rs. 15,500 for Metro branches, Rs. 14,500 for Urban branches, and Rs. 14,000 for Semi-Urban or Rural branches, paid for a fixed one-year contract period.

What is the application fee for this recruitment?

SC, ST, and PwBD candidates pay Rs. 236 including GST. General, OBC, and EWS women pay Rs. 708, and General, OBC, and EWS men pay Rs. 944, all inclusive of 18 percent GST.

How do I apply online for IOB Apprentice 2026?

You must first register on the NAPS or NATS government portal, then complete the actual application on www.bfsissc.com or https://beep.bfsissc.com using your enrolment number from that registration.

What is the official website for this recruitment?

The notification and updates are published on www.iob.bank.in under the Careers section, and applications are processed through www.bfsissc.com.

Can I apply for more than one state under this recruitment?

No. The notification is explicit that a candidate can apply for only one State or Union Territory, preferably their home state, and this cannot be changed once submitted.

Is this apprenticeship a permanent job at Indian Overseas Bank?

No. The notification states clearly that the Bank has no obligation to offer regular employment after the one-year apprenticeship period, and apprentices are not treated as Bank employees at any point.

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Conclusion

We hope the information shared above has helped you understand this apprenticeship better. Now before starting your application, make sure you have completed your NAPS or NATS registration and obtained a valid enrolment number, as it is required to apply through the BFSI SSC BEEP portal. After that, while filling out the application form, choose your state/UT carefully because this option cannot be changed after submission. Since the number of apprenticeship seats varies from one state to another, candidates should check the state-wise vacancies before applying and plan preparation accordingly.
The exam date of 2 August is marked tentative and we all know that last year's IOB apprentice exam was actually postponed and revised after the original schedule was announced. Therefore, keep checking www.iob.bank.in and www.bfsissc.com websites for the latest updates on the exam schedule, admit card, and other important announcements. This will help ensure that you do not miss any changes or new notifications related to the recruitment process. (you can also bookmark this page and follow our social media handles such as telegram and WhatsApp for quick updates)

This article is based on the official notification and simplified for easy understanding. For the most accurate and updated information, always refer to the official website.