Central Bank of India
Last Date: 22 June 2026

Central Bank of India has notified 4,500 apprentice training seats for financial year 2026-27 under the Apprentices Act, 1961. Online registration opens June 12, 2026 and closes June 22, giving candidates just ten days to complete a process that runs across two separate portals. The tentative online examination is scheduled for the first week of July 2026.

Central Bank of India Apprentice Recruitment: Quick Overview

Introduction - Central Bank of India and What This Recruitment Is For

Established in 1911, Central Bank of India holds the distinction of being the first commercial bank in India that was wholly owned and managed by Indians. Today it operates over 4,500 branches and employs more than 34,000 staff across the country. Each year, the bank engages apprentices under the Apprentices Act to support branch operations and expose graduates to real banking workflows. The 2026-27 cycle announces 4,500 such seats distributed across states and districts nationwide.

What makes this batch structurally different from most bank recruitment drives is that the competition is localized. Selected candidates are posted to branches in specific districts, and the merit list for each district is drawn from applicants who chose that district as a preference. A candidate in Nagpur does not compete with someone from Pune for the same seats; they compete within their chosen district pool. This changes how you should think about your realistic chances, particularly if you are from a smaller town where graduate applicant volumes may be lower.

This is not like a regular job notification, and that engagement is strictly for twelve months under the Apprentices Act, 1961. Completing the apprenticeship confers no right to employment. Candidates who apply alongside bank PO, clerk, or other competitive preparations will find the experience and certification useful, but those expecting absorption into the bank's staff cadre after the year should not count on that outcome.

Vacancy Details

The 4,500 seats are distributed across 36 states and union territories. Maharashtra leads with 586 seats, followed closely by Uttar Pradesh at 580, Madhya Pradesh at 459, Bihar at 433, and West Bengal at 315. These five states together hold more than half the total seats. Smaller states and union territories have single-figure allocations; Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Dadra Nagar Haveli, Daman and Diu, Mizoram, and Ladakh each have just one seat.

The category-wise breakup across the 4,500 seats is as follows:

PwBD reservation is horizontal, meaning these 180 seats are carved out from within the overall state pools, not additional seats on top. There is no reservation for Ex-servicemen or Disabled Ex-servicemen.

Within each state, seats are further broken down by district. A candidate who opts for a large urban district will find more seats available but also more competition from other graduates. Someone choosing a smaller district faces fewer competitors but also a narrower seat count. Reviewing the district-wise breakup in Annexure-I of the official notification before finalising your preference could be a sensible step.

Application Fee

The detailed category wise breakdown of Application Fees are shown below:

Payment is through online mode only, on the BEEP portal. The fee is non-refundable under any circumstances. Completing the payment is what finalises the application; registering on the NATS portal alone without paying on BEEP does not count as a valid submission.

Age Limit

The age window is 20 to 28 years as on May 31, 2026, meaning candidates must have been born between May 31, 1998 and May 31, 2006, both dates inclusive. The 28-year upper limt applies to General and EWS candidates. Standard relaxations apply for reserved categories:

The minimum age of 20 years is similar for all and not relaxable for any category. There is no Central Government employee relaxation in this recruitment, since this is an apprenticeship engagement and not a regular government post.

Educational Qualification

Graduation in any discipline from a university recognized by the Government of India is the base requirement. There is no specific stream or subject condition. But there are two conditions beyond the degree itself that disqualify a significant number of otherwise eligible candidates.

First, the degree must have been completed on or after January 1, 2022. This cuts out candidates who graduated in 2020 or 2021, even if they are otherwise young enough to apply. The cutoff date is firm as on May 31, 2026.

Second, and importantly, candidates must be registered on the NATS portal (National Apprenticeship Training Scheme at https://nats.education.gov.in) before they can apply. This is a must do work. If you have not registered on NATS yet, that step must come before anything else in this application process.

Beyond the qualifications, two categories of candidates are explicitly barred from this recruitment: those who have already completed or are currently doing an apprenticeship anywhere, whether in Central Bank or any other organisation, are not eligible. Candidates who have been employed or in job training for one year or more after their graduation are also ineligible. This means the recruitment aimed at fresh graduates or those with minimal post-degree activity.

Selection Process

The online examination is conducted by BFSI SSC and consists of 100 questions across five sections, all objective type:

The duration is 60 minutes. There is no negative marking, which means candidates should attempt every question without hesitation. General English is set only in English; all other sections are available in both English and Hindi. The exam is taken from the candidate's own residence and own device. There is no examination centre, and no admit card will be issued. Candidates can track their exam schedule through the "My Applied Opportunities" section on the BEEP portal, and reminders are sent via email, SMS, and WhatsApp.

After the online test, shortlisted candidates appear for a local language proficiency test at a venue decided by the bank in the state they applied for. Candidates travelling for this test bear their own expenses; no reimbursement is provided. Those who can produce Class 10 or Class 12 mark sheets showing they studied the official local language of the state are exempt from this test. The language test is qualifying in nature, and failing it can lead to disqualification. 

The final selection will be based on the combined merit in the online test, clearing the language test, passing document verification, and being declared medically fit by the bank's designated doctor. When two candidates have identical scores, the one older in age ranks higher.

Stipend, Training Conditions, and What Candidates Should Know

The monthly stipend is Rs. 15,000 for the entire twelve-month period. No other benefits, allowances, transport facilities, or accommodation are provided. Apprentices are treated as trainees under the Act and are not considered employees of the bank; no labour law protections applicable to employees extend to them.

Leave is restricted to one casual leave per month and bank-observed holidays. No other leave type is available. Overtime is not allowed. Apprentices cannot form or join any union body, which is a condition under the Apprentices Act itself.

The bank has no obligation to offer employment at the end of the training period. Apprentices are relieved at the end of twelve months. An assessment test may be conducted at that point and a certificate issued, but this creates no right to a job in the bank. If an apprentice fails to report on the first day of training at the assigned branch, the apprenticeship contract is terminated immediately.

How to Apply

1. Go to the NATS portal at https://nats.education.gov.in and register under the "Student Register/Login" section if you have not done so already
2. Note your Enrolment ID from the NATS portal carefully; this is required for all correspondence throughout the process
3. After NATS registration, check your email (including spam) for an invitation from BFSI SSC (info@bfsissc.com) to register on https://beep.bfsissc.com
4. Register on the BEEP portal and complete the final application for the Central Bank of India apprenticeship, filling in caste category, preferred districts, and other required details
5. Upload your photograph and signature as per the format specified on the portals
6. Pay the applicable fee online through the BEEP portal using net banking, debit card, credit card, or UPI
7. Verify all details in the application before clicking submit; no changes are allowed after submission
8. Take a printout of the system-generated application form and keep it safely
9. Keep your registered email ID and mobile number active throughout the entire selection process for updates and intimation

Required Documents and Important Instructions

Documents to be produced at the document verification stage include: system-generated application printout, date of birth certificate or Class 10 mark sheet, graduation mark sheets (semester or year-wise) and degree or provisional certificate, valid government-issued photo ID, caste or EWS certificate in the format prescribed by the Government of India (for SC/ST/OBC/EWS candidates), and disability certificate from the District Medical Board (for PwBD candidates).

OBC candidates must ensure their Non-Creamy Layer certificate was issued within one year of the date of this advertisement. The certificate must contain the specific non-creamy layer clause as per the Government of India format, and the caste name must match exactly with the Central Government notification list. OBC candidates whose caste does not appear in the Central List, or those who fall in the Creamy Layer, must apply as General category and will not receive OBC reservation or age relaxation.

Few important points for candidates:

• Category once submitted in the application cannot be changed at any stage under any circumstances.
• The name in the application must match exactly with the name in your certificates; any mismatch can lead to disqualification.
• Submitting more than one application will result in only the last valid completed application being retained, and fees paid for earlier applications will be forfeited.
• Where CGPA or OGPA grading is used by the university, candidates must convert it to percentage and provide a university-issued conversion certificate when called for verification.

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The following practical points may help candidates better understand this recruitment process:

The Two-Portal Process of Online Application

The NATS registration is not the same as applying. Mostly candidates who have heard of this recruitment will land on the BEEP portal directly, skip NATS, and wonder why they cannot proceed. The correct sequence is: NATS first, Enrolment ID next, then BFSI SSC email invite, then BEEP registration and payment. This chain has at least two points where delays happen, if the BFSI SSC email arrives in spam or if NATS registration has a technical issue, then the 10-day application window will not be enough. So, if anyone not already registered on NATS should should start application process from today.

The Central Bank of India Products Section Cannot Be Prepared Generically

Twenty marks are specifically reserved for Central Bank of India's own products, schemes, and services. Standard banking exam books do not cover this material, and the bank has said that study content will be shared on its website in due course. Candidates who have prepared for IBPS or SBI exams using general banking awareness material will find that preparation does not transfer fully to this section. Therefore, checking https://centralbank.bank.in before the exam for any published study guide for this section is not only a optional preparation but is the only source for that 20 mark component.

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Also Check:

State Bank of India Apprentice 2026: 7150 Training Seats, Online Exam in July, Last Date June 15 (Extended)

Bank of Baroda Apprentice Recruitment 2026 – 5000 Seats Across India, Apply Online by June 8

Northern Coalfields Limited (NCL) Apprentice Recruitment 2026-27: Complete Details for 1,607 Posts

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❓Frequently Asked Questions 

How many apprentice seats are available in Central Bank of India 2026?

4,500 training seats are available for financial year 2026-27, distributed across 36 states and union territories. Maharashtra tops the list with 586 seats and Uttar Pradesh follows with 580. The seats are further divided by district within each state.

What is the last date to apply for Central Bank of India Apprentice 2026?

June 22, 2026 is the closing date for both online registration and fee payment. The process also opens on June 12, leaving a 10-day window. 

Who is eligible to apply?

Indian citizens who have completed graduation in any discipline from a recognized university on or after January 1, 2022, fall in the 20 to 28 age bracket as on May 31, 2026, and are registered on the NATS portal are eligible. Candidates who have previously done an apprenticeship anywhere, or who have worked for one year or more after graduation, are not eligible.

What is the age limit, including category relaxations?

General and EWS candidates must be between 20 and 28 years as on May 31, 2026. SC and ST candidates get 5 years relaxation (maximum 33 years); OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) gets 3 years (maximum 31 years); PwBD (UR/EWS) gets 10 years; PwBD (OBC) gets 13 years; PwBD (SC/ST) gets 15 years.

What graduation percentage is required?

The notification does not mention any minimum percentage requirement. Any passing graduation degree from a recognized university is acceptable, provided it was completed on or after January 1, 2022.

What is the selection process for this recruitment?

Selection is in two stages. First, an online objective test of 100 marks and 60 minutes, conducted by BFSI SSC from the candidate's own device. Second, a local language proficiency test at a bank-designated venue. Final selection also depends on document verification and medical fitness.

What is the monthly stipend?

Rs. 15,000 per month for the 12-month engagement period. No other allowances, transport, hostel, or benefits are provided. Apprentices are not bank employees and do not receive staff benefits of any kind.

What is the application fee?

General, EWS, and OBC male candidates pay Rs. 944 (including 18% GST). Female candidates in these categories pay Rs. 708. SC, ST, PwBD, and Transgender candidates of any category pay Rs. 236. The fee is non-refundable.

How do I apply for Central Bank of India Apprentice 2026?

First register on the NATS portal at https://nats.education.gov.in. After getting your Enrolment ID, wait for an email from BFSI SSC (info@bfsissc.com) inviting you to register on https://beep.bfsissc.com. Complete the final application and pay the fee on the BEEP portal to complete your registration.

What is the official website?

https://centralbank.bank.in/en/recruitments. All corrigenda, exam date announcements, results, and other updates will appear only on this page. No separate press communication will be issued.

Is there a permanent job offer after completing the apprenticeship?

No. The bank has explicitly stated in the notification that apprentices have no right to claim employment after the training period ends. The bank is under no obligation to offer permanent roles to any apprentice at any stage.

Can I choose which district I want to be posted in?

Yes. Candidates select their preferred districts for training during the BEEP portal registration. However, the final posting is at the bank's discretion within the state applied for. Selection into a particular district depends on the merit list within that district's seat pool.

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Conclusion (Do the NATS Registration before anything else)

First thing a candidate should do is it register on the NATS portal as soon as possible, because the BFSI SSC email after NATS registration can take time to arrive, and the application window is just 10 days.

Once registered and the fee is paid, track all updates through two channels i.e., the "My Applied Opportunities" section on https://beep.bfsissc.com, and the official bank website at https://centralbank.bank.in/en/recruitments. The exam date and time will appear there, and there will be no physical call letter. Check your registered email and phone regularly, and make sure the email address you registered with is active and accessible.

The bank will also be publishing the Central Bank of India Products and Services study content on its recruitment page before the exam. Keep an eye on that page specifically, because no other preparation source will cover that section adequately.

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.