Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) has opened applications for 3,047 apprentice seats at 24 work centres across India. There is no written exam, and the last date to apply is 20 November 2026.
What the notice says
The advertisement (No. ONGC/APPR/1/2026) is dated 29 October 2026 and invites candidates under the Apprentices Act, 1961. Training lasts 12 months for every trade. ONGC states that the trades and seat numbers are tentative and may change with its requirements. It also says apprenticeship does not give any right to regular employment in ONGC.
Important dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Advertisement issued | 29 October 2026 |
| Online portals open | 29 October 2026 |
| Last date to apply | 20 November 2026 |
| Age and eligibility cut-off | 29 November 2026 |
| Date of result/selection | 15 December 2026 |
ONGC adds that if it receives too few applications, it can extend the date, so keep watching the official pages.
Categories and who can apply
Seats fall into three groups. Trade apprentices need Class 10 or 12, or an ITI certificate in the relevant trade (for example Electrician, Fitter, Welder, Diesel Mechanic, COPA, Instrument Mechanic or Surveyor). Diploma apprentices need a three-year engineering diploma in the matching discipline. Graduate apprentices need a degree such as B.Com, B.Sc (Chemistry), BBA, B.E./B.Tech, or, for the Petroleum Executive post, a graduate with Geology as a subject. The full trade list, with the exact qualification for each, is in the official notice.
- Age: 18 to 24 years on 29 November 2026 (born between 29.11.2002 and 29.11.2008).
- Relaxation in the upper age limit: 5 years for SC/ST, 3 years for OBC (non-creamy layer). For PwBD candidates, up to 10 years, 15 for SC/ST and 13 for OBC (non-creamy layer).
- You must not have done an apprenticeship before or be doing one now.
- You should not have completed three years since passing the qualifying exam, as on 29 November 2026.
- A candidate with one year or more of training or job experience after the qualification is not eligible as a Technician Apprentice.
- Domicile matters: you can apply for a work centre only if you live in, or earned your qualification from, an eligible district listed in Annexure 1 of the notice.
Monthly stipend
| Category | Qualification | Stipend per month |
|---|---|---|
| Trade apprentice | Class 10 / 12 | Rs 8,200 |
| Trade apprentice | ITI, one-year trade | Rs 9,600 |
| Trade apprentice | ITI, two-year trade | Rs 10,560 |
| Diploma apprentice | Three-year engineering diploma | Rs 10,900 |
| Graduate apprentice | BA / B.Com / B.Sc / BBA / BE / B.Tech | Rs 12,300 |
ONGC says apprentices get no travel, boarding or lodging allowance and no help with transport. Plan your living costs near the work centre before you choose it.
Sector-wise and work-centre vacancies
| Sector | Work centres (seats) | Sector total printed |
|---|---|---|
| Northern | Dehradun 138, Delhi 28, Jodhpur 5, OVL Delhi 20 | 191 |
| Mumbai | Mumbai 200, Hazira 138, Uran 69, Goa 25, Nhava 25, Panvel 25 | 482 |
| Western | Ankleshwar 392, Ahmedabad 331, Mehsana 301, Vadodara 78, Cambay 64 | 1,166 |
| Eastern | Nazira and Sivasagar 466, Jorhat 135, Silchar 73 | 674 |
| Southern | Karaikal 98, Kakinada 76, Rajahmundry 53, Chennai 40 | 269 |
| Central | Agartala 200, Kolkata 34, Bokaro 33 | 267 |
A small arithmetic quirk: the notice prints a grand total of 3,047, and the individual work-centre figures add up to that number. But the printed Southern sector total of 269 is two more than its four centres add up to (267), so the six sector totals sum to 3,049. This looks like a typing slip, and the work-centre figures are the safer guide. Always check the final seat numbers on the official PDF.
The Western sector alone holds more than a third of all seats, and Nazira and Sivasagar in Assam is the single biggest work centre.
How selection works
The notice describes a merit-based process and no written test. ONGC downloads applications from the two government portals, checks eligibility, and prepares a provisional merit list for each trade and work centre based on marks in your qualifying exam. If two candidates tie, the older one is preferred. Shortlisted candidates then go through document verification with original certificates, a medical fitness check as required under the Apprentices Act, and a final merit list. Results are to be posted on ongcapprentices.ongc.co.in, and selected candidates are told by email.
What to do now: how to apply
- Download the notice from ongcindia.com and confirm your qualification, age and district are eligible for the work centre you want.
- Choose one sector, one work centre and one trade. If you apply for several, ONGC will place you in only one, at its discretion.
- Check the “Scheme” column. Trades marked NAPS are applied for on apprenticeshipindia.gov.in. Trades marked NATS (mainly graduate and some diploma posts) go through nats.education.gov.in.
- Register on that portal, fill in your details accurately, find the ONGC opening, and submit before 20 November 2026.
- Use a working email address and check spam folders, because ONGC says it will contact shortlisted candidates by email.
- Keep ready your date-of-birth proof, mark sheets, ITI, diploma or degree certificates, category or PwBD certificate if you claim a benefit, an ID, and your NAPS or NATS registration details.
Hard copy and postal applications are not accepted. Updates and corrigenda will appear on ongcindia.com, ongcapprentices.ongc.co.in and the two portals. Questions can go to ongc_skilldev@ongc.co.in.
The bottom line
This is a genuine chance for ITI, diploma and graduate candidates to get a year of paid training at a major public-sector energy company, but it is training, not a job offer. Pick your work centre carefully, because domicile rules and a stipend with no travel or lodging support decide whether it works for you. Apply early on the right portal and double-check every detail.
This article is for information only. Always rely on the official ONGC notification for final details.
Leave a Reply