Punjab National Bank (PNB) has officially released a massive Apprentice Recruitment Notification for the financial year 2025–26, offering 5138 apprenticeship seats across India. This is a golden opportunity for fresh graduates who want banking exposure, monthly stipend, and an apprenticeship certificate from one of India’s largest public sector banks.
Unlike permanent bank jobs, this recruitment is conducted under the Apprentices Act, 1961, which means skill training + practical banking experience for one full year. Candidates from all states including Odisha can apply online through the BFSI SSC portal.
If you are confused about eligibility, age limit, fees, local language requirement, NAPS/NATS registration, or whether this leads to a permanent job, this article will clear everything step-by-step.
🔍 Quick Review – PNB Apprentice Recruitment 2026
- 🏢 Organization: Punjab National Bank (PNB)
- 📌 Post Name: Apprentice
- 📊 Total Vacancies: 5138
- 🎓 Qualification: Graduate (Any Discipline)
- 📅 Application Dates: 08 Feb – 24 Feb 2026
- 📝 Selection: Online Test + Document Verification + Language Test
- 💰 Stipend: ₹12,300 to ₹15,000 per month
- ⏳ Training Duration: 1 Year
- 📍 Job Location: All India (State-wise)
🧾 PNB Apprentice Notification 2026 – Overview
Punjab National Bank is engaging apprentices purely for training purposes, not as employees. Selected candidates will undergo 12 months of apprenticeship, including classroom learning and on-the-job training in bank branches.
⚠️ Important: After completion of apprenticeship, candidates are automatically relieved. There is no guarantee of a permanent job in PNB.
📅 Important Dates to Remember
- 🟢 Online Application Start Date: 08 February 2026
- 🔴 Last Date to Apply: 24 February 2026
- 🧮 Cut-off Date for Age & Qualification: 01 January 2026
- 🖥️ Tentative Online Exam: 1st Week of March 2026
👉 Apply early to avoid payment failure, server errors, and portal issues.
🎯 PNB Apprentice Vacancy 2026 – State-Wise Seats
- Total Seats: 5138
- Vacancies are distributed state-wise and circle-wise
- Reservation applicable for SC / ST / OBC / EWS / PwBD
📌 Key point for applicants:
PNB reserves the right to allot any circle within your selected state, based on administrative needs.
🎓 Educational Qualification (Eligibility Explained Clearly)
To apply for PNB Apprentice Recruitment 2026:
- ✅ Must have Graduation in any discipline
- ✅ Degree must be from a UGC / AICTE / Government-recognized university
- ✅ Result must be declared on or before 31 December 2025
Special Rules (Very Important)
- Candidates registered under NATS must have passed graduation within the last 4 years
- Candidates must know the local language of the state applied for
🎂 Age Limit & Relaxation (As on 01-01-2026)
- Minimum Age: 20 years
- Maximum Age: 28 years
Age Relaxation
- 🟦 SC / ST: +5 years
- 🟧 OBC (Non-Creamy Layer): +3 years
- ♿ PwBD: +10 years
- 👩 Widows / Divorced / Legally separated women:
- General/EWS: up to 35 years
- OBC: up to 38 years
- SC/ST: up to 40 years
⚠️ Maximum age cannot exceed 34 years for NAPS applicants
💰 PNB Apprentice Salary / Stipend 2026
Monthly stipend during apprenticeship:
- 🏘️ Rural / Semi-Urban / Urban Branch: ₹12,300
- 🏙️ Metro Branch: ₹15,000
What You Will NOT Get
- ❌ DA / HRA / TA
- ❌ PF / ESI / Pension
- ❌ Leave benefits like employees
This is training stipend, not salary.
📝 Selection Process – Step by Step
🖥️ 1. Online Written Examination
- Total Questions: 100
- Total Marks: 100
- Duration: 60 minutes
Sections:
- General / Financial Awareness – 25
- General English – 25
- Quantitative & Reasoning Aptitude – 25
- Computer Knowledge – 25
📌 No sectional cut-off
📌 Merit prepared based on total marks
📌 Tie-breaker: Older candidate gets higher rank
📂 2. Document Verification
Candidates qualifying the exam must produce original documents:
- Graduation certificates
- Category certificates (if applicable)
- Local language proof
- Aadhaar / PAN / ID proof
⚠️ Travel expenses are not reimbursed.
🗣️ 3. Local Language Test
- Mandatory if you did not study the local language in Class 10/12
- Failure = Disqualification
🩺 4. Medical Examination
- Medical fitness certificate from MBBS doctor
- Cost borne by the candidate
💳 Application Fee (Non-Refundable)
- 👨 GEN/OBC/EWS (Male): ₹944 (incl. GST)
- 👩 GEN/OBC/EWS (Female): ₹708
- ♿ SC/ST/PwBD/Transgender: ₹236
⚠️ Fees once paid will not be refunded under any circumstances.
🧠 Mandatory NAPS & NATS Registration (Common Problem Area)
Many candidates get rejected due to wrong or incomplete portal registration.
NAPS (Apprenticeship India)
- Mandatory if not registered earlier
- Register → Search “Punjab National Bank” → Apply
NATS (Education Ministry Portal)
- Mandatory for candidates who passed graduation after 01-01-2022
📌 After registration, you must update your NAPS/NATS number on BFSI SSC portal.
📝 How to Apply for PNB Apprentice Recruitment 2026
Candidates must apply online only through the official BFSI SSC portal. Offline applications are not accepted.
- Visit the BFSI SSC website and open the PNB Apprenticeship Program 2025–26 application link
- Complete online registration using a valid mobile number and email ID
- Fill personal, educational, and category details carefully
- Upload required documents in the prescribed format
- Pay the applicable online application fee
- After submission, note down your registration number for future reference
🔔 Important:
Candidates who are not already registered must mandatorily register on NAPS / NATS portals and later update the apprenticeship code on BFSI SSC portal. Failure to do so may lead to rejection.
📄 Documents Required to Apply (Keep Ready Before Applying)
Before starting the online application, candidates should keep the following documents ready in digital format:
- Aadhaar Card (Front & Back)
- Recent Passport Size Photograph
- PAN Card
- Graduation Marksheet / Degree / Provisional Certificate
- Caste Certificate (SC / ST / OBC / EWS – if applicable)
- PwBD Certificate (if applicable)
- Valid Email ID and Mobile Number
- NAPS Apprenticeship Code / NATS Enrollment Number (if registered)
⚠️ Note:
All documents must be valid, readable, and uploaded in the prescribed size and format. Any mismatch or incorrect document may cause cancellation at document verification stage.
❓ Common Questions & Problems Solved
❓ Is PNB Apprentice a permanent job?
❌ No. It is a training program only.
❓ Will PNB absorb apprentices later?
❌ No legal obligation. Apprentices are automatically relieved after 1 year.
❓ Can final-year students apply?
❌ No. Graduation result must be declared before 31-12-2025.
❓ Is experience allowed?
❌ Candidates with 1 year or more job/training experience after graduation are not eligible.
🌐 Important Links
- Official Notification Pdf Download Here
- Official Website: pnb.bank.in
📌 You can also check Live & Upcoming Government Jobs Here
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✅ Final Advice for Applicants
PNB Apprentice Recruitment 2026 is ideal for fresh graduates who:
- Want banking exposure
- Want a steady stipend for 1 year
- Want an apprenticeship certificate
However, if you are looking for a permanent bank job, you should treat this as experience-building, not final selection.