Canara Bank apprentice recruitment 2026: apply for 3,500 posts by October 17

Canara Bank has announced a recruitment drive for 3,500 Apprentice posts, with the online application process scheduled to begin on October 1, 2026. Interested and eligible candidates can submit their applications through the official Apprenticeship portal at nats.education.gov.in. The registration window will remain open until October 17, 2026.

This recruitment initiative aims to engage fresh graduates from Indian universities and institutes as Apprentices across various offices and branches nationwide. The program offers 12 months of on-job training, designed to equip selected graduates with essential soft skills, domain knowledge, and practical work experience relevant to the banking industry.

Eligibility Criteria and Application Process

To be eligible for the Apprentice posts, candidates must possess a Degree (Graduation) in any discipline from a university recognized by the Government of India or an equivalent qualification. Graduates must have passed their degree not earlier than January 1, 2023, and not later than September 1, 2026, inclusive of both dates. The age limit for applicants is set between 20 and 28 years as of September 1, 2026. This means candidates must have been born not earlier than September 2, 1998, and not later than September 1, 2006, inclusive of both dates.

Age relaxations are applicable for specific categories: 5 years for SC/ST candidates, 3 years for OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) candidates, and 10 years for Persons with Disabilities (PwD). In addition, widows, divorced women, and legally separated women (who have not remarried) are eligible for age limits up to 35 years for General/EWS, 38 years for OBC, and 40 years for SC/ST. Persons affected by the 1984 riots will receive a 5-year age relaxation. The application fee is ₹500 for all category candidates, except for SC/ST/PwBD candidates who are exempted from payment. Payment can be made via Debit Cards, Credit Cards, Internet Banking, IMPS, Cash Cards, or Mobile Wallets.

Candidates who have previously undergone apprenticeship training or possess one year or more of work experience after graduation are not eligible for this recruitment. Also, applicants must be proficient in reading, writing, and speaking the local language of the state they select for their apprenticeship.

Selection Procedure and Stipend Details

The selection process for the Canara Bank Apprentice posts involves multiple stages, including the preparation of a merit list, document verification, a local language test, and a medical examination. The merit list will be compiled state-wise, based on marks or percentages obtained in the 12th Standard (HSC/10+2) or Diploma Examination, in descending order. In the event of a tie in percentages, candidates will be ranked says their age in descending order.

Minimum qualifying marks for the 12th Standard (HSC/10+2) or Diploma Examination are 60% for general candidates and 55% for SC/ST/PwBD candidates. Document verification and a local language test will be conducted during the document verification process. Selected candidates will undergo an apprenticeship for a period of 12 months and will receive a monthly stipend of ₹16,650. This stipend comprises ₹10,500 contributed by Canara Bank and ₹6,150 provided by the Government through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).

Vacancy Distribution and Application Steps

A total of 3,500 Apprentice posts are available across various states, with specific allocations for different categories. The distribution includes 1,541 seats for UR, 845 for OBC, 553 for SC, 335 for EWS, and 226 for ST categories. Karnataka has the highest number of vacancies with 581 seats, followed by Uttar Pradesh with 409 and Tamil Nadu with 391. Each state also specifies the required local language proficiency.

To apply, candidates must first visit the official Apprenticeship portal at nats.education.gov.in and complete their registration, ensuring their profile is 100% complete. After obtaining the NATS Enrollment ID, applicants should proceed to the official Canara Bank website and navigate to the Recruitment/Careers section. There, they need to select the Graduate Apprentice 2026 application link, enter their NATS Enrollment ID, and fill in all other required details. The application form requires candidates to select their preferred state and upload necessary documents, including a photograph and signature. Finally, applicants must pay the applicable application fee, submit the form, and download the confirmation page and payment receipt for future reference.

Written by Nishit Kumar

Nishit Kumar is a senior EdTech industry leader with over a decade of experience in building and scaling education platforms, shaping their product, content, and growth strategy. At FindMyCollege, Nishit oversees content and editorial strategy, guiding topic selection and content frameworks to ensure accuracy, relevance, and student-first value across the website.

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