NRCB Apprentices (Graduate & Technician) Recruitment 2026 — 20 Posts, Apply Online by 17 Sep (Tamil Nadu)

ICAR – National Research Centre for Banana (NRCB), Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu, has released NRCB Apprentices Recruitment 2026 under a notification dated 27 August 2026 for 20 posts — 18 Graduate Apprentice and 2 Technician (Diploma) Apprentice — engaged under the Apprentices (Amendment) Act, 1973. NRCB Apprentices 2026 covers disciplines including Biotechnology, Botany, Life Science, Agriculture/Horticulture, Biochemistry, Chemistry, and Computer Applications/Computer Science for Graduate Apprentices, and Agriculture/Horticulture for Technician Apprentices. NRCB, a premier ICAR institute dedicated to banana research, offers apprentices a one-year training exposure to agricultural and biotechnological research practices. Candidates who passed their qualifying Graduate or Diploma examination in 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, or 2026, and who are registered on the National Apprenticeship Training Scheme (NATS) portal, are eligible to apply. Selected apprentices will undergo structured, hands-on training at NRCB's research facilities in Tiruchirappalli, gaining exposure to banana crop research, biotechnology laboratory practices, and agricultural extension work relevant to their discipline. The selection process for NRCB Apprentices 2026 is based purely on merit, using the aggregate marks obtained in the candidate's qualifying Graduate or Diploma examination — there is no written test or interview stage, only certificate verification. Preference is given to children of employees of the host establishment, specifically children of deceased, medically invalidated, and superannuated or serving employees, in that order. The stipend for NRCB Apprentices 2026 is ₹12,300 per month for Graduate Apprentices and ₹10,900 per month for Technician (Diploma) Apprentices, offering fresh graduates and diploma holders a meaningful entry point into agricultural research. The NRCB Apprentices 2026 online application is open from 27 August 2026 to 17 September 2026, through the NATS portal at nats.education.gov.in. The last date to apply for NRCB Apprentices Recruitment 2026 is 17 September 2026. There is no application fee for this recruitment. Candidates must read the complete official NRCB Apprentices 2026 notification PDF at nrcb.org.in before applying, and ensure they are registered on the NATS portal, since this registration is mandatory before applying against this specific vacancy.

Graduate Apprentice: A regular, full-time Degree in Biotechnology, Botany, Life Science, Agriculture/Horticulture, Biochemistry, Chemistry, BCA, or Computer Science, granted by a statutory or Deemed University in the relevant discipline and UGC-approved. Technician (Diploma) Apprentice: A regular, full-time Diploma in Agriculture/Horticulture, granted by a statutory or Deemed University in the relevant discipline and UGC-approved. Candidates must have passed their Graduate/Diploma examination only in 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, or 2026, and must be registered on the NATS Portal (nats.education.gov.in) before applying. Candidates who have already undergone, or are currently undergoing, apprenticeship under the Apprentices (Amendment) Act 1973, or who have 1 year or more of prior work experience, are NOT eligible.

The age limit will be followed as per the applicable Apprenticeship Rules — a specific numeric age limit is not stated in the official notification. Minimum physical standards will be as prescribed in Clause 4 of the Apprenticeship Rules, 1992, and any amendments thereof.

• Graduate Apprentice: Regular, full-time Degree in Biotechnology, Botany, Life Science, Agriculture/Horticulture, Biochemistry, Chemistry, BCA, or Computer Science
• Technician (Diploma) Apprentice: Regular, full-time Diploma in Agriculture/Horticulture
• Must have passed the qualifying examination only in 2022–2026
• Must be registered on the NATS Portal before applying against this vacancy
• Candidates already apprenticed under the Apprentices Act, or with 1+ year of work experience, are not eligible
• Selection is purely on merit, based on aggregate marks in the qualifying examination — no written test or interview
• Preference given to children of NRCB employees (deceased, medically invalidated, superannuated, or serving), in that order
• Training duration is 1 year; completion does not confer any right to regular employment at NRCB

Not applicable — no application fee is charged for this apprenticeship recruitment

• Graduate Apprentice: ₹12,300 per month
• Technician (Diploma) Apprentice: ₹10,900 per month
• No TA/DA is paid for attending certificate verification, and no boarding or lodging expenses are admissible

1. Ensure you are registered on the NATS portal at nats.education.gov.in — if not, complete Student Registration first to generate your unique 12-digit Enrolment Number (ATN)
2. If already registered on the old portal (mhrdnats.gov.in), reset your password via the "Forgot Password" option and complete new-portal migration
3. Log in to your NATS profile with your registered email ID and password
4. Go to "Apply against advertised vacancies" and search for "ICAR – National Research Centre for Banana"
5. Click "Apply" against the NRCB vacancy listing — your status will then show as "applied"
6. Upload your B.Sc./B.C.A./B.A./Diploma Provisional Certificate or Consolidated Mark Sheet
7. Enter your percentage of marks (or CGPA × 10) accurately in the designated field — this is mandatory, and omitting it means your candidature will not be considered
8. Upload SC/ST/OBC/PWD reservation certificate, if claiming reservation, in the Government-prescribed format
9. Review all entered details carefully before final submission, since profile corrections after the last date will not be reflected for this cycle
10. Submit the completed application on or before 17 September 2026, and watch for interview/verification communication via your registered mobile number and email