Punjab National Bank (PNB) has released the official notification for engagement of Apprentices under the Apprentices Act, 1961 for the FY 2025–26. This apprenticeship program offers graduates an excellent opportunity to gain hands-on banking experience with one of India’s leading public sector banks. A total of 5,138 apprenticeship seats have been announced across various States and Union Territories . The PNB Apprenticeship program is purely a training engagement for one year and does not confer any right to permanent employment in the Bank. However, it is highly valuable for candidates preparing for bank exams and seeking real-time exposure to banking operations.
PNB Apprenticeship Important Dates
As per the official notification, the key dates related to the PNB Apprenticeship 2025–26 are as follows :
- Start of online registration and application: 08 February 2026
- Last date to apply online: 24 February 2026
- Tentative online examination date: 1st week of March 2026
- Cut-off date for age and educational qualification: 01 January 2026
Candidates must complete their application process within the prescribed timeline, as no requests for extension will be entertained.
PNB Apprenticeship Vacancy Details
Punjab National Bank has notified 5,138 apprenticeship seats in total, distributed state-wise, circle-wise, and category-wise across India .
Category-wise Seat Distribution
Out of the total 5,138 seats, the reservation breakup is as follows:
- Scheduled Caste (SC): 887 seats
- Scheduled Tribe (ST): 294 seats
- Other Backward Classes (OBC): 1,110 seats
- Economically Weaker Section (EWS): 464 seats
- Unreserved (UR): 2,383 seats
Additionally, 204 seats are reserved for Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD), equally distributed among:
- Visually Impaired (VI): 51
- Hearing Impaired (HI): 51
- Orthopedically Challenged (OH): 52
- Intellectual Disability (ID): 51
The number of seats mentioned is provisional and may vary depending on the bank’s operational requirements.
PNB Apprenticeship Eligibility Criteria
Nationality
Candidates must be:
- A citizen of India, or
- A subject of Nepal or Bhutan, or
- A Tibetan refugee who came to India before 1 January 1962, or
- A person of Indian origin migrated from specified countries with an eligibility certificate issued by the Government of India .
Age Limit
- Minimum age: 20 years
- Maximum age: 28 years (as on 01.01.2026)
Age relaxation is applicable as per Government of India norms:
- SC/ST: 5 years
- OBC (Non-creamy layer): 3 years
- PwBD: 10 years
- Widows/divorced women: up to 35–40 years depending on category .
Educational Qualification
- Candidates must possess a graduate degree in any discipline from a recognised university.
- The result must have been declared on or before 31 December 2025.
- Candidates applying under NATS must have completed graduation not more than 4 years prior to 01.01.2026.
- Proficiency in the local language of the applied State/UT is mandatory .
Duration of PNB Apprenticeship Training
The total duration of the apprenticeship is one year (12 months), which includes:
- 2 weeks of Basic Training
- 50 weeks of On-the-Job Training
PNB Apprenticeship Stipend
Selected apprentices will receive a monthly stipend as follows :
- Rural / Semi-Urban / Urban branches: ₹12,300 per month
- Metro branches: ₹15,000 per month
No additional allowances or employee benefits such as PF, ESI, bonus, or medical facilities will be provided.
Selection Process for PNB Apprenticeship
The selection process includes:
- Online written examination conducted through BFSI SSC
- Merit-based shortlisting
- Document verification
Candidates who successfully complete the training and final assessment will be issued an Apprenticeship Certificate. However, completion of apprenticeship does not guarantee employment in PNB .
PNB Apprenticeship Application Process
Candidates must apply online through:
- PNB official website, or
- BFSI Sector Skill Council of India portal (bfsissc.com)
Applicants are required to upload documents such as Aadhaar, photograph, graduation certificate, caste certificate (if applicable), and PwBD certificate (if applicable). No hard copy of the application is to be sent to the bank .
Why PNB Apprenticeship is Important for Bank Aspirants
The PNB Apprenticeship program provides real-world exposure to banking operations, customer handling, and branch-level functioning. It strengthens practical understanding for candidates preparing for exams like SBI PO, IBPS PO, and other bank recruitments, making it a valuable career-building opportunity.
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