UCO Bank has opened a fresh nationwide apprenticeship drive for 530 graduate apprentice seats under the Apprentices Act, 1961 for FY 2026–27. Advertisement No. HO/HRM/RECR/2026-27/COM-02, dated 13 October 2026, is especially relevant for recent graduates because the online registration window opened today, 14 October 2026, and remains available until 29 October 2026. Candidates can apply for only one State or Union Territory, and the highest seat counts are in West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, Rajasthan and Bihar. The apprenticeship lasts for one year and carries a total monthly stipend of ₹16,650, including the applicable Government share. Applicants must be graduates from a recognised university or institution, and their graduation marksheets and provisional/final degree certificate must have been issued on or after 1 April 2022. The basic age band is 20 to 28 years as on 1 October 2026, with category relaxations under the notified rules. Selection includes a 100-mark online entrance test, State/UT-wise merit, local-language verification where required, document verification and medical fitness. This is apprenticeship training, not a permanent bank appointment, and UCO Bank explicitly states that apprentices cannot claim regular employment after completing the programme.
UCO Bank Apprentice Recruitment 2026 Overview
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| Bank | UCO Bank |
| Engagement | Apprentice under the Apprentices Act, 1961 |
| Advertisement No. | HO/HRM/RECR/2026-27/COM-02 |
| Advertisement date | 13 October 2026 |
| Total seats | 530 |
| Application start | 14 October 2026 |
| Last date | 29 October 2026 |
| Online examination | 7 November 2026 at 11:00 AM |
| Qualification | Graduate degree from a recognised university/institution |
| Age | 20–28 years as on 1 October 2026 |
| Training duration | 1 year |
| Monthly stipend | ₹16,650 |
| Application mode | Online through NATS + BFSI SSC process |
| Selection | Online test, State/UT-wise merit, local-language test where applicable, document verification and medical fitness |
State and UT-wise Apprentice Seats
| State / UT | Seats |
|---|---|
| Andhra Pradesh | 8 |
| Arunachal Pradesh | 1 |
| Assam | 24 |
| Bihar | 34 |
| Chandigarh | 4 |
| Chhattisgarh | 9 |
| Goa | 1 |
| Gujarat | 20 |
| Haryana | 15 |
| Himachal Pradesh | 25 |
| Jammu and Kashmir | 3 |
| Jharkhand | 12 |
| Karnataka | 11 |
| Kerala | 10 |
| Madhya Pradesh | 27 |
| Maharashtra | 32 |
| Manipur | 2 |
| Meghalaya | 1 |
| Nagaland | 1 |
| New Delhi | 13 |
| Odisha | 41 |
| Puducherry | 1 |
| Punjab | 24 |
| Rajasthan | 37 |
| Sikkim | 1 |
| Tamil Nadu | 21 |
| Telangana | 8 |
| Tripura | 5 |
| Uttar Pradesh | 45 |
| Uttarakhand | 8 |
| West Bengal | 86 |
| Total | 530 |
The notification also gives category-wise distribution for SC, ST, OBC-NCL, EWS and UR candidates, along with identified PwBD seats. Candidates may apply for apprenticeship in only one State or UT.
Educational Qualification
Candidates must hold a graduate degree from a recognised university/institution approved by the Government of India or its regulatory bodies.
A special recency condition applies: the candidate must have completed graduation and possess the relevant marksheets and provisional/final degree certificate issued on or after 1 April 2022.
Prior Training and Job Experience Restriction
Candidates who have already undergone apprenticeship training are not eligible under the notified conditions. The advertisement also states that candidates with one year or more of training or job experience after completing the educational qualification are not eligible to be engaged as apprentices.
Age Limit
The eligibility date is 1 October 2026.
| Category | Age condition / relaxation |
|---|---|
| UR / EWS | 20 to 28 years |
| SC / ST | Upper-age relaxation of 5 years |
| OBC-NCL | Upper-age relaxation of 3 years |
| PwBD (UR/EWS) | 10 years |
| PwBD (OBC) | 13 years |
| PwBD (SC/ST) | 15 years |
| Eligible widows/divorced/separated women | Up to the notified category-specific limits |
Use the Regal Naukri Age Calculator with 1 October 2026 as the cut-off date before checking the relaxation applicable to your category.
Stipend and Training Period
The apprenticeship runs for one year from the date of contract. Selected apprentices receive a total monthly stipend of ₹16,650. The notification explains that UCO Bank pays ₹10,500 per month and the Government share of ₹6,150 is credited through DBT, subject to applicable Government guidelines.
Apprentices are not entitled to the employee allowances and benefits available to regular UCO Bank staff.
Application / Examination Fee
| Category | Fee |
|---|---|
| SC / ST | ₹200 + GST |
| PwBD | ₹200 + GST |
| General / EWS / OBC male | ₹800 + GST |
| General / EWS / OBC female / transgender | ₹600 + GST |
The applicable fee is paid online through the BFSI Sector Skill Council of India process after the candidate has registered on NATS and applied for the UCO Bank apprenticeship.
Selection Process
Online Entrance Examination
The online test is scheduled for 7 November 2026 at 11:00 AM.
| Test | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| General / Financial Awareness | 25 | 25 |
| General English | 25 | 25 |
| Reasoning Ability & Computer Aptitude | 25 | 25 |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 25 | 25 |
| Total | 100 | 100 |
The total examination duration is 60 minutes. The minimum qualifying marks are 40 for General/EWS and 35 for SC/ST/OBC/PwBD.
State/UT-wise Merit and Local Language
Merit is prepared State-wise and category-wise. Applicants must be proficient in one of the notified local languages of the State/UT for which they apply. Candidates whose Class 10 or 12 certificate proves study of the relevant local language do not need the separate local-language test.
Document Verification and Medical Fitness
Final engagement remains subject to document verification and medical fitness.
Important: This Is Training, Not a Permanent Bank Job
Every apprentice is treated as a trainee, not as an employee of UCO Bank. The official advertisement states that the apprentice has no right to claim employment in UCO Bank after training, and the Bank has no obligation to offer regular employment during or after the apprenticeship period.
Documents to Prepare
| Document | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Graduation marksheets and degree/provisional certificate | Qualification and 1 April 2022 recency condition |
| Class 10 certificate | Date of birth; may also establish local-language study |
| Class 12 certificate | May establish local-language study |
| Category certificate | SC/ST/OBC-NCL/EWS claim, where applicable |
| PwBD certificate / UDID | Disability reservation claim, where applicable |
| Aadhaar / accepted identity proof | Application and examination identity checks |
| NATS enrolment details | Mandatory apprenticeship registration |
| Photograph / signature | Online application requirements |
Use the Government Job Document Checklist before submission. The Documents Required for Government Jobs guide can help organise education, category and identity records for later verification.
Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Advertisement date | 13 October 2026 |
| Online registration begins | 14 October 2026 |
| Last date to register / complete payment | 29 October 2026 |
| Online entrance examination | 7 November 2026 at 11:00 AM |
How to Apply for UCO Bank Apprentice Recruitment 2026
- Read the official UCO Bank apprentice advertisement and confirm the graduation-date, age, experience and State/UT conditions.
- Check your age on 1 October 2026 using the Age Calculator.
- Use the Eligibility Pre-check after confirming that your graduation certificate date and prior experience satisfy the apprenticeship rules.
- Register on the National Apprenticeship Training Scheme portal as a student if you are not already registered.
- Log in to NATS and apply for the UCO Bank apprenticeship programme. Keep your NATS enrolment details safe.
- Eligible applicants will receive communication from BFSI SSC for the detailed application, State/UT preferences and online examination fee.
- Complete the BFSI SSC process through the official UCO Bank apprenticeship application page.
- Pay the applicable fee according to your category and gender.
- Ensure that the information entered in the BFSI SSC registration matches the details entered on NATS.
- Complete the process by 29 October 2026 and keep confirmation records for the online examination on 7 November 2026.
Important Instructions
- Apply for only one State/UT.
- Make sure the details in NATS and BFSI SSC match exactly.
- Graduation documents must satisfy the on or after 1 April 2022 condition.
- Candidates with one year or more of post-qualification training/job experience should carefully check the ineligibility clause.
- The local-language condition applies to the selected State/UT.
- No hard copy of the application needs to be sent to UCO Bank.
- Apprentices receive stipend but are not regular bank employees.
- Completion of apprenticeship does not create any right to permanent employment.
- Check the UCO Bank careers page regularly for corrigenda and shortlisted-candidate updates.
Important Links
| Link | Purpose |
|---|---|
| UCO Bank Job Opportunities | Official current recruitment listing |
| UCO Bank Apprentice Official Notification | Detailed Advertisement No. HO/HRM/RECR/2026-27/COM-02 |
| NATS Portal | Mandatory apprenticeship registration |
| BFSI SSC Application Portal | Detailed application, examination information and fee |
| Regal Naukri Age Calculator | Check age on 1 October 2026 |
Frequently Asked Questions
How many seats are available in UCO Bank Apprentice Recruitment 2026?
UCO Bank has announced 530 apprentice seats across 31 States and Union Territories.
Is UCO Bank Apprentice Recruitment a permanent bank job?
No. It is a one-year apprenticeship training programme. The notification states that apprentices have no right to claim regular UCO Bank employment afterward.
What qualification is required?
Applicants need a recognised graduate degree, and their graduation marksheets and provisional/final degree certificate must have been issued on or after 1 April 2022.
What is the age limit?
The base age is 20 to 28 years as on 1 October 2026, with relaxation for eligible categories.
What stipend will selected apprentices receive?
The total monthly stipend is ₹16,650 during the one-year apprenticeship.
What is the last date to apply?
The registration and related application process closes on 29 October 2026.
When will the online exam be held?
The online entrance examination is scheduled for 7 November 2026 at 11:00 AM.
What is the selection process?
Selection includes an online examination, State/UT-wise and category-wise merit, local-language verification where required, document verification and medical fitness.