UCO Bank Apprentice Recruitment 2026: 530 Posts

Introduction

UCO Bank, a prominent public sector bank, has announced a significant recruitment drive for Apprentice positions across various states and Union Territories. This initiative, identified by Advertisement Number HO/HRM/RECR/2026-27/COM-02, aims to fill 530 vacancies. The engagement is governed by the Apprentices Act, 1961, offering a for recent graduates to gain practical experience in the banking sector. Candidates must have completed their graduation on or after April 1, 2022, and fall within the age bracket of 20 to 28 years as of October 1, 2026. The application process is entirely online, requiring registration on the NATS portal followed by an application for the UCO Bank apprenticeship program. Successful applicants will undergo an Online Entrance Examination conducted by the BFSI Sector Skill Council of India. The official notification provides comprehensive details regarding eligibility, the application procedure, and the selection process. It is imperative for all interested candidates to thoroughly review the official notification before proceeding with their application to ensure all requirements are met. The last date to apply and submit necessary information is October 29, 2026.

Recruitment Overview

Important Dates

Vacancy Details

UCO Bank has announced a total of 530 vacancies for the engagement of Apprentices. The vacancies are identified State/UT wise and category wise, including SC, ST, OBC (NCL), EWS, and UR categories. The exact number of vacancies for each category within each State/UT is detailed in the official notification. Candidates are permitted to apply for engagement in only one State/UT. The number of seats mentioned is provisional and subject to change based on the Bank's actual requirements. The Bank also reserves the right to allocate apprenticeship vacancies in any district within the selected State/UT as per administrative needs.

Reservation for Persons with Benchmark Disability (PwBD): The recruitment also includes reservation for persons with benchmark disabilities as per "The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016". The posts are identified as suitable for specific categories of disabilities, including Orthopedically Challenged (OC), Visually Impaired (VI), and Hearing Impaired (HI). Detailed criteria for each disability category are provided in the official notification.

Educational Qualifications and Eligibility

To be eligible for the UCO Bank Apprentice recruitment, candidates must meet the following criteria:

• Nationality: Must be a citizen of India, or a subject of Nepal or Bhutan, or a Tibetan refugee who came to India before January 1962 with the intention of permanent settlement, or a person of Indian origin who has migrated from specific countries with the intention of permanent settlement.
• Educational Qualification: Candidates must have completed their graduation. The Mark Sheets and Provisional/Final Degree Certificate for graduation must have been issued by the University/Institute/College on or after April 1, 2022.
• Age Limit: The minimum age is 20 years and the maximum age is 28 years as on October 1, 2026. This maximum age limit is applicable for Unreserved (UR) and Economically Weaker Section (EWS) candidates.

Candidates belonging to OBC (NCL) category must submit a valid OBC certificate in the prescribed format, issued on or after April 1, 2026, and containing the 'non-creamy layer' clause. Those who fall under the creamy layer or whose caste is not in the Central List are not entitled to OBC reservation and should indicate their category as General in the online application.

Age Limit and Relaxation

The age criteria for applying as an Apprentice with UCO Bank are as follows:

• Minimum Age: 20 years
• Maximum Age: 28 years

The age calculation date is October 1, 2026. The maximum age of 28 years is specified for Unreserved (UR) and Economically Weaker Section (EWS) candidates. Age relaxations for categories such as SC, ST, OBC, PwBD, etc., are applicable as per Government of India rules, though specific details on the extent of relaxation are not explicitly provided in the supplied text.

Application Fee

Candidates are required to pay a non-refundable Application/Intimation/Examination Charges/Fees. The exact amount of the fee is not specified in the supplied notification. However, the payment must be made through the ONLINE mode only. The window for making this payment is from October 14, 2026, to October 29, 2026. This fee is irrespective of whether the candidate attends the online test or is shortlisted/selected for further processes.

Salary and Pay Scale

Selected candidates will receive a monthly stipend during their apprenticeship. The total monthly stipend is Rs 16,650/-, which includes any subsidy amount provided by the Government. UCO Bank will disburse Rs 10,500/- into the apprentice's account monthly, while the Government's share of the stipend is Rs 6,150/-. This stipend amount is subject to change as per Government directives.

Selection Process

The selection of candidates for engagement as apprentices in UCO Bank will be based on a two-stage process:

1. Online Entrance Examination: This is an objective-type test conducted by the BFSI Sector Skill Council of India. Candidates who have registered on the NATS portal and applied for the apprenticeship program will be eligible to appear for this examination. The minimum qualifying marks for the online test are 40 out of 100 for General/EWS candidates and 35 out of 100 for SC/ST/OBC/PwBD candidates.
2. Document Verification: Provisionally shortlisted candidates will be called for document verification. Candidates must produce original certificates for educational qualifications, age, category, and other relevant documents at this stage. Failure to produce the required documents will lead to the cancellation of candidature.

A merit list will be drawn State-wise and category-wise based on the performance in the online examination and subsequent verification.

Application Procedure

Interested and eligible candidates must apply online through the official UCO Bank career website and the NATS portal. The application procedure involves the following steps:

1. NATS Registration: Candidates must first register on the NATS portal (nats.education.gov.in).
2. UCO Bank Application: After registering on NATS, candidates must apply for the apprenticeship program of UCO Bank through the same portal.
3. Email Communication: Eligible candidates will receive an email communication from BFSI SSC to make the payment of the requisite examination fees/intimation charges.
4. Fee Payment: Pay the non-refundable application/intimation/examination charges online between October 14, 2026, and October 29, 2026.
5. Submission of Information: Submit any additional required information by the last date, October 29, 2026.

No other mode of application will be accepted. Candidates are advised to ensure they apply for engagement in only one State/UT, as multiple applications will lead to rejection.

Required Documents

Candidates will be required to produce original certificates for educational qualifications, age, category, and other relevant documents at the time of document verification. Specific documents mentioned in the notification include:

• Mark Sheets and Provisional/Final Degree Certificate for graduation (issued on or after 01.04.2022).
• OBC (NCL) certificate in the prescribed format, issued on or after 01.04.2026, if applicable.
• Income and Asset Certificate for EWS category, if applicable.
• Disability certificate for PwBD candidates, in the prescribed format.

Candidates are advised to keep their email ID active as call letters and advices will be sent via email only.

Important Instructions and Common Mistakes

Candidates should carefully adhere to the following instructions to avoid common mistakes:

• Single Application: Apply for engagement in only one State/UT. Submitting multiple applications from the same candidate will result in rejection.
• Eligibility Check: Ensure all eligibility criteria, including educational qualifications and age, are met as on the specified cut-off date (01.10.2026) before applying.
• OBC/EWS Certificates: OBC candidates must ensure their certificate contains the 'non-creamy layer' clause and is issued within the specified validity period. EWS candidates need a valid 'Income and Asset Certificate'.
• Online Mode Only: All applications and fee payments must be made online. No hard copy applications or other modes of payment will be accepted.
• Email Communication: Keep your registered email ID active, as all communications, including call letters, will be sent via email.
• Document Verification: Be prepared to submit original documents at the time of verification. Any discrepancy or missing document can lead to disqualification.

Official Notification and Application Links

FAQs

Q1: What is the last date to apply for the UCO Bank Apprentice recruitment?
A1: The last date for application and submission of additional information is October 29, 2026.

Q2: What is the educational qualification required for the Apprentice post?
A2: Candidates must have completed their graduation, with Mark Sheets and Provisional/Final Degree Certificates issued on or after April 1, 2022.

Q3: What is the age limit for this recruitment?
A3: The age limit is between 20 and 28 years as on October 1, 2026. The maximum age of 28 is for UR and EWS candidates.

Q4: How will candidates be selected?
A4: Selection will be based on an Online Entrance Examination conducted by BFSI Sector Skill Council of India, followed by document verification.

Q5: What is the monthly stipend for apprentices?
A5: Selected apprentices will receive a monthly stipend of Rs 16,650/-.