Official source: The Director, ICAR – National Research Centre for Banana, Thogamalai Road, Thayanur Post, Tiruchirappalli – 620102, Tamil Nadu (Establishment ID: STNTCC089613), Notification dated 27.08.2026, issued under the Apprentices (Amendment) Act, 1973. Applications are accepted only online via the National Apprenticeship Training Scheme (NATS) portal – candidates must first register on NATS before applying against this specific vacancy.
ICAR-NRC Banana Apprentice Recruitment 2026 Overview
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| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Organization | ICAR – National Research Centre for Banana (NRCB), Thogamalai Road, Thayanur Post, Tiruchirappalli – 620102, Tamil Nadu |
| Notification Date | 27 August 2026 |
| Establishment ID (NATS) | STNTCC089613 |
| Posts | Graduate Apprentice and Technician (Diploma) Apprentice |
| Total Posts | 20 (18 Graduate + 2 Technician) |
| Governing Act | Apprentices (Amendment) Act, 1973 |
| Training Duration | One year |
| Application Mode | Online only, via the National Apprenticeship Training Scheme (NATS) portal |
Note: Only candidates who passed their Graduate/Diploma examination in 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025 or 2026 are eligible to apply. Candidates who have already undergone, or are currently undergoing, apprenticeship under the Apprentices (Amendment) Act 1973, or who have one year or more of work experience, are NOT eligible.
ICAR-NRC Banana Apprentice Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Online Application Start | 27 August 2026 |
| Online Application Last Date | 17 September 2026 |
Note: The exact date of certificate verification is not specified in the notification. It will be held at ICAR – National Research Centre for Banana, Thogamalai Road, Thayanur Post, Tiruchirappalli – 620102, Tamil Nadu; the interview schedule for eligible shortlisted candidates will be communicated only through their registered mobile number and e-mail address.
ICAR-NRC Banana Apprentice Vacancy 2026 (Discipline-wise)
| S.No. | Discipline | Graduate | Technician | Monthly Stipend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | B.Sc (Biotechnology) | 2 | – | ₹12,300/month |
| 2 | B.Sc (Botany) | 2 | – | ₹12,300/month |
| 3 | B.Sc (Life Science) | 6 | – | ₹12,300/month |
| 4 | B.Sc (Agriculture/Horticulture) | 4 | – | ₹12,300/month |
| 5 | B.Sc (Biochemistry) | 1 | – | ₹12,300/month |
| 6 | B.Sc (Chemistry) | 1 | – | ₹12,300/month |
| 7 | B.C.A / B.Sc (Computer Science) | 2 | – | ₹12,300/month |
| 8 | Diploma (Agriculture/Horticulture) | – | 2 | ₹10,900/month |
| Total | 18 | 2 | 20 |
ICAR-NRC Banana Apprentice Eligibility 2026
Category I – Graduate Apprentices
A Degree in Biotechnology / Botany / Life Science / Agriculture / Horticulture / Biochemistry / Chemistry / BCA / Computer Science (Regular, full-time), granted by a statutory or Deemed University in the relevant discipline and UGC-approved.
Category II – Technician Apprentices
A Diploma in Agriculture / Horticulture (Regular, full-time), granted by a statutory or Deemed University in the relevant discipline and UGC-approved.
Passing Year & Registration
- Must have passed B.Sc./Diploma only in the years 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025 or 2026.
- Must be registered on the MHRD NATS Portal (www.mhrdnats.gov.in) – this registration is mandatory before applying.
Important: 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 to apply.
ICAR-NRC Banana Apprentice Age Limit & Physical Standards
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.
ICAR-NRC Banana Apprentice Stipend
| Category | Monthly Stipend |
|---|---|
| Graduate Apprentice | ₹12,300 |
| Technician (Diploma) Apprentice | ₹10,900 |
Note: No TA/DA is paid for attending certificate verification, and no boarding or lodging expenses are admissible. Upon completion of the apprenticeship period, ICAR-NRCB has no obligation to offer regular employment, and an apprentice cannot claim any right to employment on the grounds of having completed the apprenticeship.
ICAR-NRC Banana Apprentice Selection Process
- Engagement of both Graduate and Technician Apprentices is made purely on merit, based on the aggregate marks obtained by the candidate in their Graduate or Diploma examination, respectively.
- Preference is given to children of employees of the host establishment (VPA) – specifically, children of deceased employees, medically invalidated and superannuated employees, and serving employees, respectively.
- The final rank list is prepared category-wise (General / SC / ST / OBC) after certificate verification, conducted jointly by the Board of Apprenticeship Training (SR) and officials of ICAR – NRC for Banana, Tiruchirappalli.
How to Apply for ICAR-NRC Banana Apprentice Recruitment 2026
Candidates must first be registered on the NATS portal before applying against this specific vacancy. The steps differ slightly depending on your existing NATS registration status:
Category A – Already Enrolled on the Old Portal (mhrdnats.gov.in)
- Visit https://nats.education.gov.in, click Student → Student Login → Forgot Password, and enter your registered e-mail ID to get an activation link and reset your password.
- Log in with your registered e-mail ID and new password, and complete the application form; a unique 12-digit enrolment number will be generated.
- After completing enrolment (new-portal migration), log in again, go to "Apply against advertised vacancies," search "ICAR – National Research Centre for Banana," and click Apply. Your status will show as "applied."
Category B – Already Enrolled on the New Portal (nats.education.gov.in)
- Log in with your e-mail ID and password.
- Under "Apply against advertised vacancies," search "ICAR – National Research Centre for Banana" and click Apply. Your status will show as "applied."
Category C – First-Time Enrolment (Not Yet Registered)
- Visit https://nats.education.gov.in, click Student → Student Register, and complete the application form; a unique 12-digit Enrolment Number (ATN) will be generated.
- Log in with your e-mail ID and password, go to "Apply against advertised vacancies," search "ICAR – National Research Centre for Banana," and click Apply.
Important: Upload your B.Sc./B.C.A./B.A./Diploma Provisional Certificate or Consolidated Mark Sheet. Entering the percentage of marks (or CGPA × 10) in the "% of marks/CGPA x 10" column on the NATS portal is mandatory – if this is not furnished, the candidature will not be considered.
Documents Required
- B.Sc./B.C.A./B.A./Diploma Provisional Certificate or Consolidated Mark Sheet, showing percentage of marks
- SC/ST/OBC/PWD reservation certificate, in the Government-prescribed standard format, if claiming reservation (OBC candidates must submit a certificate from the certificate-issuing Authority/Tahsildar, if authorized)
- Secondary (or equivalent) educational certificate showing the candidate's name exactly as it should appear in the application; if the name has since changed, legally accepted documentary proof must be submitted at the time of interview
Note: If reservation-category proof is not provided, the candidate's claim for reservation will be considered as 'General' category only.
Important Conditions
- Reservation for SC/ST/OBC/PWD is followed as per the guidelines under the Apprentices Act. Candidates claiming reservation must provide a certificate in the Government standard format, failing which their claim will be treated as 'General' category only.
- Incomplete or erroneous online applications, and applications received after the due date, will be rejected, with no further communication in this regard.
- The Board of Apprenticeship Training (SR)/ICAR-NRCB Authority has not entrusted or authorized any individual or organization to coordinate or liaison on their behalf – candidates should beware of touts.
- Canvassing or pressuring through any source will disqualify the candidature, and such a candidate's name will be removed from official records without prior intimation.
- Requests for change of mailing address, category, discipline or qualification, once declared in the online application form, will not be entertained.
- No Travelling Allowance or other expenses are admissible for candidates appearing for certificate verification/interview.
- The Director, ICAR – NRCB, Tiruchirappalli, reserves the right to withdraw or cancel the advertisement/selection process, if circumstances so warrant, without assigning any reason.
- Candidates must enrol themselves on the NATS website (www.mhrdnats.gov.in / nats.education.gov.in) before applying on the ICAR-NRCB posting.
- The interview schedule for eligible shortlisted candidates will be communicated only through their registered mobile number and e-mail address.
