HPCL’s Graduate Apprentice Trainee Program (2026-27)

If you are a recent engineering graduate looking to gain hands-on experience with one of India’s leading public sector enterprises, you are in the right place. Navigating the transition from college to the corporate world can be daunting, but apprenticeship programs are a fantastic stepping stone.

Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) has just announced its proposal to engage Graduate Apprentice Trainees for the 2026-27 period. As a massive Government of India Enterprise operating under the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MOP&NG), HPCL offers unparalleled exposure. They manage a vast marketing network, refining operations, storage, pipelines, aviation service stations, and LPG bottling plants spread all across India.

Mark Your Calendars: Important Dates

First things first, you do not want to miss the application window. The entire application process is handled online through the HPCL portal.

Commencement of Online Application: 16-02-2026

Last Date of Online Application: 02-03-2026

Pro-tip: Candidates who try to apply on the HPCL Portal after 02-03-2026 will not be considered, so do not leave this until the last minute!

Are You Eligible? Breaking Down the Criteria

HPCL is specifically looking for Indian nationals to fill training slots in four core engineering disciplines: Civil, Mechanical, Electrical, and Instrumentation.

However, getting in requires meeting several strict criteria regarding your graduation date, age, and academic performance. You must also be registered and approved on the National Apprenticeship Training scheme (NATS 2.0) web portal by the Board of Apprenticeship Training (BOAT) before you can be considered.

Here is a quick overview of the baseline requirements

Let’s dive deeper into the specific eligibility rules:

1. Graduation Year & Marks You are only eligible if you have completed your Engineering Graduation on or after 01-04-2023. If you graduated prior to 01-04-2023, you are unfortunately not eligible for this apprenticeship.

Academically, candidates belonging to the Unreserved (UR) or OBC-NC categories must have an aggregate of 60% marks across all semesters/years. For candidates belonging to SC/ST/PwBD (VH/HH/OH/MD) categories, the requirement is relaxed to 50% aggregate marks.

A quick note on calculating your percentage: HPCL will consider the degree percentage provided by your university/college. If your institute awards a CGPA, GPA, or letter grade, you must indicate the equivalent percentage as per your university’s norms and obtain a certificate to this effect for document verification. If no conversion formula exists, your percentage will be calculated by dividing the total marks you obtained by the maximum marks across all semesters. Remember, fractions are ignored; a 49.99% will be treated as less than 50%. Additionally, your qualification must be recognized by the Board of Technical Education, UGC, AICTE, or an equivalent authority.

Also read: Polytechnic Exam Polycet 2026 Notification

2. Age Limit and Relaxations The baseline age limit is 18 to 25 years as of March 2, 2026. However, relaxations are available as per Government Guidelines and the Apprentices Act, 1961:

SC/ST Candidates: 5 years relaxation.

OBC-NC Candidates: 3 years relaxation.

PwBD Candidates (40% or above disability): 10 years relaxation.

3. Experience and Prior Apprenticeships This program is designed for freshers. If you have one year or more of work experience, you are not eligible to apply. Furthermore, if you are currently undergoing apprenticeship training elsewhere, have previously been engaged as an apprentice, or have an active apprenticeship contract under the Apprentices Act, 1961 on the NATS Portal, you cannot apply. Having an existing contract may lead to the rejection of your application.

The Perks: Stipend and Allowances

Let’s talk about the financial support during your one-year training period.

Selected Graduate Apprentice Trainees (Engineering) will receive a total monthly stipend of Rs. 25,000/-. This is split into two parts:

• Rs. 20,500/- will be paid directly by HPCL.

• Rs. 4,500/- will be paid directly to the apprentices by the Government of India (GOI) as per the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) scheme.

It is important to manage your expectations regarding housing. HPCL explicitly states that there is no obligation on their part to provide housing assistance or any other allowances beyond this fixed monthly stipend.

Also Read: Hyderabad Metro Phase-2 Route Map Track List

Where Will You Be Placed? State-wise Training Slots

HPCL has training slots spread across India. When you apply, you will be able to select one preferred state for training, though you may be assigned to any location within that state based on availability and requirement. Note that reservation policies will adhere to the state’s recruitment percentages.

Here is the tentative breakdown of the available seats:

How Does HPCL Select Candidates?

The selection methodology is delightfully straightforward and relies heavily on your academic performance rather than an entrance exam.

Screening: Applications are screened based on your merit percentage (your graduation marks) according to the eligibility criteria and the number of training slots available in your chosen trade. Incomplete or ineligible applications will be summarily rejected without any intimation.

Note: Management reserves the right to restrict the number of candidates called for verification, raise eligibility standards, or even cancel/modify the selection process without assigning reasons.

Step-by-Step Application Process

Ready to apply? Here is the exact process to follow to ensure your application goes through smoothly. Remember, you are “NOT” required to submit any hard copies to HPCL.

Register: Go to the Apprentice Application Link: http://jobs.hpcl.co.in/Recruit New/recruitlogin.jsp and use the “Sign up for New Registration” option.

Get Credentials: Once registered, the HPCL Apprentice Team will email you your login details and password.

Log In: Return to the application link and sign in using your new email ID and password. Caution: Fill out only one application; multiple applications will be rejected.

Select Branch: Choose your Engineering Branch from the dropdown menu as per the advertisement.

Personal Details: Fill in all mandatory personal details carefully. Click “Validate your details” and fix any errors if prompted. Once validated, click “Save & Next”.

Contact & State Preferences: Provide your accurate correspondence and permanent addresses, and your contact number. Importantly, select your preferred “State of Training” from the dropdown (you can only select one). Click “validate your details” and “save & next”.

Uploads: In the final part, upload your recent passport-sized photograph and your signature.

Review and Submit: Preview your application carefully. If you need to make corrections, use the “Back” option. Read the declaration, check the boxes, and click “Final Submit”.

Confirmation: You will receive a confirmation email containing your HPCL Application Number.

The Elephant in the Room: Is This a Permanent Job?

I want to be completely candid with you here so you can plan your career effectively. HPCL explicitly states that they do not give any commitment or assurance of providing permanent or temporary employment upon the successful completion of your apprenticeship.

However, completing this apprenticeship is highly valuable for future HPCL recruitment. If you successfully complete the one-year training, you will be accorded specific relaxations and preferences if you apply for standard recruitment at HPCL later:

Age Relaxation: You will get age relaxation equal to the period of your apprenticeship training (up to a maximum of one year) when your eligibility for future roles is computed.

Bonus Marks in Exams: If you take an HPCL Computer Based Test (CBT) for recruitment in the future, you will be awarded an additional 5% grace marks. These grace marks are added to your actual CBT score to help in shortlisting you for subsequent selection stages.

Just keep in mind that mere completion of the training doesn’t give you a right to a job, except for these specific relaxations.

Crucial Housekeeping Rules to Remember

Before you hit submit, keep these general conditions in mind to avoid disqualification:

Honesty is the only policy: Furnishing false information or suppressing facts will lead to disqualification. Even if a discrepancy (like unmatched physical documents versus online data) is noticed after you are engaged, your training will be terminated without notice, and no communication will be entertained.

No Canvassing: Trying to influence the selection process in any way will lead to the cancellation of your candidature.

Caste Certificates: Reserved category candidates must submit their certificates in the prescribed format (downloadable from www.hpclcareers.com>Downloads>Downloads for Apprentices). Your caste name and spelling must exactly match the Central Government’s notified lists (available via standard government sites like ncbc.nic.in, ncst.nic.in, etc.). Any variation in spelling means your certificate won’t be accepted.

OBC Specifics: OBC-NC certificates must clearly state you do not belong to the “Creamy Layer”. If you are in the creamy layer, you must apply as Unreserved (UR). Also, OBC claims are determined based on the state your father originally belongs to; if you migrated, your certificate must be based on your father’s certificate from his original state.

Finality of Data: All details entered in the online form are final. No changes—including your category (GEN/SC/ST/OBC-NC/PwBD)—will be entertained later.

Valid Contact Info: All communication will strictly be via the email and mobile number you provide. Ensure these remain valid for at least one year. Use a proper email ID in your name; using fake or pseudo emails will attract legal action. HPCL is not responsible if you miss an update due to an invalid email.

Important Links

• https://jobs.hpcl.co.in/Recruit_New/recruitlogin.jsp
• For more Job Openings : https://www.hindustanpetroleum.com/job-openings

Job hunting and launching your career is a journey, and an apprenticeship at a major entity like HPCL can provide you with incredible industry insights, technical skills, and a solid resume boost. Be sure to stay updated at every step by regularly visiting the NATS and HPCL portals.