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Apprenticeships Are Growing Again—Are They Becoming the New Entry Route to Jobs?

ONGC's 3,047 apprentice seats are a reminder that apprenticeships are a practical first step for ITI, diploma and graduate freshers. Here is how they work and who should apply.

By Satya Hemanth 5 Nov 2026 · 5 min read 0 views Rate it 0 comments

Short answer: An apprenticeship is increasingly a practical entry route for freshers, especially ITI, diploma and graduate candidates who lack work experience. ONGC alone opened 3,047 apprentice seats on 29 October 2026, with applications open until 20 November. An apprenticeship is paid training, not a permanent job, but the experience makes the next application much stronger.

Last reviewed: 5 November 2026. Check the official ONGC notification for final eligibility and dates.

Ask any fresher what stops them getting hired and you will hear the same frustrating loop: "They want experience, but how do I get experience if nobody hires me?" Apprenticeships exist to break exactly that loop. And with large employers like ONGC announcing thousands of seats this season, it is worth looking at them seriously instead of treating them as a last resort.

What is happening with ONGC's 2026 apprenticeship drive?

Detail	ONGC Apprentice Recruitment 2026
Advertisement	ONGC/APPR/1/2026, dated 29 October 2026
Seats	3,047 (tentative), across 24 work centres
Who can apply	Trade (ITI and some 10th/12th trades), diploma and graduate apprentices, as per trade rules
Application window	29 October to 20 November 2026
How to apply	Register on the NAPS or NATS portal, then apply on ONGC's apprenticeship portal
Selection	Merit-based, according to the notification

For comparison, ONGC's 2024 drive offered 2,236 seats, so this year's number is noticeably larger. Seat counts are tentative and can change by work centre, so always check the trade-wise and district-wise tables in the official notice.

Why apprenticeships are back in focus

Employers want "job-ready", not just "qualified"

Hiring in India is strong on paper; ManpowerGroup's survey shows the world's best hiring outlook for this quarter. But employers increasingly want people who can do the work from day one. An apprenticeship gives you a year of supervised, real-world work on your CV.

It tackles the degree-to-job gap

Many graduates never work in their field of study, a problem we explored in our piece on India's education-to-job mismatch. Apprenticeships connect classroom learning to actual workplaces, which is exactly what that gap needs.

You earn while you learn

Apprentices receive a monthly stipend fixed under apprenticeship rules. It isn't a full salary, but it means you don't pay to gain experience, unlike many unpaid internships.

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NAPS or NATS: which portal is yours?

NAPS (National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme), at apprenticeshipindia.gov.in, is mainly for trade apprentices: ITI holders and some 10th or 12th pass trades.
NATS (National Apprenticeship Training Scheme), at nats.education.gov.in, is for graduate and diploma apprentices, including engineering and general graduates.

Register on the correct portal first, keep your registration number ready, then complete the employer's application. Many applications fail simply because candidates register on the wrong portal or miss uploading documents.

Is an apprenticeship right for you?

A strong choice if you…

Recently finished ITI, a diploma or graduation and have no formal work experience.
Want to work in energy, manufacturing, engineering or large public-sector environments.
Value structured training and a recognised certificate over a quick, uncertain private job.

Think twice if you…

Need a full salary immediately to support your family; the stipend may not be enough.
Are expecting guaranteed permanent employment afterwards; apprenticeships usually don't promise that.
Already have relevant experience. Apprentice rules often exclude candidates who have previously completed apprenticeship training.

How to make the most of an apprenticeship

Keep a weekly log of tasks, machines, software and safety procedures you learn. It becomes your CV's strongest section.
Ask for responsibility early. Supervisors remember apprentices who volunteer.
Collect references before you finish, while people remember your work.
Start job hunting two to three months before the apprenticeship ends, using your new experience. Our guide on answering "Tell me about yourself" helps you present it well.

Her View

Parents sometimes see apprenticeships as "less than" a regular job. I'd gently push back. A year inside a large organisation like ONGC teaches discipline, safety culture and teamwork that no classroom can. For young women in technical trades especially, that first credible workplace on the CV opens many doors.

Also readEntry-Level Job—but Experience Required? The Fresher Trap Nobody Is Fixing

His Insight

Germany and Switzerland built strong manufacturing workforces on apprenticeships. India is moving in that direction, slowly. The candidates who benefit most treat the apprenticeship as a launchpad: they leave with skills, references and a story, not just a certificate.