Punjab National Bank (PNB) Apprentice Recruitment 2026 notification is officially live, creating a massive wave of opportunity for graduates across India. Punjab National Bank, one of India’s leading Public Sector Banks, has announced 5,138 apprentice positions for the Financial Year 2025–26 under the Apprentices Act of 1961. This recruitment is a significant entry point for freshers looking to gain hands-on experience in the Banking, Financial Services, and Insurance (BFSI) sector.
The application window for this pan-India recruitment starts on February 8, 2026, and will conclude on February 24, 2026. In this detailed guide, we provide everything you need to know to secure your spot at PNB, from state-wise vacancies to the specific topics in the 2026 syllabus.
PNB Apprentice Recruitment 2026: Overview
Before diving into the specifics, here is a quick summary of the notification highlights:
| Feature | Details |
| Organization | Punjab National Bank (PNB) |
| Post Name | Apprentice |
| Total Vacancies | 5,138 Posts |
| Job Location | All India (Circle/State-wise) |
| Stipend | ₹12,300 to ₹15,000 per month |
| Application Mode | Online via BFSI SSC Portal |
| Registration Dates | 08 Feb – 24 Feb 2026 |
| Tentative Exam Date | 1st Week of March 2026 |
| Official Website | pnbindia.in |
Application Fees (Including GST)
- General / OBC / EWS (Male): ₹944
- General / OBC / EWS (Female): ₹708
- SC / ST / PwBD / Transgender: ₹236
State-Wise PNB Apprentice Vacancy Breakdown 2026
| State / Union Territory | Total Seats | Local Language Proficiency Required |
| Uttar Pradesh | 814 | Hindi / Urdu |
| West Bengal | 532 | Bengali / Nepali |
| Punjab | 462 | Punjabi / Hindi |
| Delhi (UT) | 417 | Hindi |
| Rajasthan | 363 | Hindi |
| Haryana | 348 | Hindi / Punjabi |
| Bihar | 310 | Hindi / Urdu |
| Maharashtra | 232 | Marathi |
| Madhya Pradesh | 180 | Hindi |
| Himachal Pradesh | 162 | Hindi |
| Uttarakhand | 152 | Hindi |
| Odisha | 142 | Odia |
| Gujarat | 138 | Gujarati |
| Assam | 132 | Assamese / Bengali / Bodo |
| Tamil Nadu | 121 | Tamil |
| Jharkhand | 95 | Hindi / Santhali |
| Kerala | 83 | Malayalam |
| Chhattisgarh | 81 | Hindi |
| Telangana | 69 | Telugu / Urdu |
| Karnataka | 64 | Kannada |
| Chandigarh (UT) | 58 | Hindi / Punjabi |
| Andhra Pradesh | 56 | Telugu / Urdu |
| Jammu & Kashmir (UT) | 53 | Urdu / Hindi |
| Tripura | 28 | Bengali / Kokborok |
| Manipur | 13 | Manipuri / English |
| Meghalaya | 8 | English / Garo / Khasi |
| Goa | 7 | Konkani |
| Mizoram | 3 | Mizo |
| Arunachal Pradesh | 3 | English |
| Sikkim | 3 | Nepali / English |
| Leh (Ladakh UT) | 2 | Ladakhi / Tibetan / Hindi |
| Nagaland | 2 | English |
| Puducherry (UT) | 2 | Tamil |
| Andaman & Nicobar | 1 | Hindi / English |
| Dadra & Nagar Haveli | 1 | Gujarati |
| Daman & Diu | 1 | Gujarati |
| Total | 5,138 | — |
Important Reminders for Applicants
- One State Only: You are strictly permitted to apply for only one State/UT. Multiple applications will lead to disqualification.
- Language Test: If you have not studied the local language in your 10th or 12th standard (as evidenced by your marksheet), you must pass a Local Language Proficiency Test during the document verification stage.
- Application Deadline: Ensure your form is submitted on the BFSI SSC portal by February 24, 2026.
Eligibility Criteria (As of 01.01.2026)
To be considered for the PNB Apprentice program, you must meet the following strict eligibility parameters:
1. Educational Qualification
- Graduate Degree: You must hold a bachelor’s degree in any discipline from a university recognized by the Government of India or bodies like AICTE/UGC.
- Cut-off Date: Your final graduation result must have been declared on or before December 31, 2025. Candidates awaiting results are not eligible.
- Language Proficiency: You must be able to read, write, speak, and understand the local language of the state for which you apply.
2. Age Limit
- Minimum Age: 20 Years.
- Maximum Age: 28 Years.
- Date of Birth Range: Applicants should be born between January 2, 1998, and January 1, 2006 (inclusive of both dates).
3. Age Relaxation
Reserved category candidates are eligible for age relaxation as per Government of India norms:
- SC / ST: 5 Years
- OBC (Non-Creamy Layer): 3 Years
- PwBD: 10 Years
PNB Apprentice Salary (Stipend) & Job Profile
It is important to understand that the PNB Apprentice is not a permanent job. It is a one-year (52-week) training engagement under the Apprentices Act of 1961.
Stipend Structure
The monthly stipend is fixed and depends on the branch location:
- Metro Branches: ₹15,000 per month.
- Rural / Semi-Urban / Urban Branches: ₹12,300 per month.
Note: Apprentices are not entitled to additional benefits like Dearness Allowance (DA), HRA, medical reimbursement, or pension.
Job Profile
Apprentices are given on-the-job training in various banking functions.
- Assisting in account opening and KYC verification.
- Handling clerical tasks like data entry and record maintenance.
- Helping customers understand bank products and digital services.
- Assisting in non-cash operations like cheque clearing and remittance.
Selection Process & Exam Pattern
The selection is highly competitive and follows a merit-based approach through four distinct stages:
- Online Written Test (CBT)
- Local Language Test
- Document Verification
- Medical Examination
Online Written Test Pattern
The test is conducted in English and Hindi (except for the English section) and lasts for 60 minutes.
| Section | Questions | Marks | Duration |
| General / Financial Awareness | 25 | 25 | 60 Mins |
| General English | 25 | 25 | (Composite) |
| Quantitative & Reasoning Aptitude | 25 | 25 | |
| Computer Knowledge | 25 | 25 | |
| Total | 100 | 100 |
Negative Marking: A penalty of 0.25 marks is applied for every incorrect answer.
Detailed PNB Apprentice Syllabus 2026
To clear the exam in the first week of March, focus on these core topics:
1. General & Financial Awareness
- Banking & Economy: RBI policies, bank taglines, PNB specific news, and financial institutions.
- Government Schemes: Financial inclusion schemes like PMJDY, APY, and Mudra.
- Current Affairs: National and international news from the last 6 months.
2. Quantitative & Reasoning Aptitude
- Arithmetic: Simplification, percentage, ratio, profit & loss, and time & work.
- Data Interpretation: Reading and analyzing bar graphs, charts, and tables.
- Reasoning: Syllogism, coding-decoding, blood relations, and seating arrangements.
3. General English
- Grammar: Error spotting, fill in the blanks, and sentence improvement.
- Reading: Comprehension and para-jumbles.
- Vocabulary: Synonyms, antonyms, and idioms.
4. Computer Knowledge
- Basics: Hardware, software, and operating systems.
- Office: MS Word, Excel, and PowerPoint shortcuts.
- Tech: Networking basics, internet security, and file extensions
How to Apply Online: Step-by-Step
Registration is a two-part process involving national apprenticeship portals and the BFSI SSC portal.
- Portal Registration: Register on either the NAPS portal (apprenticeshipindia.gov.in) or NATS portal (nats.education.gov.in).
- BFSI SSC Application: Visit bfsissc.com, which is the official platform for the PNB application.
- Fill Form: Enter your NAPS/NATS registration number along with personal and academic details.
- Upload Documents: Upload a passport photo (<1MB), your signature, and your degree certificate.
- Pay Fee: Complete the online payment based on your category.
- Print Confirmation: Download and save the final application form for the document verification stage.
Important Dates
| Apply Online | Click Here |
| Official Notification | Click Here |
| Visit Official Website | Click Here |
| Join WhatsApp Channel | Click Here |