Just finished your degree and wondering what comes next? If banking is on your mind, maybe as a first step before PO or clerk exams, this one deserves a proper look. Canara Bank has opened 3,500 Graduate Apprentice seats for 2026-27, and the best part is that there's no written exam. The fee is only ₹500, but the window is short, so it's worth reading on before you sit down to apply.
Important Dates
The notification came out on 25 September 2026. You can apply on the bank's website from 1 October to 17 October 2026, both days included, and your age and qualification are counted as on 1 September 2026. One thing catches people out: before you fill in the bank's form, you need a 100% complete profile on the NATS apprenticeship portal (nats.education.gov.in). If you haven't registered there yet, do it first. The bank hasn't announced dates for document verification or the local language test, and any update will appear only on its website.
Vacancy Details
There are 3,500 seats in all, though the bank says this number is provisional and could change depending on its needs. Karnataka leads with 581 seats, followed by Uttar Pradesh with 409 and Tamil Nadu with 391. Andhra Pradesh has 247, Kerala 240 and Maharashtra 205, and West Bengal (150), Telangana (134), Bihar (122), Haryana (114), Madhya Pradesh (110) and Odisha (104) all cross the hundred mark too. Smaller states and UTs get just a handful, with Ladakh at one seat and Manipur at three.
You can apply in only one state, so choose carefully. You'll also rank your preferred districts within that state, but the bank makes the final call based on where it needs people, so you could be posted to any district there. And if you're applying under PwBD, note that the reservation sits inside each state's total rather than adding extra seats.
Eligibility Criteria
Any graduation degree works if you passed between 1 January 2023 and 1 September 2026 and are 20 to 28 years old on 1 September 2026, with age relaxation for reserved categories. You can't apply if you've done an apprenticeship before or have a year or more of work experience, and unless your 10th or 12th marksheet shows the local language, you'll need to clear a language test at document verification.
Stipend
Apprentices aren't bank employees, so there's no salary. You get a monthly stipend of ₹16,650 for the 12-month training. Canara Bank pays ₹10,500 of it, and the remaining ₹6,150 comes from the Government of India straight into your account through DBT. There are no other allowances or benefits, and the stipend is adjusted for any loss of pay.
Application Fee
General, EWS and OBC candidates pay ₹500, while SC, ST and PwBD candidates pay nothing. The fee is online only and non-refundable, so be sure you're eligible before you pay. Once you've entered your payment details, don't press Back or Refresh, or you may be charged twice.
Selection Process
There's no written test here. The bank prepares a state-wise merit list using your 12th (HSC/10+2) or Diploma marks, highest first, and uses age to break ties. You need at least 60% in your 12th or Diploma, or 55% if you're SC, ST or PwBD, and fractions aren't rounded up. So 59.99% counts as below 60%. Shortlisted candidates then go through document verification, the local language test where it applies, and a medical fitness check. Any mismatch between your documents and what you entered in the application can get you disqualified. The merit list is built only from the information in your online form, so enter your marks carefully. If your university gives CGPA, convert it to a percentage in the form and keep the conversion certificate handy.
How to Apply
Any graduation degree works, as long as you passed between 1 January 2023 and 1 September 2026 and are 20 to 28 years old on 1 September 2026. Reserved categories get age relaxation of 5 years for SC/ST, 3 for OBC (non-creamy layer) and 10 for PwBD, and widows and divorced or legally separated women who haven't remarried get higher limits too.