AAI NR Apprentice Recruitment 2026: Apply for 205 Posts

Sanjoy Gorh Published: August 14, 2026

The Airports Authority of India (AAI), Northern Region, has announced 205 apprentice seats for the 2026-27 apprenticeship training year. The opportunity is available for eligible Graduate, Diploma and ITI candidates from specified Northern Region domiciles. The official notification states that applications must be submitted online through the NATS or NAPS portals by September 16, 2026.

The one-year apprenticeship offers monthly stipends of ₹15,000 for Graduate Apprentices, ₹12,000 for Diploma Apprentices and ₹9,600 for ITI Trade Apprentices. Selection will involve merit based on qualifying marks, document verification, interview/verification and medical fitness requirements.

For candidates looking for practical experience with a major public-sector organisation in the aviation sector, this notification is worth checking carefully.

AAI NR Apprentice Recruitment 2026: Key Details

AAI has released Advertisement No. 01/2026/APPRENTICE/GRADUATE/DIPLOMA/ITI/NR for engagement of apprentices under the Apprentices Act, 1961.

The programme covers the Northern Region and provides training for 12 months. However, eligibility is not open to candidates from every state. Applicants must be Indian citizens and domiciles of the states and Union Territories listed in the notification.

AAI Apprentice Vacancy 2026

The total number of seats is 205, divided into three categories:

Category	Seats	Monthly Stipend
Graduate Apprentice	80	₹15,000
Diploma/Technical Apprentice	65	₹12,000
ITI Trade Apprentice	60	₹9,600
Total	205	—

The notification also notes that the number of seats is tentative and may be increased or reduced depending on organisational requirements.

Which Disciplines Are Included?

Graduate and Diploma opportunities cover several technical and related disciplines.

These include:

Civil Engineering
Electrical Engineering
Electronics
Computer Science/IT
Aeronautical, Aerospace and Aircraft Maintenance
Architecture
Mechanical/Automobile
BCA/B.Com
COPA/Stenography for ITI candidates
Computer Hardware & Networking

The notification specifies the number of seats available in each discipline. Candidates should therefore check the discipline-wise table in the official advertisement before applying.

AAI NR Apprentice Eligibility 2026

Educational Qualification

The educational requirement depends on the apprenticeship category.For Graduate and Diploma Apprentices, candidates must have completed a full-time regular four-year degree or three-year regular engineering diploma in the relevant stream recognised by AICTE, Government of India.

For ITI Trade Apprentices, candidates must possess an ITI/NCVT certificate in the relevant trade from an institution recognised by AICTE, Government of India.

Age Limit

Candidates must be:

Minimum age: 18 years
Maximum age: 26 years
Age calculation date: September 16, 2026

Upper-age relaxation is applicable to eligible categories such as SC, ST, OBC and PwBD candidates according to Government of India guidelines.

Passing Year Requirement

One important condition could eliminate otherwise eligible applicants.According to the notification, candidates who passed their degree or diploma in 2024 or later are eligible.Candidates should check their passing year before starting the application process.

Who Can Apply for AAI NR Apprenticeship?

The AAI Northern Region notification is restricted to Indian nationals who are domiciles of:

Chandigarh
Delhi
Haryana
Himachal Pradesh
Jammu & Kashmir
Leh Ladakh
Madhya Pradesh
Punjab
Rajasthan
Uttar Pradesh
Uttarakhand

Therefore, candidates from states outside this list should not assume that they are eligible simply because they meet the educational and age requirements.

AAI Apprentice Stipend 2026

One of the major attractions of this apprenticeship is the monthly stipend.Graduate Apprentices will receive ₹15,000 per month, while Diploma Apprentices will receive ₹12,000 per month. ITI Trade Apprentices will receive ₹9,600 per month.

For Graduate Apprentices, the notification shows an AAI share of ₹8,850 and a Government share of ₹6,150 through DBT. For Diploma Apprentices, the AAI share is ₹6,550 and the Government share is ₹5,450 through DBT.

This is a training stipend, not a regular employee salary. Applicants should keep that distinction in mind while evaluating the opportunity.

AAI NR Apprentice Selection Process

Merit and Document Verification

The provisional selection begins with the percentage of marks obtained in the qualifying examination.If candidates have equal percentages, the notification says date of birth and then date of passing will be considered for seniority. CGPA will be converted into percentage according to the norms of the concerned educational board or university.

Shortlisted candidates will subsequently be contacted through their registered email IDs for document verification.

Interview and Medical Fitness

The process does not end with merit.

The official notification states that shortlisted candidates may be called for interview/document verification, and final selection is subject to verification of certificates and submission of a medical fitness certificate at the time of joining.

Candidates should therefore keep original certificates and self-attested copies ready.The notification also makes clear that merely attending document verification or medical examination does not guarantee selection.

How to Apply for AAI Apprentice Recruitment 2026

Graduate and Diploma candidates must apply through the NATS portal, while ITI candidates must use the NAPS/Apprenticeship portal.

AAI specifically states that candidates must register on the concerned portal before applying. Only applications received through the prescribed online portals will be considered.

NATS Application Process

Graduate and Diploma candidates can register through the official NATS 2.0 portal. The AAI notification identifies the establishment as Airports Authority of India – RHQ NR, New Delhi.

The NATS manual included with the notification explains that students need a valid email address, mobile number, Aadhaar for e-KYC, qualifying certificate/provisional certificate and APAAR ID during registration.

The general process is:

Register as a student on NATS.
Complete e-KYC.
Fill in educational and communication details.
Complete the profile.
Search for the AAI Northern Region establishment.
Select the relevant apprenticeship opportunity.
Submit the application.
Keep the registration/application details for future reference.

The official NATS manual confirms that the portal supports registration, profile completion, apprenticeship applications, contract creation and application management.

NAPS Application Process for ITI Candidates

ITI candidates need to register on the Apprenticeship Portal before applying.The AAI notification instructs candidates to find Airports Authority of India – RHQ NR, New Delhi on the portal and use the apply option.

Candidates should complete their profile carefully because the accompanying portal instructions state that a completed profile is required before applying for apprenticeship opportunities.

AAI Apprentice 2026 Important Dates

The most important date for applicants is the application deadline.

Last date to apply: September 16, 2026.The apprenticeship training period is 12 months from commencement of the apprenticeship contract.

Candidates should avoid waiting until the final day because registration, profile completion and portal-related verification can require additional time.

Important Rules Candidates

Several conditions in the notification deserve special attention.Candidates who have already completed an apprenticeship, terminated an apprenticeship midway, or are currently pursuing an apprenticeship with the same qualification level are not eligible.

Similarly, candidates who have already gained apprenticeship training or job experience of one year or more after obtaining the essential qualification are not eligible under the stated conditions.

Another important rule is that candidates applying for more than one discipline will not be considered, and their application may be rejected.There is also no application fee for this apprenticeship recruitment.

Does AAI Apprenticeship Guarantee a Job?

No.This is one of the most important points candidates should understand before applying.AAI clearly states that the apprenticeship does not create an obligation for regular employment with Airports Authority of India. Apprentices cannot claim regular employment merely because they completed the training programme. AAI also does not take responsibility for providing employment or placement after the apprenticeship.

Nevertheless, the programme can provide practical exposure to an important public-sector organisation and experience in an aviation-related working environment.

The National Apprenticeship Training Scheme also describes apprenticeship as practical, hands-on on-the-job training for eligible students.

Why AAI Apprentice Recruitment 2026 Matters

For fresh graduates, diploma holders and ITI candidates, the biggest value of this opportunity is not only the stipend.A one-year apprenticeship can provide exposure to workplace processes, technical environments and professional discipline. It can also add relevant training experience to a candidate’s early career profile.

However, applicants should view it as a training opportunity rather than a guaranteed government job.Candidates should also remember that the final posting depends on AAI’s requirements and the notified locations. The notification states that the allocated airport, station or unit will be final and that requests for a later change of training location will not be entertained.

What Candidates Should Do Before Applying

Before submitting the application, candidates should verify:

Their domicile is in an eligible state/UT.
Their age is within the prescribed limit.
Their degree, diploma or ITI qualification matches the relevant discipline.
Their passing year meets the 2024-or-later requirement.
They have not already completed a qualifying apprenticeship.
They are not applying for multiple disciplines.
Their NATS/NAPS profile is complete.
Their certificates and other documents are ready.
Their registered email and mobile number are active.

Because recruitment information can change, applicants should always compare the details with the latest official AAI notification before submitting their application.

FAQs

1. How many vacancies are available in AAI NR Apprentice Recruitment 2026?

AAI has notified 205 apprenticeship seats for its Northern Region for the 2026-27 training year. These include 80 Graduate, 65 Diploma and 60 ITI Trade Apprentice seats.

2. What is the last date to apply for AAI Apprentice Recruitment 2026?

The last date for submitting the apprenticeship application is September 16, 2026.

3. What is the stipend under AAI NR Apprentice Recruitment 2026?

Graduate Apprentices receive ₹15,000 per month, Diploma Apprentices receive ₹12,000 and ITI Trade Apprentices receive ₹9,600 per month, according to the notification.

4. What is the age limit for AAI Apprentice Recruitment 2026?

Candidates must be at least 18 years old and not more than 26 years old as on September 16, 2026. Applicable government rules provide upper-age relaxation for eligible categories.

5. Does AAI apprenticeship guarantee a permanent job?

No. AAI clearly states that apprenticeship training does not create any right to regular employment with the organisation.

Sources

Primary source: Airports Authority of India, Northern Region, Advertisement No. 01/2026/APPRENTICE/GRADUATE/DIPLOMA/ITI/NR. The uploaded official notification is the primary basis for vacancy, eligibility, stipend, selection, application and deadline information.

Update note: Recruitment schedules, portal instructions, vacancy numbers or other details may change. Candidates should verify the latest official notification before applying.