NICL AO Automobile Engineer Eligibility 2026: Age, Degree

The NICL AO Automobile Engineer eligibility 2026 rules need two things. You must hold an engineering degree in automobile engineering, or any engineering degree with a one-year automobile diploma. You must be 21 to 30 years old on 1 October 2026. This page is part of the NICL AO Automobile Engineer 2026 guide.

NICL AO Automobile Engineer eligibility 2026: education

A candidate must meet one of these two options:

• A B.E., B.Tech, M.E., or M.Tech in Automobile Engineering.
• A B.E., B.Tech, M.E., or M.Tech in any branch of engineering, together with a diploma of at least one year in automobile engineering.

The degree must come from a recognized university approved by the University Grants Commission (UGC). It may also come from a recognized institute approved by the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE).

The candidate needs at least 60% marks in either of the degree examinations. SC, ST, and PwBD candidates need at least 55%.

When must you have the degree certificate?

The candidate must hold a valid mark sheet or degree certificate on 1 October 2026. The final result of the qualifying exam must be out on or before that date. NICL cancels the candidature at any stage if the candidate does not meet this rule.

The date on the mark sheet or provisional certificate counts as the date of passing. If the university posts the result on its website, the candidate needs a certificate that states the posting date.

How does NICL calculate your percentage?

• NICL divides the total marks you obtained in all subjects in all semesters or years by the maximum marks in all subjects.
• The calculation counts all subjects, including honours and optional subjects.
• NICL ignores the fraction. A score of 59.99% counts as less than 60%.
• If your university gives CGPA or OGPA, you must produce a certificate from the proper authority.
• The certificate must state the university rules for conversion of grade into percentage and your percentage.

What is the NICL AO age limit 2026?

The minimum age is 21 years and the maximum age is 30 years on 1 October 2026. A candidate must be born on or after 2 October 1996 and on or before 1 October 2005. Both dates are included.

The company relaxes the upper age limit for some categories.

A candidate who qualifies for more than one relaxation gets them together. The upper age limit cannot go above 45 years. The candidate must submit copies of the certificates and show the originals at the interview or at a later stage.

Which nationality rules apply?

A candidate must meet one of these conditions:

• A citizen of India.
• A subject of Nepal.
• A subject of Bhutan.
• A Tibetan refugee who came to India before 1 January 1962 to settle in India.
• A person of Indian origin who migrated from Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka, an East African country, or Vietnam to settle in India.

The East African countries in the notification are Kenya, Uganda, the United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Zaire, and Ethiopia. A candidate who is not a citizen of India needs a certificate of eligibility from the Government of India.

Which other rules affect your eligibility?

• You can apply for one discipline only. See the notification page for all disciplines.
• An OBC candidate in the creamy layer must apply as Unreserved.
• An EWS candidate needs a family gross annual income below ₹8 lakh for the financial year 2025-26. The certificate must carry a date after 31 March 2026.
• A candidate who works for a government office or a public sector undertaking must tell the employer in writing before applying.

Read the how to apply page to see the steps and fee. The selection process page lists the documents that you must bring to the interview.

Next step: read the how to apply guide.