National Insurance Company Limited - Administrative Officers (NICL - AO)
National Insurance Company Limited (NICL) is an Indian nationalised general insurance company owned by the Ministry of Finance, Government of India operating in India and Nepal. It keeps on releasing notifications for the recruitment of young Indian citizens to the posts of Administrative Officers (Generalist) (AO - Scale I Cadre). Here we are going to discuss their recruitment exam related information like eligibility criteria, the application process, exam scheme and syllabus, selection process and other details.
1. Eligibility and Selection Criteria:
A. Nationality: A candidate must be a citizen of India or a subject of Nepal, or Bhutan, a Tibetan refugee (arrived in India before 1 January 1962), or a person of Indian origin who has migrated from Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka, East African countries of Kenya, Uganda, the United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Zaire, Ethiopia and Vietnam with the intention of permanently settling in India.
B. Age: Ranges from 21 to 30 years.
Relaxation in the upper age limit will be considered for the candidates.
| Sr. No. | Category | Upper Age Limit Relaxation |
|---|
| 1 | Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe (SC/ST) | 5 years |
| 2 | Other Backward Classes - Non creamy layer (OBC-NCL) | 3 years |
| 3 | Persons with Disabilities (PwBD) | 10 years |
| 4 | Persons ordinarily domiciled in the Kashmir Division of the State of Jammu & Kashmir during the period 1.1.1980 to 31.12.1989 | 5 years |
| 5 | Ex-servicemen including Commissioned Officers and Emergency Commissioned Officers (ECOs)/ Short Service Commissioned Officers (SSCOs) who have rendered at least five years Military Service and have been released; (I) on completion of assignment otherwise than by way of dismissal or discharge on account of misconduct or inefficiency, or (II) on account of physical disability attributable to Military Service; or (III) on invalidment. | 5 years |
| 5 | Defence service personnel disabled in operation during the hostilities with any foreign country or in a disturbed area and released as consequence thereof | 3 years |
| 6 | Persons ordinarily domiciled in the Kashmir Division of the State of Jammu & Kashmir during the period 1.1.1980 to 31.12.1989 | 5 years |
| 7 | Existing Employees of Public Sector General Insurance Companies (including GIC & Agriculture Insurance Company of India Ltd.) | 8 years |
- In case of a candidate who is eligible for relaxation under more than one of the above categories, age relaxation will be available on a cumulative basis subject to maximum age not exceeding 45 years, except as specified in point no.5 above Where the maximum age will be 50 years.
- In the case of an Ex-serviceman who has once joined the Government service on the civil side after availing the benefits as an Ex-serviceman for his re-employment, his Ex-servicemen status for the purpose of re-employment in Government service ceases.
C. Educational Qualification:
Candidates should have a minimum qualification of Graduation/ Post Graduation in any discipline from a recognized University with a minimum of 60% (for general candidates) and minimum of 55% marks (for SC/ ST candidates).
2. Examination Scheme:
The selection of Administrative Officers (AOs) will be done through a three-tiered process.
Tier - I (Preliminary Examination): This tier consists of a Computer-based online objective test having three sections:
| Section | Papers | Maximum Marks | Time Duration |
|---|
| I | Reasoning Ability | 35 | |
| II | English Language | 30 | |
| III | Quantitative Aptitude | 35 | |
| Total | 100 | 60 minutes |
- Candidates have to qualify in each paper/section by securing passing marks to be decided by the company.
Tier - II (Main Examination): This tier consists of two computer-based online tests: objective test (200 marks) and descriptive test (30 marks). The timing of both the tests will be different and the descriptive tests will be conducted immediately after the completion of the objective test by typing on the computer.
(I) Objective Test:
| Section | Papers | Total Number of Questions | Maximum Marks | Time Duration |
|---|
| I | Reasoning | 40 | 40 | |
| II | English Language | 40 | 40 | |
| III | General Awareness | 40 | 40 | |
| IV | Computer Knowledge | 40 | 40 | |
| V | Quantitative Aptitude | 40 | 40 | |
| Total | 200 | 200 | 120 minutes |
| VI | English Language (Essay, Precis and Comprehension) | 3 | 30 | 30 minutes |
(II) Descriptive Test: It will be an online test of the English language. The questions will be displayed on the screen of the computer. Answers are to be typed using the keyboard. The time allotted for this test is 30 minutes.
- The medium of all the papers will be both English and Hindi except the English language section.
- The descriptive test will be of a qualifying nature and a candidate will have to clear this test. But the marks of this test will not be considered for short-listing for an interview or final selection.
- A penalty will be levied for wrong answers marked in the objective test. For each question for which a wrong answer has been given by the candidate, one-fourth of the marks assigned to that question will be deducted as a penalty for arriving at the correct score. If a question is left blank, i.e., no answer is marked by the candidate, there will be no penalty for that question.
- A candidate will have to obtain a minimum score for each section of the objective test of Tier II separately for short-listing for descriptive test evaluation. Descriptive answer sheets will be evaluated in respect of only those candidates who qualify the objective test.
- Each candidate will have to obtain the minimum aggregate marks prescribed by the Company in the Objective Test (Main Examination) and qualify in the Descriptive Test for short-listing for the interview.
Tier - III (Interview): Candidates who qualify Tier - II (Main Examination) are shortlisted for interview. They will have to appear for the interview to be conducted by the company at the selected centres.
Merit lists:
The final merit list will be prepared in descending order of the consolidated marks obtained by the candidates in the Main Examination (Objective Test) and Interview. The weightage (ratio) of Online Main Examination and Interview will be 80:20 respectively. The scores of candidates failing to obtain the minimum qualifying marks or otherwise withheld from the interview or further process cannot be disclosed. A candidate must be sufficiently high in the merit to be shortlisted for the subsequent recruitment process.
Candidates appearing in this final merit list will be considered for appointment.
3. Post Details:
A. Posting/ Service Conditions:
Selected candidates on appointment are liable to be posted or transferred to any place in India as decided by the Company. The minimum stay at the initial place of posting shall be 5 years.
B. Probation:
The candidates appointed in the officer cadre will have a probation period of one year from the date of joining the duty. Meanwhile, a candidate will need to successfully qualify the non-life licentiate exam conducted by the Insurance Institute of India. Only after qualifying the said examination will the candidate be eligible for confirmation of his/her services as Administrative Officer in the Company.
C. Guarantee Bond:
Candidates selected for an Administrative Officer (AO) will have to undertake to serve the organisation for a period of at least four years from the date of joining (including the probation period). If he/she fails to do so, the candidate shall be liable to pay liquidated damages equivalent to one year’s gross salary paid to him during the year of probation, which shall be reduced proportionately depending on the length of service. In addition, the candidates will have to submit a stamped bond duly executed by two sureties (not blood relatives) of good financial standing for an amount equivalent to one year’s gross salary.
Candidates resigning from the Company or terminated by the Company during the probation period shall be liable to pay an amount of 25,000/- in addition to the salary received during their entire service in the Company. No lien/bond executed to retain a substantive position with the present employer shall be binding on the company and no leave salary or pension contribution shall be made.
D. Salaries:
The salary of a candidate appointed as Administrative Officer in Metropolitan City will be around ₹ 32,795/- per month which includes House Rent Allowance and City Compensatory Allowance. Other benefits like Pension, Gratuity, LTC, Medical Benefits, Group Personal Accident Insurance, etc., are also provided to selected candidates as per the rules of the company.
4. How to Apply Online for the NICL AO (Generalist) Scale I Cadre Exam?
The application process will be categorised into 2 stages:
A. Application Registration:
Before applying, a candidate must have
(i) scanned images of his/her recent passport size, coloured photograph and signature (in English with black ink on white paper).
(ii) a valid and active personal email ID and mobile number. LIC verifies these details by sharing the registration and password and can use it to send the call letters for the exam and interview.
Steps:
- Visit the Company’s website: [(http://www.nationalinsuranceindia.com/)]
- Click on the “Apply Online” option which will open a new screen.
- Select the tab “Click here for new registration” and fill in the required information mentioned there correctly.
- Thereafter, a Provisional Registration Number and Password will be generated by the system and displayed on the screen. An email and SMS showing the Provisional Registration Number and Password will also be sent to the candidate.
- If the candidate is unable to complete the application form in one go, he/she can save the already entered data by selecting the “Save & Next” tab.
- Now login with Provisional Registration Number and Password (if the candidate has not completed the application form in one go) and fill the details carefully and click on ‘Validate your details’ and ‘Save & Next’ tabs.
- Now upload the scanned images of the photograph and signature.
- Then click on the ‘Preview Tab’ to preview and verify the entire application form. If any modification/correction is required, go to the edit option and make the necessary amendments.
- After ensuring that the photograph, signature and other details uploaded by you are correct, click on the ‘Final Submit’ tab to proceed to the next step.
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B. Payment of fees:
- A candidate has to pay the application fee/intimation fee (non-refundable) online mode only through the Payment Gateway integrated with the Application Form.
- Payment can be made using Debit Card, Credit Card, Internet Banking, IMPS, or Cash Card/Mobile Wallet.
- On successful completion of the transaction, an e-receipt will be generated.
- After successful payment of the fee, a confirmation page will be generated for the candidate.
- A candidate is required to take a printout of the e-receipt and confirmation page which contains the details of the candidate and the fee paid while filling the application. They can use it for further recruitment processes in the future.
C. Issue of call letters and Examination:
- Candidates have to visit the website of the company: [(http://www.nationalinsuranceindia.com/)]
- They can download their call letters for Computer Based Test (CBT) by providing details about (i) Registration Number, (ii) Password and (iii) Date of Birth.
- Candidates have to affix a recent recognisable photograph on the printed call letter.
- Candidates will have to appear at the examination centre with (i) a call letter (ii) original photo identity proof issued by the Govt. Authorization and photocopy of the same photo identity proof which is brought in the original.
- A candidate will have to appear for the examination on the date given in the respective call letter/admit card at his own risk and expense.
- Separate call letters for Tier-I (Preliminary) and Phase-II (Main) examinations will be issued and should be downloaded by the candidates in due course from the link given on the website of the Company. Without the call letter candidates will not be allowed to appear in the examinations.
D. Identity and Biometric Data Verification:
The biometric data and photograph of the candidate will be captured and verified by the organisation during the examination, interview and joining processes. In case of a mismatch of these data, the candidate may be denied or debarred from the recruitment processes. Hence the candidates are advised to take care of their identity while uploading the documents and giving fingerprints during the examination.
E. Pre-Examination training (NON-RESIDENTIAL):
Candidates belonging to the categories of SC/ST/OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) can avail the benefit of pre-examination training, for which they will have to register their name and other details with the Regional Offices of National Insurance Company Limited (NICL). Such candidates will have to attend the training at their own cost on the scheduled dates and at the place intimated to them by the Regional Offices.
