Is Intimation for apply the job is counted as NOC

Whenever an employee is applying for outside job then he has to inform his department about it and submit a copy of the application to the department which is known as 'through proper channel' copy and that is supposed to be forwarded by the department to the outside department. This is the standard procedure but in many departments they do not forward it to the outside one but give a NOC to the employee if the employee is selected for that post in the outside organisation.
The present department will issue a NOC only after the employee gives a notice for resignation as per the terms of the employment. Generally it is a 3 months notice period and failing which the employee will have to surrender the salary of the period in lieu of the delayed notice given by him to the department.
If you have applied in the outside organisation mentioning that you are working in such and such department then they would definitely ask a NOC for that before you join. It is basically required as a proof of your good character during the present working and establishes your credentials. You can request for a provisional joining in the new organisation subject to submission of NOC at a later time but that would depend on the rules and regulations in the new organisation.
So simply intimating the present department about applying elsewhere is not equivalent to NOC though your department counts it against the maximum 4 numbers of NOCs that can be given in a year. This counting is an internal matter and has no link with issue of NOC. Please note that NOC is to be issued by your present department and that has to be produced to the new organisation. If they are delaying the issue of NOC then meet the higher authorities and if required raise a grievance for the same. Please also note that if you were not able to give the 3 months, or whatever period is it, notice to the present department then you will have to deposit back the salary for that period.

For all employees working in some establishments, it is mandatory to inform the present employer regarding your further move if you applying for other organisations and this is certainly treated as a good conduct on the part of out going employee. However, the employees should make it a point that the same has to be intimated in written three months prior to joining the next organisation. In this situation, the application has to be processed through proper channel and would move from the different bosses including the top authority governing you and finally the same application reaches to the personnel department of the next employer. The employees already applied for jobs in other organisations would be issued NOC subject to conditions that there are no standing dues against them by way of their borrowing some items from other departments, books from libraries and other liabilities. The employees need to pay all such dues to their accounts department for which they would get copies of clearance of such outstanding dues.
This is the normal procedure of approval of NOC prior to joining the next organisations.
The other procedure could be verbal clearance of bosses that NOC would be provided once they are selected for the posts in other establishments and NOC would follow at the later stage.
In that situation, the employees would be required to take the boss in confidence so that NOC is released in time to facilitate their joining in the next organisation in time with their NOC.
In majority of cases, there could be smooth release of NOC except for some employees where they would get delayed response for the said certificate and in that situation, they would be required to apprise of the same to the next employers with requests for extension of date of joining for which previous employer has indicated to them.

1. In your appointment letter, the rules and regulations will be specified. A copy of the terms and conditions of employment in that organisation will be given to you. In that, a clause will be there about the termination of employment from either side. You have to follow that procedure to terminate your employment given there.

2. Sending an application through the proper channel or submitting a NOC is a procedure for applying for a new job. That will depend on the requirement. Some employers may not ask for NOC. Some may ask for sending the application through the proper channel. So the procedure to be adopted should be decided by you based on the requirement of the advertiser. Generally, all government offices will ask the candidates working in other organisations to send the application through the proper channel or ask for a NOC. You have to inform the present employer about such posts only where NOC is required or the application is to be sent through the proper channel. For other posts, you need not inform. After getting the appointment letter you can resign and get relieved.
3, These days many offices are considering intimation also as giving a NOC. So they apply maximum sealing of 4 including these also. So it is better not to inform where you don't require a NOC.
4. Are you giving oral information or in writing? If you are giving in writing and they are not raising any objection means they have given you their acceptance and that will be counted. You have to talk to your boss and HR department and manage the issue as they have not given you anything in writing. You may request them not to consider intimation as a NOC.