Central Railway Apprentice 2026: 2861 Slots

Railway Recruitment Cell, Central Railway (RRC CR) has released Notification No. RRC/CR/AA/2026 dated 3 November 2026 for the engagement of 2,861 Act Apprentices across its Mumbai, Bhusawal, Pune, Nagpur and Solapur clusters. The 32-page official notification covers the complete trade-wise and unit-wise training slots, age criteria, educational qualifications, reservation provisions, stipend, merit calculation, application instructions, document-upload specifications and prescribed medical fitness forms. Online applications opened on 3 November 2026 at 11:00 AM and will close on 2 December 2026 at 5:00 PM through the official RRC Central Railway website, rrccr.com.

Candidates should be clear about the nature of this engagement from the start. This is apprenticeship training under the Apprentices Act, 1961, for one year. It is not a regular railway job, and completing the training does not guarantee employment or automatic absorption into Railway service. There is also no written examination and no interview in this selection: shortlisting is done purely on a merit list prepared from Class 10 and ITI marks, followed by document verification and medical fitness.

Central Railway Apprentice 2026: Overview

Important Dates

Applications submitted by post or any offline method will not be accepted, and candidates must complete their applications before 5:00 PM on 2 December 2026.

Cluster-Wise Vacancy Details: 2,861 Slots

The 2,861 slots are distributed across five clusters. Mumbai has the highest allocation, followed by Bhusawal, Pune, Nagpur and Solapur. The advertised slots are provisional and may increase or decrease depending on Central Railway’s administrative requirements. PwBD and Ex-Servicemen slots are included within the notified totals and must not be added separately.

Mumbai Cluster: 1,712 Slots

Bhusawal Cluster: 500 Slots

Pune Cluster: 271 Slots

Nagpur Cluster: 221 Slots

Solapur Cluster: 157 Slots

The detailed trade-wise and community-wise allocation for each workshop and unit is given on pages 5 to 15 of the official notification. Candidates must check those tables before selecting their cluster and unit preferences, because not every trade is available in every cluster or workshop.

Eligibility Criteria

Candidates must have passed Class 10 or its equivalent under the 10+2 examination system with a minimum of 50 percent aggregate marks from a recognised board, and must hold a National Trade Certificate in the notified trade issued by the National Council for Vocational Training, or an accepted provisional certificate issued by NCVT or SCVT. Class 10 alone is not enough: a candidate without the prescribed ITI trade certificate does not meet the eligibility conditions.

Two restrictions are stated explicitly in the notification and are easy to miss. Engineering graduates and diploma holders are not eligible under this notification, because they are covered by a separate apprenticeship scheme. Candidates who are currently undergoing apprenticeship training, or who have already completed apprenticeship training, should not apply.

ITI Trades Covered

The recruitment covers apprenticeship opportunities in mechanical, electrical, engineering, computer, communication and other designated trades. Some of the trades mentioned in the official notification are Fitter, Electrician, Welder (Gas and Electric), Carpenter and Wood Work Technician, Machinist, Turner, Mechanic Diesel, Mechanic Motor Vehicle, Electronics Mechanic, Instrument Mechanic, Computer Operator and Programming Assistant (COPA), Programming and Systems Administration Assistant, Painter (General), Sheet Metal Worker, Mason, Blacksmith, Pipe Fitter and Plumber, Cable Jointer, Wireman, Mechanic Auto Electrical and Electronics, Mechanic Communication Equipment Maintenance, Mechanic Radio and TV, Information and Communication Technology System Maintenance, Stenographer (English or Hindi Shorthand), Tailor and Sewing Technology and Dress Making, and other notified technical trades. The applicant’s ITI certificate must match the eligible trade qualification listed against the chosen training slot.

Age Limit and Relaxation

The age limit is 15 to 24 years as on 3 November 2026. The eligible date-of-birth ranges are: General and UR, 3 November 2002 to 3 November 2011; OBC, 3 November 1999 to 3 November 2011; SC and ST, 3 November 1997 to 3 November 2011, both dates inclusive. Upper-age relaxation is 5 years for SC and ST, 3 years for OBC, and 10 years for PwBD candidates. Ex-Servicemen relaxation follows the special conditions in the notification. PwBD and eligible Ex-Servicemen candidates should check the additional age-relaxation rules applicable to their category.

Stipend and Training Conditions

Selected Act Apprentices will receive a monthly stipend of Rs. 9,600, as specified under Railway Board letter RBE No. 116/2025 dated 11 November 2025. This is the notified monthly apprenticeship stipend, not the basic salary of a permanent railway employee. The training duration is one year for all notified trades, and selected candidates must enter into a Contract of Apprenticeship Training before the programme begins. For selected applicants who are minors, the contract must be entered into by their guardian. Hostel accommodation is not provided, so selected candidates must arrange their own accommodation during training. Premature termination of the contract may have consequences under the applicable apprenticeship rules.

Application Fee

The fee is paid online through debit card, credit card, internet banking, UPI or wallet through the integrated payment gateway, and it is non-refundable. If a fee is deducted but the application confirmation cannot be downloaded, RRC Central Railway advises candidates to use the Verify Payment option and to verify the original transaction before attempting another payment, since duplicate payments may not be refunded.

Selection Process: How Merit Is Calculated

Selection is based on a merit list calculated using the simple average of Class 10 and ITI percentage marks. The formula is: Merit Percentage = (Class 10 Aggregate Percentage + ITI Percentage) / 2. For example, a candidate with 80 percent in Class 10 and 90 percent in ITI would have a calculated merit percentage of 85 percent. This is an illustrative calculation, not an actual selection cut-off. Although RRC Central Railway has issued a centralised notification, it will not prepare one centralised merit list for all 2,861 slots: lists are prepared cluster-wise, unit-wise, trade-wise and community-wise. If two candidates obtain the same merit percentage, the older candidate receives preference, and if their dates of birth are also identical, the candidate who passed the Matriculation examination earlier is placed higher.

For boards that award letter grades rather than percentages, candidates must calculate the percentage using the midpoint of the marks range corresponding to the overall grade. If the board does not issue an overall grade, the midpoints of individual subject-grade ranges must be averaged according to the notification’s instructions. For example, if the overall grade corresponds to the range 80 to 89 percent, the midpoint is 84.5 percent. Candidates should use the conversion instructions given on pages 2 and 3 of the official PDF, because an incorrect calculation may lead to rejection during verification.

Shortlisted candidates will be called for document verification in the relevant division or unit according to their selected cluster, where they must produce original educational certificates, ITI marksheets, reservation certificates, identity documents and other applicable records. They must also bring the prescribed medical fitness certificate in the format provided in Annexure VII of the official notification, signed by a Government-authorised Gazetted medical officer not below the rank of Assistant Surgeon in a Central or State Government hospital. Candidates who fail to produce the required medical fitness certificate may not be permitted to undergo document verification and may have their candidature cancelled. No TA or DA will be paid for attending document verification. Applicants should not confuse this apprenticeship selection with Railway Recruitment Board CBT examinations conducted for regular railway posts.

Reservation Rules

Reservation applies to eligible SC, ST, OBC, PwBD and Ex-Servicemen categories according to the notification provisions. SC and ST candidates claiming reservation must upload the appropriate caste certificate in the prescribed Central Government format. OBC candidates must submit a valid caste certificate and Non-Creamy Layer certificate issued on or after 1 April 2026, in the prescribed Central Government format, and original certificates must be produced during document verification. PwBD eligibility is restricted to the disability categories and trade-specific fitness conditions stated in the notification, including certain locomotor disabilities, cerebral palsy, hearing disabilities and low-vision categories, and not every disability category is suitable for every trade. Applicants claiming Ex-Servicemen benefits must upload the required discharge or serving certificate and produce the original supporting documents when called for verification.

How to Apply Online Step by Step

Visit the official Railway Recruitment Cell, Central Railway website at rrccr.com and locate Notification No. RRC/CR/AA/2026 for engagement of Act Apprentices. Download and read the complete notification before applying, and check the available ITI trades, cluster-wise vacancies, age criteria and educational requirements. Click the Apply Online link for the 2026 apprenticeship engagement and complete registration using the information requested on the portal. Enter personal details including name, parents’ names, date of birth and contact information, and provide the required Aadhaar or other permitted identification details. Enter Class 10 qualification and aggregate percentage marks accurately, and enter the relevant ITI trade certificate and marks details. Select only one eligible cluster, then choose the available units within that cluster in order of preference. Enter the applicable community, reservation and other eligibility details, upload the prescribed photograph, signature and supporting certificates, and review the completed application carefully before final submission. Pay the application fee of Rs. 100 unless exempt, complete the process before 2 December 2026 at 5:00 PM, and download and print the application form, retaining the registration number and payment receipt. Candidates must not submit multiple applications using different mobile numbers, email addresses or personal particulars, because RRC Central Railway may reject all applications submitted by the same candidate. Editing is not permitted after final submission.

Documents Required and Upload Specifications

Applicants must upload legible scanned copies of the Class 10 or equivalent marksheet, date-of-birth proof through the Matriculation certificate, marksheet or accepted school leaving certificate, the consolidated ITI marksheet covering all semesters of the notified trade, the National Trade Certificate issued by NCVT or accepted provisional certificate issued by NCVT or SCVT, SC, ST or OBC caste certificate where applicable, a valid OBC Non-Creamy Layer certificate where applicable, a disability certificate for eligible PwBD applicants, a discharge certificate or Armed Forces serving certificate for applicable Ex-Servicemen reservation claims, a prescribed recent colour photograph, a scanned candidate signature, and Aadhaar or other permitted identity document details. Documents issued in languages other than Hindi or English must be accompanied by the required attested translation, and original documents must be produced during document verification.

The prescribed photograph specification is JPG or JPEG format, 3.5 cm x 3.5 cm, 20 KB to 70 KB, and the signature specification is JPG or JPEG format, 3.5 cm x 3.5 cm, 20 KB to 30 KB, both at 100 DPI. The colour photograph must have been taken within three months before application and should show the candidate’s face clearly without a cap or sunglasses. Applicants should retain two additional copies of the same photograph for document verification.

Applicants are generally required to enter their 12-digit Aadhaar number during registration. Those who have applied for Aadhaar but have not received the card may enter the 28-digit Aadhaar Enrolment ID. Special identification provisions apply to applicants from Jammu and Kashmir, Meghalaya and Assam, who may use a permitted Government identity document such as Voter ID, a valid passport or a driving licence. The original accepted identification document must be produced during document verification.

Common Reasons for Rejection

Applications are commonly rejected for not meeting the minimum Class 10 aggregate marks or prescribed ITI qualification, selecting a unit where no training slots are available for the applicant’s ITI trade, submitting more than one application, entering incorrect Class 10 or ITI percentages, providing personal details that do not match the Matriculation certificate, uploading unclear, corrupt or incorrect documents, failing to produce the required original certificates during verification, claiming reservation without the prescribed supporting certificates, not meeting the applicable age limit, failing to produce the required medical fitness certificate, or providing false or misleading information. Candidates should check the complete notification and all entered information before paying the fee and submitting the final application.

Important Links

No deep notification PDF link is given here because only the official RRC Central Railway website has been verified as the source; candidates should open the notification from rrccr.com rather than trusting a forwarded file.

FAQs on Central Railway Apprentice Recruitment 2026

How many vacancies are available? Central Railway has announced 2,861 Act Apprentice training slots across the Mumbai, Bhusawal, Pune, Nagpur and Solapur clusters.

What is the last date to apply? The last date for online applications is 2 December 2026 at 5:00 PM.

When did applications start? The application process started on 3 November 2026 at 11:00 AM.

What is the qualification required? Candidates must have passed Class 10 with at least 50 percent aggregate marks and possess the prescribed NCVT or SCVT ITI trade certificate.

Can 10th pass candidates apply without ITI? No. Applicants must possess both the prescribed Class 10 qualification and a relevant ITI certificate.

Can engineering graduates or diploma holders apply? No. Engineering graduates and diploma holders are not eligible under this notification, because they are covered by a separate apprenticeship scheme.

Is there a written exam? No separate written examination is specified. Candidates are shortlisted according to their Class 10 and ITI marks, followed by document verification and medical fitness assessment.

How is merit calculated? Merit is the simple average of the Class 10 aggregate percentage and the ITI percentage, with lists prepared cluster-wise, unit-wise, trade-wise and community-wise.

What is the stipend? The notified monthly stipend is Rs. 9,600, which is an apprenticeship stipend, not the salary of a permanent railway employee.

Can I apply for more than one cluster? No. Applicants must select only one cluster, and multiple applications may result in cancellation of all applications submitted by the candidate.

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