Central Railway Apprentice Recruitment 2026: Railway Recruitment Cell, Central Railway (RRC/CR) has published an official employment notification inviting online applications for 2861 Act Apprentice training slots across technical workshop units and maintenance divisions. The centralized notification has been issued under Notification No. RRC/CR/AA/2026 dated 3 November 2026 under the Apprentices Act 1961. Candidates possessing matriculation qualification with 50% marks in aggregate alongside a National Trade Certificate (ITI) in notified trades can apply online between 3 November 2026 and 2 December 2026 up to 17:00 hours at rrccr.com.
Central Railway Act Apprentice Recruitment 2026 Overview
Central Railway functions as a premier administrative zonal unit of Indian Railways. Engagement of Act Apprentices across its workshops and locomotive sheds provides technical skill training in railway mechanical, electrical, and engineering trades. Key highlights of the recruitment drive are outlined in the table below:
| Organization | Central Railway (Railway Recruitment Cell, RRC CR) |
|---|---|
| Notification Number | RRC/CR/AA/2026 |
| Notification Release Date | 3 November 2026 |
| Total Apprentice Vacancies | 2861 Slots |
| Statutory Framework | The Apprentices Act 1961 & Apprenticeship Rules |
| Employment Level | Central Government / Indian Railways Apprenticeship Training |
| Online Registration Start Date | 3 November 2026 (11:00 Hours) |
| Online Registration Closing Date | 2 December 2026 (17:00 Hours) |
| Application Fee | Rs 100 for General/OBC; Nil for SC/ST/PwBD/Women Candidates |
| Mode of Application | Online Only via Official Portal |
| Training Stipend | Monthly stipend payable as per Railway Board directives (RBE No. 116/2025) |
| Official Website | rrccr.com |
Cluster-Wise Vacancies Distribution and Major Unit Slots
The 2861 training slots are distributed across five operational railway clusters comprising major maintenance workshops, diesel locomotive sheds, and coaching depots across Central Railway. Notable unit slot allocations specified in the notification include:
| Operational Unit / Workshop | Designated Cluster | Notified Unit Slots |
|---|---|---|
| Carriage & Wagon (Coaching) Wadi Bunder | Mumbai Cluster | 258 |
| Kalyan Diesel Shed | Mumbai Cluster | 50 |
| Kurla Diesel Shed | Mumbai Cluster | 60 |
| Sr. DEE (TRS) Kalyan | Mumbai Cluster | 188 |
| Parel Workshop | Mumbai Cluster | 272 |
| Matunga Workshop | Mumbai Cluster | 547 |
| S&T Workshop, Byculla | Mumbai Cluster | 60 |
| Electric Loco Shed, Bhusawal | Bhusawal Cluster | 122 |
| Electric Locomotive Workshop, Bhusawal | Bhusawal Cluster | 118 |
| Central Engineering Workshop, Manmad | Bhusawal Cluster | 51 |
| Diesel Loco Shed, Pune | Pune Cluster | 121 |
| Electric Loco Shed, Ajni | Nagpur Cluster | 48 |
| Kurduwadi Workshop | Solapur Cluster | 55 |
| Total Slots (All Clusters Combined) | Central Railway Jurisdiction | 2861 |
Eligibility Conditions and Educational Qualifications
Applicants must satisfy the statutory eligibility norms laid down under Para 8 and Para 10 of the recruitment notification:
- Academic Qualification: The candidate must have passed 10th class examination or its equivalent under 10+2 examination system with a minimum of 50% marks in aggregate from a recognized education board. Aggregate marks across all subjects are reckoned for calculation; individual subject marks will not be considered alone.
- Technical Qualification: Candidates must possess a National Trade Certificate (NTC) in the notified trade issued by the National Council for Vocational Training (NCVT) or a Provisional National Trade Certificate issued by NCVT / State Council for Vocational Training (SCVT).
- Trade Specific Seat Breakup: Key trade allocations include 182 slots for Fitter in Wadi Bunder, 28 slots for Carpenter, 24 slots for Painter, 18 slots for Tailor, 27 slots for Mechanic Diesel, 42 slots in Kurla Diesel Shed, and 118 slots in Matunga Workshop for Carpenter.
- Restriction on Higher Technical Degrees: Engineering graduates and three-year Diploma holders are expressly not eligible to apply under this notification because they are covered under separate apprenticeship schemes administered by the Board of Apprenticeship Training (BOAT).
- Prior Training Bar: Candidates who are already undergoing or have previously undergone apprentice training under the Apprentices Act in any establishment are not permitted to apply.
Age Limit and Permissible Age Relaxation
Candidates aspiring for engagement in Central Railway must fulfill the specified age criteria calculated as on 3 November 2026:
- Minimum Age: 15 years completed as on 3 November 2026.
- Maximum Age: 24 years not completed as on 3 November 2026.
- Permissible Date of Birth Window (Unreserved): Born between 3 November 2002 and 3 November 2011 (both dates inclusive).
Upper age relaxations are granted in accordance with Indian Railways personnel norms:
- SC / ST Candidates: Upper age relaxation of 05 years (born between 3 November 1997 and 3 November 2011).
- OBC Candidates: Upper age relaxation of 3 years (born between 3 November 1999 and 3 November 2011).
- Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD): Upper age relaxation of 10 years.
- Ex-Servicemen: Upper age limit is relaxable by defence service duration plus 03 years, up to a maximum of 10 additional years, provided at least 6 months continuous service was rendered.
Reservation Guidelines for Vacancies
Reservation quotas for Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), Other Backward Classes (OBC), and Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD) are applied cluster-wise and unit-wise as prescribed in Central Government directives:
- In the event that suitable candidates belonging to reserved SC/ST/OBC categories are not available in specified slots, vacancies will be handled strictly as per Apprenticeship Rules and directives.
- Candidates seeking category benefits must upload valid caste certificates in the prescribed Central Railway formats issued by authorized revenue authorities (Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Tehsildar, or District Magistrate).
- PwBD candidates must submit disability certificates issued by competent government medical boards specifying benchmark impairment.
Training Period and Monthly Stipend Pay Details
The engagement conditions regarding apprenticeship tenure and stipend are governed by Indian Railways regulations:
- Training Duration: For all designated trades, the training duration is strictly 01 year.
- Monthly Stipend: Selected Act Apprentices will be paid a monthly stipend during their training period in accordance with Railway Board establishment orders (RBE No. 116/2025 dated 11 November 2025).
- No Employment Guarantee: Engagement as an Act Apprentice does not confer any legal right, title, or claim for direct absorption, absorption quota appointment, or regular employment on Central Railway.
Mode of Selection and Merit Computation
The selection mechanism is purely merit-based with zero written examination or oral viva-voce interview:
- Unit-Wise Merit List: Candidates are selected on the basis of a transparent merit list prepared cluster-wise and trade-wise. No centralized common merit list is drawn.
- Merit Calculation Formula: The merit score is calculated based on the simple average of percentage marks obtained in matriculation (minimum 50% aggregate) plus ITI marks obtained in the trade in which apprenticeship is sought.
- Tie-Breaking Mechanism: When two or more applicants obtain identical composite scores, the candidate older in age will be placed higher on the merit panel. If dates of birth are also identical, the applicant who passed the matriculation examination earlier will be ranked higher.
- Document Verification: Candidates figuring on the provisional merit panel will be called for document verification of original educational certificates, trade certificates, and caste credentials in Mumbai.
- Medical Fitness Standard: Candidates must satisfy the prescribed medical fitness standards certified by a Railway Medical Officer before entering into the apprenticeship contract.
Application Fee and Payment Method
The application processing fee structure is laid out under Para 11 of the notice:
| Candidate Category | Application Fee Amount | Payment Mode |
|---|---|---|
| General, OBC & EWS Male Candidates | Rs 100 (Non-Refundable) | Online Gateway (Debit Card, Credit Card, Internet Banking) |
| SC / ST Candidates | Nil (Exempted) | Not Applicable |
| Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD) | Nil (Exempted) | Not Applicable |
| Women Applicants (All Categories) | Nil (Exempted) | Not Applicable |
Documents Required for Submission and Verification
Candidates must prepare clear scanned digital copies in JPEG or PNG format for online form submission:
- High school / SSC 10th standard mark sheet showing aggregate subject marks and date of birth.
- School leaving certificate or birth certificate as official evidence of age.
- National Trade Certificate (NTC) or Provisional National Trade Certificate issued by NCVT / SCVT in relevant notified trade.
- Consolidated marksheet for all semesters / years of the ITI trade course.
- Community / Caste Certificate for SC, ST, or OBC candidates issued in prescribed Central Government proforma. Non-creamy layer certificate for OBC candidates must be valid for the current financial year.
- Medical certificate for PwBD applicants issued by an authorized Medical Board.
- Discharge certificate / service record book in the case of Ex-Servicemen.
- Recent colour photograph and clear signature.
Important Dates Schedule
| Activity / Event | Key Date & Time |
|---|---|
| Official Notification Issue Date | 3 November 2026 |
| Opening Date of Online Applications | 3 November 2026 at 11:00 AM |
| Closing Date and Time of Online Applications | 2 December 2026 at 17:00 PM (5:00 PM) |
| Crucial Cut-Off Date for Age Determination | 3 November 2026 |
How to Apply for Central Railway Apprentice Recruitment 2026
Interested and eligible applicants should follow these sequential steps to register on the Central Railway portal:
- Visit Official Portal: Navigate to the official website of Railway Recruitment Cell, Central Railway at rrccr.com.
- Open Recruitment Link: Click on the link designated for "Online Application for Engagement of Act Apprentices (2026-27) under Apprentices Act 1961".
- Registration & Login: Register with a valid mobile number and email ID to receive login credentials. Enter your personal, contact, and domicile details carefully.
- Select Cluster & Trade: Choose your desired railway cluster (Mumbai, Bhusawal, Pune, Nagpur, or Solapur) and specific unit preferences along with the designated ITI trade. Candidates can apply for only one cluster.
- Enter Academic & Technical Marks: Input accurate matriculation marks (total marks obtained and maximum marks) and consolidated ITI trade examination marks.
- Upload Certificates: Upload scanned copies of 10th certificate, ITI mark sheet, caste certificate, photograph, and signature in the prescribed format.
- Pay Application Fee: Unreserved and OBC male applicants must make payment of the non-refundable Rs 100 fee via the integrated payment gateway.
- Print Application Form: Verify all preview details, submit the application, and print the confirmation copy for future verification. No physical documents need to be mailed to the RRC office.
Important Links
| Resource Title | Direct Official Link |
|---|---|
| Official Notification PDF | Download Notification |
| Online Application Portal | rrccr.com |
| Official Website | rrccr.com |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How many total apprentice slots are notified in Central Railway Recruitment 2026?
A total of 2861 Act Apprentice training slots are available across Mumbai, Bhusawal, Pune, Nagpur, and Solapur clusters.
What is the closing date for submitting online applications?
The online application portal remains accessible until 2 December 2026 up to 17:00 hours.
What is the age limit for Central Railway Act Apprentice?
The candidate must have completed 15 years and not completed 24 years as on 3 November 2026. Upper age relaxation is 05 years for SC/ST and 3 years for OBC candidates.
Is there an application fee for SC, ST, and Women candidates?
No, SC, ST, PwBD, and female applicants are completely exempted from payment of the application fee.