RRC Central Railway - Act Apprentice Recruitment 2026

Central Railway Apprentice 2026: Railway Recruitment Cell, Central Railway (RRC CR), has released Notification No. RRC/CR/AA/2026 dated 3 November 2026 for engagement of 2,861 Act Apprentices across its Mumbai, Bhusawal, Pune, Nagpur and Solapur clusters. Candidates who have passed Class 10 with at least 50% aggregate marks and possess an NCVT/SCVT certificate in the relevant ITI trade can apply. The age limit is 15 to 24 years as on 3 November 2026, with applicable relaxation. Selected apprentices will receive a stipend of Rs. 9,600 per month during one year of training. The online application process started on 3 November 2026 and closes on 2 December 2026 at 5:00 PM. Eligible candidates can apply online through the official RRC Central Railway website at www.rrccr.com ↗.

Important: This notification is for apprenticeship training under the Apprentices Act, 1961, and does not offer permanent railway employment. Candidates who are currently undergoing or have already completed apprenticeship training should not apply. Applicants must choose only one cluster and ensure their ITI trade has available training slots in the selected units.

Candidates must complete their applications before 17:00 hours on 2 December 2026. Applications submitted through post or any other offline method will not be accepted.

Railway Recruitment Cell, Central Railway, has released the 32-page official notification RRC/CR/AA/2026 dated 3 November 2026 for engagement of 2,861 Act Apprentices.

The notification contains 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.

Official Notification PDF: Download Central Railway Apprentice 2026 Notification PDF ↗

RRC Central Railway has announced 2,861 apprentice training slots across five clusters. The Mumbai cluster has the highest allocation, followed by Bhusawal, Pune, Nagpur and Solapur.

Central Railway Apprentice Cluster-Wise Vacancy Details

Mumbai Cluster - 1712 Apprentice Slots

Bhusawal Cluster - 500 Apprentice Slots

Pune Cluster - 271 Apprentice Slots

Nagpur Cluster - 221 Apprentice Slots

Solapur Cluster - 157 Apprentice Slots

The official notification contains the detailed trade-wise and community-wise allocation for each workshop and unit on pages 5 to 15. Candidates must check those tables before selecting their cluster and unit preferences.

The recruitment includes 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 / Welder (Gas & Electric)
• Carpenter / 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 / 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 / Sewing Technology / Dress Making
• Other notified technical trades

Important: Not every trade is available in every cluster or workshop. The applicant's ITI certificate must match the eligible trade qualification listed against the chosen training slot. Candidates should verify the exact trade name and unit availability in the official PDF.

Candidates must have passed Class 10 with a minimum of 50% aggregate marks from a recognized board and hold an appropriate ITI trade certificate issued or provisionally certified by NCVT/SCVT.

Educational Qualification

Important Qualification Restriction: Engineering graduates and diploma holders are not eligible for apprenticeship under this specific notification, as they are covered by a separate apprenticeship scheme. Applicants must satisfy the exact Class 10 and ITI eligibility requirements stated by RRC Central Railway.

Can 10th Pass Candidates Apply Without ITI?

No. Class 10 with at least 50% aggregate marks is required, but candidates must also possess the prescribed ITI trade certificate. A 10th Pass qualification alone does not meet the recruitment eligibility.

Can Candidates Who Have Already Completed Apprenticeship Apply?

No. The notification specifically states that candidates currently undergoing apprenticeship or who have already undergone apprenticeship training should not apply.

The age limit is 15 to 24 years as on 3 November 2026. Candidates belonging to eligible reserved categories may receive upper-age relaxation.

Category-Wise Date of Birth Eligibility

Both dates are inclusive. These date-of-birth ranges are reproduced from the official notification. PwBD and eligible Ex-Servicemen candidates should check the additional age-relaxation rules applicable to their category.

Selected Act Apprentices will receive a monthly stipend of Rs. 9,600, as specified under Railway Board RBE No. 116/2025 dated 11 November 2025.

Stipend Clarification: Rs. 9,600 is the notified monthly apprenticeship stipend, not the basic salary of a permanent railway employee. Selected candidates must arrange their own accommodation during training.

The duration of apprenticeship training is one year for all notified trades. Selected candidates must enter into a Contract of Apprenticeship Training before the programme begins.

For selected applicants who are minors, the apprenticeship contract must be entered into by their guardian. Premature termination of the contract may have consequences under the applicable apprenticeship rules.

Will Central Railway Provide a Permanent Job After Apprenticeship?

No. Central Railway clearly states that completing apprenticeship training does not guarantee employment or automatic absorption into Railway service. The Railway administration is not obligated to provide a permanent job after the training period.

The application fee is Rs. 100 for candidates who are not covered by the notified exemptions. SC, ST, PwBD and women candidates are exempt.

Payment Mode: Debit Card, Credit Card, Internet Banking, UPI or Wallet through the integrated online payment gateway.

The application fee is non-refundable. Applicable payment transaction charges, if any, must be borne by the candidate.

What If the Application Fee Is Deducted but Payment Is Not Confirmed?

RRC Central Railway advises candidates to use the Verify Payment option if their payment is deducted but the application confirmation cannot be downloaded. Candidates should verify the original transaction before attempting another payment, since duplicate payments may not be refunded.

Selection will be based on a merit list calculated using the simple average of Class 10 and ITI percentage marks. The notification does not prescribe a separate written examination or interview.

1. Online Application: Candidates apply through the RRC Central Railway website.
2. Merit Calculation: Class 10 aggregate percentage and ITI percentage are given equal weightage.
3. Merit List Preparation: Lists are prepared cluster-wise, unit-wise, trade-wise and community-wise.
4. Document Verification: Shortlisted candidates must produce original educational and category certificates.
5. Medical Fitness: Candidates must present the prescribed medical fitness certificate.
6. Apprenticeship Engagement: Eligible candidates are engaged for training after completing the necessary formalities.

Important: Although RRC Central Railway has issued a centralized notification, it will not prepare one centralized merit list for all 2,861 slots. Selection is organized according to the relevant cluster, unit, trade and community.

How Is Central Railway Apprentice Merit Calculated?

The official merit formula is:

Merit Percentage = (Class 10 Aggregate Percentage + ITI Percentage) / 2

This is an illustrative calculation, not an actual selection cut-off. Candidates must enter accurate percentages based on the aggregate Class 10 marks and the prescribed consolidated ITI marks.

How Are Grade-Based Class 10 Marks Calculated?

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 education 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 80-89%, the midpoint is 84.5%. Candidates should use the conversion instructions given on pages 2 and 3 of the official PDF. Incorrect calculation may lead to rejection during verification.

Central Railway Apprentice Tie-Breaking Rules

If two candidates obtain the same merit percentage, the older candidate will receive preference. If their dates of birth are also identical, the candidate who passed the Matriculation examination earlier will be placed higher.

No separate written examination is specified for this Central Railway Act Apprentice engagement. Candidates are shortlisted according to their Class 10 and ITI marks, followed by document verification and medical fitness assessment.

Applicants should not confuse this apprenticeship selection with Railway Recruitment Board (RRB) CBT examinations conducted for regular railway posts.

Reservation applies to eligible SC, ST, OBC, PwBD and Ex-Servicemen categories according to the relevant notification provisions.

SC, ST and OBC Reservation Certificates

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.

Original certificates must be produced during document verification.

PwBD Eligibility and Reservation

PwBD eligibility is restricted to the disability categories and trade-specific fitness conditions stated in the notification. The applicable provisions include certain locomotor disabilities, cerebral palsy, hearing disabilities and low-vision categories.

Candidates claiming PwBD reservation must possess a valid disability certificate from the competent medical authority. Not every disability category is suitable for every apprenticeship trade, and applicants must check the requirements applicable to their selected trade.

Ex-Servicemen Reservation

The advertisement provides reservation provisions for eligible Ex-Servicemen and certain children of Ex-Servicemen or serving Armed Forces personnel.

Applicants claiming these benefits must upload the required discharge or serving certificate and produce the original supporting documents when called for verification.

Candidates can submit online applications through the official RRC Central Railway Apprentice 2026 recruitment portal. The application window is open from 3 November to 2 December 2026.

Direct Apply Online: Central Railway Apprentice 2026 Application Portal ↗

Official Website: www.rrccr.com ↗

Notification Number: RRC/CR/AA/2026.

Last Date: 2 December 2026, 5:00 PM.

Applicants must select only one cluster and may give unit preferences within that cluster. Multiple applications are not permitted and may result in cancellation of all applications submitted by the candidate.

1. Visit the official Railway Recruitment Cell, Central Railway website at www.rrccr.com ↗.
2. Locate Notification No. RRC/CR/AA/2026 for engagement of Act Apprentices.
3. Download and read the complete notification before applying.
4. Check the available ITI trades, cluster-wise vacancies, age criteria and educational requirements.
5. Click the Apply Online ↗ link for the 2026 apprenticeship engagement.
6. Complete the registration process using the information requested on the portal.
7. Enter personal details, including name, parents' names, date of birth and contact information.
8. Provide the required Aadhaar or other permitted identification details.
9. Enter Class 10 qualification and aggregate percentage marks accurately.
10. Enter the relevant ITI trade certificate and marks details.
11. Select only one eligible cluster.
12. Choose the available units within the selected cluster in order of preference.
13. Enter the applicable community, reservation and other eligibility details.
14. Upload the prescribed photograph, signature and supporting certificates.
15. Review the completed application carefully before final submission.
16. Pay the application fee of Rs. 100, unless exempt.
17. Complete the application process before 2 December 2026 at 5:00 PM.
18. Download and print the application form and retain the registration number and payment receipt.

Important: Candidates should not submit multiple applications using different mobile numbers, email addresses or personal particulars. RRC Central Railway may reject all applications submitted by the same candidate.

Applicants must upload legible scanned copies of the required educational and supporting documents during the online application process.

• Class 10 or equivalent marksheet.
• Date-of-birth proof through Matriculation certificate, marksheet or accepted school leaving certificate.
• Consolidated ITI marksheet covering all semesters of the notified trade.
• National Trade Certificate issued by NCVT or accepted provisional certificate issued by NCVT/SCVT.
• SC/ST/OBC caste certificate, where applicable.
• Valid OBC Non-Creamy Layer certificate, where applicable.
• Disability certificate for eligible PwBD applicants.
• Discharge certificate or Armed Forces serving certificate for applicable Ex-Servicemen reservation claims.
• Prescribed recent colour photograph.
• Scanned candidate signature.
• Aadhaar or other permitted identity document details.

Original documents must be produced during document verification. Documents issued in languages other than Hindi or English must be accompanied by the required attested translation.

Central Railway Apprentice Photograph and Signature Size

Both images must follow the prescribed 100 DPI specification. 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.

The notification provides special identification provisions for applicants from Jammu & Kashmir, Meghalaya and Assam. Eligible applicants from these locations may use a permitted Government identity document such as Voter ID, valid passport or driving licence.

The original accepted identification document must be produced during document verification.

Candidates shortlisted through the merit process will be called for document verification in the relevant division or unit according to their selected cluster.

They must produce the original educational certificates, ITI marksheets, reservation certificates, identity documents and other applicable records.

Medical Fitness Certificate

Shortlisted candidates must bring the prescribed medical fitness certificate in the format provided in Annexure VII of the official notification.

The certificate must be signed by a Government-authorized Gazetted medical officer not below the rank of Assistant Surgeon in a Central or State Government hospital.

Important: Candidates who fail to produce the required medical fitness certificate may not be permitted to undergo document verification and may have their candidature cancelled.

Applicants should carefully review the following requirements because errors may lead to rejection:

• 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.
• Providing false or misleading information.

Applicants should check the complete notification and all entered information before paying the fee and submitting the final application, as editing is not permitted after final submission.

• RRC Central Railway has announced 2,861 Act Apprentice training slots.
• The notification number is RRC/CR/AA/2026, dated 3 November 2026.
• Applications close on 2 December 2026 at 5:00 PM.
• Class 10 with at least 50% aggregate marks and the relevant ITI certificate are mandatory.
• The prescribed age limit is 15 to 24 years, with applicable relaxation.
• Engineering graduates and diploma holders are not eligible under this notification.
• Candidates already undergoing or having completed apprenticeship should not apply.
• Applicants must select only one cluster.
• The selected units must offer training slots for the applicant's ITI trade.
• Selection is based on the simple average of Class 10 and ITI marks.
• No separate written examination is prescribed.
• Merit lists are prepared cluster-wise, unit-wise, trade-wise and community-wise.
• SC/ST/PwBD and women candidates are exempt from the application fee.
• The notified monthly stipend is Rs. 9,600.
• The apprenticeship training duration is one year.
• Selected candidates must arrange their own accommodation.
• Original document verification and medical fitness are mandatory.
• No TA/DA will be paid for attending document verification.
• Apprenticeship completion does not guarantee regular railway employment.
• Candidates should regularly check the official RRC Central Railway website for updates.