East Coast Railway Apprentice Recruitment 2026: Apply Online for 1599 Posts

Quick Highlights

• Organization: East Coast Railway (ECoR)
• Notification No: ECoR/Pers/RRC/Act Apprentice/2026-27
• Post Name: Act Apprentice (25 Trades)
• Total Vacancies: 1599
• Application Mode: Online only
• Application Start Date: 26 August 2026
• Last Date to Apply: 15 September 2026
• Official Website: www.rrcbbs.org.in

Important Dates

Candidates are strongly advised to submit their applications well ahead of the closing date, since heavy website traffic near the deadline can cause submission issues.

Application Fee

The application fee for ECoR Act Apprentice Recruitment 2026 is 100 rupees, which is non-refundable. No fee is required from SC, ST, PwBD, and women applicants. Payment can only be made online through the payment gateway integrated with the application form, using debit card, credit card, UPI, or internet banking. Once the correctness of the form is confirmed, no further edits are allowed after payment.

Vacancy Details

East Coast Railway has notified 1599 Act Apprentice slots for 2026-27 across five units. The table below gives the unit-wise breakup as provided in the notification. The complete trade-wise and category-wise breakup for every Division and Workshop is available in Annexure A of the official notification.

PwBD and ESM columns above are horizontal reservations already included within the total figures and are not additional to them. The number of slots is provisional and may increase or decrease depending on the actual needs of the Administration at the time of final selection.

Designated Trades

Applicants can apply for any one trade in which they hold a valid ITI certificate. Those with ITI qualifications in more than one trade may apply separately for each relevant trade. The 25 designated trades are as follows.

Eligibility Criteria

Educational and Technical Qualification

Applicants must have passed Matriculation, that is Class 10, under the 10+2 examination system with a minimum of 50 percent aggregate marks from a recognized Board, as on 21 August 2026, the date of issue of this notification. Applicants whose SSC or ITI results are still awaited are not eligible to apply. In addition, applicants must hold an ITI certificate in the relevant trade, affiliated to NCVT, as per the Apprentices Act 1961. Applicants who have failed in ITI should not apply, and engineering graduates or diploma holders are not eligible under this notification since they fall under a separate apprenticeship scheme.

A few trades carry additional requirements. For Laboratory Technician (Pathology), the candidate must be a 12th pass under the 10+2 system with Physics, Chemistry, and Biology, with a minimum of 50 percent marks in both Class 10 and Class 12. For Secretarial Assistant and Stenographer, the candidate must hold a National Trade Certificate approved by NCVT or SCVT. For Computer Operator and Programming Assistant, the candidate must have completed board-based basic training in the Information Technology sector under the centre of excellence scheme, along with a National Trade Certificate.

Age Limit

Ex-Servicemen relaxation applies to an applicant applying for themselves and does not extend to their children. Children of Ex-Servicemen, serving Jawans, and serving Officers are also considered under the Ex-Servicemen category with the same age relaxation as per their community.

Reservation Categories

Reservation is available for SC, ST, OBC-NCL, EWS, PwBD, and Ex-Servicemen candidates, subject to submission of the prescribed certificates at the time of application. OBC candidates must upload a valid Non-Creamy-Layer certificate issued for 2026-27, along with a self-declaration form. EWS candidates must have a gross annual family income below 8 lakh rupees and submit a valid Income and Asset Certificate. Horizontal reservation is applicable to the extent of 4 percent for PwBD and 3 percent for Ex-Servicemen candidates, within the overall notified slots.

Selection Process

Selection is made purely on the basis of a merit list prepared from the percentage of marks obtained in Matriculation, subject to a minimum of 50 percent aggregate. There is no written test or interview for this recruitment. Marks from all subjects in the mark sheet are considered, not the best of five approach, and candidates with a CGPA must convert it to the equivalent percentage while filling the form.

If two or more candidates secure the same marks, preference is given to the older candidate, and if the date of birth is also the same, the one who passed Matriculation earlier is ranked higher. A trade-wise and community-wise merit list is prepared, and shortlisted candidates are called for Document Verification at the Railway Recruitment Cell headquarters in Bhubaneswar, along with a Medical Fitness Certificate.

Medical Fitness Standards

Shortlisted candidates must submit a Medical Certificate signed by a Government-authorized Gazetted doctor, not below the rank of Assistant Surgeon, from a Central or State Government Hospital. The minimum standards include a height of 137 centimeters, weight of 25.4 kilograms, and chest expansion of not less than 3.8 centimeters, along with prescribed standards for vision, hearing, and general fitness. Category-wise and trade-wise permissible disability levels for PwBD applicants are specified in the official notification.

Stipend and Training

Selected candidates engaged as Act Apprentices will be paid a monthly stipend at the prescribed rate during the training period, as per extant rules and directives issued by the Railway Board. No hostel accommodation is provided during training, and apprentices must make their own arrangements. As per the Apprentices Act, the Railway is not obligated to offer employment after completion of training, and apprentices have no claim to a job in the Railways on completion of their apprenticeship. On completion of training, candidates appear for a proficiency test conducted by the National Council for Training in Vocational Trades to receive a Certificate of Proficiency.

Documents Required

• Recent colour photograph and scanned signature as per specified size and format
• Mark sheet and pass certificate of Matriculation, Class 10
• Consolidated ITI mark sheet or provisional National Trade Certificate for the relevant trade
• National Trade Certificate issued by NCVT, or provisional certificate issued by NCVT/SCVT
• Caste certificate for SC, ST, or OBC candidates, where applicable
• Income and Asset Certificate for EWS candidates, where applicable
• Disability certificate for PwBD candidates, where applicable
• Discharge or Serving Certificate for Ex-Servicemen quota candidates, where applicable
• Valid Aadhaar number, or the 28-digit Aadhaar Enrolment ID if the card has not yet been issued

How to Apply

1. Visit the official RRC Bhubaneswar website at www.rrcbbs.org.in and locate the Act Apprentice application link.
2. Register using a valid personal email ID and mobile number, since all further communication will be sent to these details.
3. Log in and fill in personal details, Matriculation marks or CGPA, Aadhaar number, and the preferred Division, Department, and Trade combination carefully.
4. Upload a recent colour photograph and scanned signature as per the specified size, format, and file size requirements.
5. Upload scanned copies of Matriculation and ITI mark sheets and certificates, along with category certificates such as SC, ST, OBC-NCL, or EWS where applicable.
6. Pay the application fee of 100 rupees online through the integrated payment gateway, unless exempted as SC, ST, PwBD, or woman applicant.
7. Verify all entered details for accuracy, since no changes are allowed after payment, and submit the application.
8. Download and print the submitted application form for personal records and future reference.

General Rules

• Each candidate may submit only one application; multiple applications for the same trade will be summarily rejected.
• Applicants can choose only one Division or Workshop, and this choice is final and binding once submitted.
• Candidates must not change their registered mobile number or email ID during the entire selection process.
• No hard copies of documents should be sent by post; all documents must be uploaded online only.
• Any discrepancy between marks entered online and original certificates, found during Document Verification, leads to summary rejection.
• Railway Recruitment Cell, Bhubaneswar has not appointed any agents, and candidates should be cautious of touts making false promises.
• Any legal matter arising from this notification falls under the jurisdiction of the Central Administrative Tribunal, Cuttack.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. What is the last date for ECoR Apprentice online application 2026?

The online application window closes on 15 September 2026 at 17:00 hrs. Applications open on 26 August 2026 at 17:00 hrs, and candidates are advised to apply well before the closing date to avoid last minute website traffic issues.

Q2. How many vacancies are notified in ECoR Apprentice Recruitment 2026?

East Coast Railway has notified 1599 Act Apprentice slots across 25 designated trades for the year 2026-27. These slots are spread across Carriage Repair Workshop Mancheswar, RGDA Division, Khurda Road Division, Sambalpur Division, and ECoR Headquarters.

Q3. What is the age limit for ECoR Act Apprentice recruitment?

Candidates must be between 15 and 24 years of age as on the closing date of 15 September 2026. Age relaxation of 5 years applies to SC/ST candidates, 3 years to OBC candidates, and 10 years to Persons with Benchmark Disabilities, with additional relaxation for Ex-Servicemen.

Q4. What is the educational qualification required for ECoR Apprentice posts?

Candidates need to have passed Matriculation, that is Class 10, under the 10+2 system with a minimum of 50 percent aggregate marks, along with an ITI certificate in the relevant trade affiliated to NCVT. Some trades such as Laboratory Technician Pathology, Secretarial Assistant, and Computer Operator have additional specific qualification requirements.

Q5. What is the application fee for ECoR Apprentice Recruitment 2026?

The application fee is 100 rupees and is non-refundable. No fee is required from SC, ST, PwBD, and women applicants, and payment must be made online through the payment gateway integrated with the application form.

Q6. What is the selection process for ECoR Act Apprentices?

Selection is made purely on the basis of a merit list prepared from Matriculation marks, subject to a minimum of 50 percent aggregate. Shortlisted candidates are called for Document Verification at the Railway Headquarters in Bhubaneswar along with a Medical Fitness Certificate.

Q7. Is there any written exam for ECoR Apprentice selection?

No. The notification clearly states that there is no written test or viva voce for this recruitment. The merit list is prepared solely on Matriculation percentage, and ties are resolved by giving preference to the older candidate.

Q8. Will apprentices get a job in Railways after training completion?

No. As per the Apprentices Act, the Railway is not obligated to offer employment after training, and apprentices trained under this notification have no claim to a Railway job on completion of their apprenticeship.

Source

This article is based on the official notification ECoR/Pers/RRC/Act Apprentice/2026-27 dated 21 August 2026, issued by the Office of the Principal Chief Personnel Officer, East Coast Railway, Bhubaneswar.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and is based on the official recruitment notification available at the time of writing. Candidates are advised to verify all details from the official RRC Bhubaneswar website before applying and to refer to the original notification for complete terms and conditions.