NFR Apprentice Recruitment 2026: Apply Online for 6777 Act Apprentice Posts

Quick Highlights

• Organization: Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR), Personnel Department
• Notification No: NFR/NAPS/ACT APP./2026
• Post Name: Act Apprentice (Various Trades)
• Total Slots: 6777 (provisional)
• Mode of Application: Online only
• Last Date to Apply: 19 August 2026, 17:30 hrs

About NFR Apprentice Recruitment 2026

Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) invites online applications from eligible candidates for engagement as Act Apprentices under the Apprentices Act 1961. Training will be imparted in designated trades across Workshops, Divisions and Units falling under NFR's jurisdiction, which spans Assam, West Bengal, Bihar and other Northeastern states. A candidate is allowed to submit only one application, and applicants must read the trade-wise slot list carefully before ranking their Unit-Department-Trade preferences.

Important Dates

Application Fee

Candidates need to pay a non-refundable application fee of Rs 100 online through the payment gateway link provided in the notification. Once the online application is complete, candidates are directed to the payment gateway on NFR's website. If the download of the application is blocked due to a payment issue, candidates can use the "Verify Payment" option to reconfirm the transaction.

SC, ST, PwBD, EBC and women candidates are exempted from the application fee. Candidates seeking fee exemption under the Economically Backward Class (EBC) category must have a family income below Rs 50,000 per annum and upload a certificate issued on or after 01-04-2026.

If a candidate needs to modify their submitted application, this can be done on payment of Rs 50 for each occasion, though details submitted at the time of registration cannot be changed.

Unit-Wise Vacancy Details

The 6777 slots are distributed across eight units, each with its own category-wise breakup covering UR, OBC, SC, ST and EWS candidates. Ex-Servicemen (ESM) and Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD) receive horizontal reservation within these totals, at 10 percent and 4 percent respectively.

Note: The number of training slots shown here is provisional and liable to increase or decrease depending on administrative needs at the time of final selection. The unit-wise, trade-wise breakup covers a wide range of designated trades, including Fitter, Electrician, Welder, Turner, Machinist, Carpenter, Plumber, Mechanic Diesel, Computer Operator and Programming Assistant, and Medical Laboratory Technician, among others. The complete trade-wise slot table for each unit is available in the official notification.

Eligibility Criteria

Educational Qualification

For most designated trades, a candidate must have passed Matriculation (Class 10) or its equivalent with a minimum of 50 percent aggregate marks from a recognized board, and must also hold a National Trade Certificate (ITI) in the notified trade issued by NCVT, or a Provisional Certificate issued by NCVT or the State Council for Vocational Training. The 50 percent Matriculation requirement does not apply to SC, ST and PwBD candidates.

For Medical Laboratory Technician (Pathology) and Medical Laboratory Technician (Radiology) posts, candidates must have passed the 12th class examination under the 10+2 system with Physics, Chemistry and Biology, with a minimum of 50 percent aggregate marks in both Class 10 and Class 12.

Only completing an ITI course is not enough; candidates must be in possession of their ITI pass certificate, National Trade Certificate or State Trade Certificate as on the date of this notification.

Age Limit

Candidates must be not below 15 years and not above 24 years of age as on the closing date, 19-08-2026. Upper age relaxation is available as follows:

• 5 years for SC/ST candidates
• 3 years for OBC candidates
• 10 years for PwBD candidates
• 10 years plus 3 years for Ex-Servicemen, subject to a minimum of 6 months of service at a stretch

Reservation Details

SC/ST and OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) candidates seeking reservation benefits must upload their caste certificate with the online application, in the prescribed format. There is 10 percent reservation for Economically Weaker Section (EWS) candidates, who must upload a certificate issued on or after 01-04-2026.

Ex-Servicemen, their children and children of serving armed forces personnel are considered for apprenticeship engagement in the following order of priority: children of deceased or disabled ex-servicemen, children of ex-servicemen, children of serving Jawans, children of serving officers, and ex-servicemen themselves.

Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD) seeking reservation must produce a disability certificate from a competent medical authority. There is horizontal reservation of 4 percent for PwBD and 10 percent for Ex-Servicemen, included within the overall notified slots and not filled outside them.

Selection Process

Candidates will be shortlisted strictly on the basis of academic merit and the order of Unit-Department-Trade preference exercised in their application, followed by successful Document Verification (DV) conducted by the respective Division, Workshop or Unit.

For most trades, the merit list is based on the average of the percentage of marks obtained in Matriculation (minimum 50 percent aggregate) and ITI marks in the applied trade. For Medical Laboratory Technician (Pathology) and (Radiology), merit is based on Matriculation and 12th Science marks in Physics, Chemistry and Biology instead of ITI marks.

Marks are calculated using all subjects in Matriculation or Higher Secondary, not just selected subjects, and false declaration of marks leads to summary disqualification. If two or more candidates have equal marks, the older candidate by age is ranked higher; if the date of birth is also the same, the candidate who passed Matriculation earlier is considered first.

Shortlisted candidates are called for Document Verification to the extent of 1.5 times the notified vacancies for each unit. Finally enlisted candidates must also produce a medical certificate confirming fitness for apprenticeship training.

Documents Required

Candidates must upload legible scanned copies of the following documents with their online application:

• Mark sheet and Pass Certificate of Matriculation (Class 10) or its equivalent
• Mark sheet and Pass Certificate of Senior Secondary (Class 12) with Physics, Chemistry and Biology, for Medical Laboratory Technician posts
• Proof of date of birth, if not mentioned on the Matriculation certificate
• Consolidated ITI mark sheet for all semesters, or Provisional National Trade Certificate showing marks
• National Trade Certificate issued by NCVT, or Provisional Trade Certificate issued by NCVT or SCVT
• Caste certificate, for SC/ST/OBC candidates
• EWS certificate, where applicable
• Disability certificate, for PwBD candidates
• Discharge certificate or serving certificate, for Ex-Servicemen quota candidates
• Economically Backward Class (EBC) certificate, for candidates seeking fee exemption
• Colour photograph and scanned signature as per the specifications on the website

Original documents must be produced at the time of document verification, and certificates in languages other than English or Hindi must be accompanied by an attested translation.

Training and Stipend

Apprentices will be paid a monthly stipend as per the extant rates. The current minimum stipend for NTC or STC holders is Rs 9,600 per month, effective from 11-09-2025. Where one or two years of exemption is admissible under the apprenticeship curriculum, the stipend rises to Rs 10,560 in the second year and Rs 11,040 in the third year, reckoning prior institutional training. These rates are subject to revision by the appropriate authority from time to time.

No hostel accommodation will be provided to apprentices during training, and they must make their own arrangements. The training period for most trades is 1 year, though some Information Technology and Industrial Automation trades run for 6 months, and Medical Laboratory Technician training runs for 1 year and 3 months.

How to Apply

Candidates should apply only through the official NFR website. The application process is entirely online, and only one application per candidate is permitted.

1. Visit the official NFR website, www.nfr.indianrailways.gov.in, and navigate to General Info, then Departments, then Personnel, then Act Apprentice Notification.
2. Register yourself on the portal using your basic details and create a login.
3. Log in and fill up the online application form carefully, entering your academic details, ITI trade and personal information.
4. Select your preferred Units and Departments in order of preference, based on the trades you are eligible for.
5. Upload the required scanned documents, including your Matriculation mark sheet, ITI certificate, photograph and signature.
6. Pay the application fee of Rs 100 through the payment gateway, unless you are exempted.
7. Submit the application, note down the Registration Number issued, and take a printout of the completed form for your records.

Candidates must not change their registered mobile number or email address during the entire selection process, since NFR uses these for all further correspondence. Applying early is advisable to avoid last-minute technical issues, as no responsibility is taken for applications not submitted within the deadline.

General Rules

• Imparting of training under the Apprentices Act 1961 does not by itself confer any right to appointment in railway services. It is not obligatory for NFR to offer employment on completion of training, nor for the apprentice to accept it.
• However, 20 percent of vacancies notified in erstwhile Group D (Level-1) posts are filled by giving preference to Course Completed Act Apprentices who hold National Apprenticeship Certificates and qualify in the written examination.
• Canvassing in any form will lead to disqualification, and no correspondence will be entertained regarding rejected or non-called applications.
• Candidature will be cancelled if a candidate fails to produce original testimonials at the time of document verification, or if any discrepancy is found at any stage.
• No daily allowance, conveyance or travelling allowance will be paid to candidates called for document verification.
• Selection is purely merit-based, and NFR does not appoint any facilitation centre. Candidates are advised to avoid unscrupulous elements promising selection and to report such instances to the SDGM/NFR and local police.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. How many vacancies are there in NFR Apprentice Recruitment 2026?

There are 6777 training slots for Act Apprentices, spread across eight units of Northeast Frontier Railway. This number is provisional and may increase or decrease before final selection.

Q2. What is the last date to apply for NFR Apprentice 2026?

The online application window closes on 19-08-2026 at 17:30 hrs. Applications open on 20-07-2026 at 09:00 hrs.

Q3. What is the age limit for NFR Act Apprentice posts?

Candidates must be not below 15 years and not above 24 years of age as on the closing date, 19-08-2026. Age relaxation applies for SC/ST, OBC, PwBD and ex-servicemen candidates as per government norms.

Q4. What is the educational qualification required for NFR Apprentice 2026?

Candidates generally need Matriculation (Class 10) with at least 50 percent aggregate marks along with a National Trade Certificate in the notified trade from NCVT or SCVT. Medical Laboratory Technician posts require 12th pass with Physics, Chemistry and Biology.

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

The application fee is Rs 100, payable online. SC, ST, PwBD, EBC and women candidates are exempted from paying this fee.

Q6. How will candidates be selected for NFR Act Apprentice training?

Selection is based on a merit list prepared unit-wise, trade-wise and community-wise, using the average percentage of marks in Matriculation and ITI. Shortlisted candidates are called for document verification up to 1.5 times the notified slots.

Q7. What stipend will NFR apprentices receive?

The current minimum stipend is Rs 9,600 per month, increasing to Rs 10,560 in the second year and Rs 11,040 in the third year where applicable, as per government norms.

Q8. Does NFR Act Apprenticeship guarantee a job in Indian Railways?

No. Apprenticeship training under the Apprentices Act 1961 does not by itself confer any right to appointment in railway services. However, 20 percent of erstwhile Group D (Level-1) vacancies are filled by giving preference to course-completed Act Apprentices who qualify in the written examination.

Source

This article is based on the official notification "Centralized Notification for Engagement of Act Apprentices over N. F. Railway for 2025-2026 and 2026-2027," Notification No. NFR/NAPS/ACT APP./2026, dated 14-07-2026, issued by the Personnel Department, Northeast Frontier Railway.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and is based on the official notification available at the time of writing. Candidates are advised to verify all details, including dates, eligibility and vacancy figures, on the official NFR website before applying, as these are subject to official corrigenda or updates.