Central Railway Apprentice Recruitment 2026 - 2861 Apprentice Posts, Apply now

The Railway Recruitment Cell, Central Railway (RRC CR) has released an official notification (No. RRC/CR/AA/2026) for the engagement of 2,861 Apprentices under the Apprentices Act, 1961. Candidates who have passed Class 10th with a minimum of 50% marks and hold an ITI in relevant trades are eligible to apply. The online application window is open from 3 November 2026 and closes on 2 December 2026 at 6:00 PM.

Who Should Apply

• Act Apprentice (Various Trades): Candidates who have passed 10th standard (with at least 50% marks) and possess a valid ITI (NCVT/SCVT) in designated trades like Fitter, Welder, Machinist, Electrician, Diesel Mechanic, Painter, Carpenter, and more.

Eligibility & Age Limit

• Age Limit (as on 3 November 2026):
  • Minimum: 15 Years.
  • Maximum: 24 Years. (Candidates should not have completed 24 years of age as of the cut-off date).
• Upper Age Relaxation:
  • SC / ST: 5 Years (Up to 29 years).
  • OBC (Non-Creamy Layer): 3 Years (Up to 27 years).
  • PwBD (Persons with Benchmark Disabilities): 10 Years.
  • Ex-Servicemen: Age relaxed by the length of service plus 3 years, up to a maximum of 35 years [check].
• Minimum Educational Qualification:
  • Matriculation (Class 10th) or its equivalent under the 10+2 system with a minimum of 50% aggregate marks from a recognized Board.
  • ITI (Industrial Training Institute) certificate in the relevant designated trade from a government-recognized NCVT or SCVT institution.

See every current 10th Pass opening

Salary & Pay Scale

This is an apprenticeship training engagement, not a regular railway employment, so selected candidates will receive a monthly stipend instead of a salary:

• Stipend: Selected trainees will receive a stipend in accordance with the Apprenticeship Rules, 1992, ranging from ₹7,000 to ₹8,050 per month, depending on the trade and duration of the ITI course [check]. Out-of-pocket allowances and accommodation will not be provided by the railways.

Important Dates

Application Fee

• General / OBC / EWS (Male) Candidates: ₹100
• SC / ST / PwBD / Female Candidates: Exempt (No Fee)
• Payment Mode: Online only (using Debit card, Credit card, Internet Banking, or UPI). The fee is non-refundable.

How to Apply

1. Visit the official website of the Railway Recruitment Cell, Central Railway (RRC CR) at https://rrccr.com/.
2. Click on the link "Online Application for Engagement of Act Apprentices under the Apprentices Act 1961 for RRC/CR/AA/2026".
3. Select "New Registration" and fill in your basic credentials like Name, Date of Birth, Email, Mobile Number, and Aadhar details.
4. Fill in the detailed online application form, including choosing your preferred cluster (Mumbai, Bhusawal, Pune, Solapur, Nagpur) and trading unit.
5. Upload scanned copies of the required documents:
   • Recent passport-size photograph (size 20KB-70KB) and signature (size 10KB-30KB) in JPG format.
   • Class 10th marksheet and certificate.
   • ITI certificate and Consolidated Marksheet (NCVT/SCVT).
   • Community/Caste Certificate (for OBC/SC/ST/EWS) if applicable.
   • Disability Certificate (for PwBD) or Discharge/Service Book (for Ex-Servicemen) if applicable.
6. Make the online payment of ₹100 (for non-exempt categories).
7. Submit the application, preview all entries, and download/print the final confirmation page.

Before uploading your photos, please resize your photo and signature to the exact spec and check your exact age as on the cut-off date.

How Are Candidates Selected

Selection is strictly based on the merit of the applicant, with no written test or interview. RRC CR compiles a merit list based on the average of marks obtained in both:

• Matriculation (Class 10th) - 50% weightage.
• ITI in relevant trade - 50% weightage. In case of a tie, the older candidate will be preferred; if the tie remains, the candidate who passed the matriculation exam earlier will be considered. Shortlisted candidates will be invited for Document Verification (DV) and must present their original certificates along with a medical fitness certificate from a government doctor.

Why This Job Matters

Central Railway is one of the largest zones of Indian Railways, running heavy operations across Maharashtra and parts of Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka. The completion of this 1-year apprenticeship grants candidates an "Act Apprenticeship" Certificate, which fulfills a crucial qualification requirement and grants a valuable 20% reservation quota in future Direct Recruitment for Level 1 (Group 'D') posts in Indian Railways.

The FreshersLike Take

• Best fit: Excellent for young 10th-pass ITI holders (15-24 age group) looking to gain hands-on industrial training, secure a vital qualification certificate, and gain a dedicated 20% advantage for eventual permanent Railway Level 1 postings.
• Who should think twice: It is not a permanent Railway job, and you cannot expect an absorption or permanent employment solely based on this training. It also might not fit someone seeking high instant income, as the stipend is just basic training subsistence.
• Practical tip: Choose your cluster (Mumbai, Bhusawal, Pune, Solapur, Nagpur) and trading unit wisely during the application, as candidates are selected based on the specific trade requirements of their chosen cluster only, and changes are not allowed later.

Documents Required

• Matriculation / Class 10th Marksheet & Certificate (as date of birth proof)
• ITI Marksheet & Certificate (NCVT/SCVT)
• Scanned photograph and signature
• Caste Certificate (for SC/ST/OBC-NCL/EWS, if applicable)
• Disability Certificate (for PwBD, if applicable)
• Discharge Certificate / Service Book (for Ex-Servicemen, if applicable)
• Aadhar Card / Valid Photo ID

What Happens After Selection

On merit clearance, shortlisted candidates are called for Document Verification at designated divisional offices. Once verified, candidates must produce a Medical Fitness Certificate in the prescribed railway format. The training is for a period of one year, during which apprentices are placed across workshops and depots. Note that there is absolutely no guarantee of permanent employment after training, and the RRC CR is not obligated to offer any job [check].

Contact & Helpline

For online registration difficulties, candidates can reach the RRC CR helpdesk via email at act.apprentice@rrccr.com [check] or use the helpline contacts mentioned on the official RRC Central Railway website. Verify that you only interact via official rrccr.com channels, and never accept any unauthorized solicitations.

Important Links

Common Questions

When is the last date to submit online applications?

The final deadline for RRC CR Apprentice registration is 2 December 2026, until 6:00 PM.

Is there any written exam or interview?

No, selection is entirely based on a merit list calculated from 10th Matriculation (50%) and ITI (50%) marks.

Can candidates without an ITI apply?

No, having a valid ITI certificate from NCVT/SCVT in a relevant designated trade is mandatory along with a Class 10th pass.

What is the training duration?

The apprenticeship training is for a period of 12 months (1 year) under the Apprentices Act, 1961.

Are there any permanent job guarantees after the course?

No, this is only a training program and does not guarantee a permanent railway post, although it provides a 20% reservation benefit in Group D direct recruitments.

What is the age limit and cut-off date?

Applicants must be between 15 and 24 years of age as of 3 November 2026, subject to category-specific upper age relaxations.

Can candidates apply to multiple clusters?

Candidates can choose only one cluster and trading unit during the application; dual submissions could lead to rejection.

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