Railway Apprentice Recruitment 2026: Apply Online for 1,599 East Coast Railway Posts

East Coast Railway Apprentice Recruitment 2026: Overview & Key Highlights

The Railway Recruitment Cell (RRC), East Coast Railway (ECoR), Bhubaneswar has announced an official recruitment notification for the engagement of 1,599 Act Apprentices under the Apprentices Act, 1961. This apprentice training is open across three major railway divisions, one workshop, and the zonal headquarters in Odisha.

The online application portal opens on 26 August 2026 (5:00 PM) and closes on 15 September 2026 at 5:00 PM. Selection is conducted entirely on the basis of 10th standard marks, requiring no written examination or viva. Candidates earn a National Apprenticeship Certificate (NAC) upon completion and become eligible for up to a 20% preference quota in future open-market Level-1 railway recruitments (CCAA).

East Coast Railway Apprentice 2026: Important Dates

Division & Workshop Wise Vacancy Breakdown

The 1,599 training slots are allocated across five distinct railway units in Odisha. Candidates may select only one division or workshop during application submission, and this choice is final:

Category-Wise Distribution

• Unreserved (UR): 633 Slots
• Other Backward Classes (OBC): 435 Slots
• Scheduled Caste (SC): 251 Slots
• Economically Weaker Section (EWS): 164 Slots
• Scheduled Tribe (ST): 116 Slots
• Horizontal Reservation: PwBD — 50 slots (4%); Ex-Servicemen — 42 slots (3%)

Eligibility Criteria for RRC ECoR Apprentice 2026

1. Educational Qualification (As on 21 August 2026)

• Matriculation (10th): Passed Class 10 under the 10+2 examination system with at least 50% aggregate marks from a recognized education board.
• Technical Qualification: Must possess a National Trade Certificate (NTC) or ITI certificate in the relevant trade issued by NCVT or SCVT.
• Laboratory Technician (Pathology): 12th pass with Physics, Chemistry, and Biology, plus 50% minimum aggregate marks in both 10th and 12th standards.
• COPA: Basic IT-sector training under the Centre of Excellence scheme in computer hardware and network maintenance, along with NTC.
• Ineligible Categories: Diploma holders, Engineering graduates, and candidates whose results are awaited cannot apply.

2. Age Limit & Relaxations (As on 15 September 2026)

• Base Age Limit: 15 to 24 Years
• OBC (Non-Creamy Layer): 3 Years upper age relaxation
• SC / ST: 5 Years upper age relaxation
• Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD): 10 Years upper age relaxation
• Ex-Servicemen: Service duration plus 3 years (up to 10 additional years)

Stipend & Key Service Conditions

• Monthly Stipend: Paid at the prescribed Railway Board rates as applicable under the Apprentices Act, 1961.
• Nature of Engagement: This is purely temporary training and conveys no right or claim to regular railway employment.
• Level-1 Preference: Course Completed Act Apprentices (CCAA) holding an NAC certificate are eligible for up to a 20% vacancy quota in future Level-1 open-market railway recruitments.

Selection Process (Merit-Based)

1. Merit Ranking: Selection is based purely on the aggregate percentage of marks in Matriculation (10th standard). All subjects are counted ("best of five" calculations are not permitted).
2. Tie-Breaking Rule: If two candidates have identical percentages, the older candidate ranks higher. If dates of birth match, the one who passed 10th standard earlier is selected.
3. Document Verification: Conducted at RRC Bhubaneswar with original academic mark sheets, community certificates, and a prescribed Medical Fitness Certificate signed by a Gazetted Medical Officer.

Application Fee

How to Apply Online for East Coast Railway Apprentice 2026

1. Visit the official RRC Bhubaneswar portal at rrcbbs.org.in.
2. Register with a personal, active email ID and mobile number.
3. Fill in personal details, educational qualifications, trade, and single preferred division/workshop.
4. Upload your recent color photograph (3.5 cm × 3.5 cm, 20 KB–70 KB) and signature (20 KB–30 KB).
5. Upload scanned copies of your 10th mark sheet, ITI certificate, and category proof (SC/ST/OBC/EWS/PwBD).
6. Pay the ₹100 application fee through the online payment gateway (if applicable).
7. Submit the form, download the completed application, and save your Registration Number for document verification.

Important Official Links

Last verified on: August 23, 2026