East Coast Railway Act Apprentice Recruitment 2026: 1599 Vacancies, Apply Online by 15 Sep

East Coast Railway (ECoR) has released a centralized notification for the engagement of Act Apprentices for the year 2026-27. A total of 1599 vacancies are available across various divisions and workshops under ECoR. Interested and eligible candidates can apply online through the official website of the Railway Recruitment Cell (RRC), Bhubaneswar (RRC/BBS). The application window opens on August 26, 2026, and closes on September 15, 2026.

East Coast Railway Act Apprentice Recruitment 2026 — Overview

Important Dates

Vacancy Details

East Coast Railway has announced a total of 1599 vacancies for Act Apprentices for the training year 2026-27. The trade-wise and category-wise distribution of these slots is provided in Annexure 'A' of the official notification. While the exact breakdown per trade is not detailed in the provided text, candidates are advised to refer to the annexure for specifics.

Note: The number of training slots is provisional and subject to increase or decrease based on the administration's needs.

Eligibility Criteria

Educational Qualification

Candidates must have passed the following qualifications as on the date of notification (21/08/2026):

• Matriculation (10th Class): With a minimum of 50% aggregate marks from a recognized Board under the 10+2 examination system.
• ITI Certificate: In the relevant trade, affiliated with NCVT (National Council for Vocational Training) or an equivalent academic certificate as per the Apprentices Act, 1961.

Specific Trade Qualifications:

• Medical Laboratory Technician (Pathology): Requires 12th pass (Physics, Chemistry, Biology) with a minimum of 50% marks in both 10th & 12th. Copies of mark sheets and pass certificates for Class 10 and Class 12 (with Physics, Chemistry & Biology) must be uploaded.
• Secretarial Assistant and Stenographer: Must possess a National Trade Certificate (NTC) approved by NCVT/SCVT.
• Computer Operator & Programming Assistant: Must have board-based basic training in the Information Technology Sector under the Centre of Excellence scheme in repair and maintenance of computer hardware and networking, and hold an NTC approved by NCVT/SCVT.

Exclusions:

• Candidates whose SSC or ITI results are awaited as on the notification date are not eligible.
• Candidates who have failed in ITI should not apply.
• Engineering graduates and diploma holders are NOT eligible as they fall under a separate apprenticeship scheme.

Age Limit (as on 15/09/2026)

• Minimum Age: 15 years
• Maximum Age: 24 years

Additional Provisions for Ex-Servicemen and their dependents:

• Ex-Servicemen will be considered against ExSM Quota, regardless of their community.
• Unfilled ESM vacancies may be filled by other candidates.
• Children of deceased or disabled Ex-Servicemen, children of Ex-Servicemen, children of serving Jawans, and children of serving Officers are also considered under specific categories. The same age relaxation as per community will apply to children of Ex-Servicemen.

Application Fee

The application fee must be paid online through the payment gateway integrated with the RRC/BBS website. Transaction charges, if any, will be borne by the applicant. The fee is non-refundable.

Selection Process

The selection of eligible candidates for Act Apprenticeship training will be based on a merit list prepared solely on the basis of the percentage of marks obtained in Matriculation (10th Class). The minimum requirement is 50% aggregate marks. The final panel will be drawn based on these marks.

1. Merit List Preparation: A merit list will be prepared for each unit based on Matriculation marks (minimum 50% aggregate).
2. Shortlisting: Candidates will be shortlisted strictly on the basis of academic merit and their order of preference for Unit–Department–Trade.
3. Document Verification (DV): Shortlisted candidates will be called for Document Verification at the Headquarters of East Coast Railway.

Tie-breaking: In case of a tie in marks, preference will be given to the older candidate. If dates of birth are also identical, further criteria as per rules will apply.

Preference Management: A candidate will be considered for only one combination of Unit–Department–Trade based on merit and preference. If selected for a higher preference, all lower preferences will be automatically cancelled.

Salary / Stipend

Selected candidates engaged as apprentices will be paid a stipend during the training period. The stipend will be paid at the prescribed rate as per the extant rules and directives issued by the Railway Board from time to time. The notification does not specify the exact stipend amount but mentions it will be as per government rules.

How to Apply for East Coast Railway Act Apprentice Recruitment 2026

1. Visit Official Website: Go to the RRC/BBS website: www.rrcbbs.org.in .
2. Find Application Link: Look for the link provided for the centralized notification for Act Apprentices.
3. Registration: Register yourself by providing necessary details. Ensure you have a valid personal email ID and mobile number.
4. Fill Application Form: Complete the online application form with accurate personal, educational, and trade preference details.
5. Upload Documents: Upload scanned copies of required documents, including photograph, signature, and relevant certificates (e.g., Caste Certificate, ITI/Matriculation mark sheets).
6. Pay Application Fee: Pay the non-refundable application fee of ₹100/- online through the integrated payment gateway (Debit Card, Credit Card, UPI, Internet Banking). SC/ST/PwBD/Women candidates are exempted from fee payment.
7. Submit Application: After ensuring all details are correct and payment is successful, submit the application form.
8. Print Application: Download and print a copy of the submitted application form for future reference.

Important Note: Applicants are strongly advised to apply well before the closing date to avoid last-minute technical issues due to heavy website traffic. Ensure your email ID remains active throughout the engagement process.

Medical Fitness & Physical Standards

Candidates shortlisted for Document Verification (DV) must submit a Medical Certificate in the prescribed format (Annexure 'G'), signed by a Government-authorized doctor (Gazetted, not below Assistant Surgeon rank) from a Central or State Government Hospital. Specific details regarding permissible disability levels for Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD) for various trades are provided in the notification.