RRC ECoR Act Apprentice Recruitment 2026: 1599 Vacancies, Eligibility, Last Date & How to Apply

Introduction to RRC ECoR Apprentice Recruitment 2026

East Coast Railway (ECoR), through the Railway Recruitment Cell, Bhubaneswar (RRC/BBS), has released the official notification for engagement of 1,599 Act Apprentices for the year 2026-27 under Notification No. ECoR/Pers/RRC/Act Apprentice/2026-27. The recruitment covers apprenticeship training across 25 designated trades in different Divisions, Workshops and departments under East Coast Railway.

The online application process starts on 26 August 2026 at 5:00 PM and closes on 15 September 2026 at 5:00 PM. Eligible candidates can submit their applications through the RRC Bhubaneswar portal. Candidates looking for similar opportunities can also regularly check the latest govt jobs notifications.

East Coast Railway (ECoR) Overview

East Coast Railway is one of the railway zones of Indian Railways, with its headquarters at Bhubaneswar, Odisha. The Railway Recruitment Cell, Bhubaneswar acts as the nodal agency for receiving applications under this centralized Act Apprentice notification. Selected candidates will undergo apprenticeship training in notified trades at the concerned ECoR Division, Workshop or establishment according to applicable apprenticeship rules.

Candidates should note that engagement as an Act Apprentice is primarily a training opportunity under the Apprentices Act, 1961. Completion of apprenticeship training does not automatically guarantee regular employment in Indian Railways.

RRC ECoR Apprentice Recruitment 2026 Overview

The recruitment offers 1,599 apprenticeship slots distributed across five major units or establishments of East Coast Railway. Applicants must satisfy the prescribed educational, technical and age requirements before submitting the online form.

RRC ECoR Apprentice Recruitment 2026 At a Glance

RRC ECoR Apprentice Recruitment 2026 Important Dates

Candidates should preferably submit the application well before the closing date instead of waiting until the final hours, as heavy traffic on the application portal may cause delays.

RRC ECoR Apprentice Recruitment 2026 Vacancy Details

A total of 1,599 Act Apprentice slots have been notified across Carriage Repair Workshop Mancheswar, RGDA Division, Khurda Road Division, Sambalpur Division and East Coast Railway Headquarters.

Category-Wise Vacancy Distribution

* PwBD and Ex-Servicemen reservations are horizontal reservations included within the overall notified apprenticeship slots and are not additional vacancies.

The number of training slots is provisional and may be increased or decreased according to the actual requirement of the Railway Administration at the time of finalizing selection.

RRC ECoR Apprentice Recruitment 2026 Trade List

Apprenticeship opportunities are available in the following 25 designated trades:

RRC ECoR Apprentice Recruitment 2026 Eligibility Criteria

Applicants whose SSC/Class 10 or ITI results were awaited on the notification date are not eligible. Candidates who have failed in the required ITI qualification should not apply.

Engineering graduates and diploma holders are not eligible under this particular Act Apprentice notification merely on the basis of their engineering degree or diploma, as they fall under a separate apprenticeship scheme.

Special Trade Qualification Requirements

• Laboratory Technician (Pathology): Candidate must have passed Class 12 under the 10+2 system with Physics, Chemistry and Biology and must have secured at least 50% marks in both Class 10 and Class 12.
• Secretarial Assistant / Stenography: Candidate must possess the prescribed National Trade Certificate (NTC) approved by NCVT/SCVT.
• Computer Operator & Programming Assistant: Candidate must satisfy the prescribed board-based basic training requirement in the Information Technology sector under the Centre of Excellence scheme and possess the required NTC approved by NCVT/SCVT.

RRC ECoR Apprentice Recruitment 2026 Age Limit

The candidate's age will be calculated as on 15 September 2026.

For an unreserved candidate without age relaxation, the normal date-of-birth window corresponding to the notified 15-24 year age requirement is approximately 16 September 2001 to 15 September 2011, subject to the exact interpretation applied by RRC/BBS.

Age Relaxation

Ex-Servicemen candidates should read the detailed relaxation clause in the official notification carefully because eligibility depends on the period and nature of defence service.

RRC ECoR Apprentice Recruitment 2026 Application Fee

The Rs 100 application fee is non-refundable and must be paid through the online payment gateway integrated with the application portal. Payment options include Debit Card, Credit Card, UPI and Internet Banking. Any applicable transaction charges are to be borne by the applicant.

RRC ECoR Apprentice Recruitment 2026 Selection Process

There is no written examination and no interview/viva for this recruitment. Selection will be carried out through academic merit and subsequent eligibility verification.

1. Matriculation Merit List
2. Document Verification
3. Medical Fitness Verification

How the Merit List Is Prepared

• The merit list for each unit is prepared solely from the percentage of marks obtained in Matriculation/Class 10.
• Candidates must have the prescribed minimum of 50% aggregate marks wherever applicable.
• Marks obtained in all subjects shown on the Matriculation mark sheet are considered.
• The "best of five" method is not used.
• Candidates with CGPA must convert it into the equivalent marks/percentage as required in the application.

Tie-Breaking Rule

If two or more candidates obtain the same marks, the older candidate will receive preference. If their dates of birth are also identical, the candidate who passed the Matriculation examination earlier will be given priority.

Shortlisted candidates will be called for Document Verification at East Coast Railway Headquarters, and final engagement will remain subject to verification of original certificates and the prescribed Medical Fitness Certificate.

RRC ECoR Apprentice Recruitment 2026 Stipend

Candidates engaged as apprentices will receive a monthly stipend at the prescribed rate during apprenticeship training in accordance with applicable rules and Railway Board directives.

No hostel accommodation is provided during training. Selected apprentices must make their own accommodation arrangements.

RRC ECoR Apprentice Recruitment 2026 Documents Required

Candidates should keep the following documents and scanned files ready before applying online:

• Matriculation/Class 10 mark sheet and pass certificate.
• Proof of date of birth if not clearly mentioned in the Matriculation certificate.
• Relevant ITI mark sheets and trade certificate.
• National Trade Certificate or Provisional Trade Certificate, wherever applicable.
• Class 12 mark sheet and certificate with Physics, Chemistry and Biology for Laboratory Technician (Pathology).
• SC/ST certificate, if applicable.
• OBC Non-Creamy Layer certificate in the prescribed format, if applicable.
• EWS Income and Asset Certificate, if applicable.
• PwBD disability certificate, if applicable.
• Ex-Servicemen/serving certificate or other prescribed defence-category document, where applicable.
• Aadhaar Card or Aadhaar Enrolment ID, as permitted by the notification.
• Recent scanned photograph in the prescribed format.
• Scanned signature in the prescribed format.

Candidates must produce their original documents at the time of Document Verification.

How to Apply for RRC ECoR Apprentice Recruitment 2026

1. Open the official RRC/BBS application portal for ECoR Act Apprentice Recruitment 2026.
2. Complete the new candidate registration using a valid mobile number and email address.
3. Log in using the registration credentials generated by the portal.
4. Enter personal details, Aadhaar information, educational qualifications, Class 10 marks and ITI details carefully.
5. Select the eligible Division/Workshop and relevant Unit-Department-Trade preference according to the available vacancies.
6. Upload the required photograph, signature, mark sheets and certificates in the prescribed format.
7. Pay the Rs 100 application fee online if you are not covered by a fee-exempt category.
8. Verify every entry carefully before final submission because corrections may not be permitted after payment/final submission.
9. Submit the application and download or print the completed application form for future reference.

No hard copy of the online application or supporting documents is required to be sent to RRC/BBS by post.

RRC ECoR Apprentice Recruitment 2026 Division and Trade Preference

Candidates must exercise their Division/Workshop and Unit-Department-Trade preferences carefully. The notified selection system considers academic merit together with the preference entered in the online application.

• An applicant is permitted to choose only one Division/Workshop, and the option once exercised is final and binding.
• Candidates should confirm that vacancies exist in their relevant trade and category within the selected Division/Workshop.
• A candidate is considered for only one Unit-Department-Trade combination according to merit and preference.
• Once selected against a higher preference, lower preferences are automatically cancelled.

RRC ECoR Apprentice Recruitment 2026 Medical Fitness

Final selection is subject to the candidate being medically fit for apprenticeship training. Candidates shortlisted for Document Verification must submit the prescribed Medical Fitness Certificate signed by an authorized Government medical officer as specified in the notification.

Applicants should check the trade-specific physical and disability suitability requirements in the official notification before applying, particularly if claiming PwBD reservation.

RRC ECoR Apprentice Recruitment 2026 Important Instructions

• Applicants must satisfy all eligibility requirements before submitting the form.
• The required educational and technical qualification must have been obtained by 21 August 2026.
• Candidates with awaited SSC or ITI results as on the notification date are not eligible.
• Applicants should ensure that their name, father's name and date of birth match their Matriculation records.
• Keep the registered mobile number and email ID active throughout the recruitment process.
• No written test or viva will be conducted.
• Selection is based purely on the notified academic merit procedure.
• Original documents must be produced during Document Verification.
• No TA/DA is payable for attending Document Verification.
• No request for change of trade, Division or Workshop after selection will ordinarily be entertained.
• Canvassing in any form may result in disqualification.
• RRC/BBS has not appointed agents or middlemen for recruitment.
• Completion of apprenticeship training does not create an automatic right to regular Railway employment.

Does ECoR Apprentice Recruitment 2026 Guarantee a Railway Job?

No. Engagement under this notification is for apprenticeship training under the Apprentices Act, 1961. East Coast Railway is not obligated to offer regular employment merely because a candidate has successfully completed the apprenticeship.

However, candidates who complete apprenticeship training in Railway establishments and obtain the prescribed National Apprenticeship Certificate may receive the benefit or preference applicable to Course Completed Act Apprentices in future Railway Level-1 recruitment, subject to the rules and eligibility conditions governing such recruitment at that time.

RRC ECoR Apprentice Recruitment 2026 Important Links

Before applying, candidates should read the complete official notification carefully and verify the trade-wise vacancies, reservation requirements, certificates and application instructions applicable to them.

For quick updates about railway jobs, admit cards, results and other recruitment notices, follow our WhatsApp channel, Telegram channel and YouTube channel.

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