Overview
East Coast Railway (ECoR) has released a recruitment notification for the post of Act Apprentice (25 designated trades) (1,599 vacancies). Eligible candidates can apply online only before 15.09.2026 @ 17:00 hrs.
Key Details
- Organization
- East Coast Railway (ECoR)
- Qualification
- Educational Qualification: Matriculation (10th Class) under the 10+2 system with a minimum of 50% aggregate marks from a recognized Board, held as on 21.08.2026 (the notification date). Technical Qualification: An ITI certificate in the relevant trade, affiliated to NCVT/SCVT, as per the Apprentices Act, 1961. • Applicants whose SSC or ITI results are awaited as on the notification date are not eligible • Applicants who have failed in ITI must not apply; if inadvertently engaged, the apprenticeship will be terminated immediately • Engineering graduates and diploma holders are not eligible under this notification (they fall under a separate apprenticeship scheme) • For Laboratory Technician (Pathology): candidate must be 12th pass (10+2 system) with Physics, Chemistry and Biology, with a minimum of 50% marks in both 10th and 12th • For Secretarial Assistant (Stenography): candidate must hold a National Trade Certificate (NTC) approved by NCVT/SCVT • For Computer Operator & Programming Assistant: candidate must have board-based basic training in the IT sector under the Centre of Excellence scheme (hardware/networking repair and maintenance), with an NTC approved by NCVT/SCVT Applicants possessing ITI qualifications in more than one trade may apply separately for each relevant trade. Applicants can choose only one Division/Workshop, and this choice is final and binding.
- Vacancies
- 1,599
- Advertisement No
- ECoR/Pers/RRC/Act Apprentice/2026-27
- Posted
- 21.08.2026
- Last date to apply
- 15.09.2026 @ 17:00 hrs
Important Dates
| Notification Date | 21.08.2026 |
| Application Start | 26.08.2026 @ 17:00 hrs |
| Application Last Date | 15.09.2026 @ 17:00 hrs |
Important Links
Eligibility
Educational Qualification: Matriculation (10th Class) under the 10+2 system with a minimum of 50% aggregate marks from a recognized Board, held as on 21.08.2026 (the notification date). Technical Qualification: An ITI certificate in the relevant trade, affiliated to NCVT/SCVT, as per the Apprentices Act, 1961. • Applicants whose SSC or ITI results are awaited as on the notification date are not eligible • Applicants who have failed in ITI must not apply; if inadvertently engaged, the apprenticeship will be terminated immediately • Engineering graduates and diploma holders are not eligible under this notification (they fall under a separate apprenticeship scheme) • For Laboratory Technician (Pathology): candidate must be 12th pass (10+2 system) with Physics, Chemistry and Biology, with a minimum of 50% marks in both 10th and 12th • For Secretarial Assistant (Stenography): candidate must hold a National Trade Certificate (NTC) approved by NCVT/SCVT • For Computer Operator & Programming Assistant: candidate must have board-based basic training in the IT sector under the Centre of Excellence scheme (hardware/networking repair and maintenance), with an NTC approved by NCVT/SCVT Applicants possessing ITI qualifications in more than one trade may apply separately for each relevant trade. Applicants can choose only one Division/Workshop, and this choice is final and binding.
Age Limit
Age is reckoned as on the closing date, 15.09.2026. • General age limit: 15 to 24 years • SC/ST candidates: upper age limit relaxed by 5 years • OBC candidates: upper age limit relaxed by 3 years • PwBD candidates: upper age limit relaxed by 10 years • Ex-Servicemen: 10 additional years to the extent of Defence service rendered, plus 3 years, provided a minimum of 6 months of service at a stretch (applicable to the Ex-Serviceman applicant personally, not to their children) • Children of deceased/disabled Ex-Servicemen, children of Ex-Servicemen, children of serving Jawans, and children of serving Officers are also considered for engagement under specified categories, with the same age relaxation as per their community To avoid any confusion regarding age eligibility, candidates can use our Age Calculator to calculate their exact age based on the prescribed cut-off date before applying.
Application Fee
Category: Application Fee General/OBC/EWS (Male): ₹100 (non-refundable) SC/ST/PwBD/Women: Nil Fee must be paid online only, through the payment gateway integrated with the application process (Debit Card/Credit Card/UPI/Internet Banking). Transaction charges, if any, are borne by the applicant.
Selection Process
• Selection is based solely on a merit list prepared from the percentage of marks obtained in Matriculation (minimum 50% aggregate) - there is no written test or interview • The percentage is calculated using marks from all subjects (not the "best of five" approach); candidates with a CGPA must convert it to the equivalent percentage • In case of tied marks, preference goes to the older candidate; if dates of birth are also identical, whoever passed Matriculation earlier is prioritized • A trade-wise and community-wise merit list is prepared; candidates are called for Document Verification (DV) at ECoR Headquarters, Bhubaneswar, based on merit in their preferred trade • Candidates are shortlisted strictly by academic merit and the order of preference of Unit–Department–Trade exercised in their application; a candidate is considered for only one combination, and once selected against a higher preference, all lower preferences are automatically cancelled • Final selection is subject to verification of original documents and submission of a Medical Fitness Certificate • Standby-list candidates are issued call letters only upon receipt of details of absentee/unfit/rejected candidates, strictly in order of merit • No TA/DA is paid to candidates called for Document Verification • Candidates who completed apprenticeship training (CCAA) and hold a National Apprenticeship Certificate (NAC) get preference for up to 20% of Level-1 direct-recruitment vacancies in future, subject to RRB/R…
How to Apply
• Visit the official website, www.rrcbbs.org.in • Register and then log in to the portal • Fill in personal details, trade, Aadhaar number, marks/CGPA, and choice of Division/Workshop carefully (only one Division/Workshop can be selected, and it is final) • Upload the scanned photograph, signature, and all required documents/certificates • Pay the application fee of ₹100 online (not applicable for SC/ST/PwBD/Women), via the integrated payment gateway • Take a printout of the submitted application for your records A candidate is allowed to submit only one application; multiple applications for the same trade with different particulars will be summarily rejected. No hard copies of the application or documents are to be sent by post.
Required Documents
• Mark sheet and Pass Certificate of Matriculation (Class X) or equivalent • Proof of date of birth, if not mentioned in the Matriculation certificate • Consolidated ITI mark sheet for all semesters of the relevant trade, or Provisional National Trade Certificate • National Trade Certificate (NCVT) or Provisional Trade Certificate (NCVT/SCVT) • Caste Certificate for SC/ST/OBC candidates (OBC requires Non-Creamy-Layer certificate valid for 2026–27, issued on or after 01.04.2026, plus a self-declaration) • Income and Asset Certificate for EWS candidates (family gross annual income below ₹8 lakh, and specified asset limits not exceeded) • Disability Certificate for PwBD candidates • Discharge Certificate/Serving Certificate for Ex-Servicemen quota candidates • Scanned photograph (3.5cm × 3.5cm, JPG/JPEG, 100 DPI, 20–70 KB) and signature (3.5cm × 3.5cm, JPG/JPEG, 100 DPI, 20–30 KB) • Aadhaar Card (12-digit number, or 28-digit Enrolment ID if the card is not yet received)
Important Instructions
• Applicants must not change their registered mobile number or email ID during the entire selection process • Name, father's name, and date of birth must exactly match the Matriculation certificate; any discrepancy found during Document Verification may lead to cancellation of candidature • Requests for change of Trade, Division, or Workshop after selection will not be entertained • Candidates found ineligible or erroneously engaged shall have their apprenticeship terminated without prior notice at any stage • Canvassing in any form will result in disqualification • RRC/BBS has not appointed any agents; applicants are cautioned against touts and job racketeers • Any legal matter arising from this notification falls under the exclusive jurisdiction of the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT), Cuttack • Apprentices trained under this scheme have no claim to employment with the Railways after completion of training
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the important dates for East Coast Railway Act Apprentice Recruitment 2026 Notification Out - Apply Online for 1,599 Posts?
Notification Date: 21.08.2026; Application Start: 26.08.2026 @ 17:00 hrs; Application Last Date: 15.09.2026 @ 17:00 hrs
What is the application fee?
₹100 (Nil for SC/ST/PwBD/Women)
What is the age limit?
Age is reckoned as on the closing date, 15.09.2026. • General age limit: 15 to 24 years • SC/ST candidates: upper age limit relaxed by 5 years • OBC candidates: upper age limit relaxed by 3 years • PwBD candidates: upper age limit relaxed by 10 years • Ex-Servicemen: 10 additional years to the extent of Defence service rendered, plus 3 years, provided a minimum of 6 months of service at a stretch (applicable to the Ex-Serviceman applicant personally, not to their children) • Children of deceased/disabled Ex-Servicemen, children of Ex-Servicemen, children of serving Jawans, and children of serving Officers are also considered for engagement under specified categories, with the same age relaxation as per their community To avoid any confusion regarding age eligibility, candidates can use our Age Calculator to calculate their exact age based on the prescribed cut-off date before applying.
What is the selection process?
• Selection is based solely on a merit list prepared from the percentage of marks obtained in Matriculation (minimum 50% aggregate) - there is no written test or interview • The percentage is calculated using marks from all subjects (not the "best of five" approach); candidates with a CGPA must convert it to the equivalent percentage • In case of tied marks, preference goes to the older candidate; if dates of birth are also identical, whoever passed Matriculation earlier is prioritized • A trade-wise and community-wise merit list is prepared; candidates are called for Document Verification (DV) at ECoR Headquarters, Bhubaneswar, based on merit in their preferred trade • Candidates are shortlisted strictly by academic merit and the order of preference of Unit–Department–Trade exercised in their application; a candidate is considered for only one combination, and once selected against a…