East Coast Railway Recruitment 2026 - Act Apprentice (Total 1,599 Posts)

East Coast Railway has released the centralized notification for engagement of 1,599 Act Apprentices for the training year 2026–27. Eligible candidates who have passed Class 10th with at least 50% marks and possess an ITI certificate in the relevant trade can submit their applications online through the Railway Recruitment Cell, Bhubaneswar website. The online application window will remain open from 26/08/2026 to 15/09/2026.

Post Details

East Coast Railway has notified training slots in various trades at Carriage Repair Workshop, Mancheswar; RGDA Division; Khurda Road Division; Sambalpur Division; and East Coast Railway Headquarters, Bhubaneswar.

Important Dates

Application Fee

The fee is non-refundable and must be paid online through the integrated payment gateway using Debit Card, Credit Card, UPI, Internet Banking or other available online methods. Applicable transaction charges will be borne by the applicant. No fee exemption is available unless the candidate belongs to an eligible exempted category.

Age Limit

The candidate must be at least 15 years old and not more than 24 years old as on 15/09/2026.

• SC/ST candidates: Upper age relaxation of 5 years.
• OBC candidates: Upper age relaxation of 3 years.
• PwBD candidates: Upper age relaxation of 10 years.
• Ex-Servicemen: 10 years plus the period of service rendered in the Defence Forces plus 3 years, subject to the prescribed conditions and minimum 6 months of continuous service.
• For children of Ex-Servicemen, age relaxation applicable to their community will be allowed.

Vacancy Details

The category-wise vacancy distribution is UR: 633, SC: 251, ST: 116, OBC: 435, EWS: 164, PwBD: 50, and Ex-Servicemen: 42. PwBD and Ex-Servicemen reservations are horizontal reservations included within the overall vacancies.

Carriage Repair Workshop, Mancheswar, Bhubaneswar

RGDA Division

Engineering Department trades include Fitter, Welder, Black Smith, Plumber, Carpenter, Sarang, Grinder, Driller, Draftsman (Civil), Painter, Mason and Computer Operator & Programming Assistant. Electrical Department trades include Electrician, Wireman and Electronics Mechanic.

Khurda Road Division (ELS, Angul and IOH Depot)

Engineering trades include Fitter, Black Smith, Welder, Plumber, Mason, Electronics Mechanic (TMO), Mechanic (Diesel) (TMO), Bridge Erector and Draftsman (Civil). S&T trades include Fitter, Electrician, Wireman and Electronics Mechanic. Mechanical trades include Welder, Fitter, Turner, Machinist, Carpenter and Draftsman (Mechanic).

Sambalpur Division (Coachin and BLGR)

Headquarters, East Coast Railway, Bhubaneswar

The number of training slots is provisional and may increase or decrease according to the administrative requirement at the time of final selection.

Eligibility / Qualification

Educational Qualification

• The candidate must have passed Matriculation / Class 10th under the 10+2 examination system from a recognized Board.
• A minimum of 50% aggregate marks is required.
• The qualification must have been obtained on or before 21/08/2026.
• All subjects appearing in the mark sheet, including optional, additional and alternate subjects, will be counted. The best-of-five method will not be accepted.
• Candidates having CGPA must convert it into actual marks and enter the equivalent percentage in the application.

Technical Qualification

The candidate must possess an ITI certificate in the relevant trade affiliated to NCVT or an applicable academic certificate recognized under the Apprentices Act, 1961. The notified trades are:

• Fitter
• Welder
• Turner
• Machinist
• Electrician
• Carpenter
• Painter (General)
• Mechanic (Diesel) (TMO)
• Secretarial Assistant (Stenography)
• Black Smith
• Driller
• Bridge Erector
• Sheet Metal Worker
• Electronics Mechanic / Electronics Mechanic (TMO)
• Wireman / Electrician
• Mechanic Refrigeration and AC
• Plumber
• Draftsman (Civil)
• Mechanic (Motor Vehicle)
• Computer Operator and Programming Assistant
• Laboratory Technician (Pathology)
• Sarang
• Grinder
• Mason
• Draftsman (Mechanic)

Trade-Specific Requirements

• For Laboratory Technician (Pathology), the candidate must have passed Class 12th under the 10+2 system with Physics, Chemistry and Biology and must have at least 50% marks in both Class 10th and Class 12th. Class 10th and Class 12th mark sheets and pass certificates must be uploaded.
• For Secretarial Assistant and Stenographer, the candidate must possess an NCVT/SCVT-approved National Trade Certificate.
• For Computer Operator and Programming Assistant, the candidate 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 peripherals or computer networking hardware. An NCVT/SCVT-approved National Trade Certificate is also required.
• Candidates whose Class 10th or ITI results were awaited on 21/08/2026 are not eligible.
• Candidates who failed ITI are not eligible.
• Engineering graduates and diploma holders are not eligible under this notification because they fall under a separate apprenticeship scheme.

Selection Process

1. Preparation of a unit-wise and trade-wise merit list.
2. Merit will be based solely on the percentage of marks obtained in Matriculation, subject to the minimum requirement of 50% marks.
3. Marks obtained in all subjects will be considered.
4. In case of equal marks, the older candidate will receive preference. If the dates of birth are also identical, preference will be given to the candidate who passed Matriculation earlier.
5. Shortlisted candidates will be called for Document Verification at Railway Recruitment Cell, Bhubaneswar / East Coast Railway Headquarters.
6. Final selection will be subject to verification of original documents and submission of the prescribed Medical Fitness Certificate.
7. Candidates on the standby list will be called in order of merit against absentees, medically unfit candidates or rejected candidates.

There will be no written examination and no viva voce. A candidate will be considered for only one Unit-Department-Trade combination based on merit and the preference submitted. Once selected against a higher preference, all lower preferences will automatically be cancelled.

Training Period and Stipend

Selected candidates will undergo apprenticeship training under the Apprentices Act, 1961 and the applicable rules. A monthly stipend will be paid at the prescribed rate during the training period as per Railway Board rules and directions. The notification does not specify a fixed stipend amount.

No hostel accommodation will be provided. Apprentices must make their own arrangements for accommodation. Completion of apprenticeship does not create any right to employment in the Railways, and the employer is not obligated to offer a job after completion of training.

Medical Fitness and Physical Standards

Candidates called for Document Verification must submit a Medical Fitness Certificate in the prescribed format. The certificate must be issued by a Government-authorized Gazetted Doctor not below the rank of Assistant Surgeon from a Central or State Government hospital.

The prescribed general standards include:

• Minimum height: 137 cm.
• Minimum weight: 25.4 kg.
• Minimum chest expansion: 3.8 cm.
• Visual acuity standard: 6/9 and 6/12, with or without glasses, along with binocular and colour vision.
• Good hearing in both ears; hearing aids are not permitted.
• Freedom from contagious or infectious disease, tuberculosis, serious respiratory disease and conditions likely to worsen during service.
• Normal functioning of limbs and no serious deformity of the spine or extremities.

The maximum permissible disability differs by trade. Examples include locomotor disability, leprosy-cured condition, dwarfism, acid attack, deafness, low vision, cerebral palsy, autism, intellectual disability, speech and language disability and multiple disabilities, subject to the trade-wise standards prescribed in the notification.

Documents Required

Candidates must upload clear scanned copies of the applicable documents and produce the originals during Document Verification:

• Class 10th mark sheet and pass certificate.
• Date of birth proof, if the date of birth is not available on the Matriculation certificate.
• Consolidated ITI semester mark sheet or provisional National Trade Certificate showing marks.
• NCVT National Trade Certificate or NCVT/SCVT provisional trade certificate.
• SC/ST/OBC caste certificate in the prescribed Central Government format.
• Valid OBC Non-Creamy Layer certificate for 2026–27 issued on or after 01/04/2026, along with the prescribed self-declaration.
• Valid EWS Income and Asset Certificate.
• PwBD disability certificate, where applicable.
• Ex-Servicemen discharge certificate or serving certificate, where applicable.
• Certificate supporting fee exemption, wherever applicable.
• Recent colour photograph and scanned signature as per website specifications.

The photograph must be a recent front-view colour photograph without a cap or sunglasses, measuring 3.5 cm × 3.5 cm, in JPG/JPEG format at 100 DPI and between 20 KB and 70 KB. The signature must be 3.5 cm × 3.5 cm, in JPG/JPEG format at 100 DPI and between 20 KB and 30 KB.

Reservation and Certificate Requirements

• PwBD reservation is 4% and Ex-Servicemen reservation is 3%; both are horizontal reservations within the notified vacancies.
• SC/ST candidates must upload a caste certificate issued in the prescribed Central Government format.
• OBC candidates must provide an OBC certificate with a valid Non-Creamy Layer certificate for the current year and submit the prescribed self-declaration.
• EWS candidates must belong to a category not covered under SC/ST/OBC-NCL reservation, have family income below ₹8,00,000 for the relevant financial year and satisfy the prescribed land and property conditions.
• Valid EWS certificates may be issued by the competent authorities specified in the notification, including District Magistrate, Collector, Deputy Commissioner, Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Revenue Officer not below the rank of Tehsildar or the relevant Sub-Divisional Officer.
• If the required SC/ST, OBC or EWS certificate is not submitted, the candidate will not receive the reserved-category benefit. If otherwise eligible, the candidature may be considered under the Unreserved category.

Important Instructions

• Only one application may be submitted for a trade. Multiple applications for the same trade will lead to rejection.
• Applicants may apply separately for each relevant trade if they possess ITI qualifications in more than one trade, subject to the notification conditions.
• Only one Division or Workshop may be selected, and the option once submitted will be final and binding.
• The registered mobile number, email ID and registration number must be retained throughout the selection process.
• The candidate's name, father's name and date of birth must exactly match the Matriculation certificate.
• Aadhaar is mandatory for registration. Candidates who have enrolled for Aadhaar but have not received the card may enter the 28-digit Aadhaar Enrolment ID from the enrolment slip. The original Aadhaar document must be produced during Document Verification.
• No hard copy of the application or documents is required to be sent by post.
• Candidates must retain a printout of the finally submitted application.
• No travelling allowance, daily allowance or conveyance allowance will be paid for Document Verification.
• False information, forged documents, impersonation, canvassing, incomplete details, missing photograph or signature, and discrepancies in marks or certificates may result in summary rejection and debarment.
• Apprenticeship training does not guarantee employment in East Coast Railway or any other Railway establishment.

Help Desk

For problems related to online submission or printing of the application, candidates may contact the Railway Recruitment Cell help desk at 7303484063 or email support@ecorbbs.in.