East Coast Railway (ECoR) has released a centralized notification for the engagement of 1,599 Act Apprentices for the training year 2026–27 under the Apprentices Act, 1961. Railway Recruitment Cell (RRC), Bhubaneswar is the nodal agency, and applications are invited online only through www.rrcbbs.org.in from 26.08.2026 to 15.09.2026 (17:00 hrs). Candidates who have passed Matriculation with at least 50% aggregate marks and hold an ITI (NCVT/SCVT) certificate in one of the 25 designated trades can apply.
⚡ QUICK FACTS
🎓 Eligibility
10th (50%) + ITI in trade
📌 Vacancies
1,599 Apprentice Slots
🎂 Age Limit
15 – 24 years
🗓️ Last Date
15.09.2026 (17:00 hrs)
Recruitment Overview
Post Name
Act Apprentice (25 designated ITI trades)
Organization
East Coast Railway (ECoR) – Railway Recruitment Cell (RRC), Bhubaneswar
Head Quarter, East Coast Railway, Bhubaneswar – 22 Slots
Department
Trade
Total
UR
SC
ST
OBC
EWS
PwBD
ESM
Personnel / Accounts / IT Cell
Computer Operator & Programming Assistant
10
3
2
1
3
1
0
0
Personnel / Accounts / IT Cell
Secretarial Assistant (Stenography)
10
3
2
1
3
1
0
0
Medical
Laboratory Technician (Pathology)
2
1
0
0
1
0
0
0
Sub Total
22
7
4
2
7
2
0
0
Note: The number of training slots is provisional and liable to increase or decrease depending on the actual needs of the Administration at the time of finalization of selection.
Eligibility Criteria
Criterion
Detail
Educational Qualification
Passed Matriculation (10th Class) under the 10+2 examination system with a minimum of 50% aggregate marks from a recognized Board
Technical Qualification
ITI certificate in the relevant trade, affiliated to NCVT/SCVT (National Trade Certificate), as per the Apprentices Act, 1961
Qualification cut-off date
Both qualifications must already be passed as on 21.08.2026 – candidates whose SSC or ITI results are awaited are not eligible
Age Limit
15 to 24 years as on 15.09.2026
Lab Technician (Pathology) – extra condition
Must be 12th pass (10+2) with Physics, Chemistry and Biology, with minimum 50% marks in both 10th and 12th
Secretarial Assistant / Stenography – extra condition
Must hold a National Trade Certificate (NTC) approved by NCVT/SCVT
COPA – extra condition
Board-based basic training in the IT sector under the Centre of Excellence scheme (hardware & peripherals or computer networking repair and maintenance), plus NTC approved by NCVT/SCVT
Who cannot apply
Candidates who have failed in ITI; engineering graduates and diploma holders (they fall under a separate apprenticeship scheme)
Application Restriction
Only one application per candidate per trade, and only one Division/Workshop may be chosen (option once exercised is final). Candidates with ITI in more than one trade may apply separately for each trade.
Age Relaxation
Category
Upper Age Relaxation
SC / ST
5 years
OBC
3 years
Persons with Disabilities (PwBD)
10 years
Ex-Servicemen (ExSM)
10 years additional, to the extent of service rendered in the Defence Forces plus 3 years, provided a minimum of 6 months service at a stretch has been put in (applicable to the ex-serviceman applicant only, not to their children)
Children of Ex-Servicemen / serving Jawans / serving Officers, and children of deceased or disabled Ex-Servicemen
Same age relaxation as per their own community (UR/SC/ST/OBC)
Selection is purely merit-based. A separate merit list is prepared for each unit on the basis of the percentage of marks obtained in Matriculation, subject to a minimum of 50% aggregate. There is no written test and no viva. The percentage is calculated on the total of all subjects on the mark sheet (including optional, additional and alternate subjects) — the “best of five” method is not allowed. CGPA must be converted to actual marks before entering in the form.
Tie-breaker rule
If two or more applicants score the same marks, the older candidate is preferred. If dates of birth are also identical, the candidate who passed Matriculation earlier is given priority.
Stage 2 – Document Verification (DV)
Trade-wise and community-wise merit lists are prepared and candidates are called for DV by the Headquarters based on merit in the relevant trade. DV is held at the Headquarters of East Coast Railway, Bhubaneswar. Candidates must bring all original documents. No TA/DA is paid for attending DV.
Stage 3 – Medical Fitness
Final selection is subject to verification of original documents/testimonials and submission of a Medical Fitness Certificate in the prescribed format (Annexure F), signed by a Government-authorised (Gazetted) doctor not below the rank of Assistant Surgeon from a Central or State Government Hospital.
Standby list
Candidates on the standby list are issued call letters only on receipt of details of absentees, medically unfit or rejected candidates from the merit list, strictly in order of merit.
After selection
Selected applicants must enter into a Contract of Apprenticeship before training begins. On completion, apprentices are granted a Certificate of Proficiency by the National Council, subject to passing the trade test.
Stipend, Training and Benefits
Component
Detail
Stipend
Monthly stipend at the prescribed rate as per extant rules and directives issued by the Railway Board from time to time (no fixed figure is stated in the notification)
Training period
Apprenticeship training as per extant rules under the Apprentices Act, 1961
Hostel accommodation
Not provided — apprentices must make their own arrangements
Certificate on completion
Certificate of Proficiency granted by the National Council for Training in Vocational Trades, subject to passing the proficiency test
Employment benefit
Apprenticeship does not guarantee Railway employment. However, in direct recruitment from the open market to Level-1 posts (Pay Scale ₹18,000 – ₹56,900), candidates who have completed CCAA training and hold a National Apprenticeship Certificate (NAC) get preference for up to 20% of the vacancies, subject to RRB/RRC eligibility.
Release after training
Apprentices are released on completion of training; there is no obligation on the employer to offer employment
How to Apply
Visit the official RRC Bhubaneswar website www.rrcbbs.org.in on or after 26.08.2026 (17:00 hrs) and open the Act Apprentice 2026–27 application link.
Register first with a valid personal email ID and mobile number (both must remain active and unchanged throughout the process), then log in.
Fill in personal details, Aadhaar number, trade, Matriculation marks/CGPA and your choice of Division/Workshop carefully — the merit list is generated solely from this information.
Upload the scanned photograph, signature and all required certificates in the prescribed format and size.
Pay the ₹100 fee online through the integrated payment gateway (SC/ST/PwBD/Women exempt), then download and retain a printout of the submitted application.
Note: Applications are accepted online only. Hard copies of applications, certificates or documents must not be sent to RRC/BBS by post — all documents must be uploaded online. No change or edit is allowed after the fee is paid.
Documents Required
Document
Format / Notes
Recent colour photograph
3.5 cm × 3.5 cm, JPG/JPEG at 100 DPI, file size 20 KB – 70 KB. Clear front view, without cap or sunglasses, not older than three months. Keep two extra copies for DV.
Scanned signature
3.5 cm × 3.5 cm, JPG/JPEG at 100 DPI, file size 20 KB – 30 KB
Matriculation (Class X) mark sheet and pass certificate
Or its equivalent
Date of birth proof
Required only if DOB is not mentioned in the Matriculation certificate
ITI consolidated mark sheet
All semesters of the relevant trade, OR Provisional National Trade Certificate indicating marks
National Trade Certificate (NTC)
Issued by NCVT, or Provisional Trade Certificate issued by NCVT/SCVT
Caste Certificate (SC/ST/OBC)
Central Government format. OBC candidates also need a Non-Creamy-Layer certificate valid for 2026–27, issued on or after 01.04.2026, plus a signed self-declaration (Annexure D).
Income and Asset Certificate
For EWS candidates — family gross annual income below ₹8.00 lakh, in the format at Annexure E
Disability Certificate
For PwBD candidates
Discharge / Serving Certificate
For candidates applying under the Ex-Servicemen or Armed Forces Personnel quota (including children of Ex-Servicemen)
Class 12 mark sheet & certificate (PCB)
Mandatory for the Laboratory Technician (Pathology) post
Medical Fitness Certificate
Annexure F format, to be produced at the time of Document Verification
Originals of all the above documents must be produced during Document Verification. Certificates in languages other than English or Hindi must be accompanied by an attested English/Hindi translation.
Submitting more than one application for the same trade with different particulars (name, father’s name, community, PwBD status, qualification, email or mobile) — all such applications are summarily rejected.
Choosing the Division/Workshop carelessly — the option once exercised is final and binding, and requests for change of trade, Division or Workshop are not entertained after selection.
Calculating Matriculation percentage using the “best of five” method — the total of all subjects must be used, and any mismatch found at DV leads to summary rejection.
Uploading a photograph with goggles, a cap, a wig or coloured glasses, or one that is too small, disfigured or unrecognisable — these applications are rejected at DV.
Applying while your SSC or ITI result is still awaited, or after having failed in ITI — both make you ineligible under this notification.
Paying the fee and then expecting to edit the form — no change or edit is allowed after payment, and the ₹100 fee is non-refundable.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the last date to apply for ECoR Act Apprentice 2026?
The online application window closes on 15.09.2026 at 17:00 hrs.
How many apprentice slots are notified by East Coast Railway?
A total of 1,599 Act Apprentice slots are notified across five units of East Coast Railway for the year 2026–27.
What is the educational qualification required?
Candidates must have passed Matriculation (10th) with at least 50% aggregate marks and hold an ITI certificate affiliated to NCVT/SCVT in the relevant trade.
What is the age limit for RRC ECoR Act Apprentice 2026?
Applicants must be between 15 and 24 years of age as on 15.09.2026, with relaxation of 5 years for SC/ST, 3 years for OBC and 10 years for PwBD candidates.
Is there any application fee, and who is exempt?
The fee is ₹100/- and is non-refundable; SC, ST, PwBD and all women applicants are exempt from paying it.
Is there a written exam for this apprentice recruitment?
No — selection is based purely on a merit list drawn from Matriculation marks, followed by Document Verification and a medical fitness check; there is no written test or viva.
Where will the apprentices be posted?
All slots are within Odisha — at the Carriage Repair Workshop Mancheswar (Bhubaneswar), Khurda Road Division (including Angul), Sambalpur Division (including Balangir), Rayagada Division and the ECoR Headquarters at Bhubaneswar.
Can engineering diploma or degree holders apply?
No — engineering graduates and diploma holders are not eligible under this notification, as they fall under a separate apprenticeship scheme.
Disclaimer: The information above has been compiled from the official notification for the convenience of job seekers. Candidates are advised to verify all details from the official website before applying.
