East Coast Railway (ECoR) Apprentice Recruitment 2026 — 1,599 Act Apprentice Posts
Online applications open 26 August 2026 | Last date 15 September 2026 | Apply at www.rrcbbs.org.in
East Coast Railway (ECoR), under the Office of the Principal Chief Personnel Officer, Bhubaneswar, has released Notification No. ECoR/Pers/RRC/Act Apprentice/2026-27 dated 21 August 2026 for engagement of 1,599 Act Apprentices under the Apprentices Act, 1961. The Railway Recruitment Cell, Bhubaneswar (RRC/BBS) is the nodal agency conducting this centralized recruitment across Divisions, Workshops, and Headquarters of ECoR. Selection is purely merit-based on Matriculation marks — there is no written test or interview.
📌 Recruitment at a Glance
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Organization | East Coast Railway (ECoR) |
| Conducting Agency | Railway Recruitment Cell, Bhubaneswar (RRC/BBS) |
| Post Name | Act Apprentice (25 designated trades) |
| Notification No. | ECoR/Pers/RRC/Act Apprentice/2026-27 |
| Notification Date | 21 August 2026 |
| Total Vacancies | 1,599 |
| Mode of Application | Online |
| Application Fee | ₹100 (exempted for SC/ST/PwBD/Women) |
| Selection Process | Merit list on Matriculation marks (no written test/interview) |
| Official Website | www.rrcbbs.org.in |
🗓️ Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Notification release date | 21 August 2026 |
| Opening of online application | 26 August 2026, 5:00 PM |
| Closing of online application | 15 September 2026, 5:00 PM |
📊 Unit-wise Vacancy Breakdown (Total: 1,599)
| Unit / Division | Slots |
|---|---|
| Carriage Repair Workshop, Mancheswar, Bhubaneswar | 250 |
| RGDA Division | 292 |
| Khurda Road Division (ELS, Angul & IOH Depot) | 773 |
| Sambalpur Division (Coaching, BLGR) | 262 |
| Headquarters, ECoR, Bhubaneswar | 22 |
| Grand Total | 1,599 |
Category-wise Break-up
| Category | Slots |
|---|---|
| Unreserved (UR) | 633 |
| SC | 251 |
| ST | 116 |
| OBC | 435 |
| EWS | 164 |
| PwBD (horizontal, within above) | 50 |
| Ex-Servicemen (horizontal, within above) | 42 |
Note: The number of training slots is provisional and may increase or decrease as per the Administration’s requirement at the time of final selection. Full trade-wise, department-wise vacancy details are given in Annexure ‘A’ of the official notification.
🎓 Eligibility Criteria
Educational & Technical Qualification
- Matriculation (Class 10) under the 10+2 system with a minimum of 50% aggregate marks from a recognized Board, as on 21 August 2026.
- An ITI certificate in the relevant designated trade, affiliated to NCVT, as per the Apprentices Act, 1961.
- Laboratory Technician (Pathology): 12th pass with Physics, Chemistry, Biology, with minimum 50% marks in both 10th and 12th.
- Secretarial Assistant (Stenography): National Trade Certificate (NTC) approved by NCVT/SCVT.
- Computer Operator & Programming Assistant: Board-based basic training in IT sector under Centre of Excellence scheme with NTC approved by NCVT/SCVT.
Designated Trades (25 total)
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 & AC, Plumber, Draftsman (Civil), Mechanic (Motor Vehicle), Computer Operator & Programming Assistant, Laboratory Technician (Pathology), Sarang, Grinder, Mason, and Draftsman (Mechanic).
Age Limit (as on 15 September 2026)
| Category | Age Limit / Relaxation |
|---|---|
| General | 15 to 24 years |
| SC/ST | Upper limit relaxed by 5 years (up to 29) |
| OBC | Upper limit relaxed by 3 years (up to 27) |
| PwBD | Upper limit relaxed by 10 years |
| Ex-Servicemen | 10 years + service rendered + 3 years (min. 6 months continuous service) |
💰 Application Fee
- General/OBC/EWS: ₹100/- (non-refundable)
- SC/ST/PwBD/Women: No fee
- Payment mode: Debit Card, Credit Card, UPI, or Internet Banking through the integrated payment gateway.
📝 How to Apply Online
- Visit the official RRC/BBS website: www.rrcbbs.org.in and find the Centralized Notification link for Act Apprentice engagement.
- Register using a valid personal email ID and mobile number; note down your Registration Number.
- Log in and fill personal details, trade preference, Aadhaar number, Matriculation marks/CGPA, and choice of Division/Workshop carefully.
- Upload scanned photograph, signature, and required documents as per specifications.
- Review all details carefully — no edits are allowed after fee payment.
- Pay the application fee (if applicable) via the integrated payment gateway.
- Download and print the submitted application form for your records. No hard copy needs to be sent by post.
📄 Documents Required
- Recent colour photograph (3.5cm × 3.5cm, JPG/JPEG, 20–70 KB)
- Scanned signature (3.5cm × 3.5cm, JPG/JPEG, 20–30 KB)
- Matriculation (Class 10) mark sheet and pass certificate
- Date of birth proof (if not on the Matriculation certificate)
- ITI consolidated mark sheet / Provisional National Trade Certificate
- National Trade Certificate (NCVT) or Provisional Trade Certificate (NCVT/SCVT)
- Caste certificate (SC/ST/OBC), Income & Asset certificate (EWS), Disability certificate (PwBD), Discharge/Serving certificate (Ex-Servicemen), as applicable
- 12-digit Aadhaar number (or 28-digit Aadhaar Enrolment ID)
🏆 Selection Process
- Merit List: Prepared solely on Matriculation percentage (minimum 50%), considering marks of all subjects — not “best of five.”
- No written test or interview is involved.
- Tie-breaking: Older candidate gets preference; if DOB is also the same, whoever passed Matriculation earlier is prioritized.
- Document Verification (DV): Trade-wise and community-wise shortlisting for DV at ECoR Headquarters.
- Medical Fitness: Final selection is subject to a Medical Fitness Certificate from a Government-authorized (Gazetted) doctor.
💵 Stipend & Training
Selected apprentices will undergo training as per the Apprentices Act, 1961, and receive a monthly stipend at the prescribed rate as per Railway Board rules. No hostel accommodation is provided — candidates must arrange their own stay. On completion of training, apprentices are released; as per the Act, there is no claim to employment in the Railways after training.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Is East Coast Railway Apprentice Recruitment 2026 a permanent railway job?
No. This is engagement as an Act Apprentice under the Apprentices Act, 1961, purely for training. Apprentices have no claim to employment in the Railways after training completion.
What is the last date to apply?
The online application window closes on 15 September 2026 at 5:00 PM.
Is there a written exam or interview?
No. Selection is purely on a merit list based on Matriculation marks.
What is the application fee?
₹100/- for General/OBC/EWS candidates. SC/ST/PwBD/Women candidates are exempted from the fee.
Who is not eligible for this recruitment?
Candidates with awaited SSC/ITI results, those who failed ITI, and Engineering graduates/diploma holders are not eligible.
🔗 Important Links
Apply Online Download Official Notification (PDF)Official website: www.rrcbbs.org.in | Help Desk: 7303484063 | Email: support@ecorbbs.in
