Central Railway Act Apprentices 2026 — 2,861 training slots: trade-wise choices, full merit rules and one-year training guide

Railway Recruitment Cell, Central Railway | Notice RRC/CR/AA/2026 dated 3 November 2026 | Online application: 3 November 2026, 11:00 AM to 2 December 2026, 5:00 PM (IST)

Central Railway has invited applications for 2,861 one-year Act Apprentice training slots in notified workshop/department trades. This is training under the Apprentices Act, 1961, not recruitment to a regular railway post. There is no written recruitment exam, no CBT, no interview or aptitude-test marks specified for selecting trainees. The merit panel is based on your overall Class 10 percentage and relevant ITI percentage; see the actual calculation below. Selected trainees with the notified national/state trade qualification receive a ₹9,600 monthly stipend. Hostel accommodation is not provided and successful completion gives no automatic right to a railway job.

The notice names five clusters, individual railway units and designated ITI trades. You can apply to only one cluster, and give preferences only for units in that cluster. For example, 547 Matunga Workshop seats do not mean 547 Electrician seats: Matunga specifically lists Electrician 90, Fitter 184, Carpenter 118, Welder 51, Painter 35, Mechanic Machine Tool Maintenance 45 and Machinist 24. Your exact certificate must be accepted in the trade row you select. Do not select an attractive large cluster without checking where your own trade is offered.

Key dates, pay and eligibility in one place

Choose the right cluster first

🥧 Official distribution of all 2,861 training slots

Interpretation: Mumbai accounts for the largest share but no applicant can rank units across two clusters. Applicants are recommended to compare eligible trade seats first, their location preferences second, and overall cluster seats third. The published authority will prepare cluster/unit/trade/community-wise panels rather than one central 2,861-candidate rank list.

📊 Selected individual units with the largest published allotments

These are unit totals, not totals available in any particular ITI trade. A candidate must still read the exact trade row and category/PwBD markings in the 32-page notification.

Unit-wise seats and representative trade-specific choices

The following unit totals reproduce the notified allocations. The trade illustrations identify particularly useful source-listed rows; they do not replace the full trade/category/medical-suitability table for the chosen unit.

Mumbai Cluster — 1712 seats

How to interpret this cluster: Mumbai has 1,712 seats across 12 units, but the single-unit/ITI-trade row decides practical eligibility. Wadi Bunder offers 182 Fitter training slots, while its Tailor-General row recognises Sewing Technology or Dress Making. The Kalyan Diesel Shed programming/administration row specifically aligns to Computer Operator & Programming Assistant (COPA); do not assume any computer certificate is interchangeable. Matunga has 547 slots overall, but that total does not mean 547 slots are available in every trade.

Bhusawal Cluster — 500 seats

How to interpret this cluster: The Carriage & Wagon Depot contains 107 Fitter places within its 122 total; Engineering offers Blacksmith 6 and Welder 7. At Traction Machine Workshop Nasik Road, Electrician has 24, whereas Carpenter and Diesel Mechanic have only 2 each. Check your ITI trade against the specific eligible ITI qualification printed alongside the selected training row.

Pune Cluster — 271 seats

How to interpret this cluster: Diesel Loco Shed Pune is the principal unit (121): 55 Mechanic Diesel and 55 Electrician, and much smaller Welder/Machinist/Painter allocations. Daund Electric Loco Shed allocates 20 Fitter and 20 Electrician places. Do not choose a higher-total unit without first verifying your individual ITI trade has seats.

Nagpur Cluster — 221 seats

How to interpret this cluster: Ajni Electric Loco Shed provides 33 Electrician and 15 Electronics Mechanic places. The Carriage & Wagon Depot has 49 Fitter and 5 Welder places. MELPL Ajni offers only Fitter (17) and Electrician (16) rows; having a different ITI trade does not become eligible merely because that unit has 33 openings.

Solapur Cluster — 157 seats

How to interpret this cluster: The two largest Solapur units have almost equal totals (Kurduwadi 56, C&W 55) but quite different ITI trade distributions. For example, C&W has Fitter 40, whereas Kurduwadi has Fitter 15, Machinist 11 and Welder 10. A candidate should compare the trade row, not just the total unit slots.

What is the syllabus for this opportunity?

There is no entrance examination syllabus for apprentice selection under this notification. The official selection method is an academic-merit calculation. However, after selection trainees undertake designated-trade work-based training for one year. Below is a practical trade-wise preparation and training-topic guide based on the relevant notified trade labels, the Government of India Directorate General of Training's (DGT) Apprenticeship Training Scheme/designed-trade curriculum catalogue and familiar ITI foundations. This is a learning guide, not a separately prescribed RRC/CR entrance exam, Railway workshop lesson timetable, compulsory exam chapter list or official marks distribution. Actual on-the-job training varies by workshop, equipment, contract and the applicable DGT trade syllabus.

For the applicable original Government of India trade curricula and national trade certification information, consult the DGT's Designated Trades under the Apprentices Act at https://dgt.gov.in/en/apprentices-syllabus and the Government's apprenticeship learning material at https://bharatskills.gov.in/Home/AAPPRENTICESHIP . Choose the exact designated trade corresponding to your accepted certificate; the CTS (pre-apprenticeship ITI) curriculum and the ATS apprenticeship syllabus are related but are not identical.

Foundations shared by railway workshop trainees

1. Safety and industrial conduct. PPE and safety shoes, fire and electrical precautions, machine guards, lifting and handling, lock-out/isolation awareness, first aid, emergency reporting, housekeeping and proper issue/return of equipment. Candidates must follow the actual Railway unit's instructions during training; this guide does not authorise independent work on live circuits, locomotives or other hazardous equipment.

2. Technical drawing and measurement. Reading dimensions and tolerances, symbols, projections, engineering sketches, inspection sheets; measurement tools suited to the trade, calibration checks and units/conversions.

3. Workshop science and calculation. Fractions/decimals, ratios and percentages, lengths and areas, material properties, force/energy/power concepts, speed and simple production/maintenance calculations relevant to a designated trade.

4. Trade theory, practice and diagnosis. Workshop tools, trade-specific construction and operating principles, safe assembly/repair/testing, inspection records, proper use of instruments, identifying typical defects and escalation to qualified supervisors.

5. Employability and communication. Clear work logs, professional English/Hindi communication as appropriate, workplace discipline, digital documentation, teamwork, time management and reporting hazards or defects rather than improvising repairs.

Detailed trade-by-trade learning map

1. Fitter / rail mechanical fitting

Core learning topics: Workshop safety, PPE, fitting-shop measurement, steel rules/vernier/micrometer use, marking out, filing and hacksaw cutting, drilling/reaming/tapping, fasteners and torque, alignment and clearances, bearings and couplings, fitting and assembly, tolerance interpretation, surface finishing, inspection and fault recording.

Where the notification gives relevant seats or accepted trade labels: Compare Matunga Fitter 184, Wadi Bunder Fitter 182, Parel Fitter 40, Bhusawal Carriage & Wagon Fitter 107, Nagpur C&W Fitter 49, and Solapur C&W Fitter 40. This is a cross-unit illustration, not a new total; check your own cluster and the original trade row.

How to study and demonstrate readiness: Revisit the relevant original ITI practical record and trade drawings, compare your certificate name with the notice, and practise explaining the purpose of tools, measurement and safety precautions. This is preparation for effective training, not an extra recruitment screening test.

2. Electrician / traction electrical maintenance

Core learning topics: Electric shock prevention and isolation, wiring diagrams, units and Ohm’s law, AC/DC fundamentals, series/parallel circuits, electrical measurements with multimeter and insulation tester, earthing, protective devices, cables/terminations, transformers, motors/starters, batteries and charging, control circuits, troubleshooting, safe maintenance documentation.

Where the notification gives relevant seats or accepted trade labels: Matunga Electrician 90, Sr.DEE(TRS) Kurla Electrician 90, Sr.DEE(TRS) Kalyan Electrician 42, Pune Diesel Loco Shed Electrician 55, Pune Daund Electric Loco Shed Electrician 20, Ajni Electric Loco Shed Electrician 33.

How to study and demonstrate readiness: Revisit the relevant original ITI practical record and trade drawings, compare your certificate name with the notice, and practise explaining the purpose of tools, measurement and safety precautions. This is preparation for effective training, not an extra recruitment screening test.

3. Welder, including Welder (Gas & Electric)

Core learning topics: Workshop fire safety and ventilation, welding joint preparation, edge/bevel selection, drawings and welding symbols, arc-welding power supply, electrodes and current choice, basic gas-welding safety, flat/vertical/horizontal positions, bead formation, weld distortion, visual examination, porosity/undercut defects and safe correction, maintenance of welding gear.

Where the notification gives relevant seats or accepted trade labels: Examples: Parel Welder (Gas & Electric) 48, Matunga Welder 51, Kurduwadi Welder 10, Bhusawal C&W Welder 12. An accepted ITI trade label may be Welder or Welder (Gas & Electric), as the corresponding row states.

How to study and demonstrate readiness: Revisit the relevant original ITI practical record and trade drawings, compare your certificate name with the notice, and practise explaining the purpose of tools, measurement and safety precautions. This is preparation for effective training, not an extra recruitment screening test.

4. Mechanic Diesel / diesel-shed work

Core learning topics: Engine operating cycle, diesel fuel delivery, air-intake and exhaust, lubricating and cooling circuits, filtration, batteries and starting systems, measurement/diagnostic instruments, safe disassembly and reassembly, fault charts, preventive inspections and maintenance records. These are preparation areas, not guaranteed individually assigned workshop duties.

Where the notification gives relevant seats or accepted trade labels: Kalyan Diesel Shed Mechanic Diesel 27; Kurla Diesel Shed Mechanic Diesel 36; Pune Diesel Loco Shed Mechanic Diesel 55; Kurduwadi Mechanic Diesel 8; Track Machine Organisations offer small Diesel Mechanic rows.

How to study and demonstrate readiness: Revisit the relevant original ITI practical record and trade drawings, compare your certificate name with the notice, and practise explaining the purpose of tools, measurement and safety precautions. This is preparation for effective training, not an extra recruitment screening test.

5. Machinist / precision machining

Core learning topics: Engineering drawings, machine-shop safety, dimensional metrology, bench work, lathe holding and operations, turning/facing/taper concepts, drilling and boring, milling, speeds/feeds, tool materials and angles, coolants, tolerances and surface finish, inspection of finished work.

Where the notification gives relevant seats or accepted trade labels: Matunga Machinist 24, Bhusawal Manmad Workshop Machinist 7, Nasik Road Workshop Machinist 4, Solapur Kurduwadi Machinist 11.

How to study and demonstrate readiness: Revisit the relevant original ITI practical record and trade drawings, compare your certificate name with the notice, and practise explaining the purpose of tools, measurement and safety precautions. This is preparation for effective training, not an extra recruitment screening test.

6. Turner

Core learning topics: Lathe setup, chuck/centres, cutting tools, turning, facing, taper cutting, drilling, grooving and threading, tool wear, safe workholding, fits and tolerances, dimensional verification and preventive machine maintenance.

Where the notification gives relevant seats or accepted trade labels: Sr.DEE(TRS) Kalyan Turner 10; Sr.DEE(TRS) Kurla Turner 6; further unit-wise Turner rows are printed in the notice.

How to study and demonstrate readiness: Revisit the relevant original ITI practical record and trade drawings, compare your certificate name with the notice, and practise explaining the purpose of tools, measurement and safety precautions. This is preparation for effective training, not an extra recruitment screening test.

7. Carpenter / Wood Work Technician

Core learning topics: Timber identification, workshop safety, dimensioning, saws/planes/chisels, layout and squaring, joinery, adhesives and fastenings, surface finishing, wood defects, tool sharpening and safe use of portable tools.

Where the notification gives relevant seats or accepted trade labels: Wadi Bunder Carpenter 28 and Matunga Carpenter 118; the notification expressly permits Carpenter/Wood Work Technician in applicable rows.

How to study and demonstrate readiness: Revisit the relevant original ITI practical record and trade drawings, compare your certificate name with the notice, and practise explaining the purpose of tools, measurement and safety precautions. This is preparation for effective training, not an extra recruitment screening test.

8. Painter (General)

Core learning topics: Surface cleaning and preparation, primers, corrosion prevention, paint mixing and application, brushes and spraying safety, coating defects, protective equipment, environmental handling and finishing inspection.

Where the notification gives relevant seats or accepted trade labels: Wadi Bunder Painter (General) 24; Matunga Painter (General) 35; Solapur Kurduwadi Painter 7.

How to study and demonstrate readiness: Revisit the relevant original ITI practical record and trade drawings, compare your certificate name with the notice, and practise explaining the purpose of tools, measurement and safety precautions. This is preparation for effective training, not an extra recruitment screening test.

9. Electronics Mechanic / electrical and electronic maintenance

Core learning topics: Electrical and electronic hazards, passive devices, rectifiers, diodes and transistors, semiconductors, basic digital circuits, soldering/rework, test meters, circuit troubleshooting, wiring harnesses, power supply checks and safe documentation.

Where the notification gives relevant seats or accepted trade labels: Ajni Electric Loco Shed Electronics Mechanic 15; Bhusawal S&T contains specific electronics/mechanic communications rows.

How to study and demonstrate readiness: Revisit the relevant original ITI practical record and trade drawings, compare your certificate name with the notice, and practise explaining the purpose of tools, measurement and safety precautions. This is preparation for effective training, not an extra recruitment screening test.

10. Wireman / Cable Jointer

Core learning topics: Cable construction, wire sizes and colour codes, stripping/crimping, joints and terminations, continuity/insulation tests, earthing, distribution-board basics, safe testing and field cable fault precautions.

Where the notification gives relevant seats or accepted trade labels: These trades appear as distinct Signal & Telecom lines. Do not assume Electrician NTC automatically substitutes for Cable Jointer/Wireman.

How to study and demonstrate readiness: Revisit the relevant original ITI practical record and trade drawings, compare your certificate name with the notice, and practise explaining the purpose of tools, measurement and safety precautions. This is preparation for effective training, not an extra recruitment screening test.

11. Information & Communication Technology System Maintenance

Core learning topics: Computer components, structured cabling, operating systems, local network foundations, communication equipment, basic fault isolation, equipment care and record keeping.

Where the notification gives relevant seats or accepted trade labels: Mumbai S&T row lists 14 slots; Bhusawal S&T lists 7, Pune S&T 7, Nagpur S&T 8, Solapur S&T 4 for this specified trade.

How to study and demonstrate readiness: Revisit the relevant original ITI practical record and trade drawings, compare your certificate name with the notice, and practise explaining the purpose of tools, measurement and safety precautions. This is preparation for effective training, not an extra recruitment screening test.

12. Mechanic-cum-Operator (Electronics Communication System)

Core learning topics: Power and safety for communications equipment, basic electronics, radio-frequency concepts, cable/connectors, testing instruments, signal testing, faults, maintenance reports and technical drawings.

Where the notification gives relevant seats or accepted trade labels: This is an expressly named technical trade in S&T departments, not a universal computer-course vacancy.

How to study and demonstrate readiness: Revisit the relevant original ITI practical record and trade drawings, compare your certificate name with the notice, and practise explaining the purpose of tools, measurement and safety precautions. This is preparation for effective training, not an extra recruitment screening test.

13. Mechanic Communication Equipment Maintenance / Mechanic Radio & TV

Core learning topics: Electronic test equipment, antennas and signal paths, power supplies, circuit-board inspection, audio/communications modules, electronic fault finding and repair safety.

Where the notification gives relevant seats or accepted trade labels: Named S&T trade rows identify the required ITI certificate. Match the exact wording of the row, not a broad Electronics title.

How to study and demonstrate readiness: Revisit the relevant original ITI practical record and trade drawings, compare your certificate name with the notice, and practise explaining the purpose of tools, measurement and safety precautions. This is preparation for effective training, not an extra recruitment screening test.

14. Programming & Systems Administration Assistant / COPA

Core learning topics: Operating systems and files, office productivity, spreadsheets, documentation, keyboard/computer proficiency, application installation, networking and cybersecurity basics, simple programming and data management, troubleshooting and user support.

Where the notification gives relevant seats or accepted trade labels: Kalyan Diesel Shed lists Programming & Systems Administration Assistant 4 but accepts ITI Computer Operator & Programming Assistant; Parel Workshop lists Computer Operator & Programming Assistant 17. Follow that unit’s explicit accepted-trade column.

How to study and demonstrate readiness: Revisit the relevant original ITI practical record and trade drawings, compare your certificate name with the notice, and practise explaining the purpose of tools, measurement and safety precautions. This is preparation for effective training, not an extra recruitment screening test.

15. Stenographer (English/Hindi shorthand)

Core learning topics: Shorthand accuracy and speed practice, transcription, professional typing, office correspondence, document formatting, record management, file classification, confidentiality and keyboard ergonomics.

Where the notification gives relevant seats or accepted trade labels: Personnel Department: Mumbai 28, Bhusawal 5, Pune 3 and Solapur 1 = 37 seats. Eligible ITI certificate is Stenographer (shorthand English or Hindi) as stated.

How to study and demonstrate readiness: Revisit the relevant original ITI practical record and trade drawings, compare your certificate name with the notice, and practise explaining the purpose of tools, measurement and safety precautions. This is preparation for effective training, not an extra recruitment screening test.

16. Mechanic Machine Tools Maintenance

Core learning topics: Maintenance diagnostics for mechanical machines, drives, gears, lubrication, bearings, hydraulics/pneumatics basics, guarding, calibration, inspection and service records.

Where the notification gives relevant seats or accepted trade labels: Matunga Workshop provides 45 seats, and Parel Workshop 21, under the named trade.

How to study and demonstrate readiness: Revisit the relevant original ITI practical record and trade drawings, compare your certificate name with the notice, and practise explaining the purpose of tools, measurement and safety precautions. This is preparation for effective training, not an extra recruitment screening test.

17. Sheet Metal Worker

Core learning topics: Sheet metal marking and layout, pattern development, cutting, folding, bending, riveting, forming, jointing, finishing and personal protective precautions.

Where the notification gives relevant seats or accepted trade labels: Parel Workshop lists 21 Sheet Metal Worker seats.

How to study and demonstrate readiness: Revisit the relevant original ITI practical record and trade drawings, compare your certificate name with the notice, and practise explaining the purpose of tools, measurement and safety precautions. This is preparation for effective training, not an extra recruitment screening test.

18. Mason / Blacksmith / Pipe Fitter

Core learning topics: Mason: measurement, masonry materials, mortar, level/plumb, joints and site safety. Blacksmith/Foundryman: forging basics, heating, shaping, tools and heat safety. Pipe Fitter/Plumber: pipe measurement, cutting, threading, joining, sealing, leak checks and precautions.

Where the notification gives relevant seats or accepted trade labels: Engineering units and S&T sections list these separately. For some Blacksmith entries the eligible trade is explicitly Foundryman; for Pipe Fitter it may be Pipe Fitter/Plumber. Read the individual unit row.

How to study and demonstrate readiness: Revisit the relevant original ITI practical record and trade drawings, compare your certificate name with the notice, and practise explaining the purpose of tools, measurement and safety precautions. This is preparation for effective training, not an extra recruitment screening test.

19. Tailor (General) / Sewing Technology / Dress Making

Core learning topics: Textile handling, measurement, garment components, pattern cutting, stitching, machine operation and maintenance, seams, finishing, fit and quality checks.

Where the notification gives relevant seats or accepted trade labels: Wadi Bunder Tailor (General) provides 18 seats; its accepted ITI credentials include Sewing Technology and Dress Making.

How to study and demonstrate readiness: Revisit the relevant original ITI practical record and trade drawings, compare your certificate name with the notice, and practise explaining the purpose of tools, measurement and safety precautions. This is preparation for effective training, not an extra recruitment screening test.

20. Instrument Mechanic / Armature Coil Winder

Core learning topics: Instrument Mechanic: measurement instruments, calibration, electrical/electronic control checks, circuit protection and safe testing. Armature Coil Winder: winding patterns, insulation, coil preparation, winding checks, electrical continuity and safe handling.

Where the notification gives relevant seats or accepted trade labels: Kalyan Diesel Shed and Sr.DEE(TRS) Kalyan have Instrument Mechanic rows; Byculla S&T Workshop has an Armature Coil Winder seat.

How to study and demonstrate readiness: Revisit the relevant original ITI practical record and trade drawings, compare your certificate name with the notice, and practise explaining the purpose of tools, measurement and safety precautions. This is preparation for effective training, not an extra recruitment screening test.

Understanding the difference: ITI qualification, apprenticeship training and trade test

DGT's general Apprenticeship Training guidance describes the All India Trade Test for trade apprentices and the National Apprenticeship Certificate pathway. It does not create a Railway recruitment exam timetable under notification RRC/CR/AA/2026, nor guarantee permanent placement. Keep training certification and railway employment separate.

How Central Railway calculates the actual merit score

📊 Merit components are equally weighted

Merit percentage = (overall Class 10 aggregate percentage + relevant ITI trade percentage) ÷ 2. RRC uses overall aggregate of all Class 10 subjects, not a self-selected best five or a preferred science/maths subset. For ITI, use the average appearing in the consolidated all-semester trade marks statement or marks on the eligible Provisional National Trade Certificate. Both marks must refer to your own records, and the trades must match.

Examples are explanatory, not Railway cut-offs or predicted ranks. If A and B are in the same unit/trade/community panel and tie on merit, the older candidate ranks first; if birth dates are also equal, the candidate who passed the Class 10 exam earlier has priority. A panel is compiled for each chosen cluster/unit/trade/community, not one combined merit list for 2,861 slots.

If your Class 10 marksheet contains grades instead of percentages

Use the midpoint of the board-defined range for the overall grade. If only subjectwise grades exist, take each grade range midpoint and average the midpoints of all subjects. The official worked example gives English 84.5, Maths 94.5, Science 74.5, History 84.5 and Computer 94.5; the simple average is 86.5%. Write the value based on the board's published grade intervals; RRC may reject an application if the applicant-entered percentage differs from its computation. This grade-conversion rule is in the Railway notice, not a coaching shortcut.

Age eligibility: calculate from printed birth-date ranges

The ordinary age rule is completed 15 years and not completed 24 years as on 03 November 2026. Published SC/ST and OBC upper-age relaxations are 5 and 3 years respectively; the notice separately addresses PwBD (10 years) and eligible ex-servicemen under additional conditions. Age is not calculated from the date you finally submit your form. The inclusive ranges above come from the official table; exceptional category claims require documentary proof.

Education and certificate matching — common mistakes

• Class 10 50% overall aggregate is mandatory even if an ITI marksheet is excellent. An ITI certificate alone does not replace matriculation. A higher engineering degree/diploma does not make the applicant eligible under the separately notified trade apprenticeship scheme; the Railway notice expressly says engineering graduates and diploma holders are not eligible under this notification.
• The exact NCVT National Trade Certificate or eligible NCVT/SCVT provisional trade certificate must name the trade accepted for the chosen row. A generic computer course, a related skill certificate or a different ITI trade does not confer eligibility by resemblance.
• A unit may accept a related named trade, e.g. Carpenter/Wood Work Technician, Pipe Fitter/Plumber, Welder/Welder (Gas & Electric), or Sewing Technology/Dress Making for Tailor (General). Only the alternatives printed for that unit count.
• Read the category columns separately from horizontal PwBD/Ex-servicemen markings. Those earmarks are already included in the stated total, not additional vacancies. The notice gives trade-specific functional suitability standards for disability benefits.
• The application will be screened against the candidate's true document details, not merely the category entered online. OBC applicants claiming NCL must meet the certificate-format and issue-date requirement; the advertisement specifies Central Government format and a certificate issued on/after 1 April 2026.

Application steps: make one correct choice before paying

1. Open the official RRC Central Railway application portal and read notification RRC/CR/AA/2026 and the exact unit/trade schedule.
2. Check the three separate eligibility tests: overall Class 10 at least 50%, your specific NCVT/SCVT ITI trade credential, and permitted age/category conditions.
3. Identify the one cluster whose notified units offer the trade on your credential, then arrange unit preferences within that same cluster. No second cluster/application is allowed; multiple applications are liable to rejection even if different mobile/email particulars are used.
4. Enter name, father's name and date of birth exactly as the Class 10 certificate. Save an active email/mobile and the registration number. Use Aadhaar as directed; the notice contains alternatives for specified states and applicants with an Aadhaar enrolment slip.
5. Enter overall Class 10 percentage and all-semester relevant ITI trade percentage. Verify every digit and grade conversion against certificates before making payment.
6. Upload the required readable scans: Class 10 marksheet, date-of-birth proof, consolidated ITI marks or qualifying provisional NTC, eligible trade certificate, and caste/disability/defence status proof where relevant.
7. Upload a recent colour 3.5 cm × 3.5 cm photograph, JPG/JPEG, 20–70 KB, 100 DPI, front view without cap or sunglasses, taken within three months; signature 3.5 cm × 3.5 cm, JPG/JPEG, 20–30 KB, 100 DPI. Keep two extra copies of the same photo for verification.
8. Pay ₹100 online if liable; SC/ST/PwBD/women applicants are exempt. Supported methods include debit/credit card, internet banking, UPI and wallet, subject to displayed payment gateway options. If payment was debited but the application cannot be downloaded, use the specified Verify Payment procedure rather than immediately paying a second time. Duplicate payment may be forfeited. After fee payment, no form edit/change is permitted.
9. Download/print the completed application and payment receipt. Do not post a paper application. Finish by 2 December 2026, 5:00 PM; a saved draft is not a submitted application.

After application: merit panel → documents → medical → apprenticeship agreement

Step 1 — Cluster/unit/trade/community academic panel. RRC/CR prepares a merit order separately within the chosen trade/unit/community; there is no centralised all-Railway merit ranking. Your 50:50 percentage average determines order, subject to official tie rules. No written selection test or interview has been notified.

Step 2 — Original document verification. Selected/panelled applicants are directed to the opted division/unit. Produce the printed application, original Class 10/DOB/ITI documents and the relevant reservation certificates. A non-English/non-Hindi certificate needs an attested English/Hindi translation as specified. Corrupt, wrong-format or unverifiable files can result in cancellation.

Step 3 — Medical certificate is essential at verification. The notice requires its Annexure VII fitness certificate, signed by a government-authorised gazetted doctor not below the rank of Assistant Surgeon of a Central/State Hospital. The notification explicitly warns that without this medical certificate, document verification will not be conducted and candidature is liable to cancellation. This is not an optional health form after joining.

Step 4 — Contract of Apprenticeship. Before training, the selected person signs the contract setting out obligations. A minor's guardian must sign as prescribed. Premature termination attributable to the apprentice may carry costs determined by the Apprenticeship Adviser; an employer's breach follows the compensation provisions in the contract/rules. Read those terms before signing.

Step 5 — One-year training and release. The monthly stipend is ₹9,600 under the cited Railway Board instruction; accommodation is self-arranged. On completion the trainee is released. Training is not a promise of later regular employment, railway pay-level benefits or preference in an unannounced recruitment examination.

Candidates' practical questions

Is this a written recruitment examination? No. The notification explicitly calculates academic merit from Class 10 plus ITI. A post-training DGT/NCVT trade test is a separate certification matter, not an admission test for these 2,861 slots.

Will a selected applicant receive a regular Railway salary? No; this notice specifies apprenticeship stipend of ₹9,600/month. It is neither a regular railway post nor a salary range.

Can a student with 49.9% in Class 10 but 95% ITI apply? No. The Class 10 minimum 50% overall aggregate is an independent essential requirement; the average does not waive it.

Can a Computer Operator & Programming Assistant certificate apply anywhere a unit says 'electronics'? No. The eligible ITI qualification printed for each exact trade row controls admission.

Can I apply to Mumbai and Bhusawal separately? No. Only one cluster and one application are permitted. Unit preferences are limited to that chosen cluster.

Does one cluster have a single merit cut-off? Not necessarily. Selection is organised by cluster, unit, trade and community; the notification gives no future category/trade cut-off values.

Is there a guaranteed apprenticeship certificate or permanent post after one year? The DGT has its trade-testing and National Apprenticeship Certificate framework, subject to applicable requirements; this specific notification grants no automatic permanent Railway employment.

Is the medical certificate checked only after training starts? No. The specific Annexure VII certificate is needed at document verification, signed by the prescribed government doctor.

Which official material should I rely on? The original 32-page RRC/CR apprenticeship notification controls seats, accepted ITI trade, age, documents, stipend and selection. Government DGT ATS trade syllabi can help you understand training content; they do not override recruitment eligibility or add an entrance exam.

Official curriculum references and how to use them

The Directorate General of Training of the Government of India publishes a Designated Trades under the Apprentices Act list with trade-syllabus downloads. Its apprenticeship information explains trade tests and National Apprenticeship Certificates. These official training resources are useful for deciding what a Fitter, Electrician, Welder, Diesel Mechanic, computer or telecom apprenticeship may teach. No Railway recruitment examination syllabus or chapterwise question distribution is announced for this notification because entry selection is merit-based.

• Central Railway apprenticeship notification and application: https://www.rrccr.com/
• Government of India DGT Designated Trades and syllabi: https://dgt.gov.in/en/apprentices-syllabus
• Government of India Apprenticeship Training Scheme information: https://dgt.gov.in/en/Apprenticeship_Training
• Government BharatSkills apprenticeship learning materials: https://bharatskills.gov.in/Home/AAPPRENTICESHIP

For apprenticeship questions about your contract, training delivery and later assessment, rely on the instructions issued by your selected Railway unit and the applicable designated-trade training authorities. Do not confuse an institution's training exercises with a written test for admission that the Railway did not announce.