The Railway Recruitment Cell (RRC), Central Railway (CR), under the Ministry of Railways, Government of India, has published the official employment notification Notification No. RRC/CR/AA/2026 for the Central Railway Act Apprentice 2026. Through this extensive skill development program, Central Railway aims to engage 2,861 Act Apprentices for technical industrial training across major divisional workshops, locomotive sheds, and carriage depots in Maharashtra.

Under the Central Railway Act Apprentice 2026, training opportunities are distributed across five prominent railway administrative clusters: Mumbai, Bhusawal, Pune, Nagpur, and Solapur. Candidates holding a 10th Matriculation certificate alongside an ITI certificate in designated trades can register online through the dedicated TradeApp portal.

Engagement is determined entirely through academic merit calculated from Matriculation and ITI examination marks—featuring zero written tests and no interview rounds. Furthermore, Course Completed Act Apprentices (CCAAs) trained in railway establishments receive a statutory 20% reservation quota and physical efficiency exemptions in future Railway Level-1 (Group D) recruitment drives.

Online registrations opened on November 03, 2026 (11:00 AM) and will remain active until December 02, 2026 (up to 5:00 PM) on rrccr.com.

Central Railway Act Apprentice 2026: Fast Facts & Overview

Important Dates for Central Railway Act Apprentice 2026

Keep track of the official timetable for the Central Railway Act Apprentice 2026 to ensure your application and documentation are processed before the closing deadline:

Cluster-Wise Vacancy Distribution (2,861 Slots)

The Central Railway Act Apprentice 2026 distributes 2,861 vacancies across workshops, locomotive sheds, and maintenance depots situated in five railway divisions:

Popular ITI Trades Recruited:

• Mechanical Trades: Fitter, Welder (Gas & Electric), Machinist, Turner, Sheet Metal Worker, Carpenter, Painter (General).
• Electrical & Electronics Trades: Electrician, Wireman, Mechanic Machine Tool Maintenance (MMTM), Mechanic Motor Vehicle (MMV), Diesel Mechanic.
• IT & Specialized Trades: Information & Communication Technology System Maintenance (ICTSM), Laboratory Assistant (Chemical Plant).

Strategic Advantage: 20% Quota in Railway Group D Recruitments

Engaging in the Central Railway Act Apprentice 2026 provides a significant competitive advantage for railway employment:

1. 20% Quota in Level-1 Posts: Under Section 22 of the Apprentices Act, the Ministry of Railways reserves 20% of vacancies in all Railway Level-1 (Group D) recruitments for Course Completed Act Apprentices (CCAAs) trained in railway establishments.
2. Exemption from Physical Efficiency Test (PET): Railway-trained apprentices are completely exempted from the grueling physical running test (1,000m running and 35kg weight carry) during Group D recruitment.
3. Weightage of NCVT Marks: One-third (1/3rd) weightage of NCVT apprentice examination marks is added to the candidate’s normalized CBT score, significantly lowering final cut-offs.

Eligibility Criteria for Central Railway Act Apprentice 2026

Before registering for the Central Railway Act Apprentice 2026, applicants must verify their educational credentials and age parameters.

1. Educational & Technical Qualifications

• Academic Requirement: Candidates must have passed standard 10th Class (Matriculation) or its equivalent under the 10+2 examination system with a minimum of 50% marks in aggregate from a recognized educational board.
• Technical Requirement: Must possess a valid National Trade Certificate (NTC) in the designated trade issued by the National Council for Vocational Training (NCVT) or State Council for Vocational Training (SCVT).

2. Age Limits & Relaxations (As on Cutoff Date)

• Minimum Age: 15 Years
• Maximum Age: 24 Years
• Permissible Age Relaxations:
  • SC / ST Candidates: 5 Years upper age relaxation (up to 29 years).
  • OBC (Non-Creamy Layer): 3 Years upper age relaxation (up to 27 years).
  • Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD): 10 Years relaxation.
  • Ex-Servicemen: Relaxable up to the extent of service rendered in armed forces plus 3 years (up to maximum 10 years).

Selection Process & Merit Computation Formula

The selection framework under the Central Railway Act Apprentice 2026 is completely objective and transparent:

[Online Application Submission] ➔ [50:50 Merit List Computation] ➔ [Document Verification (DV)] ➔ [Medical Fitness Examination]

Official Merit Calculation Formula:

Merit lists are prepared based on the simple average of percentage marks obtained in both Matriculation and the ITI trade examination, giving equal 50:50 weightage:

$$\text{Final Merit Percentage} = \frac{\text{Matriculation Aggregate \%} + \text{ITI Trade Marks \%}}{2}$$

Final Merit Percentage=2Matriculation Aggregate %+ITI Trade Marks %​

• Example: If an applicant scored 76% in standard 10th and 84% in their ITI trade test:
• $$\text{Merit Score} = \frac{76 + 84}{2} = \mathbf{80.00\%}$$Merit Score=276+84​=80.00%
• Tie-Breaking Rule: In case two or more applicants obtain identical composite scores, the candidate older in age will be placed higher on the merit list. If dates of birth are also identical, the candidate who passed the 10th examination earlier will be preferred.

Application Fee & Payment Mode

Applicants submitting forms for the Central Railway Act Apprentice 2026 must pay the processing fee through the online gateway:

Payment Mode: Debit Card, Credit Card, Internet Banking, or UPI. Applications submitted without fee confirmation (where applicable) will be summarily rejected.

Step-by-Step Guide: How to Apply Online at rrccr.com

Follow these steps to submit your application for the Central Railway Act Apprentice 2026:

1. Visit the TradeApp Portal: Navigate to the official online registration portal at rrccr.com/TradeApp/login/Index.
2. New Candidate Registration: Click on “Click Here to Register”. Input your State of Domicile, Aadhaar Number, Candidate Name, Father’s Name, Gender, Community, Date of Birth, Email ID, and Mobile Number.
3. Verify OTP: Authenticate your registration through the security OTP dispatched to your mobile and email address to obtain your Registration ID and Password.
4. Select Cluster & Trade: Choose your preferred Railway Cluster (Mumbai, Bhusawal, Pune, Nagpur, or Solapur) and designated ITI Trade.
5. Enter Educational Records: Fill in standard 10th Board details, marks obtained, maximum marks, percentage, along with ITI NCVT/SCVT certificate particulars.
6. Upload Scanned Documents:
   • Recent passport-size color photograph (20 KB – 50 KB, JPG/JPEG).
   • Clear scanned signature (10 KB – 40 KB, JPG/JPEG).
   • 10th standard mark sheet and passing certificate (PDF format, up to 100 KB).
   • ITI Trade Certificate and Semester Mark Sheets (PDF format, up to 100 KB).
   • Caste / Community Certificate (SC/ST/OBC-NCL/EWS) if applicable.
7. Pay Application Fee: Remit the non-refundable fee of ₹100/- (if applicable) through the online payment gateway.
8. Final Submit & Print: Review all filled information carefully, click final submission, and download or print the completed application form for physical verification.

Direct Official Links

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Also Check : Railway NTPC Under Graduate Recruitment 2026