Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR), through its Railway Recruitment Cell (RRC/NFR), released a Centralised Notification dated 16 July 2026 for engagement of 6,777 Act Apprentices under the Apprentices Act, 1961, covering the training cycles 2025-26 and 2026-27. This is one of the largest railway apprenticeship drives of the year, spanning trades and workshops across Assam, West Bengal and Bihar.
1. Recruitment Overview
RRC/NFR has been designated the nodal agency for this drive, meaning all applications go through one centralised online system rather than separate division-wise forms. Candidates apply once, indicate their preferred Units/Divisions, and a single merit list determines where training slots get allotted — a structure that keeps the process simpler than it might otherwise be for a vacancy count this large.
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Recruiting Body | Railway Recruitment Cell, Northeast Frontier Railway (RRC/NFR) |
| Notification Type | Centralised Notification No. NFR/NAPS/ACT APP./2026 |
| Notification Publication Date | 16 July 2026 |
| Total Vacancies | 6,777 (Act Apprentice) |
| Training Cycles Covered | 2025-26 and 2026-27 |
| Duration of Training | 1 Year |
| Application Mode | Online only |
| Coverage Area | 8 Divisions/Workshops across Assam, West Bengal, Bihar |
| Official Website | nfr.indianrailways.gov.in |
With nearly 6,800 seats up for grabs, this cycle is noticeably larger than NFR’s previous apprentice drives, which typically ran in the 5,600–5,700 range — a meaningful jump that widens the door for ITI candidates across the Northeast and adjoining states this year.
2. Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Date of Publication of Notification | 16 July 2026 |
| Opening Date for Online Application | 20 July 2026, 09:00 Hrs |
| Closing Date for Online Application | 19 August 2026, 17:30 Hrs |
| Document Verification | Held division/unit-wise, per candidate’s opted preference (dates notified separately after merit list) |
Since this is a centralised merit list feeding into division-wise document verification, expect the DV call letters to arrive on a rolling basis depending on which Division/Unit you’ve opted for — not all candidates get called on the same day. With just under a month between the opening and closing dates, candidates shouldn’t wait until the final week — server load tends to spike hard in the last 48 hours of any large-scale railway recruitment window.
3. Vacancy Details
The 6,777 Act Apprentice seats are distributed across 8 Divisions/Workshops of Northeast Frontier Railway, with a detailed trade-wise breakup available in Annexures I to VIII of the official notification for each unit.
| SN | Unit (Division/Workshop) | No. of Seats |
|---|---|---|
| i | Katihar (KIR) & Tindharia (TDH) Workshop | 1,103 |
| ii | Alipurduar (APDJ) | 651 |
| iii | Rangiya (RNY) | 750 |
| iv | Lumding (LMG) | 1,274 |
| v | Tinsukia (TSK) | 860 |
| vi | New Bongaigaon Workshop (NBQS) & Engineering Workshop (EWS/BNGN) | 881 |
| vii | Dibrugarh Workshop (DBWS) | 763 |
| viii | Headquarter (HQ)/Maligaon — Accounts, Civil Engineering, Medical, Personnel, Track Machine (TMC), Bridge Units, SWS/PNO, Stores | 495 |
| Total | 6,777 |
Lumding (1,274 slots) and Katihar & Tindharia combined (1,103 slots) are the two largest single allocations, together accounting for over a third of all seats nationwide — worth flagging for candidates weighing which division to list as their top preference. The Headquarter/Maligaon slot count (495) is spread thin across seven different functional streams (Accounts, Civil Engineering, Medical, Personnel, Track Machine, Bridge Units, and Stores/PNO), so trade-wise seats within that unit will be considerably smaller than the headline number suggests — check Annexure-VIII directly for the exact per-trade split.
Trades covered across units include: Fitter, Electrician, Welder, Carpenter, Machinist, Turner, Electronics Mechanic, Computer Operator & Programming Assistant (COPA), ICT System Maintenance, Draughtsman (Civil), Mason (Building Constructor), Plumber, Sanitary Hardware Fitter, Surveyor, Mechanic Diesel, Mechanic (Refrigeration & AC), Mechanic Machine Tool Maintenance, Operator Advanced Machine Tools, Jigs & Fixtures Maker, Lineman, Structural Welder, Welder (G&E), Secretarial Assistant, Health Sanitary Inspector, and Medical Laboratory Technician.
Reservation cascading rule: If a Scheduled Tribe seat can’t be filled by an eligible ST candidate, it rolls over to SC candidates; if that too can’t be filled, it opens up to Unreserved candidates. A similar fallback logic applies to unfilled OBC/EWS seats.
4. Eligibility Criteria
Educational Qualification (for most trades)
Candidates need a pass in Class 10 (Matriculation) or its equivalent under the 10+2 system, with a minimum of 50% aggregate marks from a recognised Board, along with a National Trade Certificate (ITI) in the notified trade issued by NCVT or SCVT from a recognised institute.
For Medical Laboratory Technician posts specifically
Candidates need Class 12 (10+2) with Physics, Chemistry and Biology, scoring at least 50% aggregate marks — the ITI requirement doesn’t apply to this stream.
Age Limit (as on the closing date of application, 19 August 2026)
- Minimum: 15 years
- Maximum: 24 years
- Relaxation applicable for SC/ST, OBC (Non-Creamy Layer), PwBD, and Ex-Servicemen candidates as per standing Government of India norms.
One application per candidate: Submitting more than one application under this notification leads to outright disqualification — the system is built around a single centralised entry per person, not multiple attempts across different trades or divisions.
Important: Engineering degree and Diploma holders are typically not eligible under Act Apprentice notifications of this kind, since they fall under a separate apprenticeship category — confirm this exclusion against the official NFR PDF for the exact wording that applies here.
5. Selection Process
There’s no written exam, no interview, and no skill test in this recruitment — the entire process runs on academic performance and post-merit verification.
- Merit List Preparation — RRC/NFR calculates a combined score using the average of marks obtained in Class 10 (Matriculation) and the ITI trade certificate. This average directly decides your rank.
- Division/Unit-wise Allotment — Based on your rank and the preferences you’ve indicated, RRC/NFR advises your name to your opted Division(s)/Unit(s). Note that no single centralised merit list decides your final placement — allotment happens at the division level according to your stated choice.
- Document Verification (DV) — Conducted at the Division/Unit level, not centrally, for shortlisted candidates.
- Medical Fitness Test — Conducted as per Railway’s prescribed medical standards; candidates need to carry a medical certificate in the format specified in Annexure-III of the notification.
- Final Engagement — Offered only after both DV and the medical test are cleared successfully.
On accuracy of marks: If a candidate is later found to have declared incorrect or inflated marks anywhere in the process, their candidature is liable to be cancelled — even after provisional selection.
6. Salary & Pay Structure (Stipend)
Selected apprentices are not on a Railway salary scale — they receive a monthly stipend as prescribed under the Apprentices Act, 1961, and the Apprenticeship Rules, 1992, governed by rates set by the concerned State Governments and Railway Board instructions in force at the time.
Based on the current cycle’s reported figures, the stipend structure works out to roughly:
| Year of Training | Approximate Monthly Stipend |
|---|---|
| Year 1 | ₹9,600 (minimum) |
| Subsequent Years | Progressively higher, per prescribed rates |
No job guarantee: This is stated explicitly and firmly in the notification — completing the apprenticeship creates no obligation on the Railway’s part to offer employment, and equally, the apprentice isn’t obligated to accept employment with the Railway even if offered. Training under this scheme does not confer any right to absorption into Railway service afterward. If the training contract is terminated prematurely due to the apprentice’s own failure to meet contract terms, the candidate (or their surety) may even be required to pay back a cost-of-training amount determined by the Apprenticeship Adviser.
7. Application Fee
| Category | Fee |
|---|---|
| General / OBC | ₹100 |
| SC / ST / PwBD / EBC (family income below ₹50,000) / Women | Exempted (no fee) |
The fee, where applicable, is non-refundable once paid and must be submitted through the prescribed online payment gateway at the time of application.
8. How to Apply
- Visit the official NFR website: nfr.indianrailways.gov.in
- Locate the link for the Act Apprentice Recruitment 2026 centralised notification.
- Register using a valid email ID and mobile number to generate your login credentials.
- Log in and fill out the online application form carefully — personal, educational, and category details.
- Select your preferred Division(s)/Unit(s) and trade(s) in order of preference; remember, only one application total is allowed.
- Upload scanned copies of your photograph, signature, Class 10 mark sheet, ITI certificate, and category certificate (if applicable), following the specified format and size.
- Pay the application fee online, if applicable to your category.
- Review every entered detail carefully, then submit — no physical/postal copy of the application needs to be sent anywhere; the process is entirely online.
- Download and save a copy of your submitted application for your records.
Communication reminder: Keep your registered mobile number and email active throughout the process — RRC/NFR communicates all further updates, DV call letters, and instructions only through these channels.
9. Frequently Asked Questions
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| How many total vacancies are there? | 6,777 Act Apprentice posts across 8 Divisions/Workshops of NFR in Assam, West Bengal, and Bihar. |
| What is the last date to apply? | 19 August 2026, up to 17:30 Hrs. Applications opened on 20 July 2026 at 09:00 Hrs. |
| Which unit has the most vacancies? | Lumding Division, with 1,274 slots — the single largest allocation in this notification. |
| Is there a written exam? | No. Selection is based purely on a merit list from the average of Class 10 and ITI marks. |
| What is the age limit? | 15 to 24 years as on 19 August 2026, with relaxation for SC/ST, OBC(NCL), PwBD, and Ex-Servicemen. |
| What is the application fee? | ₹100 for General/OBC; SC/ST/PwBD/EBC (income below ₹50,000)/Women candidates are exempted. |
| Can I apply for more than one trade or division? | No — only one application per candidate is permitted; multiple applications lead to disqualification. |
| Does this apprenticeship guarantee a Railway job? | No. It is explicitly not obligatory on NFR’s part to offer employment after training, and training doesn’t confer any right to absorption into Railway service. |
| What is the stipend? | Approximately ₹9,600/month in the first year, increasing in subsequent years as per prescribed rates. |
| Where will document verification happen? | At the Division/Unit level, based on the candidate’s opted preference — not through one centralised DV process. |
10. Official Links
- Official Notification PDF: Click Here
- Official NFR Website: https://nfr.indianrailways.gov.in
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