East Coast Railway Apprentice 2026: 1599 Slots, Eligibility, Dates & Online Form

East Coast Railway Apprentice Recruitment 2026

East Coast Railway has announced a major apprenticeship opportunity for candidates looking to gain technical training in railway establishments. Under the 2026-27 Act Apprentice engagement, a total of 1,599 training slots are available across different divisions and workshops. The recruitment is being conducted under the Apprentices Act, 1961, and eligible candidates can submit their applications through the online process.

The application window is scheduled to open on 26 August 2026 and will remain available until 15 September 2026. Candidates should complete registration, document uploading and fee payment within the prescribed period. The final selection is expected to be prepared through a merit-based process, meaning there is no conventional written examination or interview for selection.

Important Dates

The online application process begins on 26 August 2026. The last date to submit the application is 15 September 2026 up to 5:00 PM. Dates for the merit list and document verification have not been specified in the supplied notification details and will be communicated through the relevant recruitment updates.

Vacancy Details

A total of 1,599 apprentice slots are available. The opportunities are distributed among the Carriage Repair Workshop at Mancheswar, Khurda Road Division, Sambalpur Division, Rayagada Division and East Coast Railway Headquarters at Bhubaneswar. The largest share is available under Khurda Road Division with 773 slots, followed by Rayagada with 292, Sambalpur with 262, Mancheswar Workshop with 250 and Headquarters with 22 slots.

The category-wise distribution provided for the total intake includes 633 UR, 251 SC, 116 ST, 435 OBC and 164 EWS slots. PwBD and Ex-Servicemen figures are also mentioned separately in the recruitment information.

Educational Qualification

Applicants generally need to have passed Class 10th under the 10+2 system with at least 50% aggregate marks from a recognized board. In addition, candidates must possess an ITI certificate issued through NCVT or SCVT in the relevant trade. The trade qualification should match the apprenticeship trade selected during registration.

For the Laboratory Technician or Pathology-related trade, the qualification requirements are different. Candidates are required to have passed Class 12th with Physics, Chemistry and Biology and meet the prescribed marks requirements. Applicants should carefully review the official notification before choosing a trade because eligibility can vary according to the specific training unit and trade.

Age Limit

The prescribed age range is 15 to 24 years as on 15 September 2026. Reserved-category candidates receive applicable relaxation according to the recruitment rules. The supplied details mention five years of relaxation for SC and ST candidates, three years for OBC candidates and ten years for PwBD candidates. Applicable provisions for Ex-Servicemen are also available according to the relevant rules.

Application Fee

General, OBC and EWS candidates are required to pay an application fee of Rs. 100. SC, ST, PwBD and female applicants are exempted from the application fee. Payment can be completed through available online payment methods such as debit card, credit card, net banking or UPI.

Selection Process

The apprenticeship engagement does not involve a written competitive examination or interview. Selection is based primarily on a merit list prepared using the marks obtained in Class 10th. Candidates should therefore ensure that the academic information entered in the application exactly matches their certificates and marksheets.

Where two candidates have the same marks, the older candidate is given preference. If the date of birth is also identical, the candidate who passed Class 10th earlier is placed higher in the merit order. Shortlisted applicants must subsequently participate in document verification and produce original certificates and other required documents.

Training Units and Trades

The available apprenticeship opportunities cover several technical and vocational trades. The supplied information mentions trades such as Fitter, Welder, Electrician, Machinist, Wireman, Carpenter, Plumber, Painter, Computer Operator and Programming Assistant and related technical disciplines. Candidates should select a trade only after checking the prescribed ITI qualification and availability in their chosen unit.

How to Apply Online

To apply, candidates should visit the official recruitment portal and locate the Act Apprentice engagement notification for 2026-27. Registration should be completed using accurate personal, educational and contact details. Applicants need to select the eligible division or workshop and appropriate trade carefully because the application choices are subject to the recruitment conditions.

Required documents generally include a recent photograph, signature, Class 10th marksheet and certificate, ITI marksheets and certificate, and applicable category, disability or Ex-Servicemen documents. After uploading the documents in the prescribed format, eligible fee-paying candidates should complete online payment. Finally, submit the application before 15 September 2026 at 5:00 PM and retain a copy of the submitted form for future document verification.

Important Advice for Applicants

Candidates should verify their age, Class 10th percentage, ITI trade, category information and uploaded documents before final submission. Since selection is merit based, accurate academic details are especially important. Applicants should also monitor the official recruitment portal for the merit list and document verification schedule after the application window closes.