Railway Recruitment Cell, Central Railway (RRC/CR), Mumbai has opened its yearly Act Apprentice intake under Notification No. RRC/CR/AA/2026 dated 03/11/2026. The notice offers 2,861 training slots for ITI holders in workshops, loco sheds, carriage depots and other units across the Mumbai, Bhusawal, Pune, Nagpur and Solapur clusters. On 9 November RRC added an Engineering (P-Way) unit in every cluster through an addendum. That adds 948 slots, so by our addition the intake is now 3,809. Online applications run from 03/11/2026, 11:00 hrs to 02/12/2026, 17:00 hrs, only on rrccr.com.
There is no written exam and no interview. Your rank comes from two marksheets you already hold: Class 10 and ITI. That sounds simple, and it is, but the form has three traps that cost people their place every year: the one-cluster rule, the percentage you type in yourself, and the trade you pick. This guide works through all three, then gives the seat tables, the merit formula with a worked example, the ₹9,600 stipend, the fee, the documents and the steps. Page numbers in brackets are from the 32-page English notice, which prevails over the Hindi version if they differ. For dates and links in one place, see our RRC CR Act Apprentice 2026 job page.
RRC Central Railway Apprentice 2026 at a Glance
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Notification | RRC/CR/AA/2026, dated 03/11/2026, Railway Recruitment Cell, Central Railway, Wadi Bunder, Mumbai (p.1) |
| What it is | Engagement of Act Apprentices under the Apprentices Act 1961 (training, not a job) |
| Slots in the notice | 2,861 (p.1) |
| Added by addendum | Engineering (P-Way) unit in all five clusters: 948 slots by our addition (Addendum dated 09.11.2026) |
| Total now | 3,809 (our sum; the addendum does not print a new grand total) |
| Clusters | Mumbai, Bhusawal, Pune, Nagpur, Solapur; you choose one (p.4) |
| Qualification | Class 10 with at least 50% aggregate + ITI (NCVT NTC, or NCVT/SCVT provisional certificate) in the notified trade (p.16) |
| Age | 15 completed, 24 not completed, as on 03-11-2026; SC/ST +5, OBC +3, PwBD +10 (p.15) |
| Selection | Merit on the simple average of Class 10 % and ITI %; no exam, no interview (p.1) |
| Stipend | ₹9,600 per month as per RBE No. 116/2025 dated 11/11/2025 (p.20) |
| Training period | 1 year in every trade (p.20) |
| Fee | ₹100; nil for SC/ST/PwBD/Women (p.16–17) |
| Apply | Online only, 03/11/2026 (11:00) to 02/12/2026 (17:00) (p.1, p.20) |
Update: 948 P-Way Slots Added on 9 November
An addendum signed by the Chairman/RRC on 09.11.2026, and posted on rrccr.com on 10-11-2026, says the Engineering (P-Way) Unit has been added to all Divisions/Clusters. P-Way means permanent way, the track. The new slots are in Fitter, Structural Welder, Gas Cutter, Painter (General), Carpenter/Wood Work Technician, Draughtsman (Civil), Computer Operator & Programming Assistant (COPA) and, in Bhusawal only, Mechanic Machine Tool Maintenance.
The useful line for anyone who has already applied: "Candidates who have submitted their applications on or before 09.11.2026 may edit and resubmit their applications to exercise their preference for the above-mentioned unit", in line with their trade. The main notice says no change is allowed after final submission (p.4, p.17), so this is a one-off opening. If you applied early and your trade appears in the P-Way table below, log in and decide whether to add it.
Read This First: You Compete in One Small Box, and You Type Your Own Score
Most summaries say "merit-based, no exam" and stop. The notice is more specific, and the details decide who gets in.
- There is no all-Central-Railway merit list. Para 3 says, in so many words, "no centralized merit list will be formed". Para 4.3 says the final merit list is prepared "cluster & unit wise, trade wise and community wise, equal to the number of slots" (p.1–3). A Fitter in the OBC category who chose the Pune cluster is ranked only against other OBC Fitters who chose Pune units. Your competition is that small group, not every applicant.
- You get one cluster. Para 6 and para 13.3: "Candidates have to choose only one cluster" and can list units in order of preference only inside that cluster (p.4, p.19). Two applications are not a way around this; multiple applications are all "summarily rejected" (p.4, p.19).
- A unit without your trade is a dead choice. The note on page 4 warns that if you pick a cluster or unit "where there is no training slot requirement for your ITI Trade", your application "may eventually become meaningless", because you cannot edit after final submission. Example: there is no Tailor slot outside the C&W (Coaching) unit at Wadi Bunder, Mumbai, and no Stenographer slot in the Nagpur cluster.
- You calculate your percentage, and RRC checks it. You enter your own Class 10 percentage in the form (and convert letter grades yourself). The notice says: "If any discrepancy is observed between the marks entered by the candidate and the marks calculated by RRC, then the candidature of such candidate shall be summarily rejected" (p.3). A rounding slip or a "best of five" figure can end your application.
Our view: spend more time on choosing the cluster and checking your arithmetic than on anything else in this form. Those two decisions are permanent.
Cluster-wise Seats
The notice prints seats unit by unit; it does not print cluster totals. The table below is our sum of the TOTAL column in each unit table (p.5–15), plus the addendum.
| Cluster | Original notice | P-Way addendum | Total now |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mumbai | 1,712 | 232 | 1,944 |
| Bhusawal | 500 | 212 | 712 |
| Pune | 271 | 163 | 434 |
| Nagpur | 221 | 229 | 450 |
| Solapur | 157 | 112 | 269 |
| Total | 2,861 | 948 | 3,809 |
The addendum more than doubles Nagpur and adds 60% to Pune. Mumbai still holds just over half of all slots, mostly because of two big workshops, Matunga (547) and Parel (272), and the coaching depot at Wadi Bunder (258).
Category split of the original 2,861 (our row sums)
| Cluster | UR | OBC | SC | ST | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mumbai | 881 | 459 | 249 | 123 | 1,712 |
| Bhusawal | 261 | 135 | 75 | 29 | 500 |
| Pune | 150 | 73 | 35 | 13 | 271 |
| Nagpur | 118 | 61 | 30 | 11 | 221* |
| Solapur | 87 | 41 | 19 | 10 | 157 |
*Nagpur's categories add to 220, one short of its total. The reason is in the Nagpur S&T table (p.12): the Electronics Mechanic row shows UR 2, OBC 1, SC 1 but a total of 5. There is no EWS column anywhere in the notice. PwBD and ex-servicemen seats are not extra; they sit inside these totals (p.15).
Unit-wise Seats in Each Cluster
| Cluster | Unit (slots) |
|---|---|
| Mumbai | Matunga Workshop 547; Parel Workshop 272; C&W (Coaching) Wadi Bunder 258; Sr.DEE(TRS) Kurla 188; Sr.DEE(TRS) Kalyan 118; S&T 95; Kurla Diesel Shed 60; Kalyan Diesel Shed 50; Engineering 45; S&T Workshop Byculla 42; Personnel (Stenographer) 28; TMO STMD/KYN/BB 9; Engineering P-Way 232 (addendum) |
| Bhusawal | C&W Depot 122; Electric Locomotive Workshop 118; Electric Loco Shed 80; CEW Manmad 51; S&T 47; TMW Nasik Road 47; TMO ZTMD/BSL 17; Engineering 13; Personnel (Stenographer) 5; Engineering P-Way 212 |
| Pune | Diesel Loco Shed Pune 121; Electric Loco Shed Daund 46; S&T 42; C&W Depot Pune 31; Engineering 20; TMO STMD/KK/PA 8; Personnel (Stenographer) 3; Engineering P-Way 163 |
| Nagpur | C&W Depot 54; S&T 53; Electric Loco Shed Ajni 48; MELPL Ajni 33; Engineering 25; TMO STMD/AQ/NGP 8; Engineering P-Way 229 |
| Solapur | Kurduwadi Workshop 56; C&W Depot 55; S&T 26; Engineering 11; TMO STMD/SUR 8; Personnel (Stenographer) 1; Engineering P-Way 112 |
Trade-wise Seats: Where the Numbers Are
Seats by trade, original notice only (our row sums across all units):
| Trade | Mumbai | Bhusawal | Pune | Nagpur | Solapur | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fitter | 570 | 242 | 48 | 72 | 61 | 993 |
| Electrician | 297 | 122 | 78 | 53 | 2 | 552 |
| Welder (all welder rows) | 130 | 45 | 18 | 12 | 21 | 226 |
| Mechanic Diesel | 128 | 10 | 57 | 2 | 12 | 209 |
| Carpenter | 173 | 4 | 9 | 5 | 9 | 200 |
| Machinist | 45 | 18 | 9 | 2 | 16 | 90 |
| Painter | 68 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 7 | 82 |
| Mechanic Machine Tool Maintenance | 66 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 66 |
| Electronics Mechanic | 18 | 5 | 4 | 20 | 3 | 50 |
| Stenographer (English or Hindi) | 28 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 37 |
| Other S&T trades* | Spread across all S&T units | about 200 | ||||
*ICT System Maintenance 40, Mechanic Auto Electrical & Electronics 36, Mason 28, Mechanic Communication Equipment Maintenance 26, Cable Jointer 25, Wireman 23, Mechanic-cum-Operator (ECS) 13, Mechanic Radio & TV 13. Smaller trades: Blacksmith 38, Turner 26, COPA/PASAA 26, Sheet Metal Worker 21, Tailor 18 (all at Wadi Bunder), Pipe Fitter 5, Mechanic Motor Vehicle 5, Instrument Mechanic 4, Crane Driver 3, Motor Mechanic 3, IT & Electronic System Maintenance 2, Armature Coil Winder 1.
The two biggest single blocks are Fitter at Matunga Workshop (184) and Fitter at C&W (Coaching) Wadi Bunder (182). Matunga also has 118 Carpenter slots, which is why Mumbai holds 173 of the 200 Carpenter seats.
The P-Way addendum, trade by trade
| Trade (ITI required) | Mumbai | Bhusawal | Nagpur | Pune | Solapur | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fitter (Fitter) | 46 | 34 | 44 | 46 | 30 | 200 |
| Structural Welder (Structural Welder) | 46 | 34 | 44 | 46 | 30 | 200 |
| Gas Cutter (Welder Gas & Electric) | 46 | 34 | 44 | 46 | 30 | 200 |
| Carpenter/Wood Work Technician | 23 | 17 | 22 | 23 | 15 | 100 |
| Draughtsman (Civil) | 33 | 23 | 29 | – | – | 85 |
| COPA | 15 | 40 | 24 | – | – | 79 |
| Painter (General) | 23 | 17 | 22 | 2 | 7 | 71 |
| Mechanic Machine Tool Maintenance | – | 13 | – | – | – | 13 |
| Total | 232 | 212 | 229 | 163 | 112 | 948 |
Two trades get their first real chance here. Draughtsman (Civil) had no slot at all in the original notice; now there are 85. COPA went from 26 slots to 105, with 40 of the new ones in Bhusawal. Welder (Gas & Electric) holders also gain, since the Gas Cutter slots ask for that ITI.
Discrepancies in the Seat Tables
We added every row ourselves. The unit totals all match, and the five clusters add up to 2,861. But three category subtotals do not match their rows:
- Sr.DEE(TRS) Kurla (p.5): UR is printed as 89. The rows add to 98 (Fitter 43, Turner 3, Welder 2, Electrician 46, Crane Driver 2, Motor Mechanic 2). With 98, the unit adds to its printed total of 188; with 89 it would not. It looks like a transposed digit.
- MELPL Ajni (p.11): printed OBC 8, SC 6, ST 3. The two rows add to OBC 10, SC 5, ST 2. The unit total, 33, is the same either way.
- Nagpur S&T (p.12): the Electronics Mechanic row shows 2 + 1 + 1 but a total of 5, so the unit's categories add to 52 against a total of 53.
Our view: these do not change your choice of cluster, but if you are an SC, ST or OBC candidate in MELPL Ajni or Nagpur S&T, treat the category count as uncertain. The notice also says slots are "provisional" and RRC can increase or decrease them (p.15).
Eligibility
Education
You need Class 10 (or its equivalent under the 10+2 system) with at least 50% aggregate marks from a recognised board, and a National Trade Certificate from NCVT in the notified trade, or a provisional certificate from NCVT/SCVT (p.16). Each seat table has a column, "ITI pass in trade to be eligible for consideration", that names the ITI trade accepted. A few worth knowing: Carpenter slots take Carpenter or Wood Work Technician; Tailor takes Sewing Technology or Dress Making; Programming & Systems Administration Assistant takes COPA; Blacksmith (P/Way) takes Blacksmith (Foundryman); Stenographer takes shorthand English or Hindi.
Engineering graduates and diploma holders are not eligible under this notice; they fall under a separate apprenticeship scheme (p.16). The notice also says those who are already undergoing or have completed apprenticeship training should not apply (p.1).
Age as on 03-11-2026
You must have completed 15 years and must not have completed 24 years (p.15). The notice gives the birth-date window, both dates inclusive:
| Category | Born between |
|---|---|
| UR | 03/11/2002 and 03/11/2011 |
| OBC (+3 years) | 03/11/1999 and 03/11/2011 |
| SC / ST (+5 years) | 03/11/1997 and 03/11/2011 |
PwBD candidates get 10 years on the upper limit (p.15). The notice does not say whether this adds to the SC/ST/OBC relaxation, and it gives no PwBD birth-date table. Ex-servicemen get up to an additional 10 years, to the extent of service in the Defence Forces plus 3 years, if they served at least 6 months at a stretch; this does not apply to those who already joined civil government service using ex-servicemen status (p.15).
Category certificates
SC/ST certificates must be in the Central Government format (Annexure I). OBC candidates need a caste certificate and a Non-Creamy Layer certificate issued on or after 01/04/2026, in the Central Government format (Annexure II). Upload them with the form and bring originals to Document Verification (p.16). An older OBC certificate, or a state-format one, is a common reason for losing the OBC seat.
Selection: How Merit Is Calculated
The formula is in para 4.1 (p.1): the panel is made "on the basis of simple average of marks in the matriculation and ITI".
- Class 10 %: the aggregate marks. "The marks obtained in individual subjects or a group of subjects shall not be considered."
- ITI %: the average marks in the consolidated statement of marks for all semesters of the trade, or the marks on the Provisional National Trade Certificate issued by NCVT/SCVT.
- Letter grades: take the midpoint of the range of your overall grade. If the board gives no overall grade, average the midpoints of all subject grades. The notice's own examples: an overall "A" (80–89) becomes 84.5%; subject grades A, A+, B+, A, A+ become (84.5 + 94.5 + 74.5 + 84.5 + 94.5) ÷ 5 = 86.5% (p.2–3).
Worked example (our numbers, the notice's formula)
Two Fitter applicants, both OBC, both in the Bhusawal cluster:
- Ravi: Class 10 aggregate 361 out of 500 = 72.2%. ITI Fitter average 85.0%. Merit score = (72.2 + 85.0) ÷ 2 = 78.6.
- Sneha: Class 10 board gives only subject grades; by the notice's method her overall is 86.5%. ITI Fitter average 70.8%. Merit score = (86.5 + 70.8) ÷ 2 = 78.65.
Sneha ranks above Ravi by 0.05, even though Ravi's ITI score is 14 points higher. Because both marks carry equal weight, Class 10 matters as much as ITI. If the two scores were exactly equal, the older candidate would rank higher, and if both were born the same day, the one who passed Class 10 earlier would (para 4.2, p.3).
The notice does not say how many decimal places RRC uses, or whether it rounds. Our advice: enter your percentage exactly as your marksheet arithmetic gives it, without rounding up. If your board shows a percentage on the marksheet, use that figure. If you are unsure whether to use your total of all subjects or a "best of five" figure, the notice's wording points to the aggregate of all subjects; email the help desk before you submit rather than guess.
After the merit list, RRC sends it to the divisions and units, which hold Document Verification at the units you opted for (p.1). Final engagement depends on your original documents and a medical certificate (para 4.4).
Stipend: ₹9,600 a Month
Para 18.2 (p.20): Act Apprentices "will be paid stipend as per RBE No. 116/2025 dated 11/11/2025", listed as ₹9,600 per month for a National or State Certificate Holder. That is ₹1,15,200 over the one-year training, by our arithmetic. The notice mentions no other allowance.
Two points that matter if you are moving cities: no hostel is provided, and you must arrange your own stay (p.20). No travel or daily allowance is paid for attending Document Verification (p.22). For a Fitter from Jalgaon placed at Matunga in Mumbai, ₹9,600 will not stretch far; plan for that before you list Mumbai units.
Application Fee
| Category | Fee |
|---|---|
| UR / OBC (men) | ₹100, non-refundable |
| SC / ST / PwBD / Women | No fee |
Source: para 11 (p.16–17). Pay online by debit card, credit card, net banking, UPI or wallet; any transaction charge is yours. Once you pay, no change or edit is allowed (para 11.3). If money is debited but the form will not download, use the "Verify Payment" button instead of paying again; a second payment is forfeited. Trying to reverse the payment through your bank makes the application "withdrawn" (para 22.13).
Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Notification | 03/11/2026 |
| Online application opens | 03/11/2026, 11:00 hrs (Tuesday) |
| Addendum adding Engineering (P-Way) | Dated 09.11.2026, posted 10-11-2026 |
| Online application closes | 02/12/2026, 17:00 hrs (Wednesday) |
| Age reckoned on | 03-11-2026 |
| Merit list and Document Verification | Not dated in the notice |
Note the closing time: 5 pm, not midnight. RRC says it takes no responsibility if the site is slow on the last day (p.3).
How to Apply, Step by Step
- Check your ITI trade against the tables. Make a list of the units in each cluster that have a slot for your exact trade. Drop any cluster where your trade is missing or has one or two seats in your category.
- Work out your Class 10 percentage from the aggregate, and convert grades by the midpoint method if needed. Write it down with your ITI average.
- Get your files ready: colour photo 3.5 × 3.5 cm, not older than three months, JPG/JPEG, 100 DPI, 20–70 KB, no cap or sunglasses; signature 3.5 × 3.5 cm, JPG/JPEG, 100 DPI, 20–30 KB (p.19). Scan the documents listed in the next section.
- Keep your Aadhaar number handy (12 digits, or the 28-digit enrolment ID). Candidates from Jammu & Kashmir, Meghalaya and Assam may use a voter ID, passport, driving licence or other government ID instead (p.18).
- Open the application link at rrccr.com/TradeApp/login/Index and register. Your name, father's name and date of birth must match your Class 10 certificate exactly (p.18). Use a mobile number and email you will keep; all messages come by SMS and email.
- Choose one cluster, then list units in order of preference. Include the Engineering (P-Way) unit if your trade is in its table.
- Enter your percentages carefully, upload the photo, signature and documents, and preview.
- Pay ₹100 if you are not exempt, and save the e-receipt.
- Note your Registration Number and print the application. You must bring the printout to Document Verification (p.19).
Documents
To upload (para 16, p.19–20):
- Class 10 (SSC) or equivalent marksheet
- Date of birth proof: Class 10 certificate or marksheet showing DOB, or school leaving certificate
- Consolidated ITI marksheet for all semesters, or Provisional NTC showing marks
- NCVT National Trade Certificate, or NCVT/SCVT Provisional NTC
- SC/ST/OBC certificate, if claiming reservation
- Disability certificate (Annexures III–VI format), for PwBD
- Discharge or serving certificate, for the ex-servicemen quota
To carry to Document Verification: originals of all the above, the application printout, two extra copies of the uploaded photo, original Aadhaar (or the ID you entered), and a medical certificate in the Annexure VII format, signed by a Gazetted government doctor not below Assistant Surgeon at a Central or State government hospital. Without the medical certificate, "no document verification will be conducted" (p.21). Certificates not in English or Hindi need an attested translation (p.20).
The Annexure VII standards (p.31–32) include a minimum height of 137 cm, weight of 25.4 kg and chest expansion of 3.8 cm; colour vision is not required; hearing must be good in both ears without a hearing aid; and blood pressure must not exceed 140/85. Get this certificate early; government hospital OPDs can take more than one visit.
The Honest Part: This Is Training, Not a Railway Job
The notice is blunt about this, twice. Para 19.4 says the employer is not obliged to offer you a job after training, and you are not obliged to accept one. Para 22.2 adds that "imparting training in Railway will not confer any right to the candidates for their absorption in Railway after successful completion of training", citing para 10 of Schedule V of the Apprenticeship Rules (p.21).
The notice says nothing about any reservation or preference for course-completed apprentices in later Railway recruitment. Some Railway recruitment notices for Level-1 posts have carried provisions for such candidates in the past, but we are not quoting a percentage here, because this notice does not give one. If a future recruitment notice offers something, its own terms will decide.
What you do get: a year of hands-on work in a large railway workshop or shed, a monthly stipend, and an apprenticeship certificate at the end. You also sign a contract of apprenticeship before you start. If you leave early through your own fault, you or your guarantor may have to pay a training cost fixed by the Apprenticeship Adviser (para 19.3). If you are under 18, a guardian signs the contract (para 19.5).
Who Should Apply, and Who Should Skip
Apply if you have an ITI in a trade listed in the tables, 50% or more in Class 10, and you fall within the age window; and you can live for a year on ₹9,600 a month in or near the cluster you pick. Fitters, Electricians, Welders, Diesel Mechanics and Carpenters have the most seats. Draughtsman (Civil) and COPA holders should look again now that the P-Way addendum is out.
Skip if you hold an engineering degree or diploma (this notice is not for you); you have already done an apprenticeship; your Class 10 aggregate is below 50%; or your trade has no slot in the one cluster you can actually live in.
Our view: because merit is local and split by category, a candidate with average marks can still get a seat in a cluster or unit where fewer people with the same trade apply. We cannot tell you which cluster that will be; the notice publishes no past cut-offs. What we can say is that a choice made by checking the tables beats a choice made by habit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How many seats are there in RRC CR Apprentice 2026?
The notice says 2,861. The addendum dated 09.11.2026 adds an Engineering (P-Way) unit with 948 slots by our count, making 3,809.
Q: Is there any written exam or interview?
No. Selection is on a merit list made from the simple average of your Class 10 aggregate percentage and your ITI percentage, followed by document verification and a medical certificate.
Q: Can I apply for two clusters?
No. You choose one cluster and list units within it. Multiple applications are all rejected.
Q: I already applied. Can I add the P-Way unit?
Yes, if you submitted on or before 09.11.2026. The addendum allows such candidates to edit and resubmit to give a preference for the Engineering (P-Way) unit, according to their trade.
Q: What is the stipend?
₹9,600 per month as per RBE No. 116/2025 dated 11/11/2025, for National or State Certificate holders. No hostel is provided.
Q: What is the age limit?
15 to under 24 as on 03-11-2026; UR born between 03/11/2002 and 03/11/2011. OBC get 3 years, SC/ST 5 years, PwBD 10 years of relaxation.
Q: My board gives grades, not marks. What do I enter?
Use the midpoint of your overall grade's range. If there is no overall grade, average the midpoints of all subject grades. Enter that figure; a mismatch with RRC's calculation leads to rejection.
Q: Can diploma holders apply?
No. Engineering graduates and diploma holders are excluded from this notice.
Q: Who pays the fee?
UR and OBC men pay ₹100. SC, ST, PwBD and women pay nothing.
Q: Will I get a Railway job after the apprenticeship?
Not automatically. The notice says training gives no right to absorption in the Railways, and the employer is not obliged to offer employment.
