🚀 Big news for aspiring candidates! The Western Railway (WR) has released its much-awaited Notification No. RRC/WR/04/2025 for the engagement of Act Apprentices. This is a golden opportunity for individuals seeking to kickstart their career in the Indian Railways through a comprehensive apprenticeship program. With a massive 5,349 vacancies available across various designated trades, Western Railway invites online applications from eligible candidates for the 2025-26 training year. If you've completed your 10th standard and possess an ITI certificate, this could be your gateway to a stable government career!
This engagement under the Apprentices Act, 1961, offers hands-on training and a valuable experience certificate, which is often preferred for Level-1 posts in Railways. Forget the stress of written exams; selection will be based purely on your academic merit. Ensure you mark your calendars for the crucial dates: applications open on February 21, 2026, and close on March 23, 2026. Don't miss this chance to secure your future with Sarkari Naukri!
🎯 Quick Highlights
- Organization: Western Railway (RRC WR)
- Post Name: Act Apprentice
- Total Vacancies: 5,349 Posts
- Training Period: 1 Year
- Salary: Stipend as per Railway Board rules
- Last Date: 23 March 2026 (Apply ASAP! 📅)
- Application Mode: Online
- Selection Process: Merit-based (10th + ITI Marks)
- Official Website: www.rrc-wr.com
📋 Vacancy Details
Western Railway is inviting applications for a total of 5,349 Act Apprentice slots across various trades. These vacancies are distributed across numerous Divisions and Workshops under the jurisdiction of Western Railway. Below is a summary of the total posts available for each trade. For detailed division-wise and category-wise (UR, SC, ST, OBC, EWS, PwBD, Ex-Servicemen) breakup, candidates are strongly advised to refer to the official notification PDF (Annexure 'A' and 'A-1').
| Sr. No. |
Trade Name |
Total Posts |
Required Qualification (ITI Trade) |
| 1 | Fitter | 1614 | Fitter |
| 2 | Electrician | 1217 | Electrician |
| 3 | Welder | 532 | Welder |
| 4 | PASSA (Programming & Systems Administration Assistant) | 280 | Computer Operator and Programming Assistant |
| 5 | Electronic Mechanic | 236 | Electronics Mechanic |
| 6 | Mechanic (Diesel) | 207 | Diesel Mechanic |
| 7 | Painter (General) | 190 | Painter (General) |
| 8 | Carpenter | 184 | Carpenter |
| 9 | Refrigerator (AC-Mechanic) | 184 | Mechanic Refrigeration & AC |
| 10 | Pipe Fitter | 176 | Plumber / Pipe Fitter |
| 11 | Plumber | 136 | Plumber |
| 12 | Wireman | 126 | Wireman / Electrician |
| 13 | Draftsman (Civil) | 87 | Draftsman (Civil) |
| 14 | Turner | 75 | Turner |
| 15 | Stenographer | 40 | Stenographer (English) |
| 16 | Machinist (Grinder) | 25 | Turner / Machinist / Machinist (Grinder) |
| 17 | Forger & Heat Treater | 16 | Forger and Heat Treater |
| 18 | Machinist | 14 | Machinist |
| 19 | Mechanic Motor Vehicle | 10 | Mechanic (Motor Vehicle) |
| Grand Total | 5349 | |
✅ Eligibility Criteria
To be considered for the Western Railway Act Apprentice program, candidates must fulfill the following conditions as on the closing date of application (23/03/2026):
Age Limit:
- Minimum Age: Applicants must have completed 15 years of age.
- Maximum Age: Applicants must NOT have attained 24 years of age.
- Age Calculation Date: Age will be calculated as on 23/03/2026.
Age Relaxation (Upper Age Limit):
- SC/ST Candidates: Up to 5 years relaxation.
- OBC Candidates: Up to 3 years relaxation.
- Persons with Disabilities (PwBD): Up to 10 years relaxation.
- Ex-Servicemen: Additional 10 years relaxation, plus the length of military service rendered, and an additional 3 years, provided they completed a minimum of 6 months continuous service in Defence Forces.
Refer to the official notification (Page 2) for detailed Date of Birth ranges for each category.
Educational Qualification:
- Candidates must have successfully passed Matriculation (10th class) under the 10+2 examination system with a minimum of 50% aggregate marks from a recognized Board.
- Additionally, applicants must possess an ITI certificate in the relevant trade (as listed in the vacancy table above), affiliated to the National Council for Vocational Training (NCVT).
- Important Note: All prescribed educational qualifications (10th pass and ITI certificate) must be passed as of the notification issue date, i.e., 18/02/2026. Applicants whose results are awaited or who have failed in ITI are not eligible.
- Engineering Graduates and Diploma Holders are not eligible for this specific notification.
💰 Salary & Benefits
Selected candidates for the Western Railway Act Apprentice program will undergo training for a period of one year. During this training tenure, apprentices will be paid a stipend. The stipend rate will be as per the extant rules and directives issued by the Railway Board from time to time. The notification specifies that for direct recruitment to Level-1 posts, candidates with completed apprenticeship in Railway establishments and an NAC are given preference and those posts have a pay scale of ₹18,000 – ₹56,900, highlighting the long-term career benefits of this apprenticeship. Free medical treatment is provided for injuries during training.
📝 Selection Process
The selection process for RRC WR Act Apprentice 2026 is entirely merit-based and designed to be transparent:
- Merit List Preparation: A merit list will be prepared by calculating the average of the percentage of marks obtained in both:
- Matriculation (10th Class) with a minimum of 50% aggregate marks.
- ITI Examination in the relevant trade.
- Equal Weightage: Equal weightage (50% each) will be given to marks in both 10th standard and ITI examination.
- No Written Test/Viva: There will be no written examination or viva-voce for this recruitment.
- Tie-Breaking Criteria: In case two or more applicants secure the same marks:
- Preference will be given to the older candidate.
- If dates of birth are also identical, the candidate who passed the Matriculation examination earlier will be given priority.
- Document Verification (DV): Shortlisted candidates will be called for document verification at their respective divisions and workshops. Original documents, including a Medical Fitness Certificate, must be produced.
- Medical Fitness: Final selection is subject to submission of a Medical Fitness Certificate as prescribed in Annexure-G.
💳 Application Fee
The application fee structure for RRC WR Apprentice 2026 is as follows:
| Category |
Application Fee |
| General / OBC / EWS (Male Candidates) |
₹100/- (Non-refundable) |
| SC / ST / Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD) / Women Candidates |
₹0/- (Exempted) |
Payment Mode: Fees must be paid online only through Debit Card, Credit Card, UPI, or Internet Banking via the integrated payment gateway during the online application process. Transaction charges, if any, will be borne by the applicant.
📅 Important Dates
Mark these important dates for the Western Railway Apprentice Recruitment 2026:
| Event |
Date & Time |
| Official Notification Release Date |
18 February 2026 |
| Online Application Start Date |
21 February 2026 (11:00 hrs.) |
| Online Application Last Date |
23 March 2026 (17:00 hrs.) |
| Last Date for Fee Payment |
23 March 2026 |
| Merit List / DV Dates |
To be notified soon |
🔗 How to Apply Online
Follow these simple step-by-step instructions to successfully apply for the RRC Western Railway Act Apprentice Recruitment 2026:
- Visit the Official Website: Go to the Railway Recruitment Cell, Western Railway's official website: https://www.rrc-wr.com.
- Find the Notification: Look for the notification regarding "Engagement of Act Apprentices 2025-26 (Notification No. RRC/WR/04/2025)" under the Latest News/Notifications section.
- Read Instructions: Thoroughly read the detailed instructions and eligibility criteria in the official PDF notification to ensure you meet all requirements.
- Click on Apply Online: Locate and click on the "Click here to Apply Online" link for this recruitment.
- New Registration: If you are a new user, register by providing your basic details, a valid email ID, and mobile number. Ensure your email ID remains active.
- Fill Application Form: Log in with your registration credentials and accurately fill out the online application form with all personal details, educational qualifications (10th marks, ITI marks/CGPA conversion), Aadhaar number, and preferred Division/Workshop/Trade.
- Upload Documents: Upload scanned copies of your recent passport-sized color photograph (20-70 KB, JPG/JPEG), signature (20-30 KB, JPG/JPEG), 10th marksheet, consolidated ITI marksheet, NCVT certificate, Caste Certificate (if applicable), Disability Certificate (if applicable), and EWS/Ex-Servicemen certificates. Ensure all documents are legible.
- Pay Application Fee: If applicable, proceed to pay the non-refundable application fee of ₹100/- through the online payment gateway.
- Review & Submit: Carefully review all entered information before final submission. No changes will be allowed after payment.
- Print Application: After successful submission and payment, download and print a copy of your filled application form for future reference.
💡 Important Tips
- Apply Early: Don't wait until the last day to apply to avoid potential website traffic issues.
- Keep Documents Ready: Gather all necessary documents (marksheets, certificates, Aadhaar, photograph, signature) in digital format before starting the application.
- Accurate Information: Double-check all details entered, especially your name, father's name, DOB, and marks, as discrepancies can lead to rejection during document verification.
- Active Contact Details: Ensure the email ID and mobile number provided remain active throughout the recruitment process for important communications.
- Choose Wisely: You can only select one Division/Workshop/Trade. Refer to the detailed vacancy table in the official notification to make an informed choice.
- Beware of Scams: RRC Western Railway does not appoint any agents for recruitment. Refer only to the official website for information and beware of fake websites/job racketeers.
