Candidates must be 15 to 24 years of age as on 15 September 2026, with applicable relaxation of 5 years for SC/ST, 3 years for OBC and 10 years for PwBD candidates. Applicants must have passed Matriculation (10th Class) under the 10+2 system with at least 50% aggregate marks from a recognized Board and must possess an ITI certificate in the relevant trade affiliated to NCVT/SCVT. Candidates whose SSC or ITI results are awaited are not eligible. Engineering graduates and diploma holders are not eligible under this notification. Medical Laboratory Technician (Pathology) candidates must have passed 12th with Physics, Chemistry and Biology and minimum 50% marks in both 10th and 12th.

There is no written examination or viva for selection. Candidates are shortlisted purely on the basis of their Matriculation percentage, with all subjects included in the calculation. Trade-wise and unit-wise merit lists are prepared from eligible applicants. In case of equal marks, the older candidate is given preference, followed by the candidate who passed Matriculation earlier if dates of birth are also identical.

East Coast Railway has notified 1,599 Act Apprentice training slots for 2026-27 across Carriage Repair Workshop Mancheswar, Rangada Division, Khurda Road Division, Sambalpur Division and Headquarters East Coast Railway, Bhubaneswar. Vacancies are distributed across designated trades including Fitter, Welder, Electrician, Carpenter, Painter, Machinist, Black Smith, Plumber, Mason, Wireman, Electronics Mechanic, Computer Operator & Programming Assistant, Laboratory Technician (Pathology), Secretarial Assistant (Stenography) and other notified trades.

Selection will be based entirely on academic merit. The merit list for each unit will be prepared on the basis of the percentage of marks obtained in Matriculation, subject to the minimum 50% aggregate requirement. Candidates are considered according to their Unit-Department-Trade preference and academic merit. Shortlisted candidates are called for Document Verification. Final selection is subject to verification of original documents and submission of the prescribed Medical Fitness Certificate. There is no written test or viva.

Selected Act Apprentices will receive a monthly stipend at the rate prescribed under the applicable Apprenticeship Rules and directives issued by the Railway Board from time to time. The notification does not specify a fixed rupee amount of stipend. No hostel accommodation will be provided during training, and apprentices must make their own accommodation arrangements.

The application fee is ₹100. SC, ST, PwBD and Women candidates are exempted from payment of the application fee. The fee is payable online through the payment gateway integrated with the online application process.

Applications must be submitted online through the RRC/BBS website. The opening date is 26 August 2026 at 17:00 hrs and the closing date is 15 September 2026 at 17:00 hrs. Candidates can submit only one application for the same trade and may choose only one Division/Workshop. The Unit-Department-Trade preference must be selected carefully because selection is based on merit and preference. Candidates must retain their registration number and application printout and produce original documents and the prescribed Medical Fitness Certificate during Document Verification.

Candidates must upload a recent colour photograph, scanned signature, Matriculation marksheet and pass certificate, date-of-birth proof where required, consolidated ITI marksheet or provisional National Trade Certificate, NCVT/SCVT National Trade Certificate, applicable SC/ST/OBC-NCL/EWS certificate, PwBD certificate, Ex-Servicemen discharge/serving certificate where applicable and other prescribed certificates. Original documents must be produced during Document Verification.