South Central Railway Apprentice Recruitment 2026 – 2801 Vacancies, Eligibility & How to Apply

The South Central Railway Apprentice Recruitment 2026 is one of the largest Railway apprenticeship drives this year, with RRC/SCR releasing a notification for 2,801 training slots across 13 ITI trades under The Apprentices Act 1961. The notification bearing No. SCR/P-HQ/RRC/111/Act.App/2025-26 was issued on 11 March 2026 from Rail Nilayam, Secunderabad. Online applications opened on 12 March 2026 and the last date to apply is 11 April 2026 at 11:59 PM. This is a merit-based, no-written-exam engagement with a stipend of prescribed rates during training — making it a highly sought-after opportunity for ITI graduates across Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and parts of Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamilnadu, and Madhya Pradesh falling under the SCR jurisdiction.

What makes this recruitment especially significant is its scale — 2,801 slots spread across 66 Railway Establishments covering Civil, Electrical, Mechanical, Personnel, and S&T departments. The Electrician trade alone accounts for 1,258 slots, nearly 45% of all vacancies, making it the dominant opportunity for ITI Electrician graduates. Candidates with Fitter (539 slots), COPA (181 slots), and Welder (202 slots) trade certificates also have strong prospects. Given the large volume of vacancies and the multi-state eligibility, competition will be intense — but well-prepared candidates who apply early and understand the RDAT registration requirement will have a clear edge.

Recruitment Overview

South Central Railway, headquartered at Secunderabad, is one of India’s most operationally critical railway zones, managing an extensive network across Telangana and Andhra Pradesh with reach into Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamilnadu, and Madhya Pradesh. RRC/SCR functions as the nodal authority for this notification, managing online applications, merit list preparation, and allotment to training units. The sheer scale of 2,801 slots across 66 establishments makes this one of the most impactful Railway apprenticeship drives in the country for 2025-26, offering ITI graduates genuine government-linked training credentials.

Important Dates

The application window for this recruitment spans 30 days — from 12 March to 11 April 2026. Unlike many Railway notifications that close at 5:00 PM, this notification extends to 11:59 PM on 11 April 2026, giving candidates a slightly longer window on the final day. However, the wise approach is to complete your application within the first two weeks. RDAT registration on apprenticeshipindia.gov.in — a mandatory step unique to this notification — can take a day or more to complete due to OTP activation via email. Factoring in this extra step, candidates who wait until 8–10 April risk missing the deadline entirely due to registration delays.

Application Fee

The application fee is ₹100 for General/OBC/EWS male candidates, payable online through the integrated payment gateway after completing all form entries and document uploads. The notification specifies that SC/ST candidates, all female and transgender candidates regardless of community, and PwBD candidates are fully exempted. One critical mistake to avoid: do not attempt to pay before completing all form sections — the gateway is triggered only after the entire form is filled correctly. Any transaction charges levied by your bank or UPI platform are borne by the candidate and are not reimbursed. The fee is explicitly non-refundable under all circumstances.

Age Limit

A key difference in this notification versus many others is that age eligibility is calculated as on the closing date — 11 April 2026, not the notification date. Candidates must be at least 15 years old and must not have completed 24 years as on 11 April 2026. For a UR candidate, this means birth between 11 April 2002 and 11 April 2011. As a simple example: a UR candidate born on 12 April 2002 has already turned 24 before the closing date and is therefore ineligible — even though they were under 24 when the notification was released. Always calculate your age with reference to the closing date, not the notification release date.

Eligibility Criteria

This recruitment has a two-part mandatory educational requirement. First, the candidate must have passed Class 10 (SSC or equivalent under the 10+2 system) with a minimum of 50% aggregate marks from a recognized board. Second, they must hold an ITI certificate from an institute recognized by NCVT or SCVT in the specific notified trade they are applying for. Both qualifications must be completed — not “appearing” — as of the date of submitting the online application. A commonly overlooked rule: the 50% in Class 10 is calculated on the aggregate of all subjects, not on a selective group. Engineering degree and diploma holders are explicitly excluded and must apply under a separate apprenticeship scheme. There is also a unique geographic eligibility requirement: candidates must belong to the states and districts falling within SCR’s jurisdiction — residency proof is mandatory at registration stage.

State & District Eligibility

This is a unique eligibility condition not present in most Railway apprenticeship notifications — candidates must reside in districts under SCR’s jurisdiction. The eligible states and districts are as follows:

Vacancy Details – Trade & Category Wise

The 2,801 slots are distributed across 13 trades with community-wise reservation following standard Government of India norms — SC 15%, ST 7.5%, OBC 27%, EWS 10%, and UR 40.65%. The Electrician trade dominates with 1,258 slots (nearly 45% of all vacancies), reflecting SCR’s vast electrical infrastructure across traction, loco sheds, EMU, and general services. Fitter follows with 539 slots (19%), making these two trades together account for nearly two-thirds of all opportunities. Candidates with these ITI trade certificates should note that while absolute vacancy numbers are high, competition will be proportionally intense given the large ITI graduate pool in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. Departmentally, the Electrical department absorbs 1,882 slots — the highest — followed by Mechanical at 693. PwBD reservation stands at 4% (approximately 112 seats) and Ex-Servicemen at 3% (approximately 85 seats), both adjusted within respective community categories rather than as additional slots.

Selection Process

There is no written examination or viva-voce for this recruitment. Selection is entirely merit-based as per Railway Board guidelines (RBE 120/2015), making academic performance the sole criterion. The process flows through three distinct stages, each of which must be navigated carefully to avoid disqualification.

Stage 1: Merit List Preparation

The merit score is a simple average: (10th Class % + ITI Marks %) ÷ 2, with equal weightage given to both. The 10th percentage must be a minimum of 50% aggregate across all subjects. For ITI marks, the consolidated statement covering all semesters is used. In case of tied scores, the older candidate is preferred; if date of birth is also identical, the candidate who passed matriculation earlier gets priority. Merit lists are prepared trade-wise for each railway establishment based on candidate preferences — so the competition you face depends on which establishment you choose, not a single pooled list.

Preparation Tip: Before applying, calculate your exact merit score. If you have two different ITI trade certificates, the notification explicitly allows you to submit a separate application for each trade — this doubles your chances.

Stage 2: Document Verification (DV)

Shortlisted candidates are called to their opted Railway Establishment for document verification. Original copies of all uploaded documents must be produced — no exceptions. A medical fitness certificate in the prescribed format (Annexure-F), signed by a Government-authorized Gazetted Doctor not below the rank of Assistant Surgeon from a Central/State Hospital, must be submitted at DV. Without this certificate, the candidate will not be considered for training and the candidature will be cancelled. Additionally, OBC candidates must bring a fresh self-declaration (Annexure-D) regarding Non-Creamy Layer status at the time of DV.

Preparation Tip: Government hospital queues for medical certificate can be long. Get your medical fitness examination done within the first week of applying — don’t wait for the DV call letter.

Stage 3: Contract Execution & Training Commencement

After successful DV, selected candidates sign a Contract of Apprenticeship under the Apprentices Act 1961. For minor candidates, a parent or guardian executes the contract. Training is conducted as per the standards and syllabus prescribed by the Central Apprenticeship Council. The notification explicitly states that completion of training creates no right to regular Railway employment — the obligation of SCR is limited to providing training only. Candidates who abscond or remain absent willfully are liable to refund the entire cost of training and any stipend received.

Preparation Tip: Use the one-year training period to build technical depth and simultaneously prepare for Railway Group D, Technician-III, or Junior Engineer exams — apprenticeship credentials and Railway workshop experience provide significant advantage in these exams.

With 2,801 slots and a purely merit-based process, your Class 10 and ITI marks are the only levers you can influence at this stage. Ensure your certificates are accurate, all semesters are accounted for in your ITI consolidated marks, and the establishment preferences you submit reflect your genuine geographic availability — because once submitted, no changes are permitted.

Exam Syllabus & Pattern

Stipend & Pay Details

Apprentices under this notification are paid a monthly stipend (not salary) as per the prescribed rates under extant Railway Board instructions. The notification does not specify an exact stipend figure but states it will be as per “prescribed rates as per extant instructions.” Based on standard Railway Board apprenticeship stipend norms applicable for National/State Certificate holders in the current period, the stipend is typically in the range of ₹7,700–₹9,600 per month, but the exact current figure applicable to this notification is not mentioned in the official document. Candidates are advised to confirm the latest stipend rate from the official notification.

No hostel accommodation is provided by SCR for apprentices. No allowances such as HRA, DA, or TA are applicable, as this is a training engagement and not a regular employment. The real value of this apprenticeship lies in the Government-recognized training certificate on completion — a credential that carries weight in all future Railway and government technical recruitment processes.

How to Apply Online – Step by Step

1. Complete RDAT Registration first: Before touching the SCR application, visit apprenticeshipindia.gov.in and register as a candidate. Click Register → Candidate Registration → fill personal details → submit to get a Registration Number → activate via the email link sent by RDAT → log in → complete your profile to 100%. This RDAT Registration Number is mandatory for the SCR application and cannot be substituted. This step can take 1–2 days due to email activation — do it before anything else.
2. Visit the SCR portal: Navigate to scr.indianrailways.gov.in → About Us → RRC-SCR. Look for the “ONLINE ACT APPRENTICE APPLICATION” link on the RRC/SC webpage.
3. Read instructions and register: Read the instructions page thoroughly. Click the registration link. Select your state and district, upload address proof, enter your mobile number and email ID, and create a password. OTPs will be sent to both — enter them to activate your registration.
4. Fill personal and educational details: Enter your community, DOB, candidate name, and father’s name exactly as they appear on your Class 10 certificate. Enter educational qualifications including 10th marks percentage, ITI trade, and ITI marks. Also enter your RDAT Registration Number here.
5. Select Railway Establishment preferences: Choose your priority order for SCR Railway Establishments where you wish to train. Select only establishments that have vacancies for your trade. Submit the maximum number of options from the 66 listed units — the more options you give, the higher your chances of allotment. Options once submitted are final and cannot be changed.
6. Upload photograph, signature, and documents: Upload your colour photograph (max 1 MB), signature (max 1 MB), and ITI educational certificates in PDF format (max 2 MB). Ensure documents are clearly legible. Blurry or old photographs are grounds for rejection at any stage.
7. Preview, submit, and pay: Click Preview before final submission to verify every detail entered. Once satisfied, click Submit — the application cannot be modified after this. If fee is applicable, you will be redirected to the payment gateway. Pay using Net Banking, Debit/Credit Card, or SBI UPI. Download and print your application form and e-receipt immediately after successful payment.

3 Most Common Application Mistakes to Avoid:

• Skipping RDAT registration and attempting to fill the SCR form — the portal will reject or flag applications without a valid RDAT Registration Number
• Selecting Railway establishments where your trade has no vacancies — always cross-check the trade-department vacancy table before adding a unit to your preference list
• Uploading a black & white photograph, a photograph with a cap or sunglasses, or a scanned copy of an existing photo — all are listed as explicit grounds for rejection in the notification

Important Instructions for Candidates

Expert Tips to Crack This Recruitment

Complete RDAT Registration Before Anything Else

The single most unique and potentially trip-inducing step in this notification is the mandatory RDAT (Regional Directorate of Apprenticeship Training) registration on apprenticeshipindia.gov.in. Many candidates will discover this requirement only mid-application, find that the email activation takes time, and miss the deadline. Get this done on Day 1. Visit the NAPS portal, register as a candidate, activate via email, complete your profile to 100%, and note your Registration Number. Keep it readily accessible — you will need it while filling the SCR application form.

Apply in the First Week — Not the Last

The application window closes on 11 April 2026. However, with 2,801 slots and a large eligible candidate pool across 6 states, the SCR portal will experience significant load in the final days. The notification itself cautions candidates about website congestion. Targeting 20–25 March 2026 for application submission gives you two full weeks to resolve RDAT issues, document upload errors, or payment problems. Early applicants also have the advantage of having their application processing begin sooner, reducing the risk of last-minute system errors wiping out their submission.

Read the Full Notification Before Filling the Form

This notification has several fine-print conditions that are easy to overlook: the district eligibility requirement with proof of residence, the OBC-NCL certificate validity period (within 3 years of the notification date), the explicit exclusion of diploma/engineering graduates, and the fact that children of Ex-Servicemen do not get age relaxation. Each of these is a potential rejection trap for candidates who skim the headline and jump to the application. Investing 40 minutes to read the complete notification from start to finish will prevent costly errors.

Maximize Your Railway Establishment Preferences

One of the most underappreciated strategic choices in this application is the establishment preference selection. Candidates are explicitly advised to submit the maximum number of options from among the 66 listed units. Candidates who select only 1–2 units significantly reduce their chances of allotment, since merit lists are prepared establishment-wise. If your merit score is not high enough for your first-choice unit, you will still be considered for subsequent choices — but only if you have listed them. Identify all establishments relevant to your trade from the department-wise vacancy table and add every eligible one to your preference list.

Avoid the Most Common Rejection Reasons

The notification lists specific grounds for rejection that go beyond general eligibility failures. Uploading a black & white photo, a photo with a cap or sunglasses, or writing your signature in capital letters are explicitly cited as rejection causes. Entering marks incorrectly — even a small transposition in your 10th or ITI percentage — can reduce your merit rank or trigger rejection at DV. Uploading an OBC-NCL certificate issued more than 3 years ago is another common trap. Review every field and every uploaded document against the notification requirements before clicking Submit.

Stay Updated and Prepare for What Comes After

Once the application window closes, the next communication from RRC/SCR will be the DV call letter sent to your registered email and mobile number. Keep both active without interruption until the entire engagement process concludes. Simultaneously, begin preparing for your next opportunity — Railway Group D, Technician-III, and ALP exams are a natural career path for apprenticeship candidates, and the technical grounding from one year of Railway workshop training provides a measurable advantage. Start your preparation parallel to your apprenticeship, not after it.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1. How many total vacancies are available in South Central Railway Apprentice Recruitment 2026?

There are 2,801 training slots available across 13 ITI trades. Electrician has the highest share with 1,258 slots, followed by Fitter with 539 slots. These numbers are provisional and may increase or decrease at the time of final selection based on administrative requirements.

Q2. Which states and districts are eligible to apply?

Candidates must reside in districts under SCR’s jurisdiction: all districts of Telangana; all districts of Andhra Pradesh except Manyam, Srikakulam, and Vijayanagaram; specific districts of Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamilnadu (Vellore), and Madhya Pradesh (Burhanpur and Khandwa). Proof of residence must be uploaded at registration.

Q3. What is the minimum educational qualification required?

Candidates must have passed Class 10 with a minimum 50% aggregate marks from a recognized board, plus an ITI certificate from an NCVT/SCVT-recognized institute in the relevant notified trade. Engineering graduates and diploma holders are not eligible for this notification.

Q4. What is the age limit for General/UR category?

UR and EWS candidates must have been born between 11 April 2002 and 11 April 2011 (both dates inclusive). Age is calculated as on the closing date — 11 April 2026. OBC-NCL candidates get 3 years relaxation; SC/ST get 5 years; PwBD get 10 years additional relaxation.

Q5. What is the application fee?

The fee is ₹100 (non-refundable) for General/OBC/EWS male candidates. SC/ST candidates, all female and transgender candidates, and PwBD candidates are fully exempted from the fee. Payment is made online through Net Banking, Debit/Credit Card, or SBI UPI.

Q6. What is RDAT registration and is it mandatory?

RDAT (Regional Directorate of Apprenticeship Training) registration on apprenticeshipindia.gov.in under the NAPS portal is mandatory for this recruitment. You must register, activate your account via email, and obtain a Registration Number before submitting the SCR application. This step is unique to SCR’s 2025-26 notification and must be completed in advance.

Q7. Is there a written exam for this apprenticeship?

No. The notification explicitly states there will be no written test or viva-voce. Selection is based entirely on a merit list calculated as the simple average of Class 10 percentage and ITI marks percentage, with equal weightage to both.

Q8. What is the stipend amount for selected apprentices?

The stipend will be paid as per prescribed rates under extant Railway Board instructions. The exact amount is not specified in this notification. Not mentioned in official notification beyond “prescribed rates.” Candidates are advised to check the official notice for updates on the current stipend rate.

Q9. Can a candidate apply for more than one ITI trade?

Yes. If a candidate holds two different ITI trade qualifications, they are permitted to submit a separate application for each trade. This is explicitly mentioned in the notification (Para 9.15) and effectively doubles the candidate’s chances of selection.

Q10. What documents are required at the time of document verification?

Originals of all uploaded documents are mandatory: Class 10 marksheet, DOB proof, ITI consolidated marksheet and NTC, RDAT registration form, caste certificates (SC/ST/OBC with NCL self-declaration), EWS certificate, disability certificate (PwBD), discharge/serving certificate (Ex-Servicemen), and a medical fitness certificate signed by a Gazetted Government Doctor not below the rank of Assistant Surgeon. Candidates without the medical certificate will not be considered for training.

Q11. Does completing the apprenticeship guarantee a Railway job?

No. The notification states clearly that the Railways’ obligation under the Apprentices Act 1961 is limited to providing training only. Candidates have no prescriptive right to regular absorption or employment in Railway service upon completion. However, the certificate is a valuable credential for future Railway and government competitive examinations.

Q12. What happens if I leave the apprenticeship training midway?

Candidates who willfully abscond or remain absent from training are liable to refund the entire cost of training plus any stipend received, as determined by the Central Apprenticeship Advisor. Withdrawal is only permitted for reasons genuinely beyond the candidate’s control, subject to Railway Administration’s discretion.