RRC SECR Bilaspur Apprentice 2026: 1191 Posts Across 18 Trades for ITI Pass Candidates

Candidates waiting for a large-scale railway apprentice notification will find the RRC SECR Bilaspur apprentice 2026 trade-wise vacancy breakdown highly relevant. The Personnel Department, Divisional Railway Manager Office, Bilaspur – under South East Central Railway – has officially invited online applications for 1191 Act Apprentice posts across 18 designated trades for the year 2026-27 under the Apprentices Act 1961. Applications are accepted online at apprenticeshipindia.gov.in from 12 May 2026 to 11 June 2026. Eligibility requires passing Class 10 under the 10+2 system and an ITI certificate in the relevant trade. One detail most competitors miss: merit is calculated by averaging 10th and ITI marks with equal weightage – entering any higher qualification on the portal will cause automatic rejection of your application.

Based on official notification by Personnel Department, DRM Office, South East Central Railway, Bilaspur. Dated: 12 May 2026. Verified: May 2026.

Quick Eligibility Check

A critical rule unique to this notification: candidates must fill only 10th and ITI marks in the qualification section on the portal. Filling any other higher qualification – even if you hold a diploma or degree – will trigger automatic rejection of your application.

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Important Dates

Applying early is advisable because the portal may slow near the deadline; submit well before 11 June to avoid last-hour technical issues.

Vacancy and Category-Wise Analysis

COPA is by far the largest trade in this notification with 350 vacancies – nearly 30% of all 1191 posts – spread across 325 Division seats and 25 HQ/Construction seats. This makes COPA ITI holders the single largest beneficiary group in this recruitment. OBC candidates across all trades have a combined allocation of 317 seats, the second largest category block after UR (476), reflecting standard 27% OBC reservation norms. SC candidates hold 180 seats and ST candidates hold 86 seats. Fitter (223 vacancies) is the second largest individual trade, followed by Electrician (206) and Wireman (125) – these three trades alone account for 554 vacancies, making them the most significant trades for ITI mechanical and electrical candidates in the Bilaspur Division. PWD candidates have 45 reserved seats across selected trades; a disability certificate showing not less than 40% disability from a government-constituted Medical Board is required to claim PWD reservation. Ex-servicemen have 115 reserved seats and are placed in their actual category (UR/OBC/SC/ST) under the 10% Ex-SM reservation. Track Machine/BSP shows 17 vacancies with no category-wise split published in the notification.

Stipend During Apprenticeship

The apprenticeship training period is one year for each trade, after which training is terminated on completion. It is explicitly stated in the notification that the Railway administration is not obligated to offer employment after training, nor is the apprentice obligated to accept employment if offered.

Application Fee

Application fee details are not mentioned in the official notification. Candidates should check the apprenticeshipindia.gov.in portal at the time of application for any fee requirement.

Age Limit

Age calculation example: An OBC candidate born on 15 March 2000 will be 26 years 2 months as on 11 June 2026 – within the relaxed OBC limit of 27 years. Age relaxation is subject to submission of the latest valid caste certificate. Date of birth is verified from the 10th marksheet.

Educational Qualification

Both qualifications carry equal weightage in merit calculation. The most common mistake for this recruitment is filling a higher qualification (diploma, degree) in the portal – doing so will automatically reject your application. Only 10th and ITI details must be entered in the qualification section, regardless of any additional academic qualifications you hold.

Selection Process

Merit List Preparation

There is no written examination for this recruitment. Selection is based entirely on a merit score calculated by taking the average of the percentage of marks obtained in the 10th board examination and the ITI examination, with equal weightage given to both. The minimum qualifying marks for both 10th and ITI is 50% aggregate (as per Establishment Rule 201/2017). Candidates with higher combined averages will rank higher in the trade-wise merit list.

Document Verification

Shortlisted candidates will be called for document verification. Candidates who fail to produce original testimonials, or where any discrepancy is found between documents, will have their candidature cancelled. A medical certificate signed by a Government-authorised Gazetted Doctor not below the rank of Assistant Surgeon of a Central or State Hospital is required at the time of document verification.

Your first 7 days after applying:

1. Save your application submission confirmation from apprenticeshipindia.gov.in immediately after submitting.
2. Cross-check that your name and father’s name on your 10th marksheet, ITI marksheet, Aadhaar card, and PAN card all match exactly – mismatches lead to rejection at document verification.
3. Calculate your own merit score: add your 10th percentage and ITI percentage, then divide by 2 – this is your expected merit position within your trade and category.
4. Gather original documents: 10th certificate and marksheet, ITI certificate and marksheet, caste certificate (recent, issued by competent authority), Aadhaar, PAN, passport-size photograph, and signature scan.
5. SC/ST/OBC candidates must upload a recent caste certificate issued by a competent authority on the portal at the time of application itself.
6. If you belong to EWS or Ex-Servicemen category and the option is not available on the portal, apply under your actual category (UR/OBC/SC/ST) and physically submit the EWS/Ex-Servicemen certificate to the DRM Office, Bilaspur.
7. PWD candidates must have a disability certificate from a government-constituted Medical Board showing not less than 40% disability to claim PWD reservation benefit.

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Exam Syllabus

How to Apply for RRC SECR Bilaspur Apprentice 2026

1. Visit the official apprenticeship portal at apprenticeshipindia.gov.in.
2. Register or log in as a candidate/apprentice on the portal.
3. Search for South East Central Railway, Bilaspur Division apprentice vacancy for 2026-27.
4. Select your relevant designated trade from the 18 available trades.
5. Fill in personal details, educational qualification (10th and ITI only – do not fill any higher qualification), and communication details.
6. Upload scanned passport-size colour photograph, signature, and required educational/technical qualification documents.
7. SC/ST/OBC candidates must upload a recent caste certificate at this stage.
8. Submit the application before 11 June 2026 at 23:59 hrs. No physical copy needs to be sent to the office.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the stipend for SECR Bilaspur railway apprentice 2026?

The official notification states that stipend will be paid as per the rules of the State Government of Chhattisgarh. The exact amount is not specified in the notification. Candidates should check the current Chhattisgarh government stipend rate for Act Apprentices on the apprenticeshipindia.gov.in portal before applying.

How is the merit list calculated for SECR Bilaspur Apprentice 2026?

Merit is calculated by taking the average of the percentage of marks obtained in the 10th board examination and the ITI examination, with equal weightage given to both. For example, if your 10th percentage is 70% and your ITI percentage is 80%, your merit score is (70+80) ÷ 2 = 75%. There is no written test. Both 10th and ITI must have minimum 50% aggregate marks to qualify.

What is the last date to apply for RRC SECR Bilaspur Apprentice 2026?

The online application window closes on 11 June 2026 at 23:59 hours. Applications must be submitted on apprenticeshipindia.gov.in only. No physical copy needs to be sent to the office.

Which trade has the most vacancies in SECR Bilaspur Apprentice 2026?

COPA (Computer Operator and Programming Assistant) has the highest allocation with 350 vacancies, followed by Fitter with 223, Electrician with 206, and Wireman with 125. These four trades together account for over 800 of the 1191 total posts.

What is the age limit and relaxation for OBC, SC, and ST candidates?

The general age limit is 15 to 24 years as on 11 June 2026. OBC candidates get 3 years relaxation (up to 27 years), SC and ST candidates get 5 years relaxation (up to 29 years), and PWD and Ex-Servicemen get 10 years relaxation (up to 34 years). Age relaxation requires submission of a valid and recent caste or category certificate.

Will there be a job guarantee after completing the apprenticeship?

No. The notification explicitly states that it is not obligatory for the Railway administration to offer employment after completion of training, nor is the apprentice required to accept employment if offered. The apprenticeship is a one-year training engagement under the Apprentices Act 1961, not a permanent job.

Is ITI mandatory or can a diploma holder apply for SECR Bilaspur Apprentice?

ITI in the relevant designated trade is mandatory. Diploma holders are not eligible unless they also hold an ITI certificate in the relevant trade. Additionally, candidates must not fill any qualification higher than 10th and ITI on the portal – doing so will automatically reject the application regardless of actual qualification held.

What disability percentage is required for PWD reservation in this recruitment?

PWD candidates must have a disability certificate from a Medical Board constituted by the Central or State Government showing not less than 40% disability. This certificate must be produced at the time of document verification to avail the PWD reservation benefit.