SECR Raipur Apprentice Recruitment 2026: 1644 Posts Across 18 Trades — Complete Guide

Candidates waiting for a Railway apprentice opening will find this one worth acting on fast. South East Central Railway (SECR) has released Notification No. E/PB/R/Rectt/Act Appr./01/2026-27 for SECR Raipur Apprentice 2026 trade wise vacancy ITI eligibility covering 1644 total posts across two establishments — the DRM Office Raipur Division (1363 posts) and Wagon Repair Shop Raipur (281 posts). Applications are open from 05 May 2026 to 04 June 2026 exclusively through apprenticeshipindia.gov.in. The post of Fitter alone accounts for 516 seats across both units, making it the single largest trade. Importantly, this is a training engagement — not a permanent job — but it creates a strong pathway for Railway employment and the stipend is paid throughout the 1-year training period.

Based on official Notification No. E/PB/R/Rectt/Act Appr./01/2026-27 dated 05.05.2026 by SECR, Raipur. Verified: May 2026.

Quick Eligibility Check

A critical point specific to this Railway apprentice recruitment: unlike most government jobs where final year students can apply, here both qualifications must already be completed and results declared on the date of notification. This is a firm cutoff — no awaited results are accepted.

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Important Dates

Apply early — apprenticeshipindia.gov.in portals typically face heavy traffic in the final 3 days before closing. A failed or incomplete submission near the deadline cannot be corrected.

Vacancy and Trade-Wise Analysis

The notification covers two separate establishments. Both have independent vacancy counts and must be applied for separately if a candidate wishes to be considered for both.

DRM Office, Raipur Division (Estt. No. E05202200048) — 1363 Posts

Wagon Repair Shop, Raipur (Estt. No. E11152200001) — 281 Posts

Fitter is the dominant trade across both establishments with a combined 516 posts (406 in DRM + 110 in Wagon Shop), followed by Welder at 372 (262 + 110) and Electrician at 355 (337 + 18). These three trades alone account for over 75% of all vacancies, making them the most competitive but also the most accessible for ITI graduates in these streams. The OBC category holds the largest share at 454 posts in the DRM division alone, followed by UR at 543. ST candidates will find the Fitter and Electrician trades offering the highest ST-category seats at 30 and 25 respectively within the DRM division. For candidates in less common trades like Mason, Hammerman, Blacksmith, or Pipe Line Fitter, competition will be significantly lower — each has just 1–2 total posts — but any candidate must match their exact ITI trade to the trade listed. The Wagon Repair Shop offers a separate and important opportunity: Fitter and Welder each have 110 posts there, and candidates should apply to both establishments independently if they qualify for trades offered in both.

Stipend During Training

As a general reference, Railway apprentice stipends under the Apprentices Act are typically structured by the National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS) and Railway Board orders. The training period is exactly 1 year per trade, after which the apprenticeship is terminated. There is no guarantee of permanent employment after completion — this is explicitly stated in the notification. However, completing Railway apprenticeship significantly strengthens a candidate’s profile for future RRB/RRC Group D and other Railway recruitment processes.

Application Fee

No application fee is mentioned in this notification. Apprenticeship recruitment under the Apprentices Act-1961 through apprenticeshipindia.gov.in does not typically carry an application fee. Candidates should verify this on the portal at the time of applying.

Age Limit

Age is calculated as on 05 May 2026 — the date of notification issue. Example: A General category candidate born on 05 May 2002 turns exactly 24 on the reference date and is eligible. A candidate born on 04 May 2002 would be just over 24 years and is not eligible. Age relaxation for reserved categories is applicable only to posts reserved for that category and requires submission of a recent caste certificate.

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Eligibility Criteria

The most common eligibility mistake for Railway apprentice posts is applying with an ITI trade that does not exactly match the trade listed in the notification. For example, a candidate with an ITI in “Electrical” may not qualify for the “Electrician” trade if the institution nomenclature differs — the trade name on the ITI certificate must match the trade name in the notification. There is no mention of equivalent qualifications being accepted; the 50% mark threshold in Class 10 is a hard requirement and below-50% candidates are ineligible regardless of ITI performance.

Selection Process

Merit List Preparation

There is no written examination for this recruitment. Selection is entirely merit-based, calculated as the simple average of the percentage marks in Class 10 (Matriculation) and ITI, with equal weightage to both as per Railway Establishment Rule 201/2017. A candidate with 70% in Class 10 and 80% in ITI would have a merit score of 75%. This formula makes ITI marks equally important as Class 10 — candidates with strong ITI performance can compensate for a relatively lower Class 10 score.

Document Verification

Shortlisted candidates will be called for document verification. All original certificates must be produced. Candidates from SC/ST categories must carry caste certificates in Central Government format (Annexure-B). OBC candidates must produce both caste certificate and Non-Creamy Layer certificate in Central Government format (Annexure-C); the OBC certificate must not be older than one year from 04 June 2026. EWS candidates must produce the Income and Assets Certificate (Annexure-E). PwBD candidates need a disability certificate indicating minimum 40% disability from a Medical Board constituted by Central or State Government.

Medical Examination

Selected candidates may be advised to bring a medical certificate at document verification in the prescribed format under the Apprenticeship Act-1961 and Apprenticeship Rules-1992. The medical certificate must be signed by a Government Authorised Doctor (GAZ) not below the rank of Assistant Surgeon at a Central or State Hospital.

Your first 7 days after applying:

1. Register on apprenticeshipindia.gov.in using a valid email and mobile number — your login credentials will be needed throughout the process.
2. Verify your Aadhaar on the portal before submitting the application — SC/ST/OBC candidates must also upload their caste certificate at the time of applying.
3. Check that your ITI trade name exactly matches the trade listed in this notification before selecting a trade on the portal.
4. If applying for both DRM Raipur Division and Wagon Repair Shop, note both have separate Establishment Numbers (E05202200048 and E11152200001) — submit separate applications for each.
5. Calculate your merit score: add your Class 10 aggregate percentage and ITI percentage, then divide by 2. This is your expected merit score and gives you a realistic idea of your competitiveness before the result.

Exam Syllabus

How to Apply

1. Visit apprenticeshipindia.gov.in and register as a candidate if not already registered.
2. Log in using your credentials and search for SECR Raipur Division or Wagon Repair Shop Raipur under the establishment search.
3. Select the trade you are applying for — ensure it matches your ITI certificate exactly.
4. Fill in all required personal, educational, and technical qualification details accurately.
5. Upload a recent passport-size colour photograph and scanned signature along with educational certificates and ITI marksheet.
6. SC/ST/OBC candidates must upload a recent caste certificate. OBC candidates must also upload a Non-Creamy Layer certificate. PwBD and EWS candidates must upload their respective certificates.
7. Submit the application before 04 June 2026 at 23:59 hrs. No physical copy needs to be sent to the Raipur Division or Wagon Repair Shop office.
8. Save and print the application acknowledgement for future reference.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the stipend for SECR Raipur Railway apprentice 2026?

The notification states stipend will be paid as per Railway Board rules during the 1-year training period, but does not specify the exact amount. Stipend for ITI-qualified Railway apprentices under NAPS and Railway Board guidelines typically ranges from ₹7,700 to ₹8,050 per month depending on the year of training, but candidates should verify the current applicable rate from the Railway Board’s latest circular before applying.

Is Railway apprenticeship a permanent government job?

No. Apprenticeship under the Apprentices Act-1961 is a training engagement, not a permanent job. The notification explicitly states that training is terminated after completion of the 1-year apprenticeship, and neither the Railway nor the apprentice is obligated to continue employment afterward. However, Railway apprentice experience is a valued credential for future RRB/RRC Group D and other Railway direct recruitment processes.

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

Fitter has the highest combined vacancy count at 516 posts (406 in DRM Division + 110 in Wagon Repair Shop), followed by Welder at 372 posts and Electrician at 355 posts. These three trades together account for over 75% of all 1644 vacancies.

How is the merit list calculated for Railway apprentice selection?

Merit is calculated as the simple average of Class 10 percentage and ITI percentage, with equal weightage to both. For example, if a candidate scores 72% in Class 10 and 84% in ITI, their merit score is (72 + 84) ÷ 2 = 78%. Class 10 aggregate must be at least 50% to be eligible. This formula is governed by Railway Establishment Rule 201/2017.

What is the age limit for OBC and SC/ST candidates in SECR Raipur Apprentice 2026?

Age is calculated as on 05 May 2026. OBC candidates get 3 years relaxation — eligible if born between 05-05-1999 and 05-05-2011 (up to 27 years). SC/ST candidates get 5 years relaxation — eligible if born between 05-05-1997 and 05-05-2011 (up to 29 years). PwBD and Ex-Servicemen get 10 years relaxation — eligible if born on or after 05-05-1992.

Can I apply for both DRM Raipur Division and Wagon Repair Shop?

Yes, if you hold an ITI in a trade offered by both establishments. However, you must submit separate applications for each — the DRM Division (Estt. No. E05202200048) and Wagon Repair Shop (Estt. No. E11152200001) are distinct establishments with separate vacancy lists on the apprenticeshipindia.gov.in portal.

Can final year ITI students apply for SECR Raipur Apprentice 2026?

No. Both the Class 10 result and the ITI result must be declared before 05 May 2026 — the notification issue date. Candidates appearing in exams or awaiting results are explicitly ineligible. This is a strict eligibility condition unique to apprenticeship recruitments compared to most other government job notifications.