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Railway RCF Recruitment 2026: Ministry of Railways, Government of India, Rail Coach Factory )Kapurthala) has released a notification for the engagement of Act Apprentice for training under the Apprenticeship Act. 1961.
RCF, Kapurthala has invited online applications for 734 Act Apprentice positions under the Apprenticeship Act, 1961. The opportunity is for candidates looking to undergo apprenticeship training in different technical trades at the Rail Coach Factory.
According to Notice No. A-1/2026 dated August 7, 2026, eligible candidates can submit their applications online through the RCF website. The last date to complete the online application is September 5, 2026, up to 11:59 PM.
Railway RCF Kapurthala Apprentice Recruitment 2026: Key Details
| Particular | Details |
| Organization | Rail Coach Factory, Kapurthala |
| Ministry | Ministry of Railways, Government of India |
| Recruitment | Act Apprentice Training |
| Total Vacancies | 734 |
| Training Location | Technical Training Centre, Rail Coach Factory, Kapurthala |
| Application Mode | Online |
| Notification Date | August 7, 2026 |
| Last Date | September 5, 2026 |
| Selection | Merit-based |
| Apprenticeship Act | Apprenticeship Act, 1961 |
734 Apprentice Vacancies Across 9 Trades
The notification has divided the 734 training slots among nine different trades. The highest number of vacancies is available for Welder and Fitter.
The trade-wise distribution is:
| Sl. No. | Trade | UR | SC | ST | OBC | Total | PwD | Ex-SM |
| 01 | Fitter | 90 | 27 | 14 | 49 | 180 | 07 | 05 |
| 02 | Welder (G&E) | 111 | 33 | 17 | 59 | 220 | 09 | 07 |
| 03 | Machinist | 30 | 09 | 05 | 16 | 60 | 02 | 02 |
| 04 | Painter (G) | 20 | 06 | 03 | 11 | 40 | 02 | 01 |
| 05 | Carpenter | 20 | 06 | 02 | 11 | 40 | 02 | 01 |
| 06 | Electrician | 55 | 17 | 08 | 30 | 110 | 04 | 03 |
| 07 | AC & Ref. Mechanic | 22 | 07 | 03 | 12 | 44 | 02 | 01 |
| 08 | Mechanic (Motor Vehicle) | 10 | 03 | 02 | 05 | 20 | — | 01 |
| 09 | Electronic Mechanic | 10 | 03 | 02 | 05 | 20 | 01 | 01 |
| Total | 368 | 111 | 57 | 198 | 734 | 30 | 22 |
Out of the total 734 seats, the notification also specifies category-wise distribution for UR, SC, ST and OBC candidates, along with provisions for PwD and Ex-Servicemen categories.
Railway RCF Recruitment: 2026 Who Can Apply?
Candidates must have completed 15 years of age and must not have completed 24 years as on September 5, 2026.
The upper age limit is relaxable by:
- 5 years for SC/ST candidates
- 3 years for OBC candidates
- 10 years for Persons with Disability (PwD) candidates
- Additional relaxation is available for eligible Ex-Servicemen and certain related categories as specified in the notification.
Candidates claiming reservation benefits must produce the relevant certificates during document verification.
Educational Qualification
Candidates must have passed Class 10 or its equivalent under the 10+2 system with at least 50% aggregate marks from a recognized Board.
In addition, applicants must possess a National Trade Certificate issued by the National Council for Vocational Training (NCVT) in the trade mentioned in the notification.
The notification also explains how candidates with CGPA in Class 10 should convert their grades into percentage. For example, a CGPA of 7.4 is to be multiplied by 9.5, resulting in 70.3%.
Railway RCF Recruitment: How Will Candidates Be Selected?
There is an important point for applicants: the notification does not specify a written examination as the selection method.
Selection will be based on a merit list prepared from the marks obtained in Class 10 and ITI. The percentage of marks in Class 10, with a minimum requirement of 50% aggregate, and ITI marks will be given equal weight through a simple average.
For example, if a candidate has 70% in Class 10 and 80% in ITI, the combined percentage for merit calculation would be:
(70 + 80) ÷ 2 = 75%
If two candidates obtain the same marks, the older candidate will receive preference. If their dates of birth are also the same, preference will be given to the candidate who passed matriculation earlier.
Application Fee
The application fee is Rs.100, and it has to be paid through the online payment system.
The notification clearly states that RCF Kapurthala will not accept payment through cash, cheque, money order, IPO or demand draft.
Candidates belonging to SC, ST, PwD and Women categories are exempted from paying the application fee.
Applicants are advised to check their details carefully before making payment because no changes or edits will be permitted after the payment process is completed.
Documents and Photograph Requirements
Candidates have to upload a recent passport-size colour photograph while submitting the application.
The notification specifies a photograph size of 3.5 cm × 3.5 cm, in JPG/JPEG format, with a file size between 20 KB and 70 KB.
A scanned signature is also required. The specified signature size is 3.5 cm × 3.5 cm, in JPG/JPEG format, with a file size between 20 KB and 30 KB.
Candidates should also keep additional copies of the photograph and application printout for the later stages of the selection process.
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How to Apply for RCF Kapurthala Apprentice Recruitment 2026: Step-by-step Process
Eligible candidates need to apply online through the Rail Coach Factory, Kapurthala website (https://pardarsy.railnet.gov.in/apprentice-2026/)
While filling out the application, candidates should make sure that their name, father’s name, and date of birth exactly match the details recorded in their matriculation or equivalent certificate.
Applicants are also advised to provide an active mobile number and valid email address. Important communication during the engagement process may be sent through email or SMS.
The notification warns that submitting more than one application with different personal details, email IDs or mobile numbers can result in rejection of the applications.
After successfully submitting the application, candidates should keep the Registration Number safely for future correspondence and recruitment-related stages.
Official Notification: Download
What Happens After the Merit List?
Candidates shortlisted through the merit process will be called for document verification and medical examination.
The notification states that the final merit list is prepared trade-wise and community-wise. The result is expected to be declared within 45 days from the closing date for receipt of applications, subject to the process described in the notification.
Candidates called for document verification must produce their original certificates and the required medical fitness certificate.
Railway RCF Recruitment: Medical Fitness Is Important
Medical fitness is an essential part of the apprenticeship engagement process.
The medical certificate must be issued by a Government-authorized doctor (Gazetted), not below the rank of Assistant Surgeon of a Central or State Government Hospital.
The medical fitness certificate attached to the notification covers several areas, including vision, hearing, skin, speech, respiratory system, cardiovascular system, genito-urinary system, skeletal system, nervous system and glandular system.
The prescribed medical certificate also specifies minimum physical standards, including a height of 137 cm, weight of 25.4 kg, and chest expansion of at least 3.8 cm, subject to the conditions mentioned in the notification.
Will Apprentices Get a Railway Job After Training?
Candidates should not confuse apprenticeship training with a permanent railway appointment.
The notification clearly states that completion of apprenticeship training does not confer any right to absorption in Railway service. It is also not obligatory for the Railway administration to offer employment after completion of training.
Therefore, candidates should treat this opportunity as apprenticeship training and skill development rather than a guarantee of a permanent Railway job.
Is Hostel Facility Available?
No hostel accommodation will be provided to selected candidates.
Those selected for apprenticeship training will have to make their own arrangements during the training period.
Selection Process:
Selection will be on the basis of merit list prepared of all candidates who apply against the notification. The merit list will be prepared for the purpose on the basis of percentage of marks in matriculation (with minimum 50% of aggregate marks) + ITI marks in the trade in which apprenticeship is to be done.
The panel will be on the basis of simple average of marks in the matriculation and ITI. For the purpose of calculation of percentage of matriculation, marks obtained by the candidates in allsubjects will be reckoned and not on the basis of marks of any subject or a group of subjects. For the purpose of calculation of percentage of ITI marks, marks mentioned in the provisional/final certificate will be reckoned.
Important Date
The most important deadline for applicants is September 5, 2026, up to 11:59 PM.
The notification specifically states that no physical copy of the application needs to be sent to Rail Coach Factory, Kapurthala. The application has to be completed through the online process within the prescribed deadline.
RCF Kapurthala Apprentice Recruitment 2026: Quick Summary
- Total seats: 734
- Major trades: Fitter, Welder, Machinist, Painter, Carpenter, Electrician, AC & Refrigeration Mechanic, Motor Vehicle Mechanic and Electronic Mechanic
- Minimum qualification: Class 10 with 50% aggregate + relevant NCVT National Trade Certificate
- Age: 15 to below 24 years as on September 5, 2026, subject to applicable relaxation
- Application fee: Rs.100
- SC/ST/PwD/Women: No application fee
- Selection: Merit-based on Class 10 and ITI marks
- Application mode: Online
- Last date: September 5, 2026, up to 11:59 PM
The RCF Kapurthala Apprentice Recruitment 2026 is a significant opportunity for candidates who have completed Class 10 and hold the required ITI qualification. With 734 apprenticeship training slots across nine trades, candidates from technical backgrounds can consider this opportunity if they meet the eligibility conditions.
Since selection is based on merit calculated from Class 10 and ITI marks, applicants should carefully check their academic details before submitting the form. They should also keep their original certificates, photograph, application printout and other required documents ready for the next stage.
Most importantly, candidates should remember that apprenticeship training at Rail Coach Factory does not guarantee permanent employment in Indian Railways. The application should be submitted only after carefully reading the official notification and confirming eligibility.
