Northern Railway opens 4,651 apprentice posts, no exam or interview, last date December 11

Northern Railway has announced 4,651 vacancies for apprentices. The notification comes from its Railway Recruitment Cell (RRC). Young people hoping for a start in railway service will not have to sit a written test or face an interview. Selection will depend only on a merit list.

Online applications opened on November 11, 2026, and will be accepted until December 11, 2026. Candidates must apply through the official website, rrcnr.org.

The posts are spread over six clusters. Lucknow has the most, with 1,525 vacancies, followed by Delhi with 1,312, Ambala with 979 and Ferozepur with 740. Moradabad has 63 posts and Jammu 32. Apprentices will be trained in several technical and non-technical trades, among them fitter, electrician, mechanic, painter, stenographer and data entry operator.

An applicant must have passed Class 10 from a recognised board with at least 50 per cent marks. A certificate from an Industrial Training Institute (ITI) in the relevant trade is also required. The institute must be recognised by the National Council for Vocational Training (NCVT) or the State Council for Vocational Training (SCVT).

The minimum age is 15 years and the maximum is 24, counted as on December 11, 2026. Reserved categories get relaxation in the upper limit: five years for SC and ST candidates, three years for OBC candidates and 10 years for persons with benchmark disabilities.

The merit list will be drawn up from academic marks alone, with Class 10 and ITI marks each carrying 50 per cent weightage. Separate lists will be issued for every cluster, trade and reservation category. If candidates have the same marks, the older one will rank higher. If their ages are also the same, the one who passed Class 10 earlier will be placed above the other. Shortlisted candidates will then go through document verification and a medical test. Selected apprentices will be paid a fixed monthly stipend under the Apprentices Act, 1961.

General, OBC and EWS candidates must pay a fee of Rs 100. Candidates from the SC, ST and PwBD categories, and all women, do not have to pay.

To apply, candidates should first register by clicking the "Act Apprentice Recruitment 2026" link on the homepage. They can then log in with the ID they receive and fill in their personal and educational details with care. Scans of the Class 10 marksheet, the ITI certificate, a passport-size photograph and a signature have to be uploaded. After paying the fee for their category online, they should submit the form and keep a printout.

The final merit list is very likely to be released in February 2027, once the applications have been screened. The railway has made clear that this is a one-year apprenticeship and not a permanent government job. Those who finish the training get special preference and relaxation in various railway recruitments. Candidates are advised to read the official notification closely before applying.