⚠️ Important Notice: The online registration process for SECR Railway Act Apprentice Recruitment 2026 (Raipur Division & Wagon Repair Shop) was open from May 5, 2026 to June 4, 2026 and is currently closed. This article serves as a permanent reference guide detailing trade-wise ITI eligibility, NAPS portal registration rules, merit calculation formulas, and monthly stipend structures for candidates tracking South East Central Railway (SECR) vacancy cycles.
The South East Central Railway (SECR), a prominent zonal unit of Indian Railways headquartered at Bilaspur, officially released the recruitment notification for 1,644 Act Apprentice vacancies for the Raipur Division and the Wagon Repair Shop (WRS) in Chhattisgarh.
Conducted under the Apprentices Act, 1961, this engagement drive covers 13 distinct technical and non-technical ITI trades including Fitter, Electrician, Welder, COPA, and Stenographer. Notably, the selection process features no competitive written examination, skill test, or interview. Candidates are shortlisted purely based on an academic merit list calculated from Class 10th and ITI marks.
📌 SECR Railway Apprentice Recruitment 2026: Key Overview
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Recruiting Organization | South East Central Railway (SECR) / Indian Railways |
| Operational Division | Raipur Division & Wagon Repair Shop (WRS), Raipur |
| Post Name | Trade Apprentice / Act Apprentice |
| Total Vacancies | 1,644 Training Slots |
| Trade Count | 13 Trades (Fitter, Electrician, Welder, COPA, etc.) |
| Educational Qualification | Class 10th Pass (50% Marks) + ITI Certificate (NCVT/SCVT) |
| Age Bracket | 15 to 24 Years (As of May 5, 2026) |
| Selection Mode | Pure Academic Merit List + Document Verification |
| Application Fee | ₹0/- (Free for All Candidates) |
| Official Application Portal | apprenticeshipindia.gov.in (NAPS Portal) |
📅 SECR Apprentice 2026: Official Recruitment Schedule
| Recruitment Stage | Official Timeline |
|---|---|
| Official Notification Release Date | April 2026 |
| Online Application Window Start Date | May 5, 2026 |
| Closing Date to Apply Online | June 4, 2026 (11:59 PM) |
| Publication of Shortlisted Candidates (Merit List) | To Be Announced |
| Document Verification Schedule | Post Merit List Announcement |
🏢 Trade-Wise Vacancy Distribution
The 1,644 apprentice seats are allocated across 13 ITI trades in the Raipur Division and Wagon Repair Shop:
| Trade Name | Raipur Division Slots | Wagon Repair Shop (WRS) Slots | Total Vacancies |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fitter | 210 | 140 | 350 |
| Electrician | 220 | 110 | 330 |
| Welder (Gas & Electric) | 180 | 130 | 310 |
| COPA (Computer Operator) | 150 | 40 | 190 |
| Machinist | 40 | 35 | 75 |
| Turner | 35 | 30 | 65 |
| Mechanic Diesel | 80 | — | 80 |
| Stenographer (English / Hindi) | 45 | 15 | 60 |
| Other Specialized Trades (Wireman, Painter, Plumber, etc.) | 114 | 70 | 184 |
| Total Slots | 1,074 | 570 | 1,644 |
🎓 Detailed Educational & Technical Eligibility
Candidates must fulfill both academic and technical requirements on or before the cutoff date:
- General Educational Qualification: Must have passed Class 10th (Matriculation) under the 10+2 examination system with a minimum of 50% aggregate marks from a recognized Board.
- Technical Qualification: Must possess a National Trade Certificate (NTC) or National Apprenticeship Certificate (NAC) in the relevant trade issued by NCVT (National Council for Vocational Training) or SCVT (State Council for Vocational Training).
- Ineligible Qualifications: ITI certificates from unrecognized private institutes lacking NCVT/SCVT affiliation will be rejected during Document Verification.
🔞 Age Limit Criteria & Relaxations (As of 05 May 2026)
- Minimum Age Limit: 15 Years
- Maximum Age Limit (General / EWS): 24 Years
Category-Wise Upper Age Relaxations
| Category | Upper Age Relaxation | Effective Maximum Age |
|---|---|---|
| General / EWS | No Relaxation | 24 Years |
| OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) | 3 Years | 27 Years |
| SC / ST | 5 Years | 29 Years |
| Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD) | 10 Years | 34 Years |
| Ex-Servicemen | 10 Years + Length of Military Service | As per rules |
💵 Monthly Stipend Structure
Selected candidates receive a monthly stipend during their 1-year training period in accordance with the Apprenticeship Rules, 1992 and Ministry of Skill Development guidelines:
- Class 10th + 1-Year ITI Trades (Welder, COPA): Approximately ₹7,700 to ₹8,050 per month.
- Class 10th + 2-Year ITI Trades (Fitter, Electrician, Machinist): Approximately ₹8,050 to ₹9,000 per month.
Note: Apprentices are engaged as trainees and are not entitled to standard government employee benefits such as HRA, DA, or medical reimbursements.
⚙️ Merit Calculation Formula & Selection Process
Selection is conducted through a transparent merit list system without any written test:
1. How Merit Marks Are Calculated
The merit list is compiled taking an equal weightage average of percentage marks scored in Class 10th and ITI:
Final Merit Percentage = (Class 10th Aggregate % + ITI Aggregate %) / 2
Example: If a candidate scores 70% in Class 10th and 80% in ITI, their final calculated merit percentage is (70 + 80)/2 = 75%.
2. Document Verification (DV)
Candidates ranking within the cutoff threshold on the merit list are summoned to the SECR Divisional Office in Raipur for verification of original marksheets, caste certificates, and NAPS profile records.
📄 Documents Required for NAPS Profile & Verification
Keep these soft and hard copies prepared for verification rounds:
- Class 10th Marksheet and Passing Certificate (Date of Birth proof).
- NCVT / SCVT ITI Marksheet (All Semesters) and Final Trade Certificate.
- Category Certificate (SC/ST/OBC-NCL/EWS) issued in Central Government format by a competent authority.
- 100% Completed NAPS (National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme) Profile Copy.
- Aadhaar Card and Bank Account Passbook (linked with Aadhaar for stipend transfer).
- Recent Passport-Size Photographs (Light Background).
📝 Step-by-Step Guide: How Online Registration Worked
- Visited the official Apprenticeship India portal at apprenticeshipindia.gov.in.
- Completed candidate registration and ensured the NAPS profile completion status reached 100%.
- Navigated to Apprenticeship Opportunities on the top menu bar.
- Searched for establishment name: “South East Central Railway – Raipur” or “Wagon Repair Shop Raipur”.
- Selected the specific trade matching the ITI certificate (e.g., Fitter, Electrician) and clicked Apply for this Opportunity.
- Reviewed entered details, submitted the application, and downloaded the summary receipt for personal records.
⚠️ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Is there any written exam or interview for SECR Railway Apprentice 2026?
No. Selection is strictly merit-based, calculated from the average percentage of marks obtained in Class 10th and the ITI examination.
2. Does completing an SECR apprenticeship guarantee a permanent job in Indian Railways?
No. Completing an apprenticeship yields a National Apprenticeship Certificate (NAC). While it does not guarantee direct absorption, NAC holders receive a 20% quota reservation and age relaxation during Level-1 (Group D) recruitment exams conducted by RRB.
3. Are ITI certificates from SCVT recognized for SECR Apprentice recruitment?
Yes. Both NCVT and SCVT recognized ITI trade certificates are accepted for SECR Railway Act Apprentice posts.
4. Is there any application fee to apply for SECR Apprentice 2026?
No. Applying for SECR Railway Apprentice vacancies via the NAPS portal is completely free of cost for all candidate categories.
Disclaimer: Govt Result Alert is an independent informational website providing news on public sector apprenticeship drives and technical recruitments. We are not officially affiliated with South East Central Railway (SECR) or Indian Railways. Applicants are advised to verify all official updates directly at apprenticeshipindia.gov.in or secr.indianrailways.gov.in.
Ramavtar is a passionate career researcher dedicated to helping job seekers find the latest government job notifications across India. He covers SSC, Railway, Banking, Police, and State PSC recruitments to keep aspirants informed and ahead.