West Central Railway Act Apprentices Recruitment 2025 – Apply Online for 2,865 Apprenticeship Slots

The West Central Railway (WCR) has officially announced the notification for engagement of Act Apprentices under the Apprentices Act, 1961 for the year 2025–2026. This recruitment drive provides a golden opportunity for candidates seeking practical training and hands-on experience in various technical trades across multiple units and divisions of West Central Railway.

A total of 2,865 apprenticeship slots are available across various divisions, units, and trades. The recruitment is conducted centrally, meaning all applications will be processed through an online portal, and candidates will be selected based on merit, reservation, and eligibility criteria outlined by the West Central Railway.

Important Notification Details

• Notification Number: 01/2025 (Act Apprentice)
• Date of Issue: 20/08/2025
• Recruitment For: Engagement of apprentices under the Apprentices Act, 1961 in various trades at WCR units/divisions
• Number of Slots: 2,865
• Mode of Application: Online only
• Application Opening Date: 30/08/2025
• Application Closing Date & Time: 29/09/2025 at 23:59 hrs

Application Fee

Applicants must pay the necessary application and processing fees to complete their online submission.

Payment Procedure

1. Log in to the online application portal
2. Click on “Click here to pay”
3. Choose payment option and complete transaction
4. Save or print e-receipt generated after successful payment
5. In case of failure, repeat payment only after 24 hours

Divisions and Unit-Wise Slots

The apprenticeship program is conducted across various divisions and workshops of West Central Railway, with the number of available slots for each unit listed below, including reservations for candidates with benchmark disabilities (PwBD).

• UR: Unreserved
• SC: Scheduled Caste
• ST: Scheduled Tribe
• OBC: Other Backward Class
• EWS: Economically Weaker Section
• PwBD Categories: LD (Locomotor Disability), VI (Visual Impairment), HI (Hearing Impairment), MD (Multiple Disabilities), SM (Sitting/Manual Disability)
• Total slots available: 2,865, with specific allocations for differently-abled candidates.

Eligibility Criteria

Candidates applying for this apprenticeship program must meet strict eligibility requirements in terms of age, educational qualification, and medical fitness.

1. Age Limit

The age criteria are calculated as on 20/08/2025:

• Minimum Age: 15 years
• Maximum Age: 24 years
• Relaxation in Age:
  • SC/ST candidates: +5 years
  • OBC candidates: +3 years
  • Persons with Benchmark Disability (PwBD): +10 years
  • PwBD SC/ST: +15 years
  • PwBD OBC: +13 years
  • Ex-servicemen: Up to 10 years for service rendered, plus 3 years if minimum 6 months service completed

2. Educational Qualification

Candidates must have:

• Must have completed the 10th class or an equivalent examination under the 10+2 education system.
• Minimum 50% marks in aggregate (no rounding off)
• Possess National Trade Certificate (NTC) in the notified trade issued by NCVT/SCVT

3. Eligibility for Persons with Benchmark Disability (PwBD)

• PwBD candidates must have at least 40% relevant disability
• Hearing impairment is defined as a loss of 60 decibels or more in the better ear.
• PwBD candidates are required to provide a valid disability certificate from a recognized authority during document verification.

Trade-wise PwBD Requirements

Reservation and Document Requirements

1. SC/ST/OBC/EWS Reservation

• SC/ST: Reservation as per government norms
• OBC: Must provide Caste certificate + Non-Creamy Layer certificate, issued within one year from notification closure
• EWS: Certificate as per central government guidelines

2. Ex-Servicemen Reservation

• Candidates, or their children, who are ex-servicemen must submit a discharge certificate.
• Children of serving Armed Forces personnel must provide parental service certificate

Selection Process

The selection of apprentices will follow a transparent and merit-based process:

1. Merit List Preparation: Based on the average marks of 10th class and ITI/Trade marks
2. Trade & Division/Unit Allocation: Merit lists are prepared trade-wise, division/unit-wise, and community-wise
3. Document Verification: Candidates are called as per merit list for verification
4. Tie-Breaking Rules:
   • Older candidates get preference
   • If two candidates share the same date of birth, preference will be given to the one who passed matriculation first.
5. Final Merit List: Prepared trade-wise, division/unit-wise, community-wise, equal to number of slots
6. Shortfall Handling: Unfilled slots may be allotted to waiting list candidates from other divisions/trades

Documents Required for Online Application

Candidates are advised to keep the following scanned documents ready in JPG format (50–200 KB):

1. Photograph and Signature

• Photograph: Recent passport-size, clear front view, 100×120 pixels
• Signature: Specimen, 160×70 pixels

2. Certificates

• 10th Class Marksheet
• 10th Pass Certificate
• SC/ST/OBC/EWS Caste Certificate (if applicable)
• PwBD Certificate (if applicable)
• ITI Certificate & Marksheet (NCVT/SCVT)

Key Highlights of WCR Apprenticeship

• Recruitment Type: Centralized apprenticeship under Apprentices Act, 1961
• Total Slots: 2,865 across multiple trades
• Eligibility: 10th pass + NCVT/SCVT Trade Certificate
• Age Limit: 15–24 years (with relaxation as applicable)
• Reservation: SC/ST/OBC/EWS/PwBD/Ex-Servicemen
• Stipend: As per government norms for apprentices (typically ₹7,700 – ₹12,000 per month depending on trade and unit)
• Mode of Application: Online only
• Selection: Merit-based, document verification, reservation considered

Tips for Candidates

1. Apply early: Online applications may face last-minute traffic
2. Check documents: Ensure all certificates are valid and in proper format
3. Keep e-receipt safe: Proof of payment is necessary
4. Verify eligibility: Confirm educational qualifications and age limit
5. Prepare for document verification: Bring originals when called