IRCTC Apprentice Recruitment 2026: Apply Online for 44 Graduate Apprentice & COPA Posts

IRCTC Apprentice Recruitment 2026 has been announced for 44 apprentice trainee positions in the East Zone of Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation Limited (IRCTC). The recruitment includes 34 Graduate Apprentice positions and 10 Computer Operator and Programming Assistant (COPA) apprenticeship seats for the financial year 2026-27.

Candidates with a recognised graduation degree or the prescribed Class 10 and ITI qualification can apply, depending on the apprenticeship category. Selected Graduate Apprentices will receive Rs. 12,300 per month, while COPA apprentices will receive Rs. 9,600 per month during the 12-month training period.

The online application process started on 09 October 2026 and will close on 26 October 2026. Applications are submitted through the applicable government apprenticeship portal, rather than through a general IRCTC recruitment form.

Selection is based on qualifying examination marks. No written test or interview is prescribed in the recruitment details. Applicants should carefully check their educational qualifications, age, documents and willingness to undergo training at any of the designated East Zone locations.

IRCTC Apprentice Recruitment 2026 Overview

IRCTC Apprentice Vacancy 2026: Post-Wise Details

IRCTC East Zone has advertised a total of 44 apprenticeship seats across two categories. The number of seats may increase or decrease according to the organisation’s requirements.

All apprentices will undergo training for 12 months under the applicable provisions of the Apprentices Act.

IRCTC Apprentice Recruitment 2026 Eligibility Criteria

The educational requirements differ for Graduate Apprentice and COPA positions. Candidates must possess the prescribed qualification as on 09 October 2026.

Graduate Apprentice Qualification

Applicants must possess a degree in any discipline from a recognised university with at least 50% marks in aggregate.

The degree qualification must have been completed by the prescribed cut-off date. Candidates awaiting final examination results should not assume they are eligible.

COPA Apprentice Qualification

Applicants must have passed Matriculation (Class 10) and possess an ITI certificate in the Computer Operator and Programming Assistant trade affiliated with NCVT or SCVT, with the prescribed minimum aggregate of 50% marks.

Qualification Summary

Applicants must enter their academic percentages accurately because the merit list is prepared using qualifying examination marks.

IRCTC Apprentice Recruitment 2026 Age Limit

Candidates must have completed 15 years and must not have completed 25 years as on 09 October 2026.

For unreserved candidates, the stated eligible date-of-birth range is 10 October 2001 to 09 October 2011, both dates inclusive.

Age Relaxation

Age relaxation is subject to the applicable Government of India guidelines and documentary requirements.

IRCTC Apprentice Stipend and Training Duration

Selected apprentices will receive a fixed monthly stipend during the one-year training programme.

Based on the stated monthly stipend, the illustrative total for 12 months is Rs. 1,47,600 for Graduate Apprentices and Rs. 1,15,200 for COPA apprentices, subject to the applicable training and payment conditions.

Important: Apprenticeship training does not guarantee regular employment with IRCTC. Apprentices are released after completion of the training period and cannot claim permanent appointment solely on the basis of their apprenticeship.

IRCTC Apprentice Recruitment 2026 Application Fee

The supplied recruitment notification details do not specify an application fee.

Candidates should follow the official government apprenticeship portals and should not pay any unauthorised person or agency for selection or registration.

IRCTC Apprentice Recruitment 2026 Selection Process

Selection for the 44 apprenticeship seats will be based on the percentage of marks obtained in the relevant qualifying examination.

1. Merit List Based on Academic Marks

IRCTC will prepare the merit list according to the prescribed academic marks criteria. There is no separate written test or viva-voce interview.

2. Tie-Breaking Rules

If two candidates obtain equal marks, preference will be given to the older candidate. If their dates of birth are also the same, the candidate who passed Matriculation earlier will receive preference.

3. Document Verification

Shortlisted candidates will be informed about document verification through email. Applicants should monitor their registered email addresses because they may be required to report at short notice.

During verification, candidates must bring their original documents and two sets of self-attested photocopies.

No daily allowance, conveyance allowance or travelling allowance is payable for attending document verification.

4. Final Selection and Standby List

Offers will be issued according to merit and the availability of apprenticeship seats. A standby list may be used to fill seats that remain vacant due to absence or rejection of selected candidates.

IRCTC Apprentice Recruitment 2026 Training Locations

Applicants must be willing to undergo apprenticeship training at any of the designated IRCTC East Zone offices.

Applicants should not assume that they will receive their preferred training location. IRCTC may allocate training at any of the listed offices according to its requirements.

Once selected, requests to change the allotted trade will not be entertained. Withdrawal from training is permitted only under the conditions prescribed in the notification.

IRCTC Apprentice Recruitment 2026 Important Dates

How to Apply Online for IRCTC Apprentice Recruitment 2026

Eligible candidates must complete their registration and application through the appropriate government apprenticeship portal.

1. Read the IRCTC East Zone apprenticeship notification carefully.
2. Check whether you qualify for Graduate Apprentice or COPA training.
3. Visit the applicable portal: NATS or Apprenticeship India.
4. Create an account or log in using your existing registration details.
5. Ensure that your name, father’s name and date of birth match your Matriculation certificate.
6. Complete your educational profile and enter accurate academic marks.
7. Find the IRCTC East Zone apprenticeship opportunity applicable to your qualification.
8. Upload the required certificates, mark sheets and recent photograph.
9. Check the completed application carefully before submission.
10. Submit the application on or before 26 October 2026.
11. Save your registration information and application acknowledgement for document verification.

Graduate Apprentice candidates should check the NATS portal for the relevant opportunity, while COPA candidates should check the Apprenticeship India portal. Applicants must follow the specific portal and opportunity instructions stated in the official notification.

Documents Required for IRCTC Apprentice Online Application

• Class 10 marksheet and certificate.
• Valid proof of date of birth.
• Class 12 marksheet and certificate, if applicable.
• Graduation marksheets and degree certificate for Graduate Apprentice applicants.
• ITI marksheet and NCVT/SCVT National Trade Certificate or Provisional Certificate for COPA applicants.
• SC, ST or OBC certificate, if claiming reservation.
• EWS income and asset certificate, if applicable.
• PwBD certificate for eligible candidates with benchmark disabilities.
• Ex-servicemen service or discharge certificate, if applicable.
• Recent colour passport-size photograph.
• Other supporting documents specified in the official notification.

Photograph Requirements

The photograph should meet the following specifications:

Candidates should also retain two additional printed copies of the same photograph for document verification.

IRCTC Apprentice Reservation and Certificate Rules

Reservation provisions apply according to the relevant Government of India guidelines.

OBC Non-Creamy Layer

OBC applicants must possess a valid Non-Creamy Layer certificate issued within the prescribed one-year period in the required Government of India format.

Economically Weaker Section (EWS)

Eligible EWS applicants must meet the prescribed income and asset criteria. The supplied notification details refer to a family gross annual income below Rs. 8 lakh, subject to the complete eligibility rules.

The EWS income and asset certificate must be available by the closing date of 26 October 2026.

Persons with Benchmark Disabilities

Candidates claiming PwBD reservation must possess the required disability certificate and satisfy the prescribed benchmark disability criteria, including the stated 40% disability threshold.

CareerAlert24 Insight: Strong Academic Marks and Location Flexibility Matter

IRCTC Apprentice Recruitment 2026 provides an opportunity for both general graduates and ITI COPA candidates. The two apprenticeship categories have different qualification requirements and monthly stipends, so applicants should choose the category that matches their certificates.

Since there is no written examination or interview, academic performance plays a central role in selection. Candidates should check that the marks entered on the portal match their official mark sheets.

Another important consideration is training location. Although the recruitment is managed by IRCTC East Zone in Kolkata, successful applicants may be assigned to offices in West Bengal, Bihar, Assam or Jharkhand. Candidates should apply only if they are willing to undergo training at any designated location.

Finally, the apprenticeship lasts for 12 months and does not provide a guaranteed permanent job. Applicants should view it as a structured training opportunity rather than a regular railway appointment.

IRCTC Apprentice Recruitment 2026 Important Links

Conclusion

IRCTC Apprentice Recruitment 2026 offers 44 apprenticeship seats, including 34 Graduate Apprentice and 10 COPA positions, with monthly stipends of Rs. 12,300 and Rs. 9,600 respectively.

Eligible candidates should register through the appropriate government apprenticeship portal, upload the prescribed documents and complete their applications before 26 October 2026.

Disclaimer: CareerAlert24 is an independent recruitment information website and is not affiliated with IRCTC. Candidates must verify all eligibility conditions, dates, portal instructions and reservation requirements from the official recruitment notification before applying.

Written by

Saanvi

I'm Saanvi Sharma, a content writer with over 3 years of experience in job news and recruitment updates.I focus on providing clear, accurate, and timely information on government jobs, exams, and career opportunities to help job seekers stay informed and succeed.

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