📋 Complete Advertisement & Guidelines
IRCTC East Zone Apprentice Recruitment 2026: 44 Vacancies – Apply Online
- Recruiting Body: Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation Limited (IRCTC), East Zone, 5th Floor, Duckback House, 41 Shakespeare Sarani, Kolkata 700016
- Notification No.: IRCTC/EZ/HRD/Apprentices/2026-27, dated 09 October 2026
- Total Vacancies: 44 seats — Graduate Apprentice: 34; COPA Apprentice: 10 (subject to increase or decrease)
- Post Names: Graduate Apprentice; Computer Operator and Programming Assistant (COPA) Apprentice
- Employment Nature: Apprenticeship under the Apprentices Act, 1961 — temporary training for 12 months; no claim to regular employment in IRCTC
- Application Mode: Online registration on Apprenticeship India (NATS) or NATS portal
- Application Window: 09 October 2026 to 26 October 2026
- Stipend: Graduate Apprentice: Rs. 12,300/month; COPA Apprentice: Rs. 9,600/month
- Duration of Training: 12 months
- Application Fee: Not applicable — no fee is mentioned in the notification
- Training Locations: Kolkata (Zonal Office), Guwahati and Patna (Regional Offices), Howrah, Sealdah, Asansol, New Jalpaiguri, Ranchi, and Tatanagar (Area Offices)
IRCTC East Zone, Kolkata, has issued a notification for engagement of 44 apprentice trainees for the financial year 2026–27 under the Apprentices Act, 1961. The recruitment covers two trades: 34 Graduate Apprentice positions requiring a bachelor's degree with 50% aggregate marks, and 10 Computer Operator and Programming Assistant (COPA) positions requiring matriculation plus ITI in COPA from a NCVT or SCVT-affiliated institute with 50% aggregate marks. Selection is based solely on a merit list prepared from the percentage of marks in the qualifying examination — there is no written test or viva-voce.
Post-Wise Vacancy & Pay Scale
| Post Designation | Vacancies | Age Limit | Monthly Stipend (INR) | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Graduate Apprentice | 34 | 15–25 years (as on 09 Oct 2026) | Rs. 12,300 | 12 months |
| Computer Operator & Programming Assistant (COPA) Apprentice | 10 | 15–25 years (as on 09 Oct 2026) | Rs. 9,600 | 12 months |
| Total | 44 | — | — | — |
The number of seats may be increased or decreased; any change will be published on the official IRCTC website.
Eligibility Criteria & Educational Qualification
Graduate Apprentice (34 Posts)
- A graduate in any discipline from a recognised university with at least 50% marks in aggregate.
COPA Apprentice (10 Posts)
- Matriculation (10th) from a recognised board.
- ITI certificate in Computer Operator and Programming Assistant (COPA) affiliated to NCVT or SCVT with at least 50% marks in aggregate.
Age Limit & Relaxation
- Candidates must have completed 15 years and must not have completed 25 years as on 09 October 2026 (date of birth between 10 October 2001 and 09 October 2011 for unreserved candidates).
- Age relaxation: SC/ST — 5 years; OBC — 3 years; Ex-Servicemen — 10 years; Persons with Benchmark Disability (PwBD, 40% or more) — 10 years, as per Government of India guidelines.
Willingness to Work Across East Zone
Candidates must be willing to be posted at any IRCTC East Zone office including the Zonal Office at Kolkata, Regional Offices at Guwahati and Patna, and Area Offices at Howrah, Sealdah, Asansol, New Jalpaiguri, Ranchi, and Tatanagar. Once selected, a request to change the trade will not be entertained.
Selection Process & Screening Clause
- Merit List: A merit list will be prepared on the basis of the percentage of marks in the qualifying examination. There is no written examination and no viva-voce.
- Tie-Break: Where candidates have identical percentages, the older candidate is preferred; if dates of birth are also identical, the candidate who passed Matriculation earlier gets preference.
- Document Verification: Shortlisted candidates will be called for document verification. The schedule will be advised by email only at short notice; candidates must be prepared to report at short notice. Candidates must bring original documents and two sets of self-attested photocopies.
- No TA/DA: No daily allowance, conveyance allowance, or travelling allowance will be paid for attending document verification.
- Stand-by List: A stand-by list will be maintained strictly to fill places vacated by absentees or rejected candidates.
How to Apply for IRCTC East Zone Apprentice Recruitment 2026
- Verify that your name, father's name, and date of birth are recorded identically in your Matriculation certificate and your portal profile. Any deviation found at verification cancels the candidature.
- Register on apprenticeshipindia.gov.in (NAPS) or nats.education.gov.in (NATS). ITI (COPA) apprenticeships are generally registered on the Apprenticeship India portal; graduate apprenticeships on NATS.
- Apply against IRCTC East Zone's opportunity listed for your category on the appropriate portal.
- Enter marks for every qualification from Matriculation onwards and upload year-wise mark sheets along with pass certificates. Incomplete applications will be rejected.
- Upload self-attested scanned copies of required documents and a recent photograph meeting the prescribed specification.
- Submit the application on or before 26 October 2026. Retain your portal registration details for document verification.
Required Documents for Document Verification
- 10th Mark Sheet and Certificate (proof of date of birth)
- 12th Mark Sheet and Certificate (if applicable)
- Graduation Mark Sheet and Certificate (for Graduate Apprentice applicants)
- ITI Mark Sheet and National Trade Certificate / Provisional NTC issued by NCVT/SCVT (for COPA applicants)
- Valid Caste Certificate for SC/ST/OBC in Government of India prescribed format (OBC-NCL certificate must be issued within the last one year)
- PwBD Disability Certificate (40% or more) if applicable
- Discharge or Serving Certificate (for Ex-Servicemen quota) if applicable
- EWS Income and Asset Certificate (must be held on or before 26 October 2026) if claiming EWS reservation
Reservation Notes
- General: Reservation follows Government of India guidelines for SC, ST, OBC, PwBD, Ex-Servicemen, and EWS.
- EWS: Family gross annual income (all sources, for the financial year before the application year) must be below Rs. 8 lakh. Certificate must be issued by the District Magistrate/Deputy Commissioner, Senior Most District Magistrate, Revenue Officer not below Tehsildar, or the Sub-Divisional Officer of the area and must be held on the closing date of 26 October 2026.
- OBC: Non-creamy layer certificate issued within the last one year in Government of India format.
- PwBD: Disability of 40% or more as per RPwD Act, 2016.
Important Dates at a Glance
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Notification Release | 09 October 2026 |
| Online Application Opens | 09 October 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply Online | 26 October 2026 |
| Cut-off Date for Age & Qualification | 09 October 2026 |
| Document Verification | As per email schedule (no TA/DA paid) |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the last date to apply for IRCTC East Zone Apprentice Recruitment 2026?
The last date to submit the online application on the Apprenticeship India portal or NATS portal is 26 October 2026.
Is there a written test or interview for IRCTC East Zone Apprentice selection?
No. Selection is based purely on a merit list of the percentage of marks in the qualifying examination. There is no written test and no viva-voce. Candidates shortlisted in the merit list will be called for document verification.
What is the stipend for Graduate Apprentice and COPA Apprentice posts?
Graduate Apprentices will receive Rs. 12,300 per month and COPA Apprentices will receive Rs. 9,600 per month for the 12-month training duration.
Is the IRCTC East Zone Apprentice position a permanent government job?
No. These positions are apprenticeship training roles under the Apprentices Act, 1961 for a duration of 12 months. Upon completion of training, apprentices are released and have no claim to regular employment in IRCTC in any form.
What is the age limit for IRCTC East Zone Apprentice recruitment?
Candidates must have completed 15 years and must not have completed 25 years as on 09 October 2026. Age relaxation: SC/ST — 5 years, OBC — 3 years, Ex-Servicemen — 10 years, PwBD — 10 years.
Is there any application fee for IRCTC East Zone Apprentice Recruitment 2026?
No application fee is mentioned in the official notification. Candidates can register and apply free of charge on the Apprenticeship India or NATS portal.
Download the IRCTC East Zone Graduate & COPA Apprentice Official Notification PDF for FY 2026–27 for complete details.