RCF Kapurthala Apprentice Recruitment 2026: Apply Online for 734 Act Apprentice Posts, Eligibility, Trade-wise Seats, Merit List & Direct Link

Rail Coach Factory (RCF), Kapurthala, under the Ministry of Railways, Government of India, has released Notice No. A-1/2026 dated 07.08.2026 inviting online applications for the engagement of 734 Act Apprentices for training in its Technical Training Centre under the Apprentices Act, 1961. Eligible candidates can apply on the prescribed online proforma through the official RCF website. This article brings you the complete details – trade-wise vacancy breakup, eligibility criteria, age limit, application fee, selection process, and the step-by-step application procedure.

Quick Overview

RCF Kapurthala Apprentice 2026 – Trade-wise Vacancy Details

The total 734 seats are distributed across 9 trades, with category-wise reservation as follows:

Note: PWD and Ex-Servicemen columns indicate seats reserved within the total, not additional to it.

RCF Kapurthala Apprentice 2026 – Eligibility Criteria

Age Limit (as on 05.09.2026)

• Candidates must have completed 15 years of age and must not have completed 24 years of age.
• Age Relaxation:
  • SC/ST candidates: 5 years
  • OBC candidates: 3 years
  • Persons with Disability (PWD): 10 years
  • Ex-Servicemen: Up to an additional 10 years, to the extent of service rendered in Defence Forces plus 3 years, subject to a minimum of 6 months’ continuous service (excludes Ex-servicemen already re-employed in government service on the civil side after availing servicemen status for that engagement)

Minimum Educational Qualification

• Candidates must have passed 10th class (or equivalent under the 10+2 system) with a minimum of 50% aggregate marks from a recognized Board, and
• Must possess a National Trade Certificate (NTC) in the notified trade, issued by the National Council for Vocational Training (NCVT).

CGPA to Percentage Conversion Formula (as applicable):
If a candidate’s result is in CGPA, the percentage is calculated by multiplying the CGPA by 9.5.
Example: CGPA 7.4 × 9.5 = 70.3% aggregate.
For merit list purposes, “Maximum marks in Xth Class” is taken as 1000, and “Marks obtained” is calculated proportionately (e.g., 70.3% = 703 marks out of 1000).

Reservation for PWD & Ex-Servicemen

• 4% of total seats are reserved for Persons with Disabilities (PWD).
• 3% of total seats are reserved for Ex-Servicemen, their children, and children of Armed Forces personnel.
• PWD candidates must submit a disability certificate from a competent Medical Board (Central or State Government) confirming disability of not less than 40%.
• Candidates not covered under the above PWD definition are not eligible to apply under the PWD category or avail related concessions.

Application Fee

• Fee must be paid only through online mode (Debit Card/Credit Card/Internet Banking/SBI Challan, etc.). Cash, cheque, money order, IPO, or demand draft will not be accepted.
• Candidates must pay the fee within 2 working days of successfully submitting the online form, using the payment link provided in the form.
• Once paid, the fee cannot be refunded or adjusted against any other exam/selection.
• Transaction charges, if any, are to be borne by the candidate.

How to Apply for RCF Kapurthala Apprentice 2026

1. Visit the official RCF website: www.rcf.indianrailways.gov.in.
2. Locate the Act Apprentice Engagement 2026 notification (Notice No. A-1/2026) and click on the online application link.
3. Register with your basic details and fill in the online application form carefully, entering personal details and bio-data as required.
4. Upload a scanned passport-size colour photograph (3.5cm x 3.5cm, not older than 3 months, JPG/JPEG, 100 DPI, file size 20 KB–70 KB, clear front view, no cap/sunglasses).
5. Upload a scanned signature (3.5cm x 3.5cm, JPG/JPEG, 100 DPI, file size 20 KB–30 KB).
6. Verify all entered details, especially name, father’s name, and date of birth, as they must exactly match your Matriculation certificate.
7. Submit the form to receive a Registration Number – save this for future reference/correspondence.
8. Complete the online fee payment within 2 working days through the payment link provided.
9. Download and print the e-receipt and a printout of the completed application for your records.

Last Date to Apply Online: 05.09.2026 (up to 24:00 hours). The application link will be deactivated after this deadline.

Selection Process – Merit List Preparation

Selection is purely merit-based, with no written exam or interview. The process works as follows:

1. Merit Score Calculation: The panel is prepared on the simple average of:
   • Percentage of marks obtained in Matriculation (all subjects considered, not any specific subject/group)
   • Percentage of marks obtained in the ITI/NTC in the relevant trade (as per provisional/final certificate)
2. Tie-breaking: If two candidates have the same marks, the older candidate is given preference. If dates of birth also match, the candidate who passed matriculation earlier is preferred.
3. Trade-wise & Community-wise Merit List: A final list is prepared separately for each trade and community category, in descending order of percentage, equal to the number of available slots.
4. Call Letters: Issued to 1.5 times the number of identified slots for document verification/scrutiny.
5. Vacant Seat Filling: Unfilled SC/ST seats may be filled by candidates from the other of the two categories; if still unfilled, by unreserved category candidates. Unfilled OBC seats are filled by unreserved category candidates.
6. Document Verification: Shortlisted candidates undergo verification of original testimonials and a medical fitness examination.
7. Waiting List: Valid for one month from the commencement of training, after which it stands cancelled.
8. Result Timeline: The merit list is to be placed before the Head of Workshop/Unit/Division for approval and declared within 45 days of the closure of the application receipt.

Medical Fitness Requirements

Shortlisted candidates must produce a Medical Fitness Certificate at the time of Document Verification, signed by a Government-authorised doctor (Gazetted) not below the rank of Assistant Surgeon of a Central/State Hospital. Key fitness standards (as per Schedule-II, Annexure-A) include:

• Height: Minimum 137 cm; Weight: Minimum 25.4 kg; Chest expansion: Not less than 3.8 cm
• Free from contagious/infectious diseases, active or healed tuberculosis
• Vision: Standard visual acuity required; colour vision not mandatory (except for specific trades where vision standards under GSR 221/1993 apply)
• Hearing: Good in both ears; no hearing aid permitted
• Blood pressure: Not exceeding 85 diastolic / 140 systolic; candidates with low BP (systolic below 100) are rejected
• No serious deformity of skeletal, nervous, glandular, respiratory, cardiovascular, or genito-urinary systems

(Full medical fitness proforma is provided as Annexure-A with the official notification.)

Documents Required at the Time of Document Verification

• Printout of the submitted online application
• Matriculation/10th certificate and marksheet (original + copies)
• National Trade Certificate (NTC)/ITI certificate and marksheet
• Caste Certificate (for SC/ST candidates) from appropriate authority
• Caste Certificate + Non-Creamy Layer Certificate (for OBC candidates)
• Discharge Certificate (for Ex-servicemen) or Armed Forces serving/discharge certificate of parent (for children of Ex-servicemen/Armed Forces personnel)
• Disability Certificate from a competent Medical Board (for PWD candidates, not less than 40% disability)
• Medical Fitness Certificate signed by an authorised Gazetted doctor
• Two additional passport-size photographs (same as uploaded online)
• Employment Exchange registration proof (mandatory except for wards of RCF/Kapurthala employees)

Important Instructions for Candidates

• Name, father’s name, and date of birth in the application must exactly match the Matriculation certificate — any mismatch found during verification will lead to cancellation of candidature and debarment.
• Candidates must keep their mobile number and email ID active throughout the engagement process, as all communication will be via SMS/email.
• Candidates submitting multiple applications with different name/father’s name/community/photo/qualification details, or different email/mobile number, will have all such applications summarily rejected.
• Imparting training does NOT confer any right to employment/absorption in Railways after successful completion, as per Para-10, Schedule V of the Apprenticeship Rules, 1991 (notified 15.07.1992 by the Ministry of Labour).
• No correspondence will be entertained regarding non-selection.
• Canvassing in any form will lead to disqualification.
• No daily allowance, conveyance allowance, or travelling allowance will be paid for attending document verification.
• No hostel accommodation will be provided; selected candidates must arrange their own stay during training.
• Training period and stipend will be governed by extant Railway Board rules and directives.
• The Railway administration’s decision on eligibility, acceptance/rejection of application, and mode of selection is final.

Helpdesk for Application Issues

For any problem with online submission or printing of the application, candidates can contact:
Phone: 01822-285095, 285096, extension 92793
Timing: 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM (except Sundays and Holidays)

RCF Kapurthala Apprentice 2026 – Key Dates

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1. How many vacancies are there in RCF Kapurthala Apprentice Recruitment 2026?
A total of 734 Act Apprentice posts are available across 9 trades.

Q2. What is the last date to apply for RCF Kapurthala Apprentice 2026?
The last date to submit the online application is 05.09.2026, up to 24:00 hours.

Q3. What is the age limit for RCF Kapurthala Apprentice Recruitment 2026?
Candidates must be between 15 and 24 years of age as on 05.09.2026, with relaxation applicable for SC/ST, OBC, PWD, and Ex-servicemen candidates.

Q4. Is there a written exam for RCF Kapurthala Apprentice selection?
No. Selection is based purely on a merit list prepared from the average of Matriculation and ITI/NTC percentage marks.

Q5. What is the application fee for RCF Kapurthala Apprentice 2026?
₹100/- for UR/OBC candidates (non-refundable, online payment only); no fee for SC/ST/PWD/Women candidates.

Q6. Does completing the apprenticeship guarantee a job in Railways?
No. As per the Apprenticeship Rules, 1991, training does not confer any right to employment or absorption in Railways.