RCF Kapurthala Act Apprentice 2026 Notification: 734 Trade-Wise Seats, Eligibility & Merit-Based Selection
Good news for every ITI pass student who dreams of working with Indian Railways. Rail Coach Factory (RCF), Kapurthala has released Notice No. A-1/2026 for the engagement of 734 Act Apprentices across nine trades — Fitter, Welder, Machinist, Painter, Carpenter, Electrician, AC & Refrigeration Mechanic, Mechanic (Motor Vehicle) and Electronic Mechanic. The best part is that there is no written examination at all. Your selection depends purely on the marks you already have in your 10th class and your ITI certificate. If you have been searching for railway jobs, this is one of the biggest apprentice openings of the year.
The online application window is open and the last date is 5 September 2026 up to 24:00 hours. Anyone who has passed 10th with at least 50% marks and holds a National Trade Certificate (NTC/ITI) in the notified trade can apply. In this article we will walk you through the complete trade-wise vacancy list, age limit, application fee, the exact merit formula RCF uses, and a simple step-by-step application guide. Read it fully so that you do not miss even one small detail, and keep GovtJobsAlert.in saved for every future railway update.
Key Highlights — RCF Kapurthala Act Apprentice Recruitment 2026
Rail Coach Factory, Kapurthala is one of Indian Railways’ premier coach manufacturing units under the Ministry of Railways, Government of India. Training here happens at the factory’s own Technical Training Centre, which means you learn on real railway production lines. This apprenticeship is governed by the Apprentices Act and is a widely respected starting point for ITI certificate holders building a technical career.
- Post Name: Act Apprentice (9 trades)
- Total Vacancies: 734 slots
- Organisation: Rail Coach Factory (Kapurthala), Ministry of Railways
- Qualification: 10th pass with 50% marks + NTC/ITI in the relevant trade
- Training Location: Technical Training Centre, RCF Kapurthala, Punjab
- Notification Date: 7 August 2026
- Last Date to Apply: 5 September 2026 (up to 24:00 hours)
RCF Kapurthala Apprentice 2026 Vacancy List: How Many Posts in Each Trade?
Here is the exact trade-wise seat count as printed in the notification. Pick the trade that matches the NTC you already hold.
| Trade | Vacancies |
|---|---|
| Fitter | 180 |
| Welder (G&E) | 220 |
| Machinist | 60 |
| Painter (G) | 40 |
| Carpenter | 40 |
| Electrician | 110 |
| AC & Ref. Mechanic | 44 |
| Mechanic (Motor Vehicle) | 20 |
| Electronic Mechanic | 20 |
| Total | 734 |
The community-wise distribution across all nine trades, as printed in the total row of the notification, is given below. PwD (30 slots) and Ex-Servicemen (22 slots — this quota also covers their children and the children of serving armed forces personnel) reservations are horizontal, which means these are already counted inside the 734 total and are not extra seats.
| Category | Vacancies |
|---|---|
| UR (Unreserved) | 368 |
| SC | 111 |
| ST | 57 |
| OBC | 198 |
| Total | 734 |
Who is Eligible for RCF Kapurthala Act Apprentice Recruitment 2026?
Please read this section slowly. Most rejections happen because a candidate missed one small eligibility line.
Educational Qualification
- Passed the 10th class examination or its equivalent under the 10+2 examination system with a minimum of 50% marks in aggregate from a recognised Board.
- Must also possess a National Trade Certificate (NTC/ITI) in the notified trade, issued by the National Council for Vocational Training (NCVT).
- Both conditions are compulsory together. A 10th pass without ITI, or an ITI without 50% in 10th, will not qualify.
- The 50% is counted on the aggregate of all subjects in your matriculation result, not on any single subject or group.
- Enrolment with your nearest Employment Exchange is compulsory. The notice states that engagement will be made from candidates who have registered their names at the Employment Exchange. The only exemption is for wards of RCF/Kapurthala employees.
If you are a 10th pass candidate who has just finished ITI, this notification is written exactly for you.
Age Limit
You must have completed 15 years and must not have completed 24 years of age as on 5 September 2026.
| Category | Age Relaxation |
|---|---|
| SC / ST | 5 years |
| OBC | 3 years |
| Persons with Disability (PWD) | 10 years (disability must be 40% or more, certified by a Government Medical Board) |
| Ex-Servicemen | Up to 10 years (service rendered + 3 years), subject to minimum 06 months’ continuous service |
🎂 Not sure if you meet the age criteria? Use our free Age Calculator for Government Exams to find your exact age on the cut-off date and instantly check your eligibility — including SC / ST / OBC / PwBD age relaxation. →
What is the Salary and Stipend for RCF Kapurthala Act Apprentice 2026?
Let us be completely honest with you here, because your money matters. The notification does not print any rupee figure for the stipend. Paragraph 14 of the notice, titled “Training Period & Stipend”, says only this about the money:
“As per extant rules & directives issued by Railway Board from time to time.”
This means the stipend will be paid at the standard rate that the Railway Board has fixed for Act Apprentices at the time of your training, and that rate can change. So please do not trust any random figure you see on social media — the official notice simply does not commit to a number.
A few more practical points you should know:
- Training duration is also not stated as a fixed period in this notice; it follows Railway Board directives.
- No hostel accommodation is provided by RCF Kapurthala, so plan your stay in advance.
- Apprentices are released on completion of training. The notification clearly states that this training “will not confer any right to the candidates for their absorption in Railway.”
Treat this as a paid, high-quality skill-building opportunity inside a real railway factory — not as a confirmed government job.
What is the Selection Process for RCF Kapurthala Apprentice 2026?
The notification’s Mode of Selection provides for no written exam and no interview — selection is purely merit-based. Selection is purely merit-based, which is a huge relief for students who study well but panic in competitive exams.
Stage 1: Merit List Preparation
Your merit score is the simple average of two percentages — the percentage of marks you scored in matriculation (10th), and the percentage of marks you scored in ITI in the trade you are applying for. For the 10th percentage, marks in all subjects are counted. For ITI, marks in the provisional or final certificate are counted.
Stage 2: Tie-Breaker Rule
If two candidates end up with exactly the same percentage, the older candidate is preferred. If the dates of birth are also identical, the candidate who passed matriculation earlier is placed first. A separate merit list is prepared trade-wise and community-wise.
Stage 3: Document Verification
Call letters for document verification are issued to 1.5 times the number of identified slots. Carry every original certificate — any deviation in your name, father’s name or date of birth against your matriculation certificate leads to cancellation of your candidature and also debarment.
Stage 4: Medical Examination
You must be declared medically fit. The medical certificate has to be signed by a government authorised doctor not below the rank of Assistant Surgeon of a Central or State Hospital, in the format given at Annexure-A of the notification. Since there is no exam to clear, spend your energy on keeping documents ready instead — you can still browse our exam preparation guides for other railway posts.
How to Apply Online for RCF Kapurthala Apprentice Recruitment 2026?
Before you start, keep these ready: your matriculation certificate, ITI/NTC certificate, caste certificate if applicable (OBC candidates must also produce a Non-Creamy Layer certificate at document verification), a passport-size colour photograph (3.5cm x 3.5cm, JPG, 20-70 KB) and your scanned signature (JPG, 20-30 KB).
- Visit the official RCF online application portal (direct link given in the Essential Links section below).
- Fill your personal details and bio-data exactly as printed on your matriculation certificate — name, father’s name and date of birth must match perfectly.
- Select the trade you want to apply for, based on your NTC. Submit one application only — the notice warns that multiple applications with different particulars (name, father’s name, community, photo, qualifications, or even a different email ID or mobile number) will all be summarily rejected.
- Upload your recent passport-size photograph and signature in the prescribed size and format.
- Submit the form and note down the Registration Number generated — you will need it at every later stage.
- Check every detail once more, then pay the application fee online after 02 working days through the payment link provided inside the form, and save the e-receipt. No change or edit is allowed once the fee is paid.
- Take a printout of the completed application. Do not send any hard copy by post — it is only needed at document verification.
What are the Important Dates for RCF Kapurthala Apprentice 2026?
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Notification Released | 7 August 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply Online | 5 September 2026 (24:00 hrs) |
| Age Reckoned As On | 5 September 2026 |
| Result Declaration | Target: within 45 days of closing date |
What is the Application Fee for RCF Kapurthala Apprentice 2026?
| Category | Fee |
|---|---|
| General / UR / OBC and all others | ₹100 (non-refundable) |
| SC / ST / PWD / Women candidates | No Fee |
Payment is accepted in online mode only — debit card, credit card, internet banking or SBI challan through the gateway built into the application form. RCF Kapurthala will not accept any offline payment.
Essential Links — RCF Kapurthala Apprentice Recruitment 2026
- Download Official Notification PDF
- Apply Online for RCF Kapurthala Act Apprentice 2026
- Visit Rail Coach Factory Kapurthala Official Website
- Join WhatsApp Channel for Government Jobs
- Join Telegram Channel for Government Jobs
- Join Telegram for Punjab Govt Jobs
With 734 seats, no written exam and selection based only on the marks you have already earned, this is genuinely one of the easiest railway opportunities to try for this year. If your 10th and ITI marks are decent, there is no reason to sit this one out. Just make sure your application reaches before 5 September 2026 — the link closes at 24:00 hours sharp. Keep visiting GovtJobsAlert.in for more Punjab government job updates and every new railway notification.