Rail Coach Factory (RCF), Kapurthala, under the Ministry of Railways, has released its 2026 notification for 734 Act Apprentice training seats. The openings span nine trades — Fitter, Welder, Machinist, Painter, Carpenter, Electrician, AC & Refrigeration Mechanic, Mechanic (Motor Vehicle), and Electronic Mechanic — and this drive is specifically for candidates who already hold an ITI/NCVT trade certificate. Online applications are open from 7 August 2026 to 5 September 2026, midnight. Here's the complete picture.
Table of Contents
About RCF Kapurthala
Rail Coach Factory, Kapurthala, is one of Indian Railways' key coach-manufacturing units, based in Punjab. Like other major railway production units, RCF runs an annual Act Apprentice programme under the Apprentices Act, 1961, giving ITI-qualified candidates a year of structured, hands-on training in core technical trades. This 2026 intake, spread across 734 seats and nine trades, is squarely aimed at candidates who've already completed their NCVT trade certification and are looking to build on it with practical shop-floor experience.
RCF Kapurthala Apprentice Recruitment 2026 – Overview
| Organization Name | Rail Coach Factory (RCF), Kapurthala, Ministry of Railways |
|---|---|
| Notice No. | A-1/2026, dated 7 Aug 2026 |
| Post Name | Act Apprentice |
| Trades | Fitter, Welder (G&E), Machinist, Painter (G), Carpenter, Electrician, AC & Ref. Mechanic, Mechanic (Motor Vehicle), Electronic Mechanic |
| Total Vacancies | 734 |
| Category | Govt Job (Railway Apprenticeship, under Apprentices Act 1961) |
| Job Location | Technical Training Centre, RCF Kapurthala, Punjab |
| Application Mode | Online |
| Application Start Date | 7 Aug 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply | 5 Sep 2026, till 24:00 hrs |
| Official Website | rcf.indianrailways.gov.in |
Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Notification Release Date | 7 Aug 2026 |
| Online Application Start Date | 7 Aug 2026 |
| Last Date to Submit Online Application | 5 Sep 2026, till 24:00 hrs |
| Fee Payment Window | Within 2 working days of completing the application form |
| Age Reckoning Date | 5 Sep 2026 |
Once the clock strikes midnight on 5 September 2026, the application link is deactivated for good — RCF has been clear that no further applications or correspondence will be entertained after that.
Vacancy Details / Trade Wise Break-up
The 734 seats are spread across nine trades, with Welder and Fitter together accounting for more than half the total intake.
| 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 |
Within these trade-wise totals, 4% of seats are reserved for PWD candidates and 3% for Ex-servicemen/children of Ex-servicemen and Armed Forces personnel, as per the official notification.
Eligibility Criteria
Educational Qualification
Candidates need to have passed 10th class (or its 10+2-system equivalent) with a minimum of 50% aggregate marks from a recognised board, along with a National Trade Certificate (NTC) in the relevant trade issued by the NCVT. If your results came as CGPA rather than percentage, RCF converts it by multiplying CGPA by 9.5 — so a CGPA of 7.4 works out to 70.3%.
Age Limit (as on 05 Sep 2026)
- Minimum Age: 15 Years
- Maximum Age: 24 Years
Age Relaxation
| Category | Age Relaxation |
|---|---|
| SC / ST | 5 Years |
| OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) | 3 Years |
| Persons with Disability (PWD) | 10 Years |
| Ex-servicemen | Up to 10 years, based on Defence service rendered plus 3 years, subject to a minimum of 6 months' continuous service |
Candidates claiming any of these relaxations need to produce the relevant caste, non-creamy layer, disability, or discharge certificate at Document Verification.
Stipend Details
RCF's notification keeps this section brief: stipend is paid as per the extant rules and directives issued by the Railway Board from time to time, rather than a fixed figure quoted in the notice itself. It's worth checking the official notification PDF closer to selection for the exact current rate.
One practical point worth flagging: no hostel accommodation is provided during training — selected candidates need to arrange their own stay in Kapurthala for the duration of the apprenticeship, as per the Apprentices Act, 1961.
Selection Process
There's no written exam or interview here — selection is entirely merit-based, built from your existing academic and trade certificates.
- Merit score = simple average of Matriculation percentage (min. 50% aggregate) and ITI/NTC percentage in the relevant trade
- Matriculation percentage calculated using marks from all subjects, not a selected group
- Tie-breaker: older candidate preferred first; if DOB also matches, whoever passed matriculation earlier ranks higher
- Trade-wise and community-wise merit lists prepared in descending order of marks, up to the number of available seats
- Document Verification call letters issued to up to 1.5 times the identified slots, where original certificates and medical fitness are checked
- Medical fitness required as per the Apprentices Act, 1961 and Apprenticeship Rules, 1992
Application Fee
| Category | Fee |
|---|---|
| UR / OBC (Male) | ₹100/- (non-refundable) |
| SC / ST / PWD / Women | No Fee |
| Payment Mode | Online only (Debit/Credit Card, Net Banking, SBI Challan) |
Fee payment must be completed within 2 working days of filling the form, or your application won't go through — no edits are allowed once the fee is paid, and it can't be adjusted against any other exam.
Required Documents
Keep these ready and scanned to the exact specifications before you start your application.
- Matriculation (10th) Certificate/Marksheet, showing all-subject marks
- National Trade Certificate (NTC) issued by NCVT, in the relevant trade
- Caste/Non-Creamy Layer/Disability/Discharge Certificate, as applicable, for claiming reservation benefits
- Passport-size colour photograph (3.5cm x 3.5cm, taken within the last 3 months, JPG/JPEG, 100 DPI, 20KB–70KB, no cap or sunglasses)
- Scanned signature (3.5cm x 3.5cm, JPG/JPEG, 100 DPI, 20KB–30KB)
How to Apply Online
- Visit the official RCF Kapurthala website: rcf.indianrailways.gov.in, and locate the Act Apprentice application link.
- Register and fill in personal details and bio-data carefully — your name, father's name, and date of birth must exactly match your matriculation certificate.
- Upload your scanned passport-size photograph and signature in the exact specified size and format.
- Review every field carefully — no changes are allowed once the fee is paid.
- Pay the ₹100 application fee online within 2 working days of completing the form, if applicable to your category.
- Submit the application, then save and print the e-receipt and completed form for your records.
Don't send any physical or offline copy to RCF by post or otherwise — only the online submission is valid, and the apply link stays active right up to 5 September 2026, 24:00 hours.
Important Instructions
- No hostel accommodation is provided — arrange your own stay in Kapurthala for the training period, at your own cost.
- This is apprenticeship training under the Apprentices Act, 1961; apprentices are released on completion of training, and no absorption into RCF or Railways is implied.
- Make sure your name, father's name, and date of birth match your matriculation certificate exactly — mismatches can cause rejection at Document Verification.
- Reservation benefits require the relevant certificate to be produced at Document Verification — not before.
- Keep checking the official website for updates, since all further communication happens only through the portal and registered contact details.
Why Should You Apply?
With 734 seats, a purely marks-based selection process, and no written exam standing between you and a training seat, this is a genuinely accessible next step for ITI-certified candidates who want to add practical, railway-manufacturing shop-floor experience to their NCVT qualification. The transparent merit-list process also makes it easy to gauge your own chances before you even apply.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1. How many vacancies are there in RCF Kapurthala Apprentice Recruitment 2026?
Ans: A total of 734 vacancies across nine trades — Fitter, Welder (G&E), Machinist, Painter (G), Carpenter, Electrician, AC & Ref. Mechanic, Mechanic (Motor Vehicle), and Electronic Mechanic.
Q2. What is the last date to apply for RCF Kapurthala Apprentice Recruitment 2026?
Ans: The online application must be submitted by 5 September 2026, up to 24:00 hours. It opened on 7 August 2026.
Q3. What is the qualification required?
Ans: 10th class (or equivalent) with at least 50% aggregate marks, plus a National Trade Certificate (NTC) in the relevant trade issued by the NCVT.
Q4. What is the age limit for this recruitment?
Ans: Candidates must be between 15 and 24 years of age as on 5 September 2026, with relaxation for SC/ST, OBC, PWD, and Ex-servicemen candidates.
Q5. What is the application fee?
Ans: ₹100, non-refundable, payable online only. SC, ST, PWD, and Women candidates are exempted.
Q6. What is the selection process for this recruitment?
Ans: Selection is based purely on a merit list from the average of matriculation and ITI/NTC marks — there's no written examination or interview.
Q7. How can I apply online?
Ans: Apply through the official website, rcf.indianrailways.gov.in, by registering, filling the form, uploading your photograph and signature, and paying the fee (if applicable) within 2 working days.
