RailTel Corporation of India Limited (RCIL), a Navratna Public Sector Undertaking under the Ministry of Railways, Government of India, has released Notification No. RCIL/2024/P&A/27/1 dated 28 July 2026 inviting online applications for engagement as Apprentices under the Apprentices Act, 1961 for 40 posts – 32 Graduate Engineer Apprentices and 8 Diploma Engineer Apprentices. Applications are accepted online only through the National Apprenticeship Training Scheme (NATS) 2.0 Portal at nats.education.gov.in. Eligible candidates aged 18 to 27 years as on 28 July 2026 holding a full-time AICTE-approved engineering degree or diploma with 60% aggregate in Electronics and Telecommunication, Computer Science, Electrical or related branches can apply on or before 27 August 2026. Postings are across RailTel’s Corporate Office in New Delhi / Gurgaon and Northern, Eastern, Southern and Western regional locations pan-India. The engagement is for one year with a monthly stipend of Rs. 14,000 for Graduate Apprentices and Rs. 12,000 for Diploma Apprentices.
Important Note: Two eligibility conditions rule out a large share of applicants and must be checked before applying. First, candidates who completed their qualifying degree or diploma more than 3 years ago are not eligible. Second, candidates who already have 1 year or more of post-qualification work experience are not eligible, and neither are candidates who have already completed, terminated midway, or are currently undergoing any apprenticeship. Distance learning and part-time mode qualifications are also not accepted. Additionally, the application is not on RailTel’s own website. It is on the Government of India’s NATS 2.0 portal at nats.education.gov.in, and candidates who are not already registered there must complete registration before applying. This apprenticeship does not carry any right to regular employment with RailTel after completion.
RailTel Apprentice Recruitment 2026 – Overview
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Organisation | RailTel Corporation of India Limited (RCIL) |
| Classification | Navratna Central Public Sector Enterprise, Ministry of Railways |
| Notification No. | RCIL/2024/P&A/27/1 |
| Notification Date | 28 July 2026 |
| Posts | Graduate Engineer Apprentice, Diploma Engineer Apprentice |
| Total Vacancies | 40 (tentative) |
| Engagement Type | Apprenticeship Training under the Apprentices Act, 1961 |
| Duration | 1 Year |
| Age Limit | 18 to 27 years as on 28 July 2026 |
| Minimum Qualification | Full-time AICTE-approved B.E. / B.Tech (4 years) or Diploma (3 years), 60% aggregate |
| Eligible Branches | Electronics and Telecommunication, Telecommunication, Computer Science and Engineering / IT, Electrical Engineering, Electronics Engineering, or relevant combination branch |
| Mode of Application | Online only, through NATS 2.0 portal at nats.education.gov.in |
| Last Date to Apply | 27 August 2026 |
| Job Locations | Corporate Office New Delhi / Gurgaon and Northern, Eastern, Southern, Western regional locations pan-India |
| Official Website | railtelindia.com |
Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Notification Released | 28 July 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply Online | 27 August 2026 |
| Engagement Start Date | Not specified in the notification |
Vacancy Details
| S.No. | Post | No. of Posts |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Graduate Engineer Apprentice | 32 (tentative) |
| 2 | Diploma Engineer Apprentice | 8 (tentative) |
| Total | 40 |
Note: The number and locations of posts are indicative and may change without further notice. Reservation will follow the Apprentices Act, 1961 and Apprenticeship Rules, 1992.
Educational Qualification
| Post | Qualification |
|---|---|
| Graduate Engineer Apprentice | Full-time regular 4-year B.E. / B.Tech in Engineering or Technology from an AICTE-approved institution, with minimum 60% aggregate marks, in: Electronics and Telecommunication Engineering; or Telecommunication Engineering; or Computer Science and Engineering / Information Technology; or Electrical Engineering; or Electronics Engineering; or any combination branch where Electronics is one of the main branches (such as Electronics and Instrumentation). Alternatively, Sections A and B of the Institution of Engineers (India) examinations in the relevant branches, or the Graduate Membership Examination of the Institution of Electronics and Telecommunication Engineers (India). |
| Diploma Engineer Apprentice | Full-time regular 3-year Diploma in Engineering or Technology from an AICTE-approved institution, with minimum 60% aggregate marks, in the same branches as above. |
Not eligible: qualifications obtained through distance learning or part-time mode.
Age Limit
| Category | Age Limit (as on 28 July 2026) |
|---|---|
| General | 18 to 27 years |
| SC / ST / OBC | Age relaxation as per Presidential / Government directives (specific years not stated in the notification) |
Experience Condition
The following candidates are not eligible to apply:
- Those who have 1 year or more of post-qualification work experience (excluding teaching, internship and apprenticeship, which do not count as work experience).
- Those who completed their degree or diploma more than 3 years ago.
- Those who have already completed an apprenticeship under the Apprentices Act with any organisation.
- Those who terminated an apprenticeship midway.
- Those currently undergoing an apprenticeship with another organisation.
Stipend
| Post | Monthly Stipend | RailTel Share | Government / DBT Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Graduate Engineer Apprentice | Rs. 14,000 | Rs. 9,500 | Rs. 4,500 |
| Diploma Engineer Apprentice | Rs. 12,000 | Rs. 8,000 | Rs. 4,000 |
No other benefit, facility or allowance is payable apart from this consolidated stipend.
Job Locations
Apprentices may be posted at the Corporate Office (New Delhi / Gurgaon) or at any of the following RailTel regional locations, or anywhere on a pan-India basis. Candidates may indicate a preferred location, but allotment depends on RailTel’s presence there.
Northern Region: Delhi, Jaipur, Lucknow, Gorakhpur, Bareilly, Amritsar, Rohtak, Chandigarh, Jodhpur, Ajmer, Bikaner, Agra, Jhansi, Aligarh, Roorkee, Moradabad, Delhi/NCR, Kanpur, Banda, Prayagraj, Varanasi, Mau.
Eastern Region: Kolkata, Malda, Asansol, Patna, Dhanbad, Samastipur, Sonepur, Muzaffarpur, Gaya, Ranchi, Bhubaneswar, Guwahati, New Jalpaiguri.
Southern Region: Secunderabad, Bangalore, Chennai, Vijayawada.
Western Region: Nagpur, Bhopal, Ahmedabad, Mumbai.
Selection Process
- A merit list is prepared region / state / location-wise on receipt of online applications, with preference given to Government Institution pass-outs.
- Shortlisting is based on marks in the qualifying degree or diploma and / or through an interview, as required.
- Only candidates found medically fit as per RailTel’s norms will be considered for engagement.
- Merely meeting the eligibility criteria does not guarantee selection.
Application Fee
Not mentioned in the notification.
Required Documents (to Upload on NATS 2.0 Portal)
- Certificate showing percentage or CGPA in the qualifying degree or diploma, uploaded under the “Upload Certificate” column.
- If the certificate shows only CGPA, the CGPA-to-percentage conversion formula or certificate must also be uploaded.
- Annexure I (Undertaking), duly filled and signed, as provided with the official notification.
- All documents must be combined into a single PDF file of less than 1 MB.
How to Apply for RailTel Apprentice Recruitment 2026
- Visit the official RailTel careers page to download the notification and Annexure I – Click Here
- Download the official notification PDF from the RailTel careers page – Click Here
- Open the NATS 2.0 portal – Click Here
- If not already registered on NATS 2.0, complete registration first. Follow the student manual available on the portal.
- Log in and apply for RailTel Corporation – Graduate Engineer Apprentice or Diploma Engineer Apprentice, as applicable.
- Fill in all details carefully and upload the certificate, CGPA conversion document (if applicable) and signed Annexure I as a single PDF under 1 MB.
- Submit the application on or before 27 August 2026.
- No other mode of application will be accepted under any circumstances.
Important Instructions
- Post numbers and locations are tentative and may change without notice.
- The apprenticeship is strictly for one year and creates no right to regular employment with RailTel at any stage.
- Reservation will follow the Apprentices Act, 1961 and Apprenticeship Rules, 1992. If reserved category candidates are not available, posts will be filled from other categories.
- The decision of RailTel’s management on eligibility, acceptance or rejection of applications, and selection is final and binding. No correspondence will be entertained.
- Candidates are advised to keep their NATS 2.0 registration details and email active for all future communication.
Important Links
| Description | Link |
|---|---|
| Official Notification PDF (RailTel Careers Page) | Click Here |
| Apply Online – NATS 2.0 Portal (Government of India) | Click Here |
| NATS Student / Applicant Manual | Click Here |
| RailTel Official Website | Click Here |
RailTel Apprentice Recruitment 2026 – FAQs
Q1. How many posts are available in RailTel Apprentice Recruitment 2026?
✅ 40 posts (tentative) – 32 Graduate Engineer Apprentices and 8 Diploma Engineer Apprentices, under Notification No. RCIL/2024/P&A/27/1 dated 28 July 2026.
Q2. What is the last date to apply?
✅ 27 August 2026, through the NATS 2.0 portal at nats.education.gov.in. No other mode is accepted.
Q3. Where do I apply – on the RailTel website?
✅ No. Applications must be submitted through the Government of India’s NATS 2.0 portal at nats.education.gov.in. Register there first if you are not already registered.
Q4. What qualification is required?
✅ A full-time AICTE-approved B.E. / B.Tech (4-year) for Graduate Apprentice, or Diploma (3-year) for Diploma Apprentice, with minimum 60% aggregate in Electronics and Telecommunication, Computer Science, Electrical, Electronics or related combination branches.
Q5. I completed my degree 4 years ago. Am I eligible?
✅ No. Candidates who completed their qualifying degree or diploma more than 3 years before the date of notification are not eligible.
Q6. I have 1 year of work experience. Can I apply?
✅ No. Candidates who have 1 year or more of post-qualification executive or work experience are not eligible for this apprenticeship.
Q7. What is the stipend?
✅ Rs. 14,000 per month for Graduate Engineer Apprentices and Rs. 12,000 per month for Diploma Engineer Apprentices, shared between RailTel and the Government of India (DBT). No other allowance is payable.
Q8. What is the age limit?
✅ 18 to 27 years as on 28 July 2026, with relaxation for SC / ST / OBC candidates as per Government directives.
Q9. Will I get a job at RailTel after the apprenticeship?
✅ No. This is a training engagement under the Apprentices Act, 1961. It creates no right or claim to regular employment with RailTel at any point.
Q10. I studied through distance learning. Am I eligible?
✅ No. Only full-time regular degree or diploma holders from AICTE-approved institutions are eligible. Distance learning and part-time qualifications are explicitly excluded.
Disclaimer
The information above is compiled from Notification No. RCIL/2024/P&A/27/1 dated 28 July 2026 issued by RailTel Corporation of India Limited for apprentice engagement under the Apprentices Act, 1961. The number of posts and locations are tentative and may change at RailTel’s discretion. Candidates are strongly advised to download the complete official notification from railtelindia.com and read all eligibility conditions carefully before applying through the NATS 2.0 portal. All links provided above lead only to official Government of India or RailTel websites.
