Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation Limited (IRCTC), East Zone, Kolkata has invited applications for 44 apprentice trainees for the financial year 2026-27 under the Apprentices Act – 34 Graduate Apprentice seats for any degree holders and 10 Computer Operator and Programming Assistant (COPA) seats for 10th pass plus ITI candidates. Stipend is Rs. 12,300 per month for Graduate Apprentices and Rs. 9,600 per month for COPA apprentices, each for a 12-month training period. Applications are online on apprenticeshipindia.gov.in or nats.education.gov.in from 9 October 2026 to 26 October 2026. There is no written test – selection is entirely on merit based on percentage of marks.
This is a training engagement under the Apprentices Act. Apprentices are released at the end of the training period and have no claim to regular employment in IRCTC in any form.
Important Note:
- Apply online on apprenticeshipindia.gov.in or nats.education.gov.in before 26 October 2026 – ensure your name, father’s name and date of birth on your portal profile exactly match your Matriculation certificate. Any mismatch found at document verification cancels your candidature.
- Your percentage of marks is the only selection criterion – enter all marks accurately and upload year-wise mark sheets for every qualification from Matriculation onwards. Incomplete applications are rejected.
- No fee is payable to anyone at any stage. IRCTC has appointed no agents. Report any demand for money immediately.
Overview
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Organisation | Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation Limited (IRCTC), East Zone |
| Zonal Office | 5th Floor, Duckback House, 41 Shakespeare Sarani, Kolkata – 700017 |
| Notification Number | IRCTC/EZ/HRD/Apprentices/2026-27, dated 9 October 2026 |
| Posts | Graduate Apprentice and Computer Operator and Programming Assistant (COPA) |
| Total Seats | 44 (subject to change – any revision published on irctc.com) |
| Training Duration | 12 months |
| Application Mode | Online – apprenticeshipindia.gov.in or nats.education.gov.in |
| Application Fee | Not mentioned |
| Application Last Date | 26 October 2026 |
| Cut-off Date for Age and Qualification | 9 October 2026 |
| Selection | Merit list on percentage of marks – no written test, no interview |
| Official Website | irctc.com |
Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Notification Date | 9 October 2026 |
| Online Application Opens | 9 October 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply Online | 26 October 2026 |
| Cut-off Date for Age, Qualification and EWS Certificate | 9 October 2026 |
| Document Verification | Schedule communicated by email only – be ready at short notice |
Vacancy and Stipend Details
| Post | Seats | Duration | Stipend per Month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Graduate Apprentice | 34 | 12 months | Rs. 12,300 |
| Computer Operator and Programming Assistant (COPA) | 10 | 12 months | Rs. 9,600 |
| Total | 44 |
Seat numbers may increase or decrease. Any change will be published on the official IRCTC website at irctc.com.
Eligibility Criteria
Educational Qualification
| Post | Qualification Required |
|---|---|
| Graduate Apprentice | Graduate in any discipline from a recognised university with minimum 50% marks in aggregate |
| COPA | Matriculation (10th) pass and ITI certificate in COPA (NCVT or SCVT) with minimum 50% marks in aggregate from a recognised board |
The qualifying degree or ITI certificate must be held on the cut-off date of 9 October 2026. Candidates whose results are not declared by this date are not eligible.
Age Limit
Candidates must have completed 15 years and not completed 25 years on 9 October 2026. Date of birth range for unreserved candidates: 10 October 2001 to 9 October 2011 (both inclusive).
Age Relaxation:
| Category | Relaxation |
|---|---|
| SC/ST | 5 years |
| OBC | 3 years |
| Ex-Servicemen | 10 years |
| Persons with Benchmark Disability (PwBD) | 10 years |
Willingness to Work Across East Zone
Selected candidates must be willing to work at any of IRCTC’s East Zone offices: Zonal Office at Kolkata, Regional Offices at Guwahati and Patna, and Area Offices at Howrah, Sealdah, Asansol, New Jalpaiguri, Ranchi, and Tatanagar. Requests to change training location after selection are not entertained.
Application Fee
No application fee is mentioned in the official notification. No money is to be paid to any person or agency in connection with this recruitment. IRCTC has not appointed any agent for this purpose.
Selection Process
| Stage | Details |
|---|---|
| 1 | Merit list prepared on percentage of marks in the qualifying examination |
| 2 | Document verification (originals and two sets of self-attested photocopies) |
There is no written test and no interview. Selection is purely on merit based on marks. Tie-break rule: the older candidate is preferred; if dates of birth are the same, the candidate who passed Matriculation earlier is preferred. A stand-by list is prepared and used only to fill vacancies arising from absentees or rejected candidates.
No daily allowance, conveyance, or travelling allowance is paid for attending document verification.
How to Apply for IRCTC East Zone Apprentice Recruitment 2026
- Before registering, ensure your name, father’s name, and date of birth on your portal profile will exactly match your Matriculation certificate. Any mismatch at document verification cancels candidature and can lead to debarment.
- Visit apprenticeshipindia.gov.in (for COPA/ITI category) or nats.education.gov.in (for Graduate Apprentice category). Register as a candidate on the relevant portal and activate your profile from the confirmation email.
- Log in and complete your profile – personal details, date of birth, address, educational qualifications from Matriculation onwards, and bank account details.
- Enter marks for every qualification accurately. Since selection is based purely on percentage of marks, accuracy here is critical.
- Upload year-wise mark sheets with pass certificates for all qualifications. Applications incomplete in any respect are rejected outright.
- Upload a recent colour passport-size photograph (3.5 cm x 4.5 cm, taken within three months, clear front view without cap or sunglasses, JPG/JPEG format, 100 DPI, file size 20 KB to 70 KB).
- Apply against the IRCTC East Zone apprenticeship opportunity listed on the portal before 26 October 2026.
- Keep your portal registration details safe. You will need them at the time of document verification.
Documents Required at Document Verification
Candidates must bring originals and two sets of self-attested photocopies of the following:
- 10th mark sheet and pass certificate (and date of birth proof if not on 10th certificate)
- ITI mark sheets and National Trade Certificate or Provisional NTC issued by NCVT/SCVT (COPA applicants)
- 12th mark sheet and certificate, if applicable
- Graduation mark sheets (all years) and degree certificate (Graduate Apprentice applicants)
- Caste certificate for SC/ST
- OBC (non-creamy layer) certificate issued within the last one year, in Government of India format
- Disability certificate (PwBD, 40% or more disability)
- Discharge or serving certificate (ex-servicemen)
- EWS income and asset certificate issued by a competent authority and held on the closing date of 26 October 2026 (EWS candidates)
Important Instructions
- This is a 12-month training engagement only. Apprentices are released at the end of training and have no claim to regular employment in IRCTC in any form.
- Apply on the correct portal for your category – apprenticeshipindia.gov.in or nats.education.gov.in.
- Enter all marks accurately. The percentage you enter and upload determines your merit rank.
- Photograph must be recent (within three months), clear, and as specified. A visible mismatch at verification leads to rejection.
- The document verification schedule is communicated by email only, at short notice. Keep your registered email and mobile number active at all times.
- No fee is payable to anyone. IRCTC has no appointed agents. Report any demand for payment immediately.
- Once selected, requests to change trade are not entertained.
- Any revision to seat numbers will be published on irctc.com.
Important Links
| Description | Link |
|---|---|
| IRCTC Official Website (Apprentice Notifications and Seat Revision Updates) | Click Here |
| Apprenticeship India Portal (NAPS) – Online Registration | Click Here |
| NATS Portal – National Apprenticeship Training Scheme | Click Here |
FAQs
What is the IRCTC East Zone Apprentice Recruitment 2026?
It is a notification by IRCTC East Zone, Kolkata for 44 apprentice training seats for FY 2026-27 – 34 Graduate Apprentice and 10 COPA – under the Apprentices Act. Training is for 12 months at IRCTC’s East Zone offices.
What is the last date to apply?
The online application window closes on 26 October 2026. Applications must be submitted on apprenticeshipindia.gov.in or nats.education.gov.in before this date.
Is there a written test or interview?
No. Selection is based entirely on merit – percentage of marks in the qualifying examination. There is no written test and no interview.
What is the stipend?
Rs. 12,300 per month for Graduate Apprentices and Rs. 9,600 per month for COPA apprentices, for the 12-month training period.
What is the age limit?
Candidates must have completed 15 years and not completed 25 years on 9 October 2026. Relaxation of 5 years for SC/ST, 3 years for OBC, and 10 years each for ex-servicemen and PwBD candidates applies.
Can final-year students apply?
Only if the degree or ITI result is declared and the certificate is held on the cut-off date of 9 October 2026. Results declared after this date do not qualify.
Will I get a job in IRCTC after the apprenticeship?
No. Apprentices are released after the 12-month training period and have no claim to regular employment in IRCTC in any form.
Where will I be posted for training?
At any East Zone office – Kolkata, Guwahati, Patna, Howrah, Sealdah, Asansol, New Jalpaiguri, Ranchi, or Tatanagar. Willingness to work at any of these is a condition of applying.
Is there an application fee?
No application fee is mentioned in the notification. No money is payable to anyone. IRCTC has not appointed any agents.
Disclaimer
The information in this article is based on the official IRCTC East Zone Apprentice Recruitment notification (No. IRCTC/EZ/HRD/Apprentices/2026-27) dated 9 October 2026, published on irctc.com. Seat numbers are subject to change and any revision will be published on the official IRCTC website. This is a training engagement under the Apprentices Act and does not constitute an offer of employment. Candidates must verify all details independently from the official notification before applying. JobShouter is not associated with IRCTC. This article is for informational purposes only.
