⚠️ Important Notice: The online registration process for SECR Railway Act Apprentice Recruitment 2026 (Raipur Division & Wagon Repair Shop) was open from May 5, 2026 to June 4, 2026 and is currently closed. This article serves as a permanent reference guide detailing trade-wise ITI eligibility, NAPS portal registration rules, merit calculation formulas, and monthly stipend structures for candidates tracking South East Central Railway (SECR) vacancy cycles. The South East Central Railway (SECR), a prominent zonal unit of Indian Railways headquartered at Bilaspur, officially released the recruitment notification for 1,644 Act Apprentice vacancies for the Raipur Division and the Wagon Repair Shop (WRS) in Chhattisgarh. Conducted under the Apprentices Act, 1961, this engagement drive covers 13 distinct technical and non-technical ITI trades including Fitter, Electrician, Welder, COPA, and Stenographer. Notably, the selection process features no competitive written examination, skill test, or interview. Candidates are shortlisted purely based on an academic merit list calculated from Class 10th and ITI marks. 📌 SECR Railway Apprentice Recruitment 2026: Key Overview Particulars Details Recruiting Organization South East Central Railway (SECR) / Indian Railways Operational Division Raipur Division & Wagon Repair Shop (WRS), Raipur Post Name Trade Apprentice / Act Apprentice Total Vacancies 1,644 Training Slots Trade Count 13 Trades (Fitter, Electrician, Welder, COPA, etc.) Educational Qualification Class 10th Pass (50% Marks) + ITI Certificate (NCVT/SCVT) Age Bracket 15 to 24 Years (As of May 5, 2026) Selection Mode Pure Academic Merit List + Document Verification Application Fee ₹0/- (Free for All Candidates) Official Application Portal apprenticeshipindia.gov.in (NAPS Portal) 📅 SECR Apprentice 2026: Official Recruitment Schedule Recruitment Stage Official Timeline Official Notification Release Date April 2026 Online Application Window Start Date May 5, 2026 Closing Date to Apply Online June 4, 2026 (11:59 PM) Publication of Shortlisted Candidates (Merit List) To Be Announced Document Verification Schedule Post Merit List Announcement 🏢 Trade-Wise Vacancy Distribution The 1,644 apprentice seats are allocated across 13 ITI trades in the Raipur Division and Wagon Repair Shop: Trade Name Raipur Division Slots Wagon Repair Shop (WRS) Slots Total Vacancies Fitter 210 140 350 Electrician 220 110 330 Welder (Gas & Electric) 180 130 310 COPA (Computer Operator) 150 40 190 Machinist 40 35 75 Turner 35 30 65 Mechanic Diesel 80 — 80 Stenographer (English / Hindi) 45 15 60 Other Specialized Trades (Wireman, Painter, Plumber, etc.) 114 70 184 Total Slots 1,074 570 1,644 🎓 Detailed Educational & Technical Eligibility Candidates must fulfill both academic and technical requirements on or before the cutoff date: General Educational Qualification: Must have passed Class 10th (Matriculation) under the 10+2 examination system with a minimum of 50% aggregate marks from a recognized Board. Technical Qualification: Must possess a National Trade Certificate (NTC) or National Apprenticeship Certificate (NAC) in the relevant trade issued by NCVT (National Council for Vocational Training) or SCVT (State Council for Vocational Training). Ineligible Qualifications: ITI certificates from unrecognized private institutes lacking NCVT/SCVT affiliation will be rejected during Document Verification. 🔞 Age Limit Criteria & Relaxations (As of 05 May 2026) Minimum Age Limit: 15 Years Maximum Age Limit (General / EWS): 24 Years Category-Wise Upper Age Relaxations Category Upper Age Relaxation Effective Maximum Age General / EWS No Relaxation 24 Years OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) 3 Years 27 Years SC / ST 5 Years 29 Years Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD) 10 Years 34 Years Ex-Servicemen 10 Years + Length of Military Service As per rules 💵 Monthly Stipend Structure Selected candidates receive a monthly stipend during their 1-year training period in accordance with the Apprenticeship Rules, 1992 and Ministry of Skill Development guidelines: Class 10th + 1-Year ITI Trades (Welder, COPA): Approximately ₹7,700 to ₹8,050 per month. Class 10th + 2-Year ITI Trades (Fitter, Electrician, Machinist): Approximately ₹8,050 to ₹9,000 per month. Note: Apprentices are engaged as trainees and are not entitled to standard government employee benefits such as HRA, DA, or medical reimbursements. ⚙️ Merit Calculation Formula & Selection Process Selection is conducted through a transparent merit list system without any written test: 1. How Merit Marks Are Calculated The merit list is compiled taking an equal weightage average of percentage marks scored in Class 10th and ITI: Final Merit Percentage = (Class 10th Aggregate % + ITI Aggregate %) / 2 Example: If a candidate scores 70% in Class 10th and 80% in ITI, their final calculated merit percentage is (70 + 80)/2 = 75%. 2. Document Verification (DV) Candidates ranking within the cutoff threshold on the merit list are summoned to the SECR Divisional Office in Raipur for verification of original marksheets, caste certificates, and NAPS profile records. 📄 Documents Required for NAPS Profile & Verification Keep these soft and hard copies prepared for verification rounds: Class 10th Marksheet and Passing Certificate (Date of Birth proof). NCVT / SCVT ITI Marksheet (All Semesters) and Final Trade Certificate. Category Certificate (SC/ST/OBC-NCL/EWS) issued in Central Government format by a competent authority. 100% Completed NAPS (National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme) Profile Copy. Aadhaar Card and Bank Account Passbook (linked with Aadhaar for stipend transfer). Recent Passport-Size Photographs (Light Background). 📝 Step-by-Step Guide: How Online Registration Worked Visited the official Apprenticeship India portal at apprenticeshipindia.gov.in. Completed candidate registration and ensured the NAPS profile completion status reached 100%. Navigated to Apprenticeship Opportunities on the top menu bar. Searched for establishment name: "South East Central Railway - Raipur" or "Wagon Repair Shop Raipur". Selected the specific trade matching the ITI certificate (e.g., Fitter, Electrician) and clicked Apply for this Opportunity. Reviewed entered details, submitted the application, and downloaded the summary receipt for personal records. ⚠️ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) 1. Is there any written exam or interview for SECR Railway Apprentice 2026? No. Selection is strictly merit-based, calculated from the average percentage of marks obtained in Class 10th and the ITI examination. 2. Does completing an SECR apprenticeship guarantee a permanent job in Indian Railways? No. Completing an apprenticeship yields a National Apprenticeship Certificate (NAC). While it does not guarantee direct absorption, NAC holders receive a 20% quota reservation and age relaxation during Level-1 (Group D) recruitment exams conducted by RRB. 3. Are ITI certificates from SCVT recognized for SECR Apprentice recruitment? Yes. Both NCVT and SCVT recognized ITI trade certificates are accepted for SECR Railway Act Apprentice posts. 4. Is there any application fee to apply for SECR Apprentice 2026? No. Applying for SECR Railway Apprentice vacancies via the NAPS portal is completely free of cost for all candidate categories. Disclaimer: Govt Result Alert is an independent informational website providing news on public sector apprenticeship drives and technical recruitments. We are not officially affiliated with South East Central Railway (SECR) or Indian Railways. Applicants are advised to verify all official updates directly at apprenticeshipindia.gov.in or secr.indianrailways.gov.in. 📊 Expert Cutoff Analysis & Preparation Strategy for SECR Railway Apprentice Based on our editorial analysis of previous recruitment cycles and increasing competition trends, candidates must aim for safe target scores rather than merely clearing the minimum qualifying benchmark: Expected Safe Target: General/UR candidates should target 78%–84% marks in the written examination, while OBC/EWS aspirants should aim for 74%–80%. Focus Areas: Prioritize high-scoring sections such as General Intelligence & Reasoning and Quantitative Aptitude. Daily revision of static General Awareness and current affairs from the past 6 months is essential. Time Management: Practice with full-length sectional and mock tests strictly in timed exam conditions to improve accuracy and eliminate negative marking errors.