East Central Railway Apprentices Online Form 2025 – Complete Notification, Apply Now

East Central Railway is one of the zones of Indian Railways, headquartered in Patna, Bihar. It covers divisions such as Danapur, Dhanbad, Samastipur, Sonpur, and Pt. Deen Dayal Upadhyaya (DDU). ECR plays a crucial role in rail connectivity in eastern and central Indian states.

Apprenticeship Scheme Under Indian Railways

The apprenticeship scheme is governed by the Apprentices Act, 1961, which mandates that establishments train a certain number of apprentices. Under this, Indian Railways engages “Act Apprentices” in various trades to provide hands-on training, technical exposure, and learning under shop-floor conditions.

This 2025 drive is not just a recruitment—it’s training + skill development + potential career path.

Notification & Key Dates

Official Notification

On 25 January 2025, the RRC ECR released Notification No. RRC/ECR/HRD/Act. Apprentices/2024-25 inviting online applications for apprentice engagement.

Application Window

Start Date for Online Application: 25 January 2025

Closing Date / Last Time: 14 February 2025 (by 23:59 hrs)

There was also Notice No. 02/2024-25 dated 14 February 2025 regarding extension of application period.

Also, a fresh notification for 2025-26 was published on 26 September 2025 indicating a new cycle.

Keep in mind: these dates are firm. Once the window closes, late applications are not accepted.

Vacancy & Division-wise Details

Total Vacancies

The 2025 drive offers 1,154 Act Apprentice posts across ECR.
Some sources mention 1,149 vacancies, possibly after adjustments.

Division / Unit Allocation

Here’s how those posts are spread across divisions / units:

Division / Unit	Number of Posts
Danapur	675
Dhanbad	156
Pt. Deen Dayal Upadhyaya (DDU)	64
Sonpur	47
Samastipur	46
Plant Depot / DDU	29
Carriage Repair Workshop (Harnaut)	110
Mechanical Workshop / Samastipur	27

Note: The actual trade-wise division (how many in each technical trade) is given in the official notification PDF.

Eligibility Criteria

Educational Qualification

10th class / Matriculation (or equivalent under 10+2 system) with minimum 50% marks in aggregate.

ITI in relevant trade, recognized by NCVT / SCVT. The trade should correspond to the trade required by the ECR unit. While filling your application, you must ensure that your trade is one of those specified in the notification for your selected unit.

Age Limit & Relaxations

Minimum Age: 15 years (as on 1 January 2025)

Maximum Age: 24 years (as on 1 January 2025)

Relaxations:

SC / ST: +5 years

OBC (Non-Creamy Layer): +3 years

Persons with Disabilities (PWD): as per rules
(Check the official notification for exact norms and proof requirements)

If your mark percentage or age is borderline, always re-check with the legal notification PDF. Don’t rely solely on summary websites.

Domicile / Residency / Local Requirements

The notification doesn’t explicitly enforce strict local domicile requirements; however, candidates from the zone or nearby areas may get preference in tie-breaks or allocation of trades.

Selection Process & Merit Calculation

Merit-Based Selection

There is no written examination in this recruitment. The selection is purely on merit basis, combining marks from:

Matric / 10th (50%)

ITI (50%)

These two are given equal weightage in computing your final ranking.

Tie-Breakers & Preference Rules

If two candidates score the same final mark, application of tie-breakers is needed:

Older candidate gets preference.

If dates of birth also match, then the candidate who passed matriculation earlier is preferred.

After merit list, shortlisted candidates must pass:

Document verification (proof of age, education, ITI, identity, caste certificate, etc.)

Medical fitness test (as required by railway rules)

Only candidates who clear all these stages will be finally enlisted for apprenticeship training.

How to Apply: Online Form Process

Here’s a step-by-step walkthrough for filling east central railway apprentices online form 2025:

Step 1: New Registration

Go to RRC/ECR official portal (rrcrail.in or related ECR site)

Click on “New Registration”

Provide basic details: Name, DOB, mobile number, email, and generate registration ID & password.

Step 2: Login & Filling Application

Use registration ID + password to log in

Fill in personal details, educational qualifications, trade choice, address, etc.

Select one Division / Unit in order of preference (you can pick only one as per notification)

Step 3: Upload Documents

Prepare digital copies of:

Passport size photograph (specs: eg. ~3.5 × 3.5 cm, JPEG, 20–50 KB)

Signature & Left-hand thumb impression (scaled as per specs)

Educational certificates (10th / matric mark sheet, passing certificate)

ITI certificate & mark sheet

Caste / category certificate (if applicable)

Disability / PWD certificate (if applicable)

Identity proof (Aadhaar, PAN, etc.)

Ensure file sizes, format (JPEG, PDF), and dimensions strictly follow instructions in official notification.

Step 4: Pay Application Fee (if applicable)

Fee for General / OBC / EWS category: ₹100

SC / ST / PWD / Women: No fee (exempted)

Payment modes: Debit Card, Credit Card, Net Banking, UPI etc.

After payment, a transaction acknowledgment will be generated. Save or screenshot it.

Step 5: Submit & Take Printout

Review the filled form carefully (no multiple/duplicate applications allowed)

Submit the final form

After submission, download or print the filled application and receipt / confirmation page for future reference

Conclusion

The east central railway apprentices online form 2025 recruitment is a big opportunity for youth who have completed matriculation and ITI in relevant trades. With over 1,100 positions across divisions like Danapur, Dhanbad, Samastipur, and more, this drive opens doors into Indian Railways. The selection is merit-based (no exam), and emphasis on accuracy, eligibility, and timely submission is paramount.