Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC), East Zone, Kolkata, has released a fresh apprentice recruitment notification for the financial year 2026–27. IRCTC is inviting online applications for 44 apprentice trainees under the Apprentices Act, 1961. The recruitment includes 34 Graduate Apprentices (any degree with 50% aggregate) at a stipend of Rs. 12,300 per month, and 10 Computer Operator and Programming Assistant (COPA) apprentices (10th plus ITI with 50%) at Rs. 9,600 per month. This is an excellent opportunity for fresh graduates and ITI holders looking for IRCTC apprenticeship 2026 in Kolkata and other East Zone locations. Candidates must be between 15 and 25 years of age as on 9 October 2026, with relaxation for reserved categories. There is no written test and no interview — selection is based on a merit list of percentage of marks, followed by document verification. Applications can be submitted online between 9 October 2026 and 26 October 2026.
IRCTC East Zone Apprentice Recruitment 2026: Quick Overview
Here is a quick summary of the apprenticeship drive for easy reference:
- Company Name: Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation Ltd (IRCTC), East Zone, Kolkata
- Notification No.: IRCTC/EZ/HRD/Apprentices/2026-27, dated 9 October 2026
- Post Name: Graduate Apprentice and Computer Operator & Programming Assistant (COPA)
- Number of Posts: 44 (Graduate Apprentice 34, COPA 10)
- Application Mode: Online via apprenticeshipindia.gov.in or nats.education.gov.in
- Application Window: 9 October 2026 to 26 October 2026
- Cut-off Date: 9 October 2026 for age and qualification
- Place of Training: Kolkata, Guwahati, Patna, Howrah, Sealdah, Asansol, New Jalpaiguri, Ranchi, or Tatanagar
IRCTC Apprentice Vacancy Details: Seats & Stipend
There are a total of 44 apprentice seats available. The table below lists the position, number of seats, duration, and monthly stipend.
| Position | Seats & Stipend |
| Graduate Apprentice | 34 seats – Rs. 12,300 per month for 12 months |
| Computer Operator & Programming Assistant (COPA) | 10 seats – Rs. 9,600 per month for 12 months |
Important: Apprentices are released at the end of the training period and have no claim to regular employment in IRCTC in any form. Seat numbers may increase or decrease; any change is published on the IRCTC website.
IRCTC Apprentice Eligibility: Qualification & Age Limit
Candidates must meet the educational qualification and age criteria as on the cut-off date of 9 October 2026.
Educational Qualification
- Graduate Apprentice: A graduate in any discipline from a recognised university with at least 50% marks in aggregate.
- COPA: Matriculation and an ITI certificate in COPA affiliated to NCVT or SCVT, with at least 50% marks in aggregate from a recognised board.
- The qualification must be held on 9 October 2026, the cut-off date. Candidates whose final results are not declared by then do not meet the eligibility.
- Because selection is purely on marks, the percentage you enter and the mark sheets you upload decide the outcome.
Age Limit
- Minimum Age: Completed 15 years on 9 October 2026.
- Maximum Age: Not completed 25 years on 9 October 2026.
- Date of Birth Range (UR): Between 10 October 2001 and 9 October 2011 (both inclusive).
- Upper-Age Relaxation: SC/ST 5 years, OBC 3 years, ex-servicemen 10 years, persons with benchmark disability 10 years, as per Government of India guidelines.
Willingness to Work Across the East Zone
The notice states twice that applicants must be comfortable working at any of IRCTC's East Zone offices: the Zonal Office at Kolkata, Regional Offices at Guwahati and Patna, and Area Offices at Howrah, Sealdah, Asansol, New Jalpaiguri, Ranchi, and Tatanagar. Once selected, a request to change trade is not entertained, and withdrawal from training is allowed only for reasons beyond the candidate's control.
IRCTC Apprentice Selection Process & Application Fee
The selection process is merit-based with no written test or interview. There is no application fee mentioned in the notification.
Selection Process
- Merit List: Prepared on percentage of marks in the qualifying examination. There is no written test and no viva.
- Tie-Break: The older candidate is preferred; if dates of birth are the same, the candidate who passed Matriculation earlier.
- Document Verification: Candidates bring originals and two sets of self-attested photocopies. The schedule is advised by email only, at short notice. No daily, conveyance, or travelling allowance is paid.
- Offers: Issued strictly in merit order. A stand-by list is used only to fill places of absentees and rejected candidates.
- Training: Candidates are trained only in the trade for which they are selected.
Important Dates & How to Apply Online
Interested candidates must complete the online application process before the deadline. Applications incomplete in any respect are rejected.
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 | 9 October 2026 |
| Document Verification | Schedule sent by email only |
How to Apply
- Check that your name, father's name, and date of birth are recorded identically in your Matriculation certificate and your portal profile. Any deviation found at verification cancels the candidature and leads to debarment.
- Register on apprenticeshipindia.gov.in or nats.education.gov.in. ITI (COPA) apprenticeships are generally registered on the Apprenticeship India portal and graduate apprenticeships on NATS. Apply against IRCTC East Zone's opportunity on the portal that lists it for your category.
- Enter marks for every qualification from Matriculation onwards and upload year-wise mark sheets with pass certificates.
- Upload self-attested scanned copies of the required documents and a recent photograph meeting the specification.
- Submit on or before 26 October 2026. Keep your portal registration details; you must produce them at verification.
Documents to Upload
- 10th mark sheet and certificate
- ITI mark sheet, and the National Trade Certificate or Provisional NTC issued by NCVT/SCVT (COPA applicants)
- Proof of date of birth (10th certificate, mark sheet showing date of birth, or school leaving certificate)
- 12th mark sheet and certificate, if any
- Graduation mark sheet and certificate (Graduate Apprentice applicants)
- Caste certificate for SC/ST/OBC; the OBC (non-creamy layer) certificate must be issued within the last one year, in Government of India format, showing caste, date of issue, and the issuing authority's seal
- Disability certificate (PwBD, 40% or more)
- Discharge or serving certificate (ex-servicemen quota)
- EWS income and asset certificate, if claiming
Photograph Specification
- Recent colour photograph, 3.5 cm × 4.5 cm, taken within three months of the application.
- Clear front view without cap or sunglasses.
- Soft copy in JPG/JPEG at 100 DPI, file size 20 KB to 70 KB.
- Old or unclear photographs, or a visible mismatch with the candidate at verification, can lead to rejection.
- Keep two extra prints of the same photograph for the verification day.
Reservation Notes & Final Note
Reservation follows Government of India guidelines for SC, ST, OBC, PwBD, ex-servicemen, and EWS, with the age relaxations mentioned above.
- EWS: Candidates not covered by SC/ST/OBC-NCL reservation whose family gross annual income (all sources, for the financial year before the application year) is below Rs. 8 lakh. The income and asset certificate must be issued by one of the authorities the notice lists (District Magistrate or equivalent, Presidency Magistrate, Revenue Officer not below Tehsildar, or the Sub-Divisional Officer of the area) and must be held on the closing date, 26 October 2026.
- OBC: Non-creamy layer certificate issued within the last one year.
- PwBD: Disability of 40% or more.
This apprenticeship is a valuable opportunity for fresh graduates and ITI holders to gain practical training at IRCTC's East Zone offices. Remember, this is a training engagement and does not guarantee permanent employment. Ensure your online application is complete and submitted before the deadline of 26 October 2026.
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