Railway Tracks to Career Tracks: WCR Opens 2865 Apprentice Seats for 2025

Image Source: Zunheboto Govt College

West Central Railway (WCR) has officially rolled out its Apprentice Recruitment Notification for 2025–26, offering a golden opportunity for aspiring candidates to train under the Apprentices Act, 1961. With 2865 slots available across multiple divisions and workshops, this centralized recruitment drive is one of the largest in recent years. The application window opens on August 30, 2025, and closes on September 29, 2025, at 11:59 pm.

Here’s a comprehensive breakdown of everything you need to know:

Key highlights of the recruitment

- Total vacancies: 2865 apprentice slots
- Application start date: August 30, 2025
- Application deadline: September 29, 2025, at 11:59 pm
- Mode of application: Online only via wcr.indianrailways.gov.in
- Age criteria: Minimum 15 years and maximum 24 years as of August 20, 2025
- Age relaxation:
- SC/ST: 5 years
- OBC: 3 years
- PwBD: 10 years (15 years for SC/ST, 13 years for OBC)
- Ex-servicemen: Additional 10 years, subject to service conditions

Division-wise seat distribution

1. Jabalpur (JBP) Division
- Total seats: 1136
- Includes UR: 457, SC: 172, ST: 85, OBC: 307, EWS: 115
- PwBD slots: 34 across LD, VI, HI, MD categories

2. Bhopal (BPL) Division
- Total seats: 558
- Includes UR: 226, SC: 83, ST: 42, OBC: 151, EWS: 56
- PwBD slots: 16

3. Kota Division
- Total seats: 865
- Includes UR: 346, SC: 131, ST: 66, OBC: 234, EWS: 88
- PwBD slots: 28

4. CRWS Bhopal Workshop
- Total seats: 136
- Includes UR: 54, SC: 20, ST: 10, OBC: 38, EWS: 14
- No PwBD slots listed

5. WRS Kota Workshop
- Total seats: 151
- Includes UR: 59, SC: 24, ST: 11, OBC: 43, EWS: 14
- PwBD slots: 6

6. HQ Jabalpur
- Total seats: 19
- Includes UR: 8, SC: 3, ST: 5, OBC: 2, EWS: 1
- No PwBD slots listed

Eligibility criteria and documentation

- Candidates must have passed Class 10 with a minimum of 50 percent marks and possess an ITI certificate in the relevant trade
- Caste certificates for SC/ST/OBC must be in the Central Government format and issued by appropriate authorities
- OBC candidates must also submit a Non-Creamy Layer certificate not older than one year from the closing date
- PwBD candidates must provide valid disability certificates
- Ex-servicemen must furnish proof of service duration and eligibility

Selection process

- Selection will be based purely on merit, calculated from marks obtained in Class 10 and ITI
- No written exam or interview will be conducted
- Division/unit allocation will be based on merit and candidate preference

Important notes for applicants

- Only online applications will be accepted; no offline submissions will be entertained
- Candidates must ensure all documents are uploaded correctly during the application process
- Any discrepancy or false information may lead to disqualification
- Final selection and training will be subject to verification of original documents

Why this matters

This recruitment drive is a significant step toward skill development and employment generation in the railway sector. With a wide spread of opportunities across divisions and inclusive age relaxations, WCR is opening doors for a diverse pool of candidates to gain hands-on experience and technical training.

Aspiring applicants are encouraged to apply early and double-check their eligibility and documentation to avoid last-minute issues.

Sources: West Central Railway official notification, wcr.indianrailways.gov.in