TheJobKart brings you the complete details of the IRCON Apprentice Recruitment 2026. IRCON International Limited, a Navratna public sector undertaking under the Ministry of Railways, has opened applications for 54 Graduate Apprentice and Technician (Diploma) Apprentice seats under the Apprentices Act, 1961.
This is important to understand from the start: this is a one-year apprenticeship, not a permanent job. It is a training engagement at IRCON projects and offices across India, and completion of the training does not give a right to employment with IRCON. For fresh engineering graduates, diploma holders and graduates in fields such as HR, finance, law and IT, however, it is a valuable year of industry training with a large railway infrastructure company, and selection is on merit in the qualifying examination — there is no written test and no interview.
There are two deadlines, and both matter. The online application closes on 5 November 2026, and a signed hard copy of the application, with self-attested documents, must reach IRCON’s Corporate Office in New Delhi by 17 November 2026. An online-only application, without the hard copy, is not complete.
Table of Contents
- IRCON Apprentice Recruitment 2026 at a Glance
- An Apprenticeship, Not a Permanent Job
- Vacancy Details
- Category-wise Vacancy Details
- Who Can Apply? Eligibility Criteria
- Stipend and Training Period
- Important Dates
- Application Fee
- Selection Process
- How to Apply Online: Step-by-Step
- Documents to Keep Ready
- About IRCON International Limited
- Why This Recruitment Stands Out
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Important Links
- Disclaimer
IRCON Apprentice Recruitment 2026 at a Glance
| Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Organisation | IRCON International Limited (IRCON), a Navratna CPSE under the Ministry of Railways |
| Recruitment name | Engagement of Apprentices under the Apprentices Act, 1961 |
| Advertisement number | A01/2026 |
| Advertisement date | 16 October 2026 |
| Post names | Graduate Apprentice, Technician (Diploma) Apprentice |
| Total vacancies | 54 |
| Training type | Apprenticeship training under the Apprentices Act, 1961, not a permanent job |
| Training period | 1 year (no extension after completion, as reported) |
| Job location | IRCON projects and offices across India |
| Age limit | 18 to 30 years as on 1 October 2026, with relaxation for eligible categories |
| Qualification cut-off | 1 October 2026 |
| Application mode | Online, followed by a signed hard copy by post |
| Application starts | 16 October 2026 |
| Last date to apply online | 5 November 2026 |
| Last date for hard copy to reach IRCON | 17 November 2026 |
| Application fee | No fee mentioned in the notification summaries checked |
| Selection | Merit list on essential-qualification marks — no written test, no interview |
| Official website | ircon.org |
| Mandatory pre-registration | NATS portal (mhrdnats.gov.in / nats.education.gov.in) |
An Apprenticeship, Not a Permanent Job
This advertisement is only for apprentices under Advt. No. A01/2026. It should not be confused with IRCON’s separate project-based contract recruitments, such as the Rail Welding Technician notice (Advt. C-11/2026, 6 posts, walk-in interview on 3 November 2026 at Surat for the Mumbai–Ahmedabad High Speed Rail T-2 Project), which has its own qualification, experience, pay and selection rules. That notice is not covered in this post.
Within this apprenticeship notice, training is offered in engineering and non-engineering disciplines together — Civil, Electrical and Signal & Telecommunication for engineers, plus Human Resource, Finance, Rajbhasha, CSR, Legal and Information Technology for graduates, and Civil and Electrical for diploma holders.
Vacancy Details
There are 54 apprenticeship seats, spread across 11 discipline rows. The Graduate Apprentice seats cover nine disciplines, and the Technician (Diploma) Apprentice seats cover two engineering disciplines.
| Apprentice Category | Discipline | Vacancies |
|---|---|---|
| Graduate Apprentice | Civil | 15 |
| Graduate Apprentice | Electrical | 8 |
| Graduate Apprentice | Signal & Telecommunication (S&T) | 4 |
| Graduate Apprentice | Human Resource | 1 |
| Graduate Apprentice | Finance | 2 |
| Graduate Apprentice | Rajbhasha | 1 |
| Graduate Apprentice | Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) | 1 |
| Graduate Apprentice | Legal | 2 |
| Graduate Apprentice | Information Technology (IT) | 2 |
| Graduate Apprentice subtotal | — | 36 |
| Technician (Diploma) Apprentice | Civil | 9 |
| Technician (Diploma) Apprentice | Electrical | 9 |
| Technician (Diploma) Apprentice subtotal | — | 18 |
| Grand total | — | 54 |
Category-wise Vacancy Details
The discipline-wise category breakup reported in the notification summaries is given below. Adding the rows gives the overall totals: UR 37, OBC 10, SC 5, ST 1 and EWS 1, totalling 54.
| Discipline | UR | OBC | SC | ST | EWS | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Graduate Apprentice – Civil | 8 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 15 |
| Graduate Apprentice – Electrical | 5 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 8 |
| Graduate Apprentice – S&T | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Graduate Apprentice – Human Resource | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Graduate Apprentice – Finance | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Graduate Apprentice – Rajbhasha | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Graduate Apprentice – CSR | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Graduate Apprentice – Legal | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Graduate Apprentice – Information Technology | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Technician (Diploma) Apprentice – Civil | 6 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 9 |
| Technician (Diploma) Apprentice – Electrical | 6 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 9 |
| Total | 37 | 10 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 54 |
Reservation and age relaxation are reported as applicable only where a seat is reserved for that category, so candidates should check the discipline-wise table in the official notification for their own discipline before applying.
Who Can Apply? Eligibility Criteria
Age limit
- Minimum age: 18 years
- Maximum age: 30 years
- Age counted as on: 1 October 2026
Age relaxation, as reported, where the seat is reserved for that category:
| Category | Relaxation |
|---|---|
| SC / ST | 5 years |
| OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) | 3 years |
No separate PwBD relaxation table was given in the summaries checked, so candidates claiming PwBD relaxation should check the official notification.
Educational qualification
All qualifications must have been completed as on 1 October 2026, as full-time courses from recognised institutions, as reported.
| Apprentice Category and Discipline | Qualification |
|---|---|
| Graduate Apprentice – Civil, Electrical, S&T | Degree or equivalent in the relevant Engineering / Technology stream |
| Graduate Apprentice – Human Resource | Full-time BBA from a recognised university |
| Graduate Apprentice – Finance | Full-time B.Com from a recognised university |
| Graduate Apprentice – Rajbhasha | Full-time BA (Hindi) from a recognised university |
| Graduate Apprentice – CSR | Full-time Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) from a recognised university |
| Graduate Apprentice – Legal | Full-time LLB from a recognised university |
| Graduate Apprentice – Information Technology | Full-time B.Sc., BCA, B.E. or B.Tech in Computer Science or Information Technology |
| Technician (Diploma) Apprentice – Civil, Electrical | Diploma or equivalent in the relevant Engineering / Technology stream |
Passing-year condition — read this first
This is a strict condition, and candidates outside the window are not considered, as reported:
- Only candidates who passed their qualifying examination in 2024, 2025 or 2026, or on or after 1 July 2023, are eligible.
- Candidates who passed more than three years before 1 October 2026 are not eligible, subject to that 1 July 2023 floor.
Who cannot apply
- Candidates whose results are awaited, or who have back papers or supplementary examinations pending.
- Candidates who have already undergone apprenticeship training in IRCON or any other organisation.
- Candidates who, after completing their education, have undergone training or job experience of one year or more.
NATS registration — mandatory before applying
Candidates must first enrol and register as a “Student” on the National Apprenticeship Training Scheme (NATS) portal and obtain a unique registration number. Without NATS registration, the IRCON online application cannot be completed, as reported. The portal is given in the summaries as mhrdnats.gov.in, now also reached as nats.education.gov.in — candidates should use the portal link given in the official IRCON notification.
Stipend and Training Period
- Training period: 1 year, with no extension after completion, as reported.
- Stipend: Rs. 14,000 per month for Graduate Apprentices and Rs. 12,000 per month for Technician (Diploma) Apprentices.
- Under NATS, 50% of the minimum prescribed stipend rate is borne by the Government of India and disbursed via Direct Benefit Transfer into the apprentice’s Aadhaar-seeded savings bank account, as reported.
This is a training engagement, not employment. On completion, IRCON has no obligation to offer employment, and the apprentice has no claim to employment on that ground, as stated in the notification summaries.
Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Advertisement released (A01/2026) | 16 October 2026 |
| Online application begins | 16 October 2026 |
| Last date to apply online | 5 November 2026 |
| Last date for signed hard copy to reach IRCON Corporate Office, New Delhi | 17 November 2026 |
| Merit list and document verification | To be announced |
One secondary page’s body text mistakenly says the hard copy must reach by 5 November 2026, but its own dates table and the other sources checked give 17 November 2026, so this post uses 17 November 2026 and flags the conflict. Candidates should still confirm the hard-copy deadline in the official notification itself, because the hard copy is a mandatory second step.
Application Fee
No application fee is mentioned in the notification summaries checked for Advertisement No. A01/2026. Candidates should apply only through the official IRCON and NATS portals and should be wary of anyone asking for money for this apprenticeship.
Selection Process
There is no written test and no interview in this recruitment, as reported. Selection is:
- Merit list: Prepared from the marks secured in the essential educational qualification, for candidates who meet the notified criteria.
- Document verification: Shortlisted candidates are called for verification of original documents, as per the notification.
- Offer of engagement: Issued to candidates whose documents are in order, for one year of apprenticeship training.
Merit is based purely on qualifying-examination marks, so the discipline chosen and the percentage in the qualifying degree or diploma matter more here than in an exam-based recruitment.
How to Apply Online: Step-by-Step
The application has three stages, and missing any one of them invalidates it, as reported. Read this carefully before starting.
- Visit the official IRCON website, ircon.org, and read Advertisement No. A01/2026 in full, including the discipline list, eligibility conditions and hard-copy instructions.
- Register as a “Student” on the NATS portal (mhrdnats.gov.in) and note your unique NATS registration number. This step is mandatory and must come first.
- On ircon.org, go to Careers, then HR & Career, then “Engagement of Apprentices under Apprentices Act, 1961”, and register on the IRCON portal with a personal email ID and mobile number to obtain login credentials.
- Log in and fill in the online application form: discipline chosen, personal details, education details and experience details, carefully and exactly as they appear on your certificates.
- Upload scanned copies of the photograph, signature and required documents in PDF or JPEG format, maximum 2 MB each, as reported.
- Preview the complete form carefully, submit it online by 5 November 2026, and download or print the generated PDF application form.
- Sign the printed application form physically at the bottom right, under the declaration.
- Enclose self-attested photocopies of the required documents in an envelope superscribed “Application for the Engagement of Apprentices as per Apprentices Act 1961 – Advt No. A01/2026” and send it to: Manager / HRM, IRCON International Limited, C-4, District Centre, Saket, New Delhi – 110017, so that it reaches on or before 17 November 2026.
Keep the NATS registration number, the IRCON application printout and the postal proof safe. You will need them to follow later updates, including the merit list.
Documents to Keep Ready
- Class 10 / Matriculation certificate, for date-of-birth proof
- Degree or diploma certificates and mark sheets for all semesters, as applicable
- NATS registration number and related registration details
- Category certificate (SC / ST / OBC / EWS), if claiming reservation, in the prescribed format
- Recent passport-size photograph and scanned signature
- Valid photo identity proof
- Aadhaar-seeded bank account details, for stipend disbursement via Direct Benefit Transfer
Original documents will be checked during document verification, so the details entered in the form should match them exactly. The hard-copy envelope must contain the signed application form plus self-attested photocopies of the documents listed above, as applicable.
About IRCON International Limited
IRCON International Limited is a listed Navratna Central Public Sector Undertaking under the Ministry of Railways, Government of India, headquartered in New Delhi. It undertakes turnkey infrastructure projects in railways, highways, buildings, the power sector and related engineering fields, in India and overseas.
For an apprentice, the work is likely to involve hands-on training at an IRCON project site or office — in civil, electrical, signalling and telecommunication, or in support functions such as HR, finance, legal, CSR and IT, depending on the discipline. That kind of exposure is particularly useful for fresh graduates and diploma holders who want to move into railway, infrastructure or other engineering roles later.
Why This Recruitment Stands Out
Many apprenticeships are limited to a single trade or a small number of seats. This notice offers 54 seats across eleven discipline rows, mixing engineering and non-engineering fields, with a clear merit-only selection process and no written test or interview.
It is also open to a wide range of qualifications — engineering degrees and diplomas, plus BBA, B.Com, BA (Hindi), BSW, LLB and IT degrees — which widens the pool considerably. The trade-off is the strict gate: a fixed passing-year window, a completed qualification by 1 October 2026, mandatory NATS registration, no prior apprenticeship, and no one year or more of post-qualification training or job experience. Candidates who meet all of those conditions, and who complete both the online form and the hard copy before the two deadlines, are in a much stronger position than candidates who rush the online form on the last day.
At the same time, candidates should go in with clear eyes: this is training, not a promise of a permanent job. Its value lies in the experience, the stipend during training, and the advantage that a year inside IRCON can give in future job applications.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the last date to apply for IRCON Apprentice Recruitment 2026?
The last date to apply online is 5 November 2026. A signed hard copy must also reach IRCON’s Corporate Office, New Delhi, by 17 November 2026.
How many vacancies are there?
There are 54 apprenticeship seats: Graduate Apprentice 36 (Civil 15, Electrical 8, S&T 4, Finance 2, Legal 2, IT 2, HR 1, Rajbhasha 1, CSR 1) and Technician (Diploma) Apprentice 18 (Civil 9, Electrical 9).
What is the advertisement number?
Advertisement No. A01/2026, dated 16 October 2026, issued by IRCON International Limited.
What qualification is needed?
It depends on the discipline: an engineering degree for Graduate Civil, Electrical and S&T; BBA for HR, B.Com for Finance, BA (Hindi) for Rajbhasha, BSW for CSR, LLB for Legal, and B.Sc./BCA/B.E./B.Tech in Computer Science or IT for Information Technology; a diploma in the relevant stream for Technician Apprentice posts.
What is the age limit?
Candidates should be between 18 and 30 years as on 1 October 2026, with relaxation of 5 years for SC/ST and 3 years for OBC (Non-Creamy Layer), where the seat is reserved for that category.
What is the stipend?
Rs. 14,000 per month for Graduate Apprentices and Rs. 12,000 per month for Technician (Diploma) Apprentices, disbursed via Direct Benefit Transfer into an Aadhaar-seeded bank account.
Is there a written test or interview?
No. Selection is on merit in the essential qualification, followed by document verification.
Is this a permanent job?
No. This is a one-year apprenticeship under the Apprentices Act, 1961. Completion does not oblige IRCON to offer employment, and the apprentice has no claim to employment on that ground.
Where do I apply?
First register on the NATS portal, then apply online through ircon.org (Careers, then HR & Career, then Engagement of Apprentices), and finally send the signed hard copy to Manager / HRM, IRCON International Limited, C-4, District Centre, Saket, New Delhi – 110017, by 17 November 2026.
Can I apply if I passed my degree more than three years ago?
No, as reported. Only candidates who passed in 2024, 2025 or 2026, or on or after 1 July 2023, are eligible.
Important Links
- Official IRCON website: ircon.org
- IRCON careers section: Careers, then HR & Career, then Engagement of Apprentices under the Apprentices Act, 1961, on ircon.org
- NATS portal (mandatory pre-registration): mhrdnats.gov.in (also reached as nats.education.gov.in)
- Recruitment notification: Advertisement No. A01/2026, dated 16 October 2026
Disclaimer
This post is written to help candidates understand the recruitment in simple language. It is not a substitute for the official notification. Vacancies, dates, fee, eligibility, stipend and selection details are subject to change by IRCON International Limited, and candidates should verify every detail in the official Advertisement No. A01/2026 notification on ircon.org before applying. Follow TheJobKart for the latest government and private jobs in India.