Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) published Centralized Notification No. NFR/NAPS/ACT APP./2026 (dated 14 July 2026) for engagement of 6,777 Act Apprentices under the Apprentices Act, 1961 across eight divisions and workshops in Assam, West Bengal, and Bihar.
Apply status: CLOSED on 19 August 2026 (17:30 hrs). Online applications ran 20 July – 19 August 2026 at app.nfr-recruitment.in.
Current focus (9 September 2026): watch the official NFR Act Apprentice section and the recruitment portal for the unit-wise merit list and document verification (DV) schedule. Selection is merit-based (no written exam) — shortlisting uses 10th + ITI marks (12th PCB for MLT trades). Ignore agent “merit unlock” offers.
Apply: CLOSED (19 Aug, 17:30) · Slots: 6,777 · Next: Merit list → DV (1.5× vacancies) · Portal: app.nfr-recruitment.in · NFR Act Apprentice notices
Apply window closed. Watch official NFR / portal notices for merit list and DV — do not share passwords with agents.
NFR Act Apprentice Notices — Official Notification PDFBrowse more alerts on Railway Jobs and Latest Job Notifications. Related: East Coast Railway Act Apprentice 2026.
Who this guide is for
Use this page if you:
- Already applied for NFR Act Apprentice 2026 and need vacancies, merit rules and DV watch
- Need 10th + ITI vs MLT (12th PCB) eligibility explained clearly
- Want unit-wise slot counts and official PDF links
Do not use this page to:
- Start a new application (window closed)
- Trust agents selling “merit list / DV call letter” outside NFR portals
- Confuse this with NER (North Eastern Railway) or other zone apprentice drives
- Treat apprenticeship as a guaranteed permanent railway job
Easy Applications is an independent desk — not Northeast Frontier Railway.
What we verified
We point to Notification NFR/NAPS/ACT APP./2026 (14 Jul 2026), schedule apply 20 Jul – 19 Aug 2026 (17:30), and 6,777 provisional slots from the official PDF / portal messaging. As of 9 September 2026 we did not treat a public day-by-day merit/DV calendar as locked — confirm only on nfr.indianrailways.gov.in (Personnel → Act Apprentice) and app.nfr-recruitment.in.
Official Links — NFR Act Apprentice 2026
| Resource | Official Link |
|---|---|
| Recruitment portal (archive / updates) | app.nfr-recruitment.in |
| Notification PDF | NFR_ADVT_Document.pdf |
| NFR official website | nfr.indianrailways.gov.in |
| Personnel — Act Apprentice notices | Act Apprentice Notification section |
NFR Act Apprentice 2026 — Quick Overview
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Conducting Body | Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR), Personnel Department, Maligaon (HQ) |
| Notification | NFR/NAPS/ACT APP./2026 — Centralized engagement under Apprentices Act, 1961 |
| Post Name | Act Apprentice (trade training) |
| Total Slots | 6,777 (provisional) |
| Training Cycles | 2025–26 and 2026–27 |
| Application Mode | Online only at app.nfr-recruitment.in |
| Selection | Merit list → Document Verification (1.5× vacancies) |
| Written Exam | None |
| Apply Status | CLOSED — 19 August 2026, 17:30 hrs |
| Current stage | Merit list / DV watch on official portal |
| Official Website | nfr.indianrailways.gov.in |
Important Dates — NFR Act Apprentice 2026
| Event | Date / status |
|---|---|
| Notification released | 14 July 2026 — completed |
| Online application started | 20 July 2026, 09:00 hrs — completed |
| Last date to apply online | 19 August 2026, 17:30 hrs — closed |
| Merit list publication | To be announced on NFR / portal — watch |
| Document verification | After merit list (schedule TBA) — watch |
Unit-Wise Apprenticeship Slots — 6,777 Total
| Division / Workshop | Apprentice Slots | Annexure |
|---|---|---|
| Katihar (KIR) & Tindharia (TDH) Workshop | 1,103 | Annexure-I |
| Lumding (LMG) | 1,274 | Annexure-IV |
| New Bongaigaon (NBQS) & Engineering Workshop (EWS/BNGN) | 881 | Annexure-VI |
| Tinsukia (TSK) | 860 | Annexure-V |
| Rangiya (RNY) | 750 | Annexure-III |
| Dibrugarh Workshop (DBWS) | 763 | Annexure-VII |
| Alipurduar (APDJ) | 651 | Annexure-II |
| Headquarters (HQ) / Maligaon | 495 | Annexure-VIII |
| Grand Total | 6,777 | — |
Slots may increase or decrease. Full trade-wise and community-wise break-up is in Annexures I–VIII of the notification PDF.
Category-Wise Vacancy Summary (All Units Combined)
| Category | Slots |
|---|---|
| UR (Unreserved) | 2,686 |
| OBC | 1,832 |
| SC | 1,056 |
| ST | 515 |
| EWS | 688 |
| ESM (horizontal, within total) | 677 |
| PwBD (horizontal, within total) | 271 |
| Grand Total | 6,777 |
Notified Trades & Departments
Common ITI trades across most NFR units include:
- Fitter · Electrician · Wireman · Lineman · Welder (Gas & Electric)
- Turner · Machinist · Carpenter · Plumber · Mason (Building Constructor)
- Mechanic Diesel · Mechanic Refrigeration & Air Conditioning
- Mechanic Electrical Instruments · COPA
- Draughtsman (Civil) · Surveyor · Secretarial Assistant · Health Sanitary Inspector
- Medical Laboratory Technician (Pathology / Radiology)
Your ITI NTC trade must match the apprenticeship slot you preferred. A non-matching trade leads to disqualification at document verification even with a high merit score.
What Is NFR Act Apprenticeship Training?
An Act Apprentice on Indian Railways is a trainee engaged under the Apprentices Act, 1961 for structured workshop and depot training in a notified trade.
- This is apprenticeship training, not direct recruitment to a permanent railway post.
- Trainees receive a government-notified monthly stipend — not full 7th CPC employee salary.
- Successful completion makes you a Course Completed Act Apprentice (CCAA), which can help in future railway recruitment with apprentice quotas.
- Training locations include Katihar, Lumding, Tinsukia, Dibrugarh, Rangiya, Alipurduar, and Maligaon HQ.
Eligibility Criteria
Educational Qualification
| Trade Category | Minimum Qualification |
|---|---|
| All trades except MLT (Pathology/Radiology) | Matriculation (Class 10) with minimum 50% aggregate + valid NCVT/SCVT NTC in the notified trade |
| Medical Laboratory Technician (Pathology & Radiology) | 12th (10+2) with Physics, Chemistry, Biology — 50% in both 10th and 12th |
- The 50% Matriculation requirement is waived for SC, ST, and PwBD candidates.
- You must have held your ITI pass certificate / NTC as on 14 July 2026 (notification date).
Age Limit — As on 19 August 2026
| Category | Age Criteria |
|---|---|
| Minimum age | 15 years |
| Maximum age (General) | 24 years |
| SC / ST | Upper age relaxed by 5 years |
| OBC (NCL) | Upper age relaxed by 3 years |
| PwBD | Upper age relaxed by 10 years |
| Ex-Servicemen (self-applicants) | 10 years + 3 years (to extent of Defence service; min. 6 months continuous) |
Selection Process — Merit-Based, No Written Test
Stage 1 — Merit List Preparation
For standard trades, merit uses the average percentage of Matriculation aggregate marks and ITI trade marks. For MLT trades, merit uses Matriculation + 12th Science (PCB) marks. Lists are unit-wise, trade-wise, and community-wise.
Stage 2 — Document Verification
Shortlisted candidates are called for DV to about 1.5 times notified vacancies. Carry originals and a medical fitness certificate (Annexure-XI) signed by a Government doctor (not below Asst. Surgeon).
Preference & Tie-Breaking
Once selected against a higher Unit–Department–Trade preference, lower preferences are cancelled. On equal marks: older candidate first; if DOB same, earlier Matriculation pass ranks higher.
Application Fee (Paid During Closed Window)
| Category | Fee |
|---|---|
| General / OBC / EWS (male) | ₹100 (non-refundable) |
| SC / ST / PwBD / EBC / all female | Exempted |
Stipend Structure
| Training Year | Monthly Stipend |
|---|---|
| 1st year (NTC/STC holders) | ₹9,600 |
| 2nd year (where curriculum exemption applies) | ₹10,560 |
| 3rd year (where applicable) | ₹11,040 |
No hostel — arrange your own lodging. Apprentices are not entitled to regular railway employee allowances during training.
Documents for DV (Keep Ready)
- 10th mark sheet & pass certificate
- 12th PCB mark sheet (MLT trades)
- ITI semester / consolidated mark sheets + NCVT NTC
- Caste / EWS / PwBD / ESM certificates as claimed
- EBC Annexure-XVI (if fee exemption claimed)
- Medical certificate (Annexure-XI) for DV
- Application print / registration number
How Applications Were Submitted (Archive)
The apply window is closed. If you already applied:
- Keep your registration number, confirmation print and registered email/mobile active.
- Watch NFR Act Apprentice notices and app.nfr-recruitment.in for merit / DV.
- Do not share login credentials with agents.
- Prepare originals + medical certificate before any DV call.
Mistakes to avoid now
- Paying agents for “late apply” or “merit list unlock” after 19 Aug
- Confusing NFR with NER (North Eastern Railway) apprentice notices
- Ignoring registered email/SMS while waiting for DV
- Assuming apprenticeship = permanent railway appointment
- Attending DV without Annexure-XI medical certificate and originals
- Using unofficial WhatsApp PDFs instead of NFR / portal links
→ Official NFR Act Apprentice Notices
NFR Act Apprentice vs RRC NCR Apprentice 2026
| Factor | NFR Act Apprentice 2026 | RRC NCR Act Apprentice 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Vacancies | 6,777 training slots | 1,853 training slots |
| Zone | Northeast Frontier Railway | North Central Railway |
| Apply window | 20 Jul – 19 Aug 2026 (closed) | Earlier Jul–Aug window (separate drive) |
| Selection | Merit of 10th + ITI marks | Merit of 10th + ITI marks |
| Apply portal | app.nfr-recruitment.in | RRC NCR portal family |
Related Updates on Easy Applications
- East Coast Railway Act Apprentice 2026
- RRC NCR Apprentice Recruitment 2026
- Railway Jobs — all railway alerts
- Latest Jobs
Source: NFR Centralized Notification No. NFR/NAPS/ACT APP./2026 dated 14 July 2026 (apply 20 Jul – 19 Aug 2026, 17:30 hrs; 6,777 provisional slots). Merit list and DV dates confirm only on nfr.indianrailways.gov.in and app.nfr-recruitment.in. Easy Applications is not affiliated with NFR.