RITES Limited has opened applications for 281 apprentice posts across India, giving fresh graduates, diploma holders and ITI pass-outs a chance to train with one of the country’s best-known railway consultancies. The application window opened on 5 November 2026 and stays open till 25 November 2026.
The recruitment covers graduate apprentices in engineering and non-engineering streams, diploma apprentices and ITI trade apprentices. RITES is a Navratna public sector enterprise under the Ministry of Railways, and the one-year training runs under the Apprentices Act, 1961. There is no written examination or interview; selection rests entirely on marks in the qualifying examination, followed by document verification.
281 vacancies across four categories
The total of 281 posts is split across graduate, diploma and trade apprentice categories. Engineering graduates get the largest share, with 125 posts, while non-engineering graduates have 43 posts.
- Graduate Apprentice, Engineering: 125 posts. Civil leads with 40, followed by Mechanical with 36, Electrical with 26, Information Technology with 13, Chemical and Metallurgical with 6, and Architecture and Signal and Telecom with 2 each.
- Graduate Apprentice, Non-Engineering: 43 posts. Finance has 21 posts and Human Resources has 22.
- Diploma Apprentice: 62 posts. Mechanical has 26, Electrical 19, Civil 12 and Chemical and Metallurgical 5.
- Trade Apprentice, ITI: 51 posts. Mechanical and Electrical trades have 23 each, Civil has 2 and other trades such as Welder, Fitter, Turner, Plumber and Surveyor account for 3.
Reservation applies for SC, ST, OBC (non-creamy layer), EWS and persons with benchmark disabilities as per the official notification.
Stipend up to Rs 15,650 a month
Selected apprentices will receive a monthly stipend that depends on their category. Graduate apprentices, both engineering and non-engineering, will get Rs 15,650 a month. Diploma apprentices will receive Rs 13,450 a month, and ITI trade apprentices will get Rs 10,560 a month.
The stipend figures already include the government direct benefit transfer component, so candidates should not add anything on top. The training lasts one year and will not be extended. RITES also makes it clear that the apprenticeship carries no guarantee of a permanent job afterwards.
Who can apply
Engineering graduates need a four-year B.E., B.Tech. or B.Arch. degree; non-engineering graduates a three-year B.A., BBA, B.Com., B.Sc. or BCA degree. Diploma apprentices need a three-year engineering diploma and trade apprentices a full-time ITI qualification in the relevant trade. The qualification must be recognised by UGC, AICTE, NCVT or SCVT as applicable.
Applicants must be at least 18 years old as on 5 November 2026. The notification does not specify an upper age limit. On marks, general and EWS candidates need at least 60 percent in aggregate in the qualifying examination, while candidates applying against reserved positions need 50 percent.
There is also a passing-year condition. Degree and diploma holders must have completed their qualifying course with the final semester result declared on or after 5 November 2021. Final-year students awaiting results are not eligible, and the five-year passing condition does not apply to ITI candidates.
Candidates who have already completed an apprenticeship, are currently undergoing one, or have one year or more of post-qualification training or job experience are not eligible.
How to apply: two steps, both compulsory
Applying involves two mandatory stages, and both must be completed by 25 November 2026. Registering on the apprenticeship portal alone is not enough.
- Step 1: Graduate and diploma candidates apply through the NATS portal (nats.education.gov.in). ITI candidates apply through the NAPS portal. Select the RITES Limited establishment and the matching apprenticeship opportunity.
- Step 2: Submit the prescribed documents as a single PDF through the separate RITES Apprentice Application Form on the RITES website.
The advertisement number to look for is Pers./26-10/Apprentice/2026-27/01, dated 4 November 2026. The official website is rites.com, where the notification and the application form link are available under the careers section. The notification does not mention any application fee. Candidates should apply only through the official NATS, NAPS and RITES portals and stay away from agents asking for money.
Selection without an exam
Shortlisting will be done on the basis of the percentage of marks in the essential qualification for the chosen trade. Eligible candidates will be ranked by their qualifying examination percentage, and shortlisted candidates will then be called for original document verification before the apprenticeship contract is signed.
The merit list date has not been announced yet. RITES will communicate further instructions through the registered email of shortlisted candidates, so applicants should keep the email ID and mobile number used in the application active.
FAQs
What is the last date to apply for RITES Apprentice Recruitment 2026?
The last date for both the NATS or NAPS application and the RITES document submission is 25 November 2026.
How many apprentice posts has RITES announced?
RITES has announced 281 apprentice posts: 125 graduate engineering, 43 graduate non-engineering, 62 diploma and 51 ITI trade apprentices.
What is the stipend for RITES apprentices?
Graduate apprentices get Rs 15,650 a month, diploma apprentices Rs 13,450 and ITI trade apprentices Rs 10,560 a month for the one-year training period.
Is there any exam for RITES apprentice selection?
No. Selection is based on the percentage of marks in the qualifying examination, followed by document verification. There is no written test or interview.
With the deadline less than three weeks away and the process involving two separate submissions, interested candidates should not leave the application to the last day. Check the official notification on rites.com, keep the documents ready as a single PDF, and complete both stages well before 25 November.
