Konkan Railway Corporation Limited (KRCL) is one of the most sought-after employers along the western coast, opening its doors every year through the Trainee Apprentice engagement and various technical vacancies. As on 3 July 2026, the previous Trainee Apprentice cycle (Notification No. CO/APPR/2026/01, 190 posts) has closed, and interested aspirants are now advised to prepare for the upcoming Konkan Railway Recruitment 2026-27 cycle, expected to open in the coming months. This guide brings you verified details on expected dates, eligibility, fee and preparation, so you are ready the moment the fresh notification goes live on konkanrailway.com.
Overview
| Recruiting Body | Konkan Railway Corporation Limited (KRCL), Ministry of Railways |
| Post Name | Trainee Apprentice (Graduate / Technician / General Stream); also JE / Technician / Junior Technical Assistant posts through separate notifications |
| Category | Railway Jobs (Central PSU under Ministry of Railways) |
| Total Vacancies | 190 (expected, based on the previous 2026 cycle; to be confirmed in the fresh notification) |
| Job Location | Konkan Railway route – Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka (and project sites) |
| Application Mode | Online (apprentice, via NATS + KRCL portal); Walk-in / Offline for certain contract posts |
| Official Website | konkanrailway.com |
Important Dates
| Event | Date |
| Notification Release | Expected Q1 2027 (previous cycle: 20 February 2026) |
| Application Start | Expected (previous cycle: 20 February 2026) |
| Last Date to Apply | Expected (previous cycle: 21 March 2026) |
| Merit List / Selection | Expected, as per the official notification |
| Document Verification / Admit Card (for exam-based posts) | Expected, to be intimated on the official website |
Kindly note that the dates above are indicative, based on the previous cycle. The exact schedule will be published when KRCL releases the fresh notification.
Vacancy Details
As per the previous cycle, KRCL engaged a total of 190 Trainee Apprentices across engineering and general streams. The discipline-wise break-up (expected to remain broadly similar) was as follows:
- Graduate Apprentice – Civil: 30, Mechanical: 20, Electrical: 20, Electronics: 10
- Technician (Diploma) Apprentice – Civil: 30, Mechanical: 20, Electrical: 20, Electronics: 10
- General Stream Graduates: 30
In addition, KRCL periodically issues separate notifications for Junior Technical Assistant, Technician, Quality Inspector, Project Engineer and other fixed-term contract posts, usually filled through walk-in interviews. Candidates are advised to keep checking the “Current Notifications” section on the official website for these openings.
Eligibility Criteria
Educational Qualification
Eligibility depends entirely on the post applied for:
- Graduate Apprentice: BE / B.Tech in the relevant engineering discipline from an AICTE / UGC-recognised institution.
- Technician (Diploma) Apprentice: Three-year Diploma in the relevant engineering branch.
- General Stream Graduate: A recognised bachelor’s degree (BA / B.Com / B.Sc).
- As per the previous notification, candidates who passed out during 2021 to 2025 were eligible, and a valid NATS (National Apprenticeship Training Scheme) portal registration was mandatory.
Age Limit
For the Trainee Apprentice engagement, the age limit was 18 to 25 years (as on 1 January of the recruitment year), as per the previous cycle. Age relaxation is provided as per Government of India norms:
- SC / ST: 5 years
- OBC (Non-Creamy Layer): 3 years
- PwBD candidates: as per applicable rules
For contract / walk-in technical posts, the upper age limit is generally higher (up to 50 years as on the cut-off date, as per the previous notification), with the same category-wise relaxations.
Application Fee
As per the previous cycle, the application fee structure was aspirant-friendly:
- General / OBC-NCL / EWS: Rs 100
- SC / ST / Female / Minority / PwBD candidates: No fee (fully exempted)
The fee, wherever applicable, is to be paid online through the KRCL payment gateway. Kindly note that the fee is non-refundable, so candidates are advised to verify their eligibility carefully before paying.
Salary / Pay Scale
During the one-year apprenticeship, a monthly stipend is paid (as per the previous cycle):
- Graduate Apprentices: Rs 9,000 per month (Rs 4,500 Government share via DBT + Rs 4,500 KRCL share)
- Technician (Diploma) Apprentices: Rs 8,000 per month (Rs 4,000 Government share + Rs 4,000 KRCL share)
For regular Junior Engineer / executive posts notified separately, the pay is generally as per Level 6 of the 7th CPC Pay Matrix (starting around Rs 35,400) plus admissible allowances, as per the official notification. Contract technical posts carry a consolidated monthly pay that varies by role and city classification.
Selection Process
The selection method differs by the type of recruitment:
- Trainee Apprentice: Purely merit-based. Candidates are shortlisted on the aggregate percentage of marks in the qualifying examination, followed by document verification and medical fitness. There is no written examination.
- Contract / Walk-in posts: Personal interview / walk-in screening; where applicants are large in number, a written or trade test may be held as a screening round.
- Regular JE / executive posts: Computer-Based Test (CBT), followed by aptitude test (for specific posts), document verification and medical examination.
Exam Pattern & Syllabus Highlights
Since the Trainee Apprentice engagement is merit-based, there is no exam pattern for it – your academic percentage matters most. For exam-based JE / executive posts, the pattern (as per the official notification and general railway norms) is:
- CBT: Objective-type questions on General Awareness, General Intelligence & Reasoning, General Science / Mathematics and Technical subjects related to the discipline.
- Negative marking: 1/3rd mark is usually deducted for every wrong answer.
- Final merit: For certain posts, weightage is given to both CBT and the aptitude test (for example, 70% CBT + 30% aptitude test).
The core syllabus areas are quantitative aptitude, reasoning, general knowledge with current affairs, and the discipline-specific technical portion (Civil / Mechanical / Electrical / Electronics).
How to Apply Online
- First, complete your registration on the NATS portal (mhrdnats.gov.in) and obtain an approved NATS ID – this is mandatory for the apprentice engagement.
- Visit the official website konkanrailway.com and go to Recruitment → Current Notifications or the Graduate Apprentice / Technician Apprentice link.
- Read the fresh notification carefully and click on the “Apply Online” link.
- Fill in the online application form with your personal, educational and NATS details accurately.
- Upload a scanned photograph, signature and required documents in the prescribed format.
- Pay the application fee online (if applicable to your category).
- Submit the form and take a printout of the confirmation page for future reference.
- Apply directly through the official portal: https://konkanrailway.com
Admit Card & Result
For the merit-based apprentice engagement, there is no admit card; shortlisted candidates are directly called for document verification and medical examination, and the selection list is published on the official website. For exam-based JE / executive posts, the admit card / e-call letter is released online a few days before the CBT and must be downloaded from konkanrailway.com using the registration number and date of birth. Results and cut-off details are likewise uploaded on the website. Candidates are advised to keep checking the portal and their registered email / SMS regularly.
Preparation Tips & Document Checklist
Even though the fresh notification is awaited, this is the best time to prepare:
- Register on the NATS portal now so you do not miss the short application window.
- Keep your academic percentage documents accurate and handy – for apprentice selection, marks are everything.
- For exam-based posts, revise reasoning, aptitude, general awareness and your core technical subject daily.
- Bookmark the official website and check it weekly.
Document checklist: Matriculation (10th) certificate for date of birth, all mark sheets and degree / diploma certificates, NATS registration proof, caste / category and EWS / PwBD certificates (if applicable), passport-size photographs, signature, and a valid photo ID (Aadhaar / PAN).
Frequently Asked Questions
When will the Konkan Railway Recruitment 2026-27 notification come?
The previous Trainee Apprentice notification was released on 20 February 2026. Going by this pattern, the next cycle is expected around the first quarter of 2027. Contract / walk-in notifications, however, appear throughout the year, so aspirants should check the official website regularly.
Is there any written exam for the KRCL apprentice posts?
No. The Trainee Apprentice engagement is purely merit-based on qualifying examination marks. A written test applies only to regular JE / executive posts notified separately.
What is the age limit for Konkan Railway apprentice recruitment?
As per the previous cycle, it was 18 to 25 years, with relaxation of 5 years for SC/ST and 3 years for OBC-NCL candidates. The exact limit will be confirmed in the new notification.
What is the stipend for KRCL apprentices?
As per the previous notification, Graduate Apprentices received Rs 9,000 per month and Technician (Diploma) Apprentices Rs 8,000 per month.
Do I need to register on NATS before applying?
Yes. A valid NATS portal registration is mandatory for the apprentice engagement. Applications without a valid NATS ID are liable to be rejected.
Important Links
Official Website / Apply Online
Disclaimer: The details given above are for general guidance and are based on the previous recruitment cycle and publicly available information. Dates, vacancies, eligibility and fee are subject to change. Interested aspirants are strongly advised to verify all information on the official website konkanrailway.com before applying. IndianJobzz is not responsible for any inadvertent error.