Rail Kaushal Vikas Yojana

Scheme Introduction: A Brief Overview

Rail Kaushal Vikas Yojana (RKVY) is a skill development training programme of the Ministry of Railways conducted under the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY). Launched on 17 September 2021, the scheme gives unemployed youth entry-level, industry-relevant technical training at nominated Railway Training Institutes across the country, entirely free of cost.

The programme aims to develop practical skills that can help candidates improve their employment prospects and pursue self-employment. For the September 2026 training batch, the programme offers training in 16 trades, including Electrical, Fitters, Welding, Machinist, AC Mechanic, Carpenter, Computer Basics, Electronics & Instrumentation, Track Laying and other technical areas.

Under the Rail Kaushal Vikas Yojana, eligible Indian citizens can apply if they have passed Class 10 or an equivalent examination and are between 18 and 35 years of age on the date of notification. Candidates must also meet the prescribed medical fitness requirements for industrial training. The training is provided without any training fee, but candidates must arrange their own food and lodging. The Railway administration does not provide any stipend, daily allowance, conveyance allowance or travelling allowance.

For the September 2026 batch, candidates can apply online only through the official RKVY portal. The application window is open from 8 August 2026 to 21 August 2026. Candidates are selected on the basis of their Class 10 marks, and separate shortlisted and waitlisted lists are generated trade-wise on merit. Selected candidates must produce the required original documents during reporting at the concerned training institute.

The RKVY training lasts for 3 weeks (18 days), with 75% attendance compulsory for continuation and certification. Candidates must secure at least 55% marks in the written examination and 60% marks in the practical examination to pass the training. Successful candidates receive a training certificate. However, completion of Rail Kaushal Vikas Yojana training does not provide any claim to employment in Indian Railways, and trainees are not treated as Railway employees during the training.

Scheme Benefits

• Free, entry-level industrial skill training in a trade of the candidate's choice, at no cost to the trainee.
• Training available in 16 technical trades, from Electrical and Fitters to newer additions like AC Mechanic and Technician Mechatronics.
• Training conducted at nominated Railway Training Institutes across the country, with 103 institutes participating in the current batch.
• A certificate issued on successful completion, recognising the candidate's entry-level skill in the chosen trade.
• Improves employability for wage employment or self-employment outside Railways.
• Open to candidates from any part of India, with no domicile restriction.
• No reservation-based exclusion, selection runs purely on merit, irrespective of religion, caste, creed, or race.
• No stipend, daily allowance, or travelling allowance is paid to trainees, and candidates bear their own food and lodging costs during training.

Trades Offered Under Rail Kaushal Vikas Yojana

• AC Mechanic
• Bar Bending
• Basics of IT, S&T in Indian Railway
• Carpenter
• Communication Network & Surveillance System (CNSS)
• Computer Basics
• Concreting
• Electrical
• Electronics & Instrumentation
• Fitters
• Instrument Mechanic (Electrical & Electronic)
• Machinist
• Refrigeration & AC
• Technician Mechatronics
• Track Laying
• Welding

Eligibility Requirements

• The applicant must be 18 to 35 years old on the date of notification.
• The applicant must have passed High School (10th) or an equivalent examination from an institution recognised by the State or Central Government.
• The applicant must be an Indian citizen.
• The applicant must be medically fit to undergo training in an industrial environment.
• The applicant must submit a medical fitness certificate from a Registered Medical Practitioner confirming fitness regarding visual, hearing and mental condition and stating that the applicant is not suffering from any communicable disease.

Required Documents

Candidates do not need to upload any documents while submitting the online application form. After selection, candidates must produce the following original documents for verification at the concerned training institute:

• 10th/Matriculation mark sheet.
• 10th/Matriculation certificate, if the date of birth is not mentioned on the mark sheet.
• Photo identity proof such as Aadhaar Card, Bank Passbook, Ration Card or PAN Card.
• Notarised affidavit on ₹10 non-judicial stamp paper.
• Medical fitness certificate issued by a Registered Medical Practitioner.
• Photograph and signature.

Selected candidates who fail to produce the required original documents during reporting may be barred from undergoing the training.

Steps to Apply

Eligible candidates can apply for Rail Kaushal Vikas Yojana online through the official RKVY portal. Candidates should follow the instructions and information notices available on the portal before submitting the application.

1. Visit the official Rail Kaushal Vikas Yojana portal.
2. From the home page, click the "Apply Now" link
3. Complete the registration/sign-up process on the website.
4. Read the available instructions, procedures and Information Bulletin carefully.
5. Fill in all the required details in the online application form.
6. Select the preferred trade according to the available training options and your preference.
7. Submit the application form within the notified application period.
8. Wait for the merit-based shortlist and waitlist, which are prepared using the Class 10 percentage.
9. Selected candidates will receive information through email and SMS.
10. After selection, report to the concerned training institute with the required original documents for verification.
11. Complete the training with at least 75% attendance and appear for the required assessment.

For the September 2026 batch, applications are accepted online from 8 August 2026 (00:00 hrs.) to 21 August 2026 (23:59 hrs.). No offline application will be accepted, and candidates do not need to upload documents while submitting the online application.

Selection Process

Candidates for Rail Kaushal Vikas Yojana are selected on the basis of their Class 10 marks. The percentage obtained in the 10th examination is used to prepare the merit list. For candidates whose marks are available as CGPA, the notification specifies that the CGPA should be multiplied by 9.5 to convert it into percentage.

1. Candidates submit their online applications within the notified application period.
2. There is no separate written entrance examination or interview mentioned for selection; candidates are shortlisted based on Class 10 merit.
3. For candidates with CGPA, the CGPA is converted into percentage by multiplying it by 9.5, as specified in the notification.
4. An automatic list of shortlisted and waitlisted candidates is generated separately for each trade based on merit.
5. For the September 2026 batch, the shortlisted and waitlisted candidates' list is scheduled to be generated on 22 August 2026 at 12:30 PM.
6. Selected candidates are informed through email and SMS.
7. Selected candidates must report to the concerned training institute and produce the required original documents for verification. Failure to produce the documents may result in the candidate being barred from training.

Training Institutes and Seats

Rail Kaushal Vikas Yojana trains candidates at nominated Railway Training Institutes spread across the country, under various Zonal Railways and Production Units. For the September 2026 batch, 103 institutes across 18 states are participating, offering 5,927 seats in total. Seat distribution varies widely by trade, Fitters, Electrical, and Welding account for the largest share of seats this batch, while some trades, such as Bar Bending, have no seats open in this particular cycle. The institute count, state spread, and seat numbers change with every new batch notification.

A few sample institutes from the current batch, spread across different states, illustrate the scale and reach of the scheme:

The complete institute-wise and trade-wise seat details are available in the RKVY portal list. Candidates should check the available seats and training options while applying, as the availability may vary by institute and trade.

How to Check the Rail Kaushal Vikas Yojana Merit List?

The shortlisted and waitlisted candidates for Rail Kaushal Vikas Yojana are selected through an automatic merit-based process for each trade. For the September 2026 training batch, the list is scheduled to be generated on 22 August 2026 at 12:30 PM. Candidates will be informed about their selection through email and SMS.

Candidates should check their registered email address and mobile number for the selection or waitlist information. They can also visit the official Rail Kaushal Vikas Yojana portal and follow the latest instructions provided there.

Important Points

• Training under Rail Kaushal Vikas Yojana is provided free of cost, but trainees must make their own arrangements for food and lodging.
• The Railway administration will not provide any stipend, daily allowance, conveyance allowance or travelling allowance to trainees.
• A minimum of 75% attendance is compulsory during the training.
• A candidate can undergo training under the scheme in only one trade and only once. Repetitive training courses are not allowed.
• The training is conducted for 3 weeks (18 days) and only during the daytime.
• No reservation is provided under the scheme, and training is conducted irrespective of religion, caste, creed or race.
• Candidates must secure at least 55% marks in the written examination and 60% marks in the practical examination to pass the training.
• Candidates must submit a notarised affidavit on ₹10 non-judicial stamp paper agreeing to follow the rules, discipline and safety instructions of the training institute.
• Selected candidates must produce their original documents for verification when they report to the concerned training institute.
• Candidates who fail to produce the required original documents during reporting may be barred from undergoing the training.
• Completing the training does not give candidates any claim to employment in Indian Railways.
• Trainees are not treated as employees of Indian Railways during the training.
• Trainees are responsible for following the rules and safety instructions of the training institute and may be liable to compensate for damage caused to equipment or fittings.
• Trainees are not entitled to any Pass or PTO from the training institute.
• The training institute administration reserves the right to postpone, prepone, curtail or cancel the training programme when necessary.
• The training schedule will be provided by the concerned training institute, and selected candidates must attend the training regularly according to that schedule.

Relevant Links

• Rail Kaushal Vikas Yojana Portal
• Rail Kaushal Vikas Yojana Applicant Registration
• Rail Kaushal Vikas Yojana Portal Login.
• Rail Kaushal Vikas Yojana Application Status
• Rail Kaushal Vikas Yojana Institutes List
• Rail Kaushal Vikas Yojana 2026 Notification

Contact Information

• Rail Kaushal Vikas Yojana Contact Details