Southern Railway Apprentice Recruitment 2026 has opened a major apprenticeship opportunity for candidates looking to gain practical technical training with Indian Railways.
Southern Railway has released Notification No. 01/2026 for engagement of 4,471 Act Apprentices under the Apprentices Act, 1961, covering both Fresher and Ex-ITI categories across different workshops, divisions and units.
Out of the total vacancies, 163 seats are available for Fresher candidates, while 4,308 seats are earmarked for Ex-ITI candidates, making this one of the larger Southern Railway apprenticeship drives of 2026. The online application process has started on 28 August 2026, and eligible candidates can submit their applications up to 27 September 2026 at 5:00 PM.
The recruitment is particularly relevant for candidates who have completed 10th, 12th or ITI qualifications and want to develop trade-specific skills through structured training.
Depending on the category and trade, opportunities are available in areas such as Fitter, Welder, Painter, Electrician, Electronics Mechanic, COPA, Draughtsman-Civil, Medical Laboratory Technician and several other trades.
The selection process is also different from conventional Railway recruitment because there is no written examination or interview;
candidates are shortlisted on the basis of their qualifying examination marks and, where applicable, ITI marks. The notification also provides a monthly stipend during the training period, ranging from ₹8,200 for certain 10th-standard Fresher apprentices to ₹9,600 for 12th-standard Fresher and Ex-ITI candidates.
However, candidates should carefully understand that the Southern Railway Act Apprentice engagement is not a regular Railway job and completion of apprenticeship does not automatically result in permanent employment. The notification describes the opportunity as apprenticeship training and also sets specific eligibility conditions regarding residential jurisdiction, educational qualification, age, relevant ITI trade and supporting documents.
Importantly, eligibility is geographically restricted to specified areas under Southern Railway’s jurisdiction, including Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Puducherry, the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep, SPSR Nellore and Chittoor districts of Andhra Pradesh, and Dakshina Kannada district of Karnataka.
Therefore, candidates should not rely only on their qualification while applying; they should first verify their residential eligibility, preferred trade, unit-wise vacancy and category requirements from the official notification.
This article covers the Southern Railway Apprentice Recruitment 2026 notification, vacancy details, eligibility criteria, age limit, stipend, selection process, application fee, important dates, documents required and online application process to help eligible candidates understand the opportunity before submitting the form.
Southern Railway Act Apprentice Recruitment 2026 – Overview
Notification Out — 4,471 Act Apprentice Posts (Fresher + Ex-ITI) | Apply Online 28 Aug – 27 Sep 2026
visit for latest job firstjob24.com
| Particulars | Details |
| Recruiting Authority | Southern Railway — Office of the Chief Workshop Manager, Carriage & Wagon Works, Perambur, Chennai |
| Post Name | Act Apprentice (Fresher Category & Ex-ITI Category) |
| Notification No. | 01/2026 (No. CPB/P1/98/Act/TP/Vol.XXI, dated 28-08-2026) |
| Total Vacancies | 4,471 (Fresher: 163 + Ex-ITI: 4,308, as stated in the Notification) |
| Application Mode | Online Only |
| Application Fee | ₹100/- (Non-refundable); NIL for SC/ST/PwBD/Women |
| Nature of Engagement | Apprenticeship Training ONLY — No Guarantee of Employment |
| Official Website | www.sr.indianrailways.gov.in |
What This Notification Is — And What It Is NOT
Southern Railway is inviting online applications for engagement as Act Apprentices under the Apprentices Act, 1961, for structured skill training in designated trades across its Divisions, Workshops and Units. This is a training engagement, not a job offer — the apprenticeship contract ends automatically on completion of training, with no guarantee of subsequent employment. However, up to 20% of Level-1 Direct Recruitment vacancies in future Railway hiring drives may give preference to Course Completed Act Apprentices (CCAAs) who hold a National Apprenticeship Certificate (NAC) — making this a genuine skill-building stepping stone toward a future Railway or industry job.
Editorial note: Only candidates residing within Southern Railway’s specified geographical jurisdiction (listed below) are eligible — this is NOT an all-India-open notification.
Important Dates
- Notification Date: 28 August 2026
- Online Application Start Date: 28 August 2026
- Online Application Last Date: 27 September 2026, till 17:00 Hrs
- Tentative Shortlist Publication for Document Verification: 15 October 2026
Who Is Eligible to Apply — Geographical Jurisdiction
ONLY candidates residing within the following areas can apply for this notification:
- Whole State of Tamil Nadu
- Whole Union Territory of Puducherry
- Whole State of Kerala
- Whole Union Territories of Andaman & Nicobar and Lakshadweep Islands
- Only 2 districts of Andhra Pradesh — SPSR Nellore and Chittoor
- Only 1 district of Karnataka — Dakshina Kannada
If you reside outside these specific locations/districts, you are NOT eligible for this particular Southern Railway notification, even if you hold the required qualification.
Vacancy Breakup — Fresher Category (Total: 163)
| Unit | Trade | Vacancies |
| Carriage & Wagon Works, Perambur | Fitter | 40 |
| Welder | 20 | |
| Painter | 20 | |
| Central Workshop, Ponmalai | Fitter | 25 |
| Welder (G&E) | 18 | |
| S&T Workshop/Podanur, Coimbatore | Fitter | 20 |
| Railway Hospital, Perambur | MLT (Radiology) | 3 |
| MLT (Pathology) | 8 | |
| MLT (Cardiology) | 9 | |
| Fresher’s Total (as stated in Notification) | — | 163 |
Data-accuracy note: The category-wise reservation split given in the Notification (UR 68 + OBC 43 + SC 24 + ST 13 + EWS 14) sums to 162, one less than the stated Fresher total of 163. Candidates should treat the official PDF as final and verify unit/trade-wise numbers directly before applying — this is a rounding/typo in the source document, not an error introduced here.
Vacancy Breakup — Ex-ITI Category (Total: 4,308)
| Workshop Group | Units Covered | Vacancies |
| Carriage & Wagon Works Group | C&W Perambur, Chennai Division (Personnel, Elec/RS/RPM, Elec/RS/AVD, ELS/RS/AJJ, DME/DSL/TNP, Elec/RS/TBM, Mechanical C&W, Engineering), Electrical Workshop Perambur, Engineering Workshop Arakkonam, Engineering HQ/SR, Loco Works Perambur, Railway Hospital Perambur | 1,528 |
| Central Workshops, Ponmalai Group | Central Workshops Ponmalai, Madurai Division, Tiruchirappalli Division | 1,292 |
| S&T Workshop/Podanur Group | Palakkad Division, Salem Division, S&T Workshop Podanur, Trivandrum Division | 1,488 |
| Ex-ITI Total (as stated in Notification) | — | 4,308 |
Data-accuracy note: The category-wise reservation split for Ex-ITI (UR 1,744 + OBC 1,144 + SC 628 + ST 319 + EWS 394 = 4,229) is 79 short of the stated 4,308 total in the source Notification. This gap exists in the official document itself — always cross-check your specific trade/unit row in the official PDF before finalising your application choice.
Ex-ITI — Key Unit-wise Sub-totals (For Quick Reference)
| Unit | Vacancies |
| C&W Perambur (Personnel) | 250 |
| Chennai Division — Mechanical C&W | 200 |
| Chennai Division — Engineering | 335 |
| Loco Works, Perambur | 228 |
| Electrical Workshop, Perambur | 135 |
| Central Workshops, Ponmalai | 347 |
| Madurai Division | 383 |
| Tiruchirappalli Division | 562 |
| Palakkad Division | 488 |
| Salem Division | 628 |
| Trivandrum Division | 289 |
This is a summarised view — the full official Notification breaks each of these units further into ~10-16 individual trades (Fitter, Electrician, Welder, COPA, Draughtsman-Civil, MMTM, etc.) with separate UR/OBC/SC/ST/EWS/PwBD splits. Given the scale (nearly 50 unit-trade combinations), candidates should check the trade-wise table for their specific unit in the official PDF before applying.
Educational Qualification
Fresher Category
| Trade | Qualification |
| Fitter, Painter & Welder | Passed 10th Class (min. 50% aggregate) under 10+2 system or equivalent |
| Medical Laboratory Technician (Radiology/Pathology/Cardiology) | Passed 12th Class (min. 50% aggregate) with Physics, Chemistry & Biology |
Ex-ITI Category
| Trade Group | Qualification |
| Fitter, Machinist, MMV, Turner, Diesel Mechanic, Carpenter, Painter, Welder(G&E), Wireman, Advance Welder, Plumber, Draughtsman(Civil), Instrument Mechanic, Mech.R&AC, Gas Cutter, MMTM, Structural Welder | 10th Class (min. 50%) + ITI Course in relevant trade + NCVT/SCVT Certificate |
| Electrician | 10th Class (min. 50%) with Science + ITI Course in Electrician trade + NCVT/SCVT Certificate |
| Electronics Mechanic | 10th Class (min. 50%) with Science (Physics & Chemistry) and Mathematics + ITI Course + NCVT/SCVT Certificate |
| Secretarial Assistant & Stenographer (English) | 12th Class + ITI Course in relevant trade + NCVT/SCVT Certificate |
| ICTSM (Information & Communication Technology System Maintenance) | 10th Class + ITI Course + NCVT/SCVT Certificate |
| COPA/PASAA | 10th Class (min. 50%) + National Trade Certificate in “Computer Operator and Programming Assistant” |
Important: The 50% minimum in 10th standard does NOT apply to SC/ST/PwBD candidates. Also, Course Completed Act Apprentices (CCAAs), Engineering Graduates/Diploma holders, or Vocational Certificate holders with 1+ year of training/job experience after these qualifications are NOT eligible under the Act Apprentice Rules 1992 — this notification targets fresh entrants, not experienced professionals.
Age Limit (As on 28-08-2026)
- Minimum Age: 15 years completed
- Maximum Age: 22 years (Fresher/Ex-ITI) / 24 years (MLT)
| Category | Age Relaxation |
| OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) | 3 Years |
| SC / ST | 5 Years |
| PwBD (UR & EWS) | 10 Years |
| PwBD + OBC-NCL | 13 Years (10+3) |
| PwBD + SC/ST | 15 Years (10+5) |
SC/ST candidates must produce a Caste Certificate, and OBC candidates a current-year Non-Creamy-Layer certificate + self-declaration, at Document Verification — failing which they will be treated as UR with UR age limits, regardless of what was claimed at application stage.
Stipend During Training
| Category | Stipend (per month) |
| Fresher’s — 10th Std | ₹8,200/- |
| Fresher’s — 12th Std | ₹9,600/- |
| Ex-ITI | ₹9,600/- |
Stipend rises by 10% in Year 2 and a further 15% (over the prescribed minimum) in Year 3 of training.
Period of Training
- Welder: 1 Year 3 Months
- Fitter & Painter: 2 Years
- Medical Laboratory Technician (Cardiology/Radiology/Pathology): 1 Year 3 Months
- Ex-ITI candidates: Rebate in duration as per Schedule-I of Apprentices Rules 1992
Reservation for Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD)
As per Section 34(1) of the RPwD Act 2016, 4% reservation is provided across five benchmark disability categories (Physical, Blindness/Low Vision, Deaf/Hard of Hearing, Intellectual, and Multiple Disabilities). Per MSDE guidelines dated 11-04-2025, specific trades are notified as suitable for specific disability types — for example:
- Fitter, Turner, Machinist, Diesel Mechanic: suitable for Locomotor Disability, Leprosy Cured, Dwarfism, Acid Attack, Low Vision, Deaf
- Electrician, Welder(G&E), Structural Welder, Gas Cutter: suitable for Locomotor Disability, Leprosy Cured, Dwarfism, Acid Attack, Deaf, Hard of Hearing
- COPA, Draughtsman-Civil, PASAA: suitable for a wider range including Autism, Intellectual Disability and Specific Learning Disability, besides physical/visual/hearing categories
PwBD candidates must select the correct sub-category (LD/HI/VI/MD) matching their disability certificate at the application stage itself — no subsequent change is allowed under any circumstance. Refer to the official Notification’s full suitability matrix (26 trades listed) to confirm your specific trade is open to your disability category before applying.
Application Fee
- Processing Fee: ₹100/- (Non-refundable), payable online only
- No fee for SC/ST/PwBD/Women candidates
- Take a printout of the system-generated fee acknowledgement — required at Document Verification
Selection Process — How the Merit List Is Prepared
- Fresher Category: Matriculation marks converted to 200 (minimum 50% aggregate required, except SC/ST/PwBD)
- Ex-ITI Category: Matriculation marks converted to 100 + ITI marks converted to 100 = 200 total, equal weightage to both
- MLT Category: Higher Secondary marks (Physics, Chemistry, Maths & Biology) converted to 200
- Tie-break: older candidate (by DOB) ranks higher; if DOB also matches, whoever passed Matriculation earlier ranks higher
- Selection is purely merit-based — there is no written exam or interview for this Act Apprentice engagement
Since there’s no exam, your existing 10th/12th/ITI marksheet percentage IS your selection score — there’s nothing to “prepare” for beyond ensuring your documents and certificates are in order.
Documents Required at Document Verification
- Original Transfer Certificate for the qualifying examination (10th/12th/ITI)
- 10th/12th/ITI Marksheets & Certificates (National/State Council Certificate for ITI trades)
- Caste Certificate (SC/ST) in prescribed format (Annexure I) from a competent authority
- OBC Non-Creamy-Layer Certificate (Annexure II), valid for the current year, plus self-declaration
- Income & Asset/EBC Certificate, where applicable (Annexure III / III-A)
- Disability Certificate (Form V/VI/VII as applicable — Annexure V A/B/C) for PwBD candidates, issued by a Government Medical Board
- Medical Fitness Certificate signed by a Government-Authorized Doctor (Gazetted, not below Asst. Surgeon rank)
- Online application printout and fee payment acknowledgement (where applicable)
Note: These prescribed Annexure formats are attached to the official Notification PDF itself — download and get them filled by the correct competent authority well before the Document Verification date, rather than at the last minute.
How to Apply Online for Southern Railway Act Apprentice 2026
- Visit www.sr.indianrailways.gov.in
- Navigate to News & Updates → Personnel Branch Information
- Locate the link for Notification No. 01/2026 — Engagement of Act Apprentices
- Register with your basic details and complete the online application form in all respects
- Select your Category (Fresher/Ex-ITI), preferred trade and unit carefully — as availability is unit-specific
- Pay the ₹100 processing fee online (skip this step if SC/ST/PwBD/Woman)
- Submit before 27 September 2026, 17:00 Hrs — no other mode of application is accepted
- Keep checking the same “News & Updates → Personnel Branch Information” link for all further communication — the Bank/Railway does not send individual notifications for shortlists or document verification calls
Important Instructions
- This is purely an apprenticeship training engagement — NO GUARANTEE OF EMPLOYMENT on completion
- Up to 20% of Level-1 Direct Recruitment vacancies (in future drives) may prefer CCAAs with a valid NAC — a genuine long-term advantage of completing this apprenticeship
- Selected candidates must execute a formal Apprenticeship Contract; minors’ contracts are executed by their Guardian per Regional Director of Apprenticeship Training (RDAT), Chennai guidelines
- Willful absence during training, or false declarations, can require refunding the full training cost and any stipend received, besides disqualification/termination without notice
- Candidates are responsible for arranging their own accommodation during training
- Ex-ITI candidates must already hold the relevant ITI qualification at the time of applying — it cannot be “in progress”
- All official communication is posted ONLY on the link above — the Railway does not guarantee individual notifications
Why This Apprenticeship Is Worth Considering
- 4,471 openings is an unusually large single-notification count — among the biggest Railway apprentice drives of 2026, giving a real shot even in high-competition trades
- No written exam — selection is on existing marksheet percentage, so there’s no separate exam-prep burden
- Stipend of ₹8,200–₹9,600/month during training, rising each year, gives a working income while you build formal certification
- Completion earns a National Apprenticeship Certificate (NAC) — a recognised credential valued in both Railway and private-sector hiring, and directly linked to a 20% preference quota in future Level-1 Railway recruitment
- Multiple trades on offer (Fitter, Electrician, Welder, COPA, Draughtsman-Civil, MLT, Stenographer, and more) means candidates across 10th-pass, 12th-pass and ITI-qualified backgrounds all have a genuine entry point
important links |
|
| Apply Online (Notification 01/2026) | click here (Active 28 Aug – 27 Sep 2026) |
| Download Official Notification PDF | click here |
| Official Website | click here |
| firstjob24 jobs | click here |
| join whatsapp channel | click here |
| subscribe on youtube | click here |
FAQs — Southern Railway Act Apprentice Recruitment 2026
Q1. How many total vacancies are there?
4,471 (163 Fresher + 4,308 Ex-ITI), as stated in the official Notification.
Q2. What is the last date to apply?
27 September 2026, till 5:00 PM, online only.
Q3. Is there a written exam?
No. Selection is purely merit-based on your Matriculation/ITI/Higher Secondary marks — there is no separate written test or interview.
Q4. Will I get a Railway job after completing this apprenticeship?
No guarantee of employment. However, up to 20% of future Level-1 Direct Recruitment vacancies may prefer Course Completed Act Apprentices holding a National Apprenticeship Certificate.
Q5. Can candidates from any state apply?
No — only candidates residing in Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Kerala, Andaman & Nicobar/Lakshadweep, SPSR Nellore & Chittoor districts (AP), and Dakshina Kannada district (Karnataka) are eligible.
Q6. What is the application fee?
₹100/- (non-refundable); free for SC/ST/PwBD/Women candidates.
Q7. What is the age limit?
15 to 22 years (24 years for MLT), as on the notification date, with relaxations for OBC-NCL, SC/ST and PwBD.