Southern Railway has invited online applications for Act Apprentice training for 4,471 vacancies under Notification No. 01/2026. The recruitment is being conducted through the Office of the Chief Workshop Manager, Carriage & Wagon Works, Perambur.
The vacancies are available for Fresher and Ex-ITI candidates across different workshops, divisions and units under Southern Railway.
Candidates interested in the apprenticeship can check the eligibility criteria, available trades, age limit, stipend, application fee, selection process and important dates below.
Important: This is an apprenticeship training opportunity and not a regular employment appointment. Completion of training does not guarantee employment with Southern Railway.
Southern Railway Apprentice Recruitment 2026 – Overview
| Organization Name | Southern Railway |
| Recruitment | Act Apprentice Training 2026 |
| Advertisement No. | 01/2026 |
| Post Name | Act Apprentice |
| Total Vacancies | 4,471 (163 Fresher & 4,308 Ex-ITI Vacancies) |
| Qualification | ITI |
| Selection Process | Merit-based selection |
| Application Mode | Online |
| Official Website | sr.indianrailways.gov.in |
Important Dates
Start Date to Apply
28 August 2026
Last Date to Apply
27 September 2026
Tentative Shortlist for Document Verification
15 October 2026
Candidates should submit their applications well before the deadline to avoid last-minute technical issues.
Southern Railway Apprentice Vacancy 2026
Southern Railway has announced 4,471 apprentice training slots, divided into two major categories:
- Fresher: 163 vacancies
- Ex-ITI: 4,308 vacancies
The vacancies are distributed among workshops, hospitals and railway divisions in the Southern Railway jurisdiction.
Fresher Category
| Unit | Major Trades | Vacancies |
|---|---|---|
| Carriage & Wagon Works, Perambur | Fitter, Welder, Painter | 80 |
| Central Workshop, Ponmalai | Fitter, Welder (G&E) | 43 |
| S&T Workshop, Podanur | Fitter | 20 |
| Railway Hospital, Perambur | MLT – Radiology, Pathology, Cardiology | 20 |
| Total | 163 |
Ex-ITI Category
| Group | Units/Divisions Covered | Vacancies |
|---|---|---|
| Carriage & Wagon Works Group | Perambur C&W, Chennai Division, Electrical Workshop, Arakkonam, Loco Works, Railway Hospital and others | 1,528 |
| Central Workshops Group | Ponmalai, Madurai and Tiruchirappalli Divisions | 1,292 |
| S&T Workshop Podanur Group | Palakkad, Salem, Podanur and Trivandrum | 1,488 |
| Total | 4,308 |
Who Can Apply for Southern Railway Apprentice Recruitment?
Candidates must satisfy both the educational qualification and residential/geographical eligibility specified in the notification.
Applicants must ordinarily reside within the geographical jurisdiction covered by Southern Railway, including:
- Tamil Nadu
- Puducherry
- Kerala
- Andaman & Nicobar Islands
- Lakshadweep
- SPSR Nellore and Chittoor districts of Andhra Pradesh
- Dakshina Kannada district of Karnataka
Candidates must also satisfy the prescribed medical and physical fitness requirements applicable to apprentices.
Eligibility Criteria
Southern Railway Apprentice Educational Qualification
The qualification depends on whether the candidate is applying under the Fresher or Ex-ITI category.
Fresher Candidates
For Fitter, Painter and Welder:
- Passed Class 10 under the 10+2 system or equivalent.
- Minimum 50% aggregate marks.
For Medical Laboratory Technician (MLT):
- Passed Class 12.
- Minimum 50% aggregate marks.
- Must have studied Physics, Chemistry and Biology.
Ex-ITI Candidates
Most listed trades require:
- Class 10 pass with at least 50% marks.
- ITI qualification in the relevant trade.
- NCVT/SCVT-recognized certificate.
Some trades have additional subject requirements.
For example:
| Trade | Main Qualification |
|---|---|
| Electrician | Class 10 + relevant ITI; Science required |
| Electronics Mechanic | Class 10 + ITI; prescribed Science and Mathematics subjects |
| COPA/PASAA | Class 10 + National Trade Certificate in COPA |
| Secretarial Assistant | Class 12 + relevant ITI |
| Stenographer (English) | Class 12 + relevant ITI |
| ICTSM | Class 10 + relevant ITI |
Candidates should check the official notification for the exact qualification and trade-specific requirements before submitting the application.
Important Eligibility Restriction: Candidates who are already Course Completed Act Apprentices (CCAAs), engineering graduates/diploma holders, or certain vocational qualification holders with the specified subsequent training/job experience are not eligible under this notification.
Southern Railway Apprentice Age Limit
The candidate’s age will be calculated with reference to 28 August 2026.
| Category | Age Requirement |
|---|---|
| Minimum Age | 15 years |
| Maximum Age – Fresher/Ex-ITI | 22 years |
| Maximum Age – MLT | 24 years |
Age Relaxation
| Category | Relaxation |
|---|---|
| OBC-NCL | 3 years |
| SC/ST | 5 years |
| PwBD | 10 years |
Additional combined relaxation may apply to PwBD candidates depending on their category.
Southern Railway Apprentice Stipend
Selected apprentices will receive the prescribed monthly stipend during their training.
| Candidate Category | Monthly Stipend |
|---|---|
| Fresher – 10th Standard | ₹8,200 |
| Fresher – 12th Standard | ₹9,600 |
| Ex-ITI | ₹9,600 |
The notification also provides for an increase in the stipend during subsequent years of training as prescribed.
Important: Stipend is paid for apprenticeship training and should not be confused with the salary of a regular railway employee.
Southern Railway Apprentice Application Fee
The application processing fee is: 100 ₹. The fee is non-refundable.
Southern Railway Apprentice Selection Process
There is no written examination for selection under this apprenticeship notification.
Candidates are shortlisted through a merit-based process using their qualifying examination and ITI marks, as applicable.
Fresher Category : The matriculation marks are considered and converted to the prescribed 200-mark scale.
Ex-ITI Category: Selection is based on equal weightage of:
- Matriculation marks – 100 marks
- ITI marks – 100 marks
Total: 200 marks
MLT Category: Higher Secondary marks in the prescribed subjects are considered and converted to the prescribed 200-mark scale.
In case of a tie, the prescribed tie-breaking rules in the notification will be followed.
How to Apply for Southern Railway Apprentice Recruitment 2026
Eligible candidates can apply online by following these steps:
- Open the Southern Railway apprentice application portal.
- Read the notification and eligibility requirements carefully.
- Complete the registration process.
- Enter your personal, educational and ITI details.
- Select the appropriate trade/unit as permitted by the notification.
- Upload the required documents.
- Pay the applicable application fee.
- Check the complete application carefully.
- Submit the application before 27 September 2026, 5:00 PM.
- Save or print the submitted application for future reference.
Documents Candidates Should Keep Ready
Before starting the application, candidates should keep the required documents and information ready, such as:
- Class 10 certificate/marksheet
- Class 12 certificate/marksheet, where applicable
- ITI certificate/marksheet, where applicable
- Category certificate, if applicable
- PwBD certificate, if applicable
- Recent photograph
- Signature
- Valid mobile number
- Email address
- Other documents specified in the official notification
Candidates should use the exact document specifications mentioned on the application portal.
Important Things to Know Before Applying
- This is apprenticeship training, not a permanent railway job.
- Completion of apprenticeship does not guarantee employment.
- Ex-ITI candidates must have the required ITI qualification when applying.
- Candidates claiming reservation benefits must produce valid certificates during document verification.
- False information or incorrect declarations can result in disqualification.
- Candidates are responsible for arranging their own accommodation during training.
- The vacancies are tentative and may be changed by Southern Railway.
- Candidates should verify their specific trade, unit and category vacancy from the official notification before applying.
Important Links
| Resource | Link |
|---|---|
| Apply Online | Click Here |
| Official Notification | View & Download |
| Official Website | sr.indianrailways.gov.in |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Southern Railway has announced 4,471 apprentice vacancies, including 163 Fresher and 4,308 Ex-ITI vacancies.
The last date for online application is 27 September 2026 up to 5:00 PM.
No written examination is mentioned for selection. Candidates are shortlisted through the prescribed merit-based process.
Candidates must have completed 15 years of age as on the prescribed date.
No. It is an apprenticeship training engagement under the Apprentices Act, 1961. Completion of training does not guarantee regular employment.
