Southern Railway Act Apprentice Recruitment 2026

Southern Railway has released the Act Apprentices Notification 2026-27 (Notification No. 01/2026) for engagement of eligible candidates under the Apprentices Act, 1961. A total of 4,471 Act Apprentice slots are available under the Fresher and Ex-ITI categories across various divisions, workshops and units of Southern Railway.

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.

Southern Railway Apprentice Recruitment 2026 – Overview

The notification lists 163 Fresher slots and 4,308 Ex-ITI slots, making the combined total 4,471.

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Southern Railway Apprentice Vacancy 2026

The vacancies are distributed across different Southern Railway divisions, workshops and units. Major trades include:

• Fitter
• Welder (G&E)
• Painter
• Electrician
• Mechanic R&AC
• Wireman
• Electronic Mechanic
• Machinist
• Turner
• Diesel Mechanic
• Carpenter
• Plumber
• Draughtsman (Civil)
• Gas Cutter
• COPA
• PASAA
• MMTM
• Structural Welder
• Instrument Mechanic
• ICTSM
• Medical Laboratory Technician
• Stenographer (English) & Secretarial Assistant

The detailed unit-wise and trade-wise vacancy tables are provided in the notification.

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Category-wise Total

Who Can Apply?

Candidates must meet the educational, technical and age requirements specified in the notification.

Fresher Category

For Fitter, Painter and Welder, candidates should have passed Class 10th with a minimum of 50% aggregate marks under the 10+2 system or equivalent.

For Medical Laboratory Technician (Radiology, Pathology and Cardiology), candidates should have passed Class 12th with at least 50% aggregate marks, with Physics, Chemistry and Biology.

Ex-ITI Category

Candidates applying under the Ex-ITI category generally need:

• Class 10th with a minimum of 50% aggregate marks or equivalent, and
• ITI qualification in the relevant trade from a Government-recognized ITI, with the required NCVT/SCVT certificate.

Specific qualification requirements apply to trades such as Electrician, Electronics Mechanic, COPA/PASSA, ICTSM and Secretarial Assistant/Stenographer.

Important: The minimum 50% marks requirement in Class 10th is not applicable to SC/ST/PwBD candidates as stated in the notification.

Age Limit for Southern Railway Apprentice Recruitment 2026

As on the date of notification:

• Minimum Age: 15 years
• Maximum Age: 22 years for Freshers
• Maximum Age: 24 years for Ex-ITI/MLT as specified in the notification
• OBC-NCL Relaxation: 3 years
• SC/ST Relaxation: 5 years
• PwBD Relaxation: 10 years

Additional age relaxation provisions are applicable for PwBD candidates belonging to OBC-NCL and SC/ST categories.

Training Period

The training period for Fresher candidates is:

• Welder: 1 year 3 months
• Fitter & Painter: 2 years
• Medical Laboratory Technician: 1 year 3 months

For Ex-ITI candidates, rebate in the training duration will be provided according to the applicable Apprenticeship Rules.

Southern Railway Apprentice Stipend

Selected apprentices will receive the following stipend rates mentioned in the notification:

The notification also provides for a 10% increase during the second year and a further 15% increase during the third year in the prescribed minimum stipend, wherever applicable.

Selection Process for Southern Railway Apprentice Recruitment 2026

Southern Railway will prepare a merit list from eligible applicants.

For Freshers, the marks obtained in Matriculation will be converted to 200 marks for preparing the merit list.

For Ex-ITI candidates, Matriculation marks will be converted to 100 marks and ITI marks to 100 marks, with equal weightage, making a total of 200 marks.

For MLT candidates, Higher Secondary marks in the relevant subjects will be converted to 200 marks for merit preparation.

In case of a tie, the older candidate will be preferred; if the dates of birth are also the same, the candidate who passed the Matriculation examination earlier will be considered.

Application Fee for Southern Railway Apprentice 2026

• General candidates: ₹100
• SC/ST: No fee
• PwBD: No fee
• Women candidates: No fee

The ₹100 processing fee is non-refundable and is to be paid online.

Where Can Candidates Apply?

The notification restricts eligibility based on residence within the geographical jurisdiction of Southern Railway. Eligible areas include:

• Entire Tamil Nadu
• Entire Puducherry
• Entire Kerala
• Andaman & Nicobar Islands
• Lakshadweep
• SPSR Nellore and Chittoor districts of Andhra Pradesh
• Dakshina Kannada district of Karnataka

Only candidates residing in the specified geographical areas are eligible to apply.

Important Dates for Southern Railway Apprentice Recruitment 2026

The notification specifies 15 October 2026 as the tentative date for publishing the shortlisted list for document verification.

Important Note for Candidates

This recruitment is for Apprenticeship Training and not direct employment. The notification clearly states that there is no guarantee of employment after completion of apprenticeship. However, preference may be given to Course Completed Act Apprentices (CCAAs) possessing the National Apprenticeship Certificate (NAC) in applicable Level-1 direct recruitment vacancies.

Candidates should also carefully verify their eligibility, trade, category, documents and residence requirements before submitting the application.

How to Apply for Southern Railway Apprentice Recruitment 2026?

Eligible candidates can apply online by following these steps:

1. Visit the Southern Railway official website.
2. Go to News & Updates → Personnel Branch Information.
3. Find Act Apprentice Notification 01/2026.
4. Read the detailed notification carefully.
5. Complete the online application form.
6. Enter educational, ITI and personal details correctly.
7. Upload the required documents.
8. Pay the applicable processing fee.
9. Submit the application before 27 September 2026, 5:00 PM.
10. Save and print the application/acknowledgement for future reference.

The notification directs candidates to the Southern Railway website under News & Updates → Personnel Branch Information for online applications and official communications.

Documents Required for Southern Railway Apprentice Recruitment 2026

Candidates should keep the relevant documents ready, including:

• Class 10th certificate/marksheet
• Class 12th certificate/marksheet, where applicable
• ITI certificate and relevant trade documents
• NCVT/SCVT certificate, where applicable
• Caste certificate, if applicable
• OBC-NCL certificate and self-declaration, where applicable
• PwBD certificate, where applicable
• Transfer certificate
• Other documents required for Document Verification

The original transfer certificate for completion of the qualifying examination is required at Document Verification.

Important Links for Southern Railway Apprentice Recruitment 2026

Southern Railway Apprentice Recruitment 2026 – FAQs

How many vacancies are available?

A total of 4,471 Act Apprentice slots are available, including 163 Fresher and 4,308 Ex-ITI slots.

What is the last date to apply?

The last date is 27 September 2026 up to 5:00 PM.

What is the selection process?

Selection will be based on a merit list prepared according to the prescribed marks calculation for the respective category.

What is the stipend for Ex-ITI candidates?

The prescribed stipend is ₹9,600 per month.

Is this a permanent railway job?

No. The notification is specifically for apprenticeship training, not direct employment, and states that there is no guarantee of employment.