Southern Railway Act Apprentice Recruitment 2026 — Fresher & Ex-ITI Categories, 4471 Posts

Southern Railway has released Notification No. 01/2026, inviting online applications for 4,471 Act Apprentice training posts — 163 under the Fresher category and 4,308 under the Ex-ITI category — across trades like Fitter, Welder, Electrician, COPA, and Medical Laboratory Technician. This is apprenticeship training under the Apprentices Act, 1961, not a job offer, and only residents of Southern Railway's specified jurisdiction can apply. Online applications close on 27 September 2026 at 5:00 PM.

Who Should Apply

• Fresher category (163 posts) — 10th pass candidates (minimum 50% aggregate) for Fitter, Welder, and Painter trades at Carriage & Wagon Works Perambur, Central Workshop Ponmalai, and S&T Workshop Podanur; or 12th pass candidates with Physics, Chemistry, and Biology for Medical Laboratory Technician (Radiology/Pathology/Cardiology) at Railway Hospital Perambur.
• Ex-ITI category (4,308 posts) — 10th or 12th pass candidates who additionally hold an NCVT/SCVT-certified ITI course in the relevant trade (Fitter, Machinist, Turner, Electrician, Electronics Mechanic, Wireman, Draughtsman-Civil, COPA, and many more), spread across Carriage & Wagon Works group, Central Workshops Ponmalai group, and S&T Workshop Podanur group, each covering several Divisions.

The notification's own category-wise vacancy tables (broken down by unit, division, and trade) sum to 162 for Fresher and 4,229 for Ex-ITI — slightly below the stated Grand Totals of 163 and 4,308. This arithmetic gap exists in the official notification itself; the headline totals (163, 4,308, 4,471 combined) are what the notification states as final, but check the detailed trade-wise table for your specific unit and trade before applying.

Eligibility & Age Limit

Only candidates residing in the whole states of Tamil Nadu and Kerala, the whole Union Territory of Puducherry, the Union Territories of Andaman & Nicobar and Lakshadweep Islands, only the SPSR Nellore and Chittoor districts of Andhra Pradesh, and only the Dakshina Kannada district of Karnataka are eligible to apply — residency outside this Southern Railway jurisdiction disqualifies you regardless of qualification.

Fresher category: Fitter, Painter, and Welder need a 10th pass (minimum 50% aggregate marks) under the 10+2 system or equivalent. Medical Laboratory Technician needs a 12th pass (minimum 50% aggregate) with Physics, Chemistry, and Biology.

Ex-ITI category: Most trades (Fitter, Machinist, MMV, Turner, Diesel Mechanic, Carpenter, Painter, Welder G&E, Wireman, Advance Welder, Plumber, Draughtsman-Civil, Instrument Mechanic, Mechanic R&AC, Gas Cutter, MMTM, Structural Welder) need a 10th pass (minimum 50%) plus an NCVT/SCVT-certified ITI course in that exact trade. Electrician needs the same, with Science as a 10th-standard subject. Electronics Mechanic needs Science (Physics & Chemistry) and Mathematics in 10th. Secretarial Assistant & Stenographer (English) needs a 12th pass plus the ITI certificate. ICTSM needs a 10th pass plus the ITI certificate. COPA/PASAA needs a 10th pass (minimum 50%) plus a National Trade Certificate in Computer Operator and Programming Assistant.

The minimum 50% requirement in 10th standard does not apply to SC/ST/PwBD candidates. Course Completed Act Apprentices, Engineering Graduates/Diploma holders, or Vocational Certificate holders with one year or more of training/job experience after these qualifications are not eligible to apply as trade apprentices under this scheme.

Age as on the notification date, 28 August 2026: minimum 15 years completed, maximum 22 years (Fresher/Ex-ITI) or 24 years (MLT). Age relaxation: 3 years for OBC-(NCL), 5 years for SC/ST, 10 years for PwBD. Combined relaxation for PwBD candidates: 10 years for UR/EWS+PwBD, 13 years for OBC-(NCL)+PwBD, 15 years for SC/ST+PwBD.

See every current opening open to 10th Pass candidates.

Salary & Pay Scale

This is a training stipend, not a regular salary: ₹8,200/month for Fresher-10th standard trades, ₹9,600/month for Fresher-12th standard (MLT) and for all Ex-ITI trades. The stipend rises 10% in the second year of training and a further 15% (over the prescribed minimum) in the third year. There is no guarantee of employment on completion of training — this is purely an apprenticeship engagement under the Apprentices Act, 1961.

Important Dates

Application Fee

₹100, non-refundable, payable online. No fee is required from SC/ST/PwBD/Women candidates. Take a printout of the system-generated payment acknowledgement — you'll need to submit it at Document Verification.

How to Apply

1. Visit www.sr.indianrailways.gov.in, then navigate to News & Updates → Personnel Branch Information.
2. Complete the online application in full, selecting your category (Fresher or Ex-ITI), trade, and unit preference.
3. Ex-ITI candidates must already hold their ITI qualification in the relevant trade at the time of applying — you can't apply on the basis of a course still in progress.
4. Pay the ₹100 processing fee online, unless you're SC/ST/PwBD/Women, in which case no fee is required.
5. Submit before 27 September 2026, 5:00 PM, and keep your submission acknowledgement for Document Verification.

Check your exact age as on the cut-off date before applying, since eligibility is judged as on the notification date, 28 August 2026, not your application date.

How Are Candidates Selected

Merit List (no written exam or interview): For Fresher category, your Matriculation marks are converted to 200, with a minimum 50% aggregate required (waived for SC/ST/PwBD). For Ex-ITI category, your Matriculation marks are converted to 100 and your ITI marks converted to 100, added together for 200, with equal weightage to both. For MLT, your Higher Secondary marks (Physics, Chemistry, Maths & Biology) are converted to 200. If two candidates tie, the older candidate is preferred; if their birth dates also match, whoever passed Matriculation earlier is ranked higher.

Document Verification: Shortlisted candidates (tentatively published 15 October 2026) must produce original certificates, including the original Transfer Certificate for their qualifying examination (10th/12th/ITI), plus a medical fitness certificate from a Government-Authorized Doctor (Gazetted, not below Assistant Surgeon rank) confirming they meet Schedule-II physical fitness standards under the Apprenticeship Rules, 1992.

Why This Job Matters

Southern Railway is one of Indian Railways' oldest and largest zones, and Act Apprentice training under the Apprentices Act, 1961 is a long-standing route into skilled railway trades for candidates in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Puducherry. With 4,471 posts spread across Carriage & Wagon Works, Central Workshops, S&T Workshops, and multiple Divisions, this is one of the larger apprenticeship intakes in the region this year, and it's notable for reserving 20% of Level 1 direct-recruitment vacancies for candidates who successfully complete this training and hold a National Apprenticeship Certificate.

The FreshersLike Take

Best fit: This suits a 10th or 12th pass candidate from Southern Railway's specific jurisdiction (Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Puducherry, or the listed districts of Andhra Pradesh/Karnataka) who wants hands-on trade training with a stipend, and who understands this is training, not a job guarantee.

Who should think twice: There is explicitly no guarantee of employment after training — your apprenticeship contract simply ends on completion, though 20% of future Level 1 direct-recruitment vacancies may prefer NAC-holding Course Completed Act Apprentices. You're also responsible for arranging your own accommodation during training, and if you're willfully absent or your candidature is withdrawn improperly, you may have to refund the full training cost and any stipend already paid.

Practical tip: Selection is 100% marks-based with zero interview or written test — so your existing Matriculation (and ITI, if applicable) marks are the entire game here, not something you can improve between now and selection. Since Ex-ITI merit gives your Matriculation and ITI marks exactly equal weight (100 each), a strong ITI score can meaningfully offset a weaker 10th-standard result, so don't assume a mediocre Matriculation percentage rules you out if your ITI marks are strong.

Documents Required

• 10th/12th/ITI mark sheets and original Transfer Certificate for your qualifying examination
• ITI course certificate issued by NCVT or the relevant State Council for Vocational Training (Ex-ITI category)
• Caste Certificate (SC/ST) or OBC Non-Creamy Layer certificate valid for the current year plus a Self-Declaration form, if claiming reservation — otherwise you'll be considered "UR" with the UR age limit
• Disability Certificate from the Competent Authority (Central/State Government Medical Board), if claiming PwBD reservation or relaxation
• Medical fitness certificate in the prescribed format, signed by a Government-Authorized Doctor (Gazetted, not below Assistant Surgeon rank)
• Online payment acknowledgement (if fee was applicable to your category)

What Happens After Selection

Selected candidates are engaged in the unit of their choice, subject to available vacancies, but may be required to engage in other units under Southern Railway's jurisdiction if administrative requirements warrant it. Before training begins, candidates must execute a formal contract of apprenticeship under the Apprentices Act, 1961 (a minor candidate's guardian executes it on their behalf, per Regional Director of Apprenticeship Training, Guindy, Chennai guidelines). Candidates cannot withdraw from training except for reasons beyond their control. Training period varies by trade: 1 year 3 months for Welder and MLT trades, 2 years for Fitter and Painter (Fresher category); Ex-ITI candidates get a rebate on training duration per Schedule-I of the Apprentices Rules, 1992. All official updates — document verification lists, selection results, eligibility results — are posted only on the official website link; no other channel is used.

Important Links

Common Questions

What is the last date to apply for Southern Railway Act Apprentice Recruitment 2026?

Online applications close on 27 September 2026 at 5:00 PM.

How many vacancies are there?

4,471 total — 163 Fresher and 4,308 Ex-ITI, per the notification's stated Grand Totals. Note that the notification's own detailed unit-wise breakdown sums to slightly lower figures (162 and 4,229) — this is a discrepancy within the official document itself, not a third-party error.

Can candidates from outside Tamil Nadu, Kerala, or Puducherry apply?

Only if you reside in the SPSR Nellore or Chittoor districts of Andhra Pradesh, or the Dakshina Kannada district of Karnataka, or the Andaman & Nicobar/Lakshadweep Islands — candidates residing elsewhere are not eligible, regardless of qualification.

Is this a guaranteed railway job?

No. The notification explicitly states there is NO GUARANTEE OF EMPLOYMENT, and your apprenticeship contract ends on completion of training. However, 20% of future Level 1 direct-recruitment vacancies may give preference to candidates who complete this apprenticeship and hold a National Apprenticeship Certificate (NAC).

Is there a written exam or interview?

No. Selection is purely marks-based, using your existing Matriculation (and ITI, where applicable) marks — there is no written test or interview stage.

Can a Course Completed Act Apprentice or engineering graduate apply?

No. The notification specifically excludes Course Completed Act Apprentices, Engineering Graduates/Diploma holders, and Vocational Certificate holders who've had one year or more of training/job experience after attaining these qualifications.

Is there an application fee, and who is exempt?

₹100, non-refundable, paid online. SC/ST/PwBD/Women candidates are exempt.

Is the 50% minimum marks requirement waived for anyone?

Yes — the minimum 50% aggregate requirement in 10th standard does not apply to SC/ST/PwBD candidates.

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