ICF Chennai Act Apprentice Recruitment 2026: Apply Online for 1010 Posts

Quick Highlights

• Organisation: Integral Coach Factory (ICF), Chennai
• Notification No.: APP/01/2026-2027 (No. PB/RR/39/App/2026)
• Post: Act Apprentice (Freshers and Ex-ITI)
• Total Vacancies: 1010
• Mode of Application: Online only
• Last Date to Apply: 7 September 2026, 5:30 PM

Important Dates

Application Fee

A processing fee of ₹100 plus applicable service charges must be paid online, and this fee is non-refundable under any circumstances. SC, ST, PwBD and women candidates are exempt from the application fee. Candidates who are required to pay the fee will receive a unique transaction ID starting with "DU" from the payment gateway on their registered mobile number, which should be preserved for future reference.

Vacancy Details

ICF has notified vacancies under two categories of candidates — Freshers and Ex-ITI — across six core trades, along with separate seats for Medical Lab Technician and PASAA posts.

Freshers: Carpenter, Electrician, Fitter, Machinist, Painter, Welder

Ex-ITI: Carpenter, Electrician, Fitter, Machinist, Painter, Welder

MLT and PASAA Posts

Adding all categories together, ICF Chennai is engaging 1010 Act Apprentices in this cycle: 320 Freshers and 670 Ex-ITI seats across the six core trades, plus 10 MLT seats for Freshers and 10 PASAA seats for Ex-ITI candidates.

Eligibility Criteria

Age Limit

Age will be reckoned as on 7 September 2026.

• ITI (Ex-ITI) candidates: must have completed 15 years and not completed 24 years
• Non-ITI (Freshers) candidates: must have completed 15 years and not completed 22 years
• Upper age relaxation: 5 years for SC/ST, 3 years for OBC, 10 years for PwBD candidates

Educational Qualification

For Ex-ITI candidates in Fitter, Electrician and Machinist trades, a pass in Std X with a minimum of 50% marks under the 10+2 system with Science and Maths, along with a National Trade Certificate of one year or more in the notified trade, is required. Carpenter, Painter and Welder Ex-ITI candidates need Std X with 50% marks and the relevant National Trade Certificate. For PASAA, candidates need Std X with 50% marks along with a National Trade Certificate in Information Technology, Computer Operator and Programming Assistant, Database System Assistant or Software Testing Assistant.

Freshers applying for Fitter, Electrician and Machinist need Std X with a minimum of 50% aggregate marks with Science and Maths under the 10+2 system. Carpenter and Painter Freshers need Std X with 50% aggregate marks. Welder Freshers also need Std X with 50% aggregate marks, with a shorter training period. MLT-Radiology and MLT-Pathology candidates must have passed Std XII under the 10+2 system with Physics, Chemistry and Biology.

Candidates holding qualifications higher than 10th/Matric/SSLC, such as a Degree, Diploma, Engineering Degree, or those who have already completed an Act Apprenticeship, are not eligible to apply (except for MLT posts, where 12th/HSC is the required qualification).

Residency and Employment Exchange Registration

Applicants must be residents of Tamil Nadu and/or registered with a local Employment Exchange falling within the state, with the registration date not later than the last date for receipt of applications. This condition does not apply to wards of Railway employees, who must instead submit an Identity Card or Service Certificate of the Railway employee, attested by a Gazetted Officer, along with UMID or PPO copies as proof.

Training Period and Stipend

The training period varies by trade and candidate category: Ex-ITI candidates in Fitter, Electrician, Machinist, Carpenter, Painter, Welder and PASAA trades train for 1 year, while Fresher candidates train for 2 years in Fitter, Electrician, Machinist, Carpenter and Painter, 1 year 3 months in Welder, and 1 year 3 months in MLT-Radiology and MLT-Pathology.

The stipend increases by 10 percent during the second year of apprenticeship training.

Selection Process

Selection is based on a merit list prepared from marks obtained in the Std X examination. Where two candidates have equal marks, the older candidate is preferred, and if dates of birth also match, the one who passed Std X earlier is ranked higher. Fresher candidates exercise trade options and are allotted a trade based on merit rank and vacancy availability; once allotted, a trade change is not entertained. Ex-ITI candidates are trained in the trade matching their ITI certificate. Candidates selected under the PwBD category are allotted only the trade permissible to their specific disability. Selected candidates must produce a Medical Certificate confirming physical fitness at the time of document verification.

How to Apply

1. Visit the ICF web portal at pb.icf.gov.in during the application window from 8 August 2026 to 7 September 2026.
2. Read the notification carefully and register on the portal; the system will generate an individual Registration ID.
3. Log in using the Registration ID and your date of birth (in ddmmyyyy format) as the password.
4. Fill in the online application form with accurate details, keeping scanned documents, certificates and a recent passport-size photograph (under 200 KB, jpg/jpeg format) ready.
5. Pay the processing fee of ₹100 plus service charges online, unless you are exempt as an SC, ST, PwBD or woman candidate.
6. Check all entered details carefully before clicking submit, as changes cannot be made afterward.
7. After final submission, generate and print the system-issued acknowledgement form, which must be produced at the time of document verification.

Applications and supporting documents are not to be sent to ICF by post, e-mail, fax or by hand at any stage.

Documents Required

• Std X mark sheet and Transfer Certificate (original required at verification)
• Std XII mark sheet for MLT posts
• National Trade Certificate (for Ex-ITI candidates)
• Caste certificate for SC/ST candidates and OBC Non-Creamy Layer certificate for OBC candidates, issued by the appropriate authority
• Disability certificate for PwBD candidates
• Employment Exchange registration proof
• System-generated acknowledgement form and Transaction ID (where fee is paid)
• Identity Card/Service Certificate and UMID/PPO copies (for wards of Railway employees, where applicable)
• Recent passport-size photograph in jpg/jpeg format, under 200 KB

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. How many vacancies has ICF Chennai announced in this Act Apprentice notification?

ICF Chennai has announced a total of 1010 Act Apprentice vacancies, covering 320 Freshers seats and 670 Ex-ITI seats across six trades, plus 10 MLT seats for Freshers and 10 PASAA seats for Ex-ITI candidates.

Q2. What is the last date to apply for ICF Chennai Act Apprentice Recruitment 2026?

The online application window closes on 7 September 2026 at 5:30 PM on the ICF web portal, pb.icf.gov.in.

Q3. What is the application fee for this recruitment?

The processing fee is ₹100 plus applicable service charges, payable online. SC, ST, PwBD and women candidates are exempt from paying this fee.

Q4. What is the age limit for ICF Act Apprentice posts?

As on 7 September 2026, ITI candidates must be between 15 and 24 years, while Non-ITI Fresher candidates must be between 15 and 22 years, with age relaxation of 5 years for SC/ST, 3 years for OBC and 10 years for PwBD candidates.

Q5. Who is eligible to apply for this ICF apprentice notification?

Candidates who have passed Std X with the required percentage in the relevant subjects, and who are residents of Tamil Nadu or registered with a local Tamil Nadu Employment Exchange, are eligible, subject to trade-specific qualification norms. Candidates with qualifications higher than 10th/Matric, such as a Degree or Diploma, are not eligible, except for MLT posts.

Q6. How is the merit list prepared for ICF Act Apprentice selection?

The merit list is prepared based on marks obtained in the Std X examination, with older age used as a tie-breaker when marks are equal.

Q7. Does this apprenticeship guarantee a job at ICF or Indian Railways after training?

No. The notification clearly states that no employment is guaranteed to apprentices on completion of their training, and the training does not confer any right to absorption in Railways.

Q8. What is the monthly stipend for ICF Act Apprentices?

Freshers who are Class 10th pass-outs receive ₹8,200 per month, Freshers who are Class 12th pass-outs receive ₹9,600 per month, and Ex-ITI certificate holders receive ₹9,600 per month, with a 10 percent increase in the second year of training.

Source

This information is based on Notification No. APP/01/2026-2027 (No. PB/RR/39/App/2026) dated 8 August 2026, issued by the Office of the Principal Chief Personnel Officer, Integral Coach Factory, Chennai. Candidates should verify all details on the official ICF web portal, pb.icf.gov.in, before applying.

Disclaimer

This article is intended for general informational purposes only, based on the official notification available at the time of writing. Candidates are advised to cross-check all dates, eligibility conditions and application details on the official ICF website before proceeding with their application.