Southern Railway Apprentice Recruitment 2026: Notification for 4,471 Posts

Quick Highlights

• Organization: Southern Railway, Office of the Chief Workshop Manager, Carriage and Wagon Works, Perambur
• Notification No.: 01/2026 (No. CPB/P1/98/Act/TP/Vol.XXI)
• Post Name: Act Apprentice (Fresher and Ex-ITI, various trades)
• Total Vacancies: 4,471
• Mode of Application: Online
• Last Date to Apply: 27-09-2026 till 17:00 hrs

Important Dates

Who Can Apply: Geographical Eligibility

This is one of the most important conditions in the notification. Only candidates who reside in the following locations within the geographical jurisdiction of Southern Railway are eligible to apply. Candidates from outside these areas are not eligible, regardless of their trade qualification.

• Whole State of Tamil Nadu
• Whole Union Territory of Puducherry
• Whole State of Kerala
• Whole Union Territories of Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep
• Only two districts of Andhra Pradesh, namely SPSR Nellore and Chittoor
• Only one district of Karnataka, namely Dakshina Kannada

Vacancy Details

Apprentice seats are divided into two broad categories: Fresher (candidates who have passed 10th or 12th standard but have not done an ITI course) and Ex-ITI (candidates who have already completed an ITI course in the relevant trade). Vacancies are further distributed across category-wise reservation as UR, OBC, SC, ST, and EWS.

Fresher Category Vacancies

Note: The notification lists the Fitter trade total at Signal and Telecommunication Workshop, Podanur as 20, though the individual category figures shown against it (UR 9, OBC 5, SC 3, ST 1, EWS 1) add up to 19. This figure is reproduced exactly as given in the official notification; candidates are advised to verify with the source document.

Ex-ITI Category Vacancies

The Ex-ITI category makes up the bulk of the vacancies and covers trades such as Fitter, Welder (G and E), Electrician, COPA, Draughtsman (Civil), Carpenter, Painter, Mechanic Machine Tool Maintenance, Structural Welder, Gas Cutter, Turner, Machinist, Diesel Mechanic, Wireman, Mechanic Refrigeration and Air Conditioning, Plumber, ICTSM, Instrument Mechanic, Stenographer and Secretarial Assistant, PASAA, Advance Welder, and Electronics Mechanic, distributed unit-wise as below.

The unit-wise totals above have been verified against the official notification and add up correctly to the stated Ex-ITI grand total of 4,308 (UR 1,744, OBC 1,144, SC 628, ST 319, EWS 394). Detailed trade-wise and category-wise vacancy breakup for every unit and division is available in the official notification linked at the end of this article.

Adding the Fresher and Ex-ITI totals gives an overall figure of 4,471 apprentice vacancies in this recruitment.

Eligibility: Academic Qualification

Fresher Category

Ex-ITI Category

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

Age Limit

As on the date of notification, candidates should have completed 15 years of age and should not have completed 22 years for the Fresher category or 24 years for the Ex-ITI and MLT categories.

Application Fee

The processing fee is Rs. 100, payable through online mode only, and it is non-refundable. No fee is required from SC, ST, PwBD, and women candidates. Candidates should take a printout of the system-generated fee acknowledgement, as it is required at the time of document verification.

Stipend and Period of Training

The stipend increases by 10 percent in the second year of training and by a further 15 percent in the third year, over the prescribed minimum amount.

For Ex-ITI candidates, a rebate in the duration of training is given as per Schedule-I of the Apprentices Rules, 1992, as amended from time to time.

Selection Process

There is no written examination for this apprentice engagement. Selection is based purely on a merit list prepared for all eligible candidates who apply against the notification.

• Fresher Category: Marks obtained in Matriculation are converted to 200, ensuring a minimum of 50% aggregate marks in Matriculation.
• Ex-ITI Category: Marks obtained in Matriculation are converted to 100 (with minimum 50% aggregate) and ITI marks are converted to 100, and the two are combined for a total of 200 with equal weightage to both.
• MLT Category: Marks obtained in Higher Secondary with Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, and Biology are converted to 200.

The 50% minimum aggregate requirement in Matriculation is not insisted upon for SC, ST, and PwBD candidates. If two candidates have the same marks, the older candidate is preferred; if their dates of birth are also the same, the candidate who passed the Matriculation examination earlier is considered.

Reservation for Persons with Benchmark Disabilities

As per the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, 4 percent reservation is provided across five categories of benchmark disability: physical disability, blindness and low vision, hearing impairment, intellectual disability, and multiple disabilities. Only candidates with not less than 40 percent of the relevant benchmark disability are eligible for this relaxation and reservation. The notification specifies which of these disability categories are suitable for each designated trade; candidates should refer to the official notification for the trade-wise suitability chart before applying under this quota.

Candidates availing this benefit must submit a Disability Certificate issued by the Competent Authority in Form V, VI, or VII as prescribed under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Rules, 2017, at the time of document verification.

Medical Standards

Candidates must satisfy the minimum standards of physical fitness specified in Schedule-II of the Apprenticeship Rules, 1992, and must produce a medical certificate in the prescribed format at the time of document verification. The medical certificate must be signed by a Government-authorized doctor of the rank of Assistant Surgeon or above at a Central or State Government hospital.

How to Apply

1. Visit the official Southern Railway website at www.sr.indianrailways.gov.in.
2. Go to the News and Updates section and open Personnel Branch Information.
3. Locate Notification No. 01/2026 for Act Apprentice engagement and open the online application link.
4. Fill in personal, academic, and trade preference details carefully in the online application form.
5. Pay the processing fee online, where applicable, and upload the required documents and certificates.
6. Submit the application before the closing date and take a printout of the system-generated acknowledgement for future reference.

Documents Required

• 10th/12th mark sheet and original transfer certificate
• ITI mark sheet and NCVT/SCVT certificate (for Ex-ITI candidates)
• Caste certificate for SC/ST candidates, in the prescribed format
• OBC Non-Creamy Layer certificate valid for the current year, along with a self-declaration of current status
• EWS income and asset certificate, where applicable
• Disability certificate from a Competent Authority, for PwBD candidates
• Fee payment acknowledgement printout

General Rules and Important Notes

• This notification is purely for apprenticeship training and not for employment. There is no guarantee of employment, and the apprenticeship contract ends on completion of training.
• However, 20 percent of the vacancies in case of Direct Recruitment to posts in Level 1 may be filled giving preference to Course Completed Act Apprentices trained in Railway establishments and holding a National Apprenticeship Certificate.
• The decision of the Railway administration in all matters relating to eligibility, acceptance or rejection of applications, and mode of selection is final.
• If any declaration furnished by a candidate is found false, the candidate will be disqualified or terminated at any stage of the training period without notice.
• Selected candidates are responsible for arranging their own accommodation and other facilities during training.
• Candidates who are willfully absent, or whose surety is invoked during the apprenticeship, are required to refund the full cost of training and any stipend received, as determined by the Central Apprenticeship Adviser.
• All official communication, including shortlists for document verification, selection, and eligibility, will be posted only on the official website link mentioned above.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. What Is The Southern Railway Apprentice Recruitment 2026?

It is an engagement of Act Apprentices by Southern Railway under the Apprentices Act 1961, notified vide Notification No. 01/2026 dated 28-08-2026. Training is offered in various designated trades across Divisions, Workshops, and Units under Southern Railway, and it is purely a training arrangement rather than a job offer.

Q2. How Many Vacancies Are There In This Apprentice Recruitment?

There are 4,471 vacancies in total, made up of 163 posts in the Fresher category and 4,308 posts in the Ex-ITI category, spread across trades such as Fitter, Welder, Electrician, COPA, Draughtsman (Civil), and several others.

Q3. Who Is Eligible To Apply For Southern Railway Apprentice Recruitment 2026?

Only candidates residing in the geographical jurisdiction of Southern Railway can apply. This includes the whole of Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Kerala, and the Andaman and Nicobar and Lakshadweep Islands, plus only the SPSR Nellore and Chittoor districts of Andhra Pradesh and only the Dakshina Kannada district of Karnataka. Candidates also need to meet the trade-wise academic qualification and age limit given in the notification.

Q4. What Is The Last Date To Apply Online For This Apprentice Notification?

The online application window opened on 28-08-2026 and closes on 27-09-2026 at 17:00 hrs. Applications complete in all respects must be submitted online before this closing date and time.

Q5. What Is The Application Fee For Southern Railway Apprentice Recruitment 2026?

The processing fee is Rs. 100, payable online, and it is non-refundable. No fee is required from SC, ST, PwBD, and women candidates.

Q6. What Is The Age Limit For This Apprentice Recruitment?

As on the date of notification, candidates must have completed 15 years of age. The upper age limit is 22 years for Freshers and 24 years for Ex-ITI and MLT candidates. Age relaxation of 3 years applies for OBC-NCL, 5 years for SC/ST, and 10 years for PwBD candidates, with PwBD relaxation added on top of OBC or SC/ST relaxation where applicable.

Q7. How Will Candidates Be Selected For Southern Railway Act Apprentice Posts?

Selection is through a merit list, without any written exam. For Freshers, Matriculation marks are converted to 200. For Ex-ITI candidates, Matriculation marks (converted to 100) and ITI marks (converted to 100) are combined for a total of 200 with equal weightage. For MLT posts, Higher Secondary marks in the relevant subjects are converted to 200.

Q8. Will Apprentices Get A Permanent Job In Railways After Training?

No. The notification clearly states there is no guarantee of employment, and the apprenticeship contract ends on completion of training. However, 20 percent of vacancies in Direct Recruitment to Level 1 posts may give preference to Course Completed Act Apprentices who hold a National Apprenticeship Certificate.

Source

This article is based on Southern Railway Notification No. 01/2026 (No. CPB/P1/98/Act/TP/Vol.XXI) dated 28-08-2026, issued by the Office of the Chief Workshop Manager, Carriage and Wagon Works, Perambur, for engagement of Act Apprentices under the Apprentices Act 1961.

Disclaimer: The information above has been compiled from the official Southern Railway notification for the convenience of readers. Candidates are strongly advised to read the complete official notification and check the official website before applying, as VacancyPage is not responsible for any discrepancy between this article and the original notification.