Southern Railway Act Apprentice Recruitment 2026-27 Notification – Apply Online for 4,471 Apprenticeship Slots

Southern Railway has released Notification No. 01/2026 for the engagement of Act Apprentices under the Apprentices Act, 1961 for the 2026-27 training cycle. The notification has been issued by the Office of the Chief Workshop Manager, Carriage & Wagon Works, Perambur, Chennai.

Eligible candidates can apply online for apprenticeship training in various designated trades across Southern Railway divisions, workshops and units. The notification includes opportunities for both Fresher candidates and Ex-ITI candidates. Based on the totals mentioned in the notification, there are 163 Fresher slots and 4,308 Ex-ITI slots, making a total of 4,471 apprenticeship training slots.

The online application process started on 28 August 2026, and candidates can submit their applications until 27 September 2026, 5:00 PM.

Candidates should remember that this notification is for apprenticeship training only and does not guarantee employment in Indian Railways.

Southern Railway Act Apprentice Recruitment 2026 – Overview

Southern Railway Apprentice Vacancy 2026 – Post Details

Southern Railway has announced apprenticeship opportunities in a large number of designated trades.

Fresher Category

Ex-ITI Category – Major Trades

The Ex-ITI category includes apprenticeship opportunities in the following trades:

• Fitter
• Welder (G&E)
• Painter
• Mechanic Motor Vehicle (MMV)
• Mechanic Machine Tool Maintenance (MMTM)
• COPA
• PASAA
• Electrician
• Electronics Mechanic
• Diesel Mechanic
• Mechanic Refrigeration & Air Conditioning
• Carpenter
• Machinist
• Turner
• Wireman
• Draughtsman (Civil)
• Structural Welder
• Gas Cutter
• Plumber
• ICTSM
• Instrument Mechanic
• Stenographer & Secretarial Assistant

The Ex-ITI vacancies are distributed across several Southern Railway units and divisions, including Chennai, Madurai, Tiruchirappalli, Palakkad, Salem, Trivandrum, Perambur, Ponmalai, Podanur and other units. The notification mentions a total of 4,308 Ex-ITI apprenticeship slots.

Major Unit-Wise Vacancy Summary

Vacancies mentioned in the notification are tentative and may change depending on administrative requirements.

Southern Railway Apprentice Eligibility Criteria 2026

1. Fresher Category Educational Qualification

Fitter, Painter and Welder

Candidates should have passed 10th Class under the 10+2 system or equivalent with a minimum of 50% aggregate marks.

Medical Laboratory Technician

Candidates applying for MLT trades such as:

• MLT (Radiology)
• MLT (Pathology)
• MLT (Cardiology)

should have passed 12th Class with at least 50% aggregate marks with Physics, Chemistry and Biology.

2. Ex-ITI Category Educational Qualification

Candidates applying for most Ex-ITI trades should generally have:

• Passed 10th Class with a minimum of 50% aggregate marks, and
• Completed an ITI course in the relevant trade from a Government-recognized ITI, and
• Possess the appropriate certificate issued by NCVT or SCVT.

Different qualification requirements apply to specific trades such as Electrician, Electronics Mechanic, Secretarial Assistant and ICTSM. Candidates should carefully check the trade-wise requirements before applying.

For Secretarial Assistant/Stenographer, the notification requires 12th Class and relevant ITI qualification. For ICTSM, candidates must meet the specified 10th Class and relevant ITI requirements.

Important Relaxation

The requirement of minimum 50% marks in 10th Class is not applicable to SC/ST/PwBD candidates.

Southern Railway Apprentice Age Limit 2026

As per the notification, candidates:

• Must have completed 15 years of age.
• Should not have completed the prescribed upper age of 22/24 years, depending on the category/trade mentioned for Freshers, Ex-ITI and MLT candidates.

Age Relaxation

Candidates claiming reservation benefits must produce the appropriate certificates during document verification. OBC candidates must provide a valid Non-Creamy Layer certificate and required declaration.

Southern Railway Apprentice Selection Process 2026

There is no written examination mentioned for this engagement. Selection will be based on a merit list prepared from the marks obtained in the qualifying examinations.

Selection for Fresher Candidates

For the Fresher category:

• Marks obtained in Matriculation will be converted to 200 marks.
• The merit list will be prepared based on converted marks.

Selection for Ex-ITI Candidates

For Ex-ITI candidates:

• Matriculation marks will be converted to 100 marks.
• ITI marks will be converted to 100 marks.
• Both will be given equal weightage.
• The total merit will be calculated out of 200 marks.

Selection for MLT Candidates

For MLT candidates:

• Marks obtained in Higher Secondary will be converted to 200 marks.
• Merit will be prepared according to the prescribed procedure in the notification.

In case two candidates secure the same marks, the older candidate will be given preference. If the dates of birth are also the same, the candidate who passed the Matriculation examination earlier will receive preference.

Southern Railway Apprentice Training Period

Fresher Category

For Ex-ITI candidates, the training duration and applicable rebate will be provided according to the relevant provisions of the Apprenticeship Rules, 1992.

Southern Railway Apprentice Stipend 2026

Selected apprentices will receive the following monthly stipend:

The notification also provides for an increase in the prescribed minimum stipend during the second and third years of apprenticeship training, where applicable.

Southern Railway Apprentice Application Fee

The application processing fee is:

The processing fee is non-refundable and must be paid through the online mode. Candidates are advised to keep a printout of the application acknowledgement for document verification.

How to Apply for Southern Railway Apprentice Recruitment 2026

Candidates can follow these steps to submit their application:

Step 1: Visit the Official Southern Railway Website

Go to the Southern Railway website mentioned in the notification.

Step 2: Open the Relevant Section

Navigate through:

News & Updates → Personnel Branch Information

Step 3: Find Notification No. 01/2026

Locate the notification for Engagement of Act Apprentices under Apprentices Act, 1961.

Step 4: Read the Notification Carefully

Before applying, candidates should check:

• Eligibility criteria
• Age limit
• Trade-wise qualification
• Unit-wise vacancies
• Reservation rules
• Medical requirements

Step 5: Complete the Online Application

Enter all personal, educational and trade-related details carefully.

Step 6: Upload Required Documents

Upload the required certificates and documents in the prescribed format.

Step 7: Pay the Application Fee

Pay the ₹100 processing fee if applicable.

Step 8: Submit and Save the Application

Submit the application before the deadline and keep a copy of the acknowledgement.

The notification states that applications must be submitted online through the specified Southern Railway website section, and official communications regarding selection and document verification will also be published there.

Important Dates

Important Documents Required

Candidates should keep the following documents ready:

• 10th Class marksheet and certificate
• 12th Class marksheet, where applicable
• ITI marksheet and certificate for Ex-ITI candidates
• NCVT/SCVT certificate, wherever required
• Valid ID proof
• Caste certificate for SC/ST candidates
• OBC-NCL certificate for eligible OBC candidates
• PwBD certificate, if applicable
• Medical certificate in the prescribed format
• Transfer Certificate for qualifying examination
• Recent passport-size photographs
• Online application acknowledgement

Original qualifying certificates, including the transfer certificate where required, must be produced during document verification.

Medical Fitness Requirements

Candidates must satisfy the prescribed minimum standards of physical fitness under the Apprenticeship Rules. A medical certificate in the prescribed format must be produced during document verification.

The notification specifies that the medical certificate should be signed by a Government-authorized doctor meeting the prescribed requirements.

Important Links

The Southern Railway Act Apprentice Recruitment 2026-27 is a major apprenticeship opportunity for candidates who have completed 10th Class, 12th Class or relevant ITI qualifications. With 4,471 total apprenticeship slots, candidates can apply for a wide variety of technical and non-technical designated trades across Southern Railway units.

Interested and eligible candidates should carefully verify their trade-wise educational qualification, age eligibility, geographical eligibility and category requirements before submitting the online application. The last date to apply is 27 September 2026 until 5:00 PM, so candidates should avoid waiting until the final day.

Most importantly, applicants should understand that this is an apprenticeship training engagement and not a direct employment recruitment notification.

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