Southern Railway Act Apprentice Recruitment 2026 – Apply Online for 4471 Posts, Check Eligibility, Stipend & Last Date

Southern Railway (SR) has released the Southern Railway Act Apprentice Recruitment 2026 notification, inviting online applications for 4,471 Act Apprentice posts under the Apprentices Act, 1961. The engagement, issued through Notification No. 01/2026 (CPB/P1/98/Act/TP/Vol.XXI) by the Office of the Chief Workshop Manager, Carriage & Wagon Works, Perambur, covers training slots across several divisions, workshops and units under Southern Railway’s jurisdiction.

Of the total 4,471 vacancies, 163 posts are reserved for Fresher candidates (10th or 12th pass) and 4,308 posts are for candidates who already hold a relevant ITI certificate (Ex-ITI category). Candidates residing within the specified geographical jurisdiction of Southern Railway and meeting the age and qualification norms can apply online from 28 August 2026 to 27 September 2026. This article explains the Southern Railway Act Apprentice Recruitment 2026 eligibility, vacancy break-up, stipend, selection process and application steps in detail.

Note: This is a training engagement under the Apprentices Act, 1961, not a regular employment offer. Southern Railway does not guarantee a job at the end of the apprenticeship period.

Southern Railway Act Apprentice Recruitment 2026 – Overview

Southern Railway Act Apprentice Important Dates

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Southern Railway Act Apprentice Application Fee

The application fee structure for Southern Railway Act Apprentice Recruitment 2026 is as follows:

Southern Railway Act Apprentice Vacancy Details 2026

The 4,471 vacancies are divided into two broad categories – Fresher and Ex-ITI – spread across Carriage & Wagon Works Perambur, Central Workshop Ponmalai, Signal & Telecommunication Workshop Podanur, Railway Hospital Perambur, and various divisions including Chennai, Madurai, Tiruchirappalli, Palakkad, Salem and Trivandrum.

Fresher Category (163 Posts)

Ex-ITI Category (4,308 Posts)

A detailed trade-wise and category-wise (UR/OBC/SC/ST/EWS/PwBD) break-up covering individual trades such as Electrician, Machinist, Turner, Diesel Mechanic, Carpenter, Wireman, Draughtsman-Civil, COPA and others is provided across several pages of the official notification. Vacancies are tentative and subject to change, and candidates should refer to the official notification PDF for the exact numbers applicable to their trade and preferred unit.

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Southern Railway Act Apprentice Eligibility Criteria 2026

Fresher Category:

• Fitter, Painter, Welder – Passed 10th Class with a minimum of 50% aggregate marks under the 10+2 system, or its equivalent.
• Medical Laboratory Technician (MLT – Radiology / Pathology / Cardiology) – Passed 12th Class with a minimum of 50% aggregate marks, with Physics, Chemistry and Biology.

Ex-ITI Category:

• 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 – Passed 10th Class (minimum 50%) along with an ITI course in the relevant trade with an NCVT/SCVT certificate.
• Electrician – Same 10th + ITI requirement as above, with Science as a subject in 10th Class.
• Electronics Mechanic – Same 10th + ITI requirement, with Science (Physics & Chemistry) and Mathematics in 10th Class.
• Secretarial Assistant and Stenographer (English) – Passed 12th Class along with an ITI course with an NCVT/SCVT certificate.
• ICTSM – Passed 10th Class along with an ITI course with an NCVT/SCVT certificate.
• COPA/PASAA – Passed 10th Class (minimum 50%) with a National Trade Certificate in Computer Operator and Programming Assistant.

The minimum 50% requirement in 10th Class does not apply to SC/ST/PwBD candidates. Candidates who are Course Completed Act Apprentices (CCAAs), Engineering Graduates/Diploma holders, or Vocational Certificate holders with one year or more of training/job experience after acquiring these qualifications are not eligible to apply.

Age Limit

Age is reckoned as on the date of notification, i.e., 28-08-2026:

• Minimum age: 15 years (completed)
• Maximum age: 22 years (Fresher and Ex-ITI categories)
• Maximum age: 24 years (MLT category)

Age Relaxation

Residency / Jurisdiction Requirement

Only candidates residing within the geographical jurisdiction of Southern Railway are eligible to apply. This includes:

• The whole of Tamil Nadu
• The whole Union Territory of Puducherry
• The whole State of Kerala
• The Union Territories of Andaman & Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep
• SPSR Nellore and Chittoor districts of Andhra Pradesh
• Dakshina Kannada district of Karnataka

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Physical Fitness

Candidates must meet the minimum physical fitness standards prescribed under Schedule-II of the Apprenticeship Rules, 1992. This is verified through a medical certificate issued by a Government-Authorised Doctor at the time of document verification.

Post-wise / Trade-wise Eligibility

Since eligibility varies by trade (as listed under Educational Qualification above), candidates applying for the Ex-ITI category must ensure their ITI trade matches one of the trades notified for Southern Railway Act Apprentice Recruitment 2026, and that they hold a valid NCVT/SCVT or National Trade Certificate as applicable. Candidates are advised to cross-check the exact trade name and eligibility condition against the official notification before selecting a trade in the online application, as trade names and eligibility conditions can vary slightly across units.

Southern Railway Act Apprentice Stipend / Salary

Selected candidates will be engaged as apprentices and paid a monthly stipend (not a regular salary) during the training period, as follows:

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

Southern Railway Act Apprentice Selection Process

Selection is made purely on the basis of a merit list; there is no separate written examination or interview mentioned in the notification. The merit list is prepared as follows:

• Fresher Category: Matriculation (10th Class) marks converted to a scale of 200. A minimum of 50% aggregate is required, except for SC/ST/PwBD candidates.
• Ex-ITI Category: Matriculation marks converted to 100 + ITI marks converted to 100, giving a combined total of 200 with equal weightage to both.
• MLT Category: Higher Secondary (12th Class) marks in Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics and Biology, converted to a scale of 200.

In case two or more candidates score equal marks, the older candidate is given preference. If the date of birth is also identical, the candidate who passed Matriculation earlier is preferred. Shortlisted candidates are then called for document verification and a medical fitness check.

How to Apply Online for Southern Railway Act Apprentice Recruitment 2026

1. Visit the official Southern Railway website, sr.indianrailways.gov.in.
2. Go to the ‘News & Updates’ section and open ‘Personnel Branch Information’.
3. Locate the Act Apprentice Recruitment 2026 (Notification No. 01/2026) link and open the online application portal.
4. Register and fill in personal, educational and (where applicable) ITI details carefully.
5. Upload the required photograph, signature and supporting documents in the specified format.
6. Pay the applicable application fee online, where applicable, and review the form before final submission.
7. Submit the application on or before 27-09-2026 (up to 5:00 PM) and save/print the acknowledgement for future reference.

Documents Required for Southern Railway Act Apprentice Recruitment 2026

Based on the application process described in the notification, candidates should keep the following documents ready:

• 10th Class mark sheet and passing certificate
• 12th Class mark sheet and certificate (for MLT/Secretarial Assistant/Stenographer trades)
• ITI mark sheet and NCVT/SCVT certificate (for Ex-ITI category candidates)
• Caste certificate (SC/ST/OBC-NCL), if claiming reserved category benefit
• EWS certificate, if applicable
• PwBD certificate, if applicable
• Proof of residence establishing eligibility under Southern Railway’s geographical jurisdiction
• Recent passport-size photograph and signature in the prescribed scanned format
• A valid photo ID proof
• Medical fitness certificate from a Government-Authorised Doctor (required at the document verification stage)

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Southern Railway Act Apprentice Important Instructions

• This notification is purely for apprenticeship training under the Apprentices Act, 1961; it does not guarantee employment after the training period.
• As per applicable norms, 20% of vacancies in Direct Recruitment to Level-1 posts may give preference to Course Completed Act Apprentices (CCAAs) holding a National Apprenticeship Certificate (NAC).
• All official communication, including document verification lists and selection results, will be published only on the official Southern Railway website.
• Candidates claiming SC/ST/OBC-NCL/PwBD benefits must produce the relevant certificate at the time of document verification, failing which they will be treated as Unreserved (UR).
• Any false declaration made by a candidate can lead to disqualification or termination at any stage, without prior notice.
• Candidates are responsible for arranging their own accommodation during the training period.
• Ex-ITI candidates must already possess the relevant ITI qualification at the time of applying.

Southern Railway Act Apprentice Important Links

Note: Please insert the verified, live URLs from the official Southern Railway recruitment page before publishing.

Southern Railway Act Apprentice Recruitment 2026 – FAQs

Q1. What is the Southern Railway Act Apprentice Recruitment 2026?

It is an engagement of candidates as Act Apprentices under the Apprentices Act, 1961, for training in designated trades across various Divisions, Workshops and Units of Southern Railway, notified under Notification No. 01/2026.

Q2. How many vacancies are there in this recruitment?

A total of 4,471 vacancies have been notified, comprising 163 posts under the Fresher category and 4,308 posts under the Ex-ITI category.

Q3. What is the last date to apply online?

The online application can be submitted up to 27 September 2026, till 5:00 PM.

Q4. What is the age limit for this recruitment?

Candidates must be between 15 and 22 years of age (24 years for the MLT trade) as on the notification date, 28-08-2026, with applicable age relaxation for OBC-NCL, SC/ST and PwBD candidates.

Q5. Is there an application fee?

Yes, a fee of Rs. 100/- (non-refundable) applies to UR/OBC/EWS male candidates. SC/ST/PwBD candidates and all women candidates are exempt from the fee.

Q6. Who is eligible to apply for Southern Railway Act Apprentice Recruitment 2026?

Only candidates residing within the geographical jurisdiction of Southern Railway – covering Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Kerala, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep, SPSR Nellore and Chittoor districts of Andhra Pradesh, and Dakshina Kannada district of Karnataka – who meet the educational and age criteria can apply.

Q7. What is the selection process for this recruitment?

Selection is based on a merit list prepared from Matriculation marks (Fresher category), combined Matriculation and ITI marks (Ex-ITI category), or Higher Secondary marks (MLT category). There is no separate written exam or interview mentioned in the notification.

Q8. What stipend will selected apprentices receive?

Fresher (10th Standard) candidates will receive Rs. 8,200/- per month, while Fresher (12th Standard) and Ex-ITI candidates will receive Rs. 9,600/- per month, with prescribed increases in the second and third years of training.

Disclaimer

This article is based on publicly reported details of the Southern Railway Act Apprentice Recruitment 2026 notification and is intended for general informational purposes only. Candidates are strongly advised to read the official notification issued by Southern Railway carefully and to rely on the official website (sr.indianrailways.gov.in) for the final and authoritative information before applying. RajSarkariResult.com is not responsible for any discrepancy between this article and the official notification.