Southern Railway Apprentice Recruitment 2026: Southern Railway has released Notification No. 01/2026 for engagement of 4,471 Act Apprentices under the Apprentices Act, 1961. The vacancies are available under Fresher and Ex-ITI categories across various trades, divisions, workshops and units of Southern Railway.
The online application process started on 28 August 2026, and eligible candidates can apply until 27 September 2026, 5:00 PM. Selection will be based on merit, with no written examination or interview.
Southern Railway Apprentice Recruitment 2026 – Overview
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Organization | Southern Railway |
| Post | Act Apprentice |
| Total Vacancies | 4,471 |
| Fresher Vacancies | 163 |
| Ex-ITI Vacancies | 4,308 |
| Application Mode | Online |
| Application Start Date | 28 August 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply | 27 September 2026, 5:00 PM |
| Selection | Merit Based |
| Written Exam | No |
| Interview | No |
| Job Type | Apprenticeship Training |
Southern Railway Apprentice Vacancy 2026
A total of 4,471 apprenticeship training slots are available:
| Category | Vacancies |
|---|---|
| Fresher | 163 |
| Ex-ITI | 4,308 |
| Total | 4,471 |
The recruitment covers trades such as Fitter, Painter, Welder, Electrician, COPA, Turner, Machinist, Draughtsman (Civil), Medical Laboratory Technician (MLT) and other designated trades.
Educational Qualification
Fresher Candidates
For Fresher trades such as Fitter, Painter and Welder, candidates should generally have passed 10th Class under the 10+2 system with at least 50% aggregate marks.
For Medical Laboratory Technician (MLT), candidates should have passed 12th Class with Physics, Chemistry and Biology, with the prescribed minimum marks.
Ex-ITI Candidates
Candidates applying under the Ex-ITI category should generally have:
- Passed 10th Class with at least 50% aggregate marks.
- Possess an ITI certificate in the relevant trade.
- The ITI qualification should meet the requirements prescribed in the notification.
Important: Candidates with higher qualifications such as Diploma/Degree may not be eligible for these apprentice slots, depending on the applicable trade and notification conditions.
Age Limit
The age requirements are:
- Minimum Age: 15 years
- Maximum Age – Fresher: 22 years
- Maximum Age – Ex-ITI/MLT: 24 years
Age relaxation is available to eligible OBC-NCL, SC/ST and PwBD candidates according to the applicable rules.
Southern Railway Apprentice Stipend 2026
Selected apprentices will receive a monthly stipend.
| Category | Monthly Stipend |
|---|---|
| Fresher – 10th Class | ₹8,200 |
| Fresher – 12th Class | ₹9,600 |
| Ex-ITI | ₹9,600 |
The stipend can increase during subsequent years of training according to the applicable apprenticeship rules.
Training Duration
The training period varies according to the trade.
- Welder/MLT: Approximately 1 year 3 months
- Fitter/Painter: Approximately 2 years
- Ex-ITI candidates: Training duration is adjusted according to the applicable Apprenticeship Rules.
Who Can Apply?
One important condition is the geographical eligibility.
Candidates should belong to the specified jurisdiction of Southern Railway, which includes:
- Entire Tamil Nadu
- Entire Kerala
- Entire Puducherry
- Andaman & Nicobar Islands
- Lakshadweep
- SPSR Nellore and Chittoor districts of Andhra Pradesh
- Dakshina Kannada district of Karnataka
Candidates from outside the prescribed geographical areas should carefully check the official notification before applying.
Selection Process
There is no written examination and no interview for this apprenticeship engagement.
Selection will be made through a merit list.
For Fresher Candidates
The merit is primarily prepared using Matriculation marks, converted according to the prescribed selection formula.
For Ex-ITI Candidates
Marks from:
- 10th Class
- Relevant ITI
are considered for preparing the merit list.
After shortlisting, candidates will be called for Document Verification, followed by the other prescribed formalities.
Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Notification Date | 28 August 2026 |
| Application Starts | 28 August 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply | 27 September 2026, 5:00 PM |
| Tentative Document Verification Shortlist | 15 October 2026 |
Application Fee
The processing fee is ₹100.
Candidates belonging to SC, ST, PwBD and Women categories are exempted from paying the application fee.
Documents Required
Candidates should keep the following documents ready:
- 10th Class Marksheet
- 12th Marksheet, where applicable
- ITI Certificate/Marksheet, for Ex-ITI candidates
- Date of Birth Proof
- Aadhaar/Valid ID Proof
- Caste Certificate, if applicable
- PwBD Certificate, if applicable
- Recent Photograph
- Signature
- Other documents specified in the official notification
How to Apply for Southern Railway Apprentice Recruitment 2026?
Eligible candidates can apply online by following these steps:
- Visit the official Southern Railway website.
- Go to News & Updates → Personnel Branch Information.
- Open the Act Apprentice Recruitment 2026 notification.
- Read the complete notification carefully.
- Register on the online application portal.
- Select the appropriate category, unit and trade.
- Enter your personal and educational details.
- Upload the required documents.
- Pay the applicable fee.
- Submit the application before 27 September 2026, 5:00 PM.
- Save/print the submitted application for future reference.
Official Notification : Click Here