Southern Railway Act Apprentice Recruitment 2026 – Apply Online for 4,471 Posts

 

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, workshops, divisions and units of Southern Railway. The online application process started on 28 August 2026 and the last date to apply is 27 September 2026, up to 5:00 PM.

This is an apprenticeship training engagement and not a direct permanent Railway appointment. Candidates should check the trade-wise eligibility and residential requirements before applying.

 

Southern Railway Act Apprentice Recruitment 2026 – Overview

Particulars

Details

Organization

Southern Railway

Recruitment Name

Southern Railway Act Apprentice Recruitment 2026

Notification No.

01/2026

Post Name

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 (up to 5:00 PM)

Job Type

Railway Apprenticeship

Job Location

Southern Railway jurisdiction

Selection Process

Merit List and Document Verification

Exam Date

Not Applicable

Official Website

Southern Railway Official Website

 

Important Dates

Event

Date

Notification Date

28 August 2026

Online Application Starts

28 August 2026

Last Date to Apply

27 September 2026, up to 5:00 PM

Tentative Shortlist for Document Verification

15 October 2026

The tentative date for publication of the shortlist for document verification is 15 October 2026.

 

Application Fee

Category

Application Fee

General/OBC/EWS

₹100

SC/ST/PwBD/Women

Nil

The application fee is non-refundable. Candidates should follow the payment instructions given in the official notification while submitting the online form.

 

Vacancy Details

Southern Railway has notified 4,471 Act Apprentice vacancies, divided into Fresher and Ex-ITI categories.

Category

Vacancies

Fresher

163

Ex-ITI

4,308

Total

4,471

The vacancies cover trades such as Fitter, Welder, Painter, Electrician, Electronics Mechanic, Turner, Machinist, Carpenter, Plumber, COPA/PASAA, Wireman, Mechanic Motor Vehicle, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning, Draughtsman (Civil), Stenographer, Secretarial Assistant and Medical Laboratory Technician, among others. Trade-wise vacancies should be checked in the official notification before selecting a preference.

 

Eligibility / Educational Qualification

The qualification varies according to the category and trade.

Fresher Category

For Fitter, Painter and Welder trades, candidates generally need to have passed Class 10th with at least 50% aggregate marks under the 10+2 system or its equivalent.

For Medical Laboratory Technician (MLT) trades, candidates need Class 12th with at least 50% marks in Physics, Chemistry and Biology.

Ex-ITI Category

Candidates applying under the Ex-ITI category generally need:

·         Candidates must have passed Class 10th with a minimum of 50% marks in aggregate under the 10+2 system or an equivalent qualification.

·         Candidates must hold an ITI certificate in the relevant trade issued by an NCVT/SCVT-recognized institution.

  • The required trade must correspond with the apprenticeship trade for which the candidate applies.

The 50% requirement in Class 10th is subject to the relaxations specified in the notification for eligible reserved categories.

 

Residential Eligibility

An important condition is that candidates must reside within the geographical jurisdiction specified by Southern Railway. This includes:

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

Candidates should check the official notification for the detailed residential eligibility conditions before applying.

 

Age Limit

The age limit varies by category:

Category

Minimum Age

Maximum Age

Fresher

15 Years

22 Years

Ex-ITI

15 Years

24 Years

MLT

15 Years

24 Years

Age relaxation for eligible reserved and PwBD candidates is applicable according to the recruitment rules.

 

Salary / Stipend

Selected candidates will receive an apprenticeship stipend rather than a regular Railway employee salary.

The reported monthly stipend is:

Category

Stipend

Fresher – 10th standard

₹8,200 per month

Fresher – 12th standard/MLT

₹9,600 per month

Ex-ITI

₹9,600 per month

The stipend is subject to the applicable apprenticeship rules and terms of engagement.

 

Selection Process

Southern Railway Act Apprentice Recruitment 2026 does not involve a regular written examination. Candidates are shortlisted through a merit-based process using the marks obtained in the prescribed educational qualifications and are subsequently called for document verification.

The selection process broadly includes:

  1. Preparation of merit list
  2. Shortlisting of candidates
  3. Document Verification
  4. Medical/other formalities as prescribed

Candidates should refer to the notification for the exact trade-wise merit calculation and document-verification requirements.

 

How to Apply Online

Candidates can follow these steps to submit the Southern Railway Act Apprentice application form:

  1. Visit the official Southern Railway website.
  2. Open the News & Updates/Personnel Branch Information section.
  3. Find the notification for Act Apprentice 2026-27.
  4. Read the complete notification carefully.
  5. Open the online application link.
  6. Complete the registration using the required details.
  7. Enter personal, educational and other information carefully.
  8. Select the applicable trade and other preferences as permitted.
  9. Upload the required documents in the prescribed format.
  10. Pay the application fee, if applicable.
  11. Review all entered details before final submission.
  12. Submit the application before 27 September 2026, 5:00 PM.
  13. Save or print the submitted application/confirmation for future reference.

 

Documents Required

Candidates should keep the relevant documents ready before completing the application. Depending on the category and trade, these may include:

  • Class 10th marksheet/certificate
  • Class 12th marksheet/certificate, where applicable
  • ITI certificate and marksheet, where applicable
  • Date of birth proof
  • Caste/community certificate, if applicable
  • PwBD certificate, if applicable
  • Aadhaar or other prescribed identity proof
  • Residential/address proof
  • Passport-size photograph
  • Other certificates specified in the official notification

Candidates should ensure that the details entered in the application match their original documents.

 

Important Links

Particular

Link

Official Website

Southern Railway Official Website

Official Recruitment Portal

Railway Recruitment Cell, Southern Railway

Official Notification

Check the Act Apprentice 2026 notification under the official Southern Railway website

Apply Online

Use the application link provided in the official Act Apprentice 2026 notification

The Railway Recruitment Cell website provides recruitment-related notifications and updates for Southern Railway.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How many vacancies are available in Southern Railway Act Apprentice Recruitment 2026?

Southern Railway has announced 4,471 Act Apprentice vacancies, including 163 Fresher and 4,308 Ex-ITI vacancies.

 

2. What is the last date to apply for Southern Railway Act Apprentice Recruitment 2026?

The last date to submit the online application is 27 September 2026, up to 5:00 PM.

 

3. What is the age limit for Southern Railway Apprentice 2026?

The minimum age is 15 years. The maximum age is 22 years for Fresher candidates and 24 years for Ex-ITI/MLT candidates, subject to applicable relaxations.

 

4. Is there any written exam for Southern Railway Act Apprentice Recruitment 2026?

No regular written examination is prescribed for this apprenticeship selection. Candidates are shortlisted through a merit-based process followed by document verification.

 

5. What is the application fee for Southern Railway Apprentice Recruitment 2026?

The application fee is ₹100 for General/OBC/EWS candidates, while SC, ST, PwBD and women candidates are exempted from the fee.

 

6. What qualification is required for Southern Railway Act Apprentice 2026?

The qualification depends on the trade. Fresher candidates may require 10th or 12th qualification, while Ex-ITI candidates generally require 10th with the prescribed marks along with an ITI certificate in the relevant trade.

 

7. Is Southern Railway Act Apprentice a permanent Railway job?

No. The notification is for apprenticeship training under the Apprentices Act, 1961. Completion of apprenticeship does not by itself guarantee permanent employment in Indian Railways.

 

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Candidates are advised to read the official notification carefully before applying.