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

Southern Railway has released the Act Apprentice Recruitment 2026 notification for 4,471 apprenticeship training positions under Notification No. 01/2026. Eligible candidates can submit their applications online from 28 August 2026 to 27 September 2026, up to 5:00 PM.

The recruitment is being conducted by Southern Railway through the Office of the Chief Workshop Manager, Carriage & Wagon Works, Perambur. The vacancies are available for both Fresher and Ex-ITI candidates across various workshops, divisions, hospitals and units under the jurisdiction of Southern Railway.

Candidates who have passed 10th/12th standard and, where applicable, hold the required ITI qualification can apply for the relevant trades. The selection will be based on a merit list prepared using the prescribed marks criteria. Candidates should note that this engagement is for apprenticeship training and does not guarantee employment after completion of training.

Southern Railway Act Apprentice Recruitment 2026 – Overview

Southern Railway Act Apprentice Vacancy Details 2026

Southern Railway has announced a total of 4,471 Act Apprentice vacancies, including 163 vacancies for the Fresher category and 4,308 vacancies for Ex-ITI candidates.

The vacancies are distributed among different units, workshops and divisions, including Carriage & Wagon Works Perambur, Central Workshop Ponmalai, Signal & Telecommunication Workshop Podanur, Railway Hospital Perambur and various railway divisions.

Candidates should refer to the official notification for the complete trade-wise and unit-wise vacancy distribution.

Southern Railway Act Apprentice Eligibility Criteria 2026

Candidates must satisfy the prescribed educational and other eligibility requirements for the respective trade.

Fresher Category

For trades such as Fitter, Painter and Welder, candidates should have passed 10th Class with a minimum of 50% aggregate marks under the 10+2 system or its equivalent.

For Medical Laboratory Technician (MLT) trades, candidates should have passed 12th Class with a minimum of 50% marks with Physics, Chemistry and Biology.

Ex-ITI Category

For most Ex-ITI trades, candidates should have passed 10th Class with at least 50% marks and possess an ITI certificate in the relevant trade from NCVT/SCVT.

Depending on the trade, additional subject requirements may apply. Candidates applying for Electrician and Electronics Mechanic trades, for example, must meet the prescribed Science and Mathematics requirements.

For Secretarial Assistant and Stenographer (English), candidates should have passed 12th Class along with the relevant ITI qualification.

Candidates are advised to carefully check the official notification for the exact qualification required for their preferred trade.

Southern Railway Act Apprentice Age Limit 2026

The prescribed age limit is:

• Minimum Age: 15 years
• Maximum Age: 22 years for Fresher/Ex-ITI candidates
• Maximum Age for MLT: 24 years

Age relaxation is applicable as per the prescribed rules:

• OBC-NCL: 3 years
• SC/ST: 5 years
• PwBD: 10 years

The age will be calculated as on 28 August 2026, the date of notification.

Southern Railway Act Apprentice Stipend 2026

Selected apprentices will receive the prescribed monthly stipend according to their category:

The stipend is subject to the applicable rules and increases during the subsequent years of training as specified in the notification.

Southern Railway Act Apprentice Application Fee

Candidates are required to pay a processing fee of Rs. 100/-.

The fee is exempted for:

• SC candidates
• ST candidates
• PwBD candidates
• Women candidates

The fee is non-refundable and is payable through the prescribed online mode.

Southern Railway Act Apprentice Selection Process 2026

The selection of candidates will be based on a merit list.

For Fresher candidates, merit will be prepared using the prescribed Matriculation marks.

For Ex-ITI candidates, equal weightage will be given to Matriculation and ITI marks, with both being considered for preparing the merit list.

For MLT candidates, the prescribed Higher Secondary marks will be considered.

In case of a tie between candidates, the candidate who is older will be given preference as per the notification.

Southern Railway Act Apprentice Important Dates 2026

Southern Railway Act Apprentice Jurisdiction

Candidates applying for these apprenticeship positions must fall within the specified geographical jurisdiction of Southern Railway.

Eligible areas include:

• Entire Tamil Nadu
• Entire Puducherry
• Entire Kerala
• Andaman & Nicobar Islands
• Lakshadweep
• SPSR Nellore and Chittoor districts of Andhra Pradesh
• Dakshina Kannada district of Karnataka

Candidates should verify the residence requirements in the official notification before submitting their applications.

How to Apply for Southern Railway Act Apprentice Recruitment 2026

Eligible candidates can apply online by following these steps:

1. Visit the official Southern Railway website.
2. Open the recruitment or apprenticeship section.
3. Read Notification No. 01/2026 carefully.
4. Complete the online application form with the required details.
5. Upload the necessary documents in the prescribed format.
6. Pay the applicable processing fee, if required.
7. Review all entered information before submitting the application.
8. Submit the application before 27 September 2026, up to 5:00 PM.
9. Save or print the submitted application for future reference.

Important Instructions

This recruitment is strictly for apprenticeship training under the Apprentices Act, 1961. Engagement as an apprentice does not provide a guarantee of employment with Southern Railway after completion of training.

Candidates must ensure that all information and documents submitted in the application are correct. Candidates claiming reservation benefits must produce valid certificates during document verification.

Applicants should also note that the vacancies mentioned in the notification are tentative and may be subject to change as per the applicable rules.

Important Links

FAQs

Q1. How many vacancies are available in Southern Railway Act Apprentice Recruitment 2026?

A total of 4,471 Act Apprentice vacancies have been announced, including 163 Fresher and 4,308 Ex-ITI vacancies.

Q2. What is the last date to apply online?

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

Q3. What is the minimum age required?

Candidates must have completed 15 years of age as on the prescribed date.

Q4. What is the maximum age limit?

The maximum age is generally 22 years, while the maximum age for MLT candidates is 24 years, subject to applicable relaxations.

Q5. What educational qualification is required?

The qualification varies according to the trade. Fresher candidates generally require 10th/12th qualification, while Ex-ITI candidates require 10th qualification along with the relevant ITI certificate.

Q6. What is the application fee?

The processing fee is Rs. 100/-. SC, ST, PwBD and Women candidates are exempted from the fee.

Q7. How will candidates be selected?

Candidates will be selected on the basis of a merit list prepared according to the marks criteria prescribed for the respective category.

Q8. What stipend will apprentices receive?

The stipend is Rs. 8,200/- per month for Fresher 10th, and Rs. 9,600/- per month for Fresher 12th and Ex-ITI candidates, subject to the applicable rules.

Q9. Is this a permanent Railway job?

No. This is an apprenticeship training engagement and does not guarantee permanent employment after completion of training.

Q10. Who can apply based on geographical jurisdiction?

Candidates residing within the specified Southern Railway jurisdiction, including Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Kerala, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep and the specified districts of Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, can apply subject to the notification’s conditions.