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Southern Railway Apprentice Recruitment 2026: Southern Railway has released Act Apprentice Notification No. 01/2026 for engagement of apprentices under the Apprentices Act, 1961. A total of 4,471 Apprentice Training Slots are available under the Fresher and Ex-ITI categories.
The online application process started on August 28, 2026, and eligible candidates can submit their applications up to September 27, 2026, at 5:00 PM. 0
Southern Railway Apprentice Recruitment 2026 – Highlights
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| Organization | Southern Railway |
| Notification | Act Apprentice Notification No. 01/2026 |
| Notification Date | 28 August 2026 |
| Total Training Slots | 4,471 |
| Fresher Category | 163 |
| Ex-ITI Category | 4,308 |
| Application Start Date | 28 August 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply | 27 September 2026 |
| Closing Time | 5:00 PM |
| Selection | Merit List |
Southern Railway Apprentice Vacancy 2026
The notification provides apprenticeship training opportunities across various divisions, workshops and units of Southern Railway.
| Category | Total Slots |
|---|---|
| Fresher | 163 |
| Ex-ITI | 4,308 |
| Total | 4,471 |
The vacancy figures are tentative and may be changed according to administrative requirements. 1
Trades Available
The notification includes several designated trades, including:
- Fitter
- Welder (G&E)
- Painter
- Electrician
- Mechanic R&AC
- Wireman
- Electronic Mechanic
- Diesel Mechanic
- Machinist
- Turner
- Carpenter
- Plumber
- Gas Cutter
- Structural Welder
- Draughtsman (Civil)
- MMTM
- MMV
- COPA/PASAA
- ICTSM
- Instrument Mechanic
- Advance Welder
- Secretarial Assistant & Stenographer (English)
- Medical Laboratory Technician – Radiology
- Medical Laboratory Technician – Pathology
- Medical Laboratory Technician – Cardiology
Educational Qualification
Fresher Category
For Fitter, Painter and Welder, candidates should have passed Class 10 under the 10+2 system or equivalent with a minimum of 50% aggregate marks.
For Medical Laboratory Technician trades, candidates should have passed Class 12 with a minimum of 50% marks and should have studied Physics, Chemistry and Biology. 2
Ex-ITI Category
For the Ex-ITI category, candidates should have passed Class 10 with a minimum of 50% aggregate marks and should have completed ITI in the relevant trade from a Government-recognized ITI. Candidates should also possess the relevant NCVT or SCVT certificate.
Specific educational requirements apply to trades such as Electrician, Electronics Mechanic, Secretarial Assistant/Stenographer, ICTSM and COPA/PASAA. 3
Age Limit
The age will be calculated as on the date of notification.
- Minimum age: 15 years
- Fresher Category: Must not have completed 22 years
- Ex-ITI Category: Must not have completed 24 years
- OBC-NCL: Upper-age relaxation of 3 years
- SC/ST: Upper-age relaxation of 5 years
- PwBD: Upper-age relaxation of 10 years
Additional concurrent relaxation is provided for PwBD candidates belonging to OBC-NCL and SC/ST categories, as specified in the notification. 4
Southern Railway Apprentice Selection Process
Selection will be based on a Merit List prepared from the marks obtained by eligible applicants.
Fresher Category
Matriculation marks will be converted to 200 marks and the merit list will be prepared based on the converted marks.
Ex-ITI Category
Matriculation marks will be converted to 100 marks and ITI marks will also be converted to 100 marks. Both will be combined to prepare the merit list for a total of 200 marks, with equal weightage to Matriculation and ITI.
MLT Category
Higher Secondary marks in the relevant subjects will be converted to 200 marks for preparation of the merit list. 5
Apprenticeship Training Duration
| Category/Trade | Training Duration |
|---|---|
| Welder – Fresher | 1 Year 3 Months |
| Fitter & Painter – Fresher | 2 Years |
| MLT – Radiology/Pathology/Cardiology | 1 Year 3 Months |
| Ex-ITI | Rebate in training duration as per Apprentices Rules |
These training periods are specified in the official notification. 6
Apprentice Stipend
| Category | Stipend per Month |
|---|---|
| Fresher – Class 10 | ₹8,200 |
| Fresher – Class 12 | ₹9,600 |
| Ex-ITI | ₹9,600 |
The notification also states that the prescribed minimum stipend will increase by 10% during the second year and by 15% during the third year of apprenticeship training. 7
Application Fee
- Processing Fee: ₹100
- Payment Mode: Online
- No fee for SC/ST/PwBD/Women candidates
Candidates should retain a printout of the acknowledgement generated after submission for Document Verification. 8
Who Can Apply?
Only candidates residing within the specified geographical jurisdiction of Southern Railway are eligible to apply.
- Whole State of Tamil Nadu
- Whole Union Territory of Puducherry
- Whole State of Kerala
- Andaman & Nicobar Islands
- Lakshadweep Islands
- SPSR Nellore and Chittoor districts of Andhra Pradesh
- Dakshina Kannada district of Karnataka
The notification specifically limits eligibility to candidates residing in these geographical areas. 9
How to Apply Online?
- Visit the Southern Railway official website.
- Go to News & Updates → Personnel Branch Information.
- Read Act Apprentice Notification No. 01/2026 carefully.
- Select the appropriate category and trade.
- Enter personal, educational and technical qualification details.
- Upload/submit the required information and certificates as instructed.
- Pay the applicable processing fee online.
- Submit the application before the deadline.
- Take a printout of the acknowledgement/application for future use.
The notification directs candidates to submit applications online through the Southern Railway website under the Personnel Branch Information section. 10
Important Documents
Candidates shortlisted for Document Verification must produce the required original certificates. The notification specifically requires the original Transfer Certificate for completion of the qualifying examination such as Class X, XII or ITI.
SC/ST, OBC-NCL and PwBD candidates claiming reservation benefits must produce the prescribed certificates issued by the competent authorities. 11
Important: Apprenticeship Is Not a Guaranteed Railway Job
Apprenticeship training should not be confused with direct Railway employment.
The notification clearly states that there is no guarantee of employment after completion of apprenticeship training. However, preference may be given to Course Completed Act Apprentices trained in railway establishments and possessing a National Apprenticeship Certificate (NAC) in certain Level-1 direct recruitment vacancies.
Selected candidates must execute an apprenticeship contract before commencement of training. 12
Shortlisted Candidates List
The tentative date for publishing the shortlisted list for Document Verification is 15 October 2026. Candidates should check the official Southern Railway website for updates. 13
Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Notification Date | 28 August 2026 |
| Online Application Start | 28 August 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply | 27 September 2026 |
| Application Closing Time | 5:00 PM |
| Shortlisted List – Tentative | 15 October 2026 |
Key Points for Candidates
- Apply before the deadline rather than waiting until the last day.
- Check the eligibility requirements for your specific trade.
- Ex-ITI candidates must possess the relevant ITI qualification at the time of application.
- Keep all original certificates ready for Document Verification.
- Verify reservation certificates before claiming category benefits.
- Keep the submitted application/acknowledgement safely for future reference.
- Follow only official Southern Railway updates for selection and Document Verification.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How many vacancies are available in Southern Railway Apprentice Recruitment 2026?
A total of 4,471 Apprentice Training Slots are available, including 163 Fresher and 4,308 Ex-ITI slots.
What is the last date to apply?
The last date to submit the online application is 27 September 2026 up to 5:00 PM.
What is the selection process?
Selection will be made through a Merit List based on the marks prescribed for the respective category.
What is the monthly stipend?
Fresher Class 10 candidates will receive ₹8,200 per month, while Fresher Class 12 and Ex-ITI candidates will receive ₹9,600 per month, as specified in the notification.
Is Southern Railway Apprentice Recruitment a permanent job?
No. The notification states that the apprenticeship is for training and there is no guarantee of employment after completion of training.
Is there an application fee?
The processing fee is ₹100. SC/ST/PwBD/Women candidates are exempt from the fee.
Conclusion
Southern Railway Apprentice Recruitment 2026 is a major apprenticeship opportunity with 4,471 training slots across different trades and railway units. Candidates with 10th, 12th and relevant ITI qualifications should carefully check their trade-wise eligibility, age limit and geographical eligibility before applying.
Eligible candidates should complete the online application before 27 September 2026 at 5:00 PM and keep the application acknowledgement safely for future use.
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