Southern Railway Act Apprentice Recruitment 2026 – Apply Online for 4,471 Fresher & Ex-ITI Seats

Southern Railway has opened 4,471 Act Apprentice training seats under Notification-01/2026 dated 28 August 2026. The Carriage & Wagon Works, Perambur, Chennai, is the issuing office for workshops and divisions across the zone. Online applications are accepted on the official portal from 28 August 2026 to 27 September 2026, till 5:00 PM.

This is training under the Apprentices Act, 1961, not a Level-1 railway appointment. There is no written exam and no interview. Merit is drawn from Class 10 / Class 12 / ITI marks, followed by document verification and a medical certificate under Schedule-II of the Apprenticeship Rules, 1992.

Seats are split into 163 Fresher and 4,308 Ex-ITI opportunities at Perambur, Ponmalai (GOC), Podanur, and the Chennai, Madurai, Tiruchirappalli, Palakkad, Salem and Trivandrum divisions. Only candidates living in Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Kerala, Andaman & Nicobar, Lakshadweep, SPSR Nellore, Chittoor or Dakshina Kannada may apply.

Also Read: East Coast Railway (ECoR) Bhubaneswar Act Apprentice Recruitment 2026 – Apply Online for 1599 Training Seats

Who Should Apply?

• Class 10 pass (50% aggregate; waived for SC/ST/PwBD) → Fresher Fitter, Welder, Painter – 143 seats
• Class 12 with Physics, Chemistry and Biology (50% aggregate) → Fresher MLT (Radiology / Pathology / Cardiology) – 20 seats
• Class 10 (50%) + NCVT/SCVT ITI in the relevant trade → Ex-ITI Fitter, Welder (G&E), Machinist, MMV, Turner, Diesel Mechanic, Carpenter, Painter, Wireman, Advanced Welder, Plumber, Draughtsman (Civil), Instrument Mechanic, Mechanic R&AC, Gas Cutter, MMTM, Structural Welder
• Class 10 with Science + ITI Electrician (NCVT/SCVT) → Ex-ITI Electrician seats across workshops and divisions
• Class 10 with Science (Physics & Chemistry) and Mathematics + ITI Electronics Mechanic → Ex-ITI Electronics Mechanic
• Class 12 + ITI in the relevant trade (NCVT/SCVT) → Secretarial Assistant & Stenographer (English) / SSA
• Class 10 + ITI in ICTSM → Information & Communication Technology System Maintenance
• Class 10 (50%) + NTC in COPA → COPA / PASAA computer seats
• PwBD candidates (40%+ benchmark disability) in the trade-wise suitable categories listed in the notification (horizontal reservation: Ex-ITI VI 42, HI 52, LD 61, ID&MD 12)
• Women candidates (fee exempt; eligible for all open seats)

Who cannot apply

• Residents outside the listed Southern Railway jurisdiction
• Course Completed Act Apprentices (CCAAs)
• Engineering graduates, diploma holders, or vocational certificate holders with one year or more of training or job experience after that qualification
• Ex-ITI applicants who do not already hold the relevant ITI certificate on the date of application
• Candidates who have already completed 22 years (Fresher) or 24 years (Ex-ITI / MLT) as on 28 August 2026, after applying the notified relaxations

Important Dates

No extension has been notified as of 31 August 2026.

Quick Overview – Southern Railway Act Apprentice 2026

What Posts Are Available?

Southern Railway is filling 4,471 apprenticeship seats, not permanent posts. Ex-ITI accounts for 96% of the intake. Fitter, Electrician, COPA, Welder and Draughtsman (Civil) carry the largest volumes. MLT seats at Railway Hospital, Perambur, are only 20 and require Class 12 PCB.

Vacancies are tentative and may change. PwBD seats are horizontal. Full trade × unit × category grids are in the official PDF.

Layer 1 — Group-wise summary

Layer 2 — Category-wise totals (as printed)

Category columns in the Ex-ITI grid add to 4,229. The notification still prints 4,308 as the Ex-ITI grand total. Use the printed totals; treat the difference as a PDF arithmetic gap, not extra seats you can assume.

Fresher Category — 163 seats

Fresher PwBD: VI 3, HI 4, LD 2.

Ex-ITI — unit-wise totals (4,308 seats)

Same stipend for all Ex-ITI rows: ₹9,600/month. Duration follows Schedule-I rebate for prior ITI.

Ex-ITI PwBD printed totals: VI 42, HI 52, LD 61, ID&MD 12.

Eligibility notes that apply across trades

• Class 10 minimum 50% aggregate does not apply to SC/ST/PwBD.
• Ex-ITI trade must match the ITI certificate. COPA/PASAA needs an NTC in Computer Operator and Programming Assistant.
• Recognised boards and NCVT/SCVT institutes only.
• Candidates who passed Class 10/12 in Tamil Nadu in 2019–2020 must follow the TN marks-statement instructions cited in the notification. Kerala General Education grade cards are converted using the midpoint of each grade range.

What Is the Age Limit?

Age is reckoned as on 28 August 2026 (date of notification).

The notification wording is: candidates should have completed 15 years and should not have completed 22 years (Fresher) or 24 years (Ex-ITI / MLT).

Examples: ✅ A 21-year-old UR Fresher candidate born on 28 August 2005 — eligible (within the 22-year limit as on 28 August 2026). ❌ A 23-year-old UR Fresher candidate born on 28 August 2003 — not eligible (exceeds maximum age by 1 year).

Use our Age Eligibility Calculator to check instantly.

SC/ST/OBC/PwBD reservation is accepted only with the certificates specified for document verification. Without a valid OBC-NCL certificate for the current year plus self-declaration, the candidate is treated as UR for age and roster.

What Is the Stipend?

Indicative take-home is the stipend itself. There is no DA, HRA or NPS on this engagement. After the first-year rate, the year-2 stipend is about ₹9,020 (Class 10 Fresher) or ₹10,560 (Class 12 / Ex-ITI). Year-3 is about ₹9,430 or ₹11,040.

For NTC/STC holders, prior institutional training is counted when fixing the payable rate, as stated in the notification.

Stipend is payable subject to attendance, applicable rules and successful continuation of training. Selected candidates must arrange their own accommodation. Hostel or canteen is not guaranteed in the notification.

Use our CGPA to Percentage Calculator if your marksheet is grade-based. Use the conversion method specified in the notification. This calculator provides an indicative estimate — the official formula in the notification prevails.

What Is the Application Fee?

Keep the system-generated fee acknowledgement. It is required at document verification.

How to Apply?

Applications are accepted only online from 28 August 2026 to 27 September 2026, 5:00 PM.

Step 1. Open the Southern Railway Act Apprentice 2026 application portal. The same window is reached from sr.indianrailways.gov.in → News & Updates → Personnel Branch Information.

Step 2. Register with a working mobile number and email. These stay active till engagement.

Step 3. Fill in personal details, address (must fall in the notified jurisdiction), category, PwBD sub-category if applicable, unit preference and trade.

Step 4. Enter Class 10 / Class 12 / ITI marks exactly as on the marksheet. Merit is calculated from these figures.

Step 5. Upload photograph and signature in the portal size. Use our Photo & Signature Resizer before uploading.

Step 6. Pay ₹100 online if you are UR/OBC/EWS (male, non-PwBD). Submit the form.

Step 7. Download the acknowledgement. Search for the submitted form later at the portal’s application-search page.

If more than one application is submitted for the same engagement, follow the portal/notification rule at document verification. Fee paid on an extra form is not refunded.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Applying from outside the listed states and districts. Residence inside Southern Railway’s geographical jurisdiction is a hard filter.
2. Entering rounded or “best of five” Class 10 marks. The committee converts actual aggregate marks to 200 (Fresher) or 100+100 (Ex-ITI).
3. Choosing a trade that does not match the ITI NCVT/SCVT certificate. Ex-ITI applicants must already hold the relevant ITI.
4. Selecting the wrong PwBD sub-category (VI / HI / LD / MD). The notification says no later change is allowed.
5. Treating this form as a Level-1 railway job application. It is apprenticeship training only.

தெற்கு ரயில்வே ஆக்ட் அப்ரெண்டிஸ் சேர்க்கை 2026 – 4,471 பயிற்சி இடங்களுக்கு ஆன்லைன் விண்ணப்பம்

தெற்கு ரயில்வே 28 ஆகஸ்ட் 2026 அன்று அறிவிப்பு எண் 01/2026 மூலம் 4,471 ஆக்ட் அப்ரெண்டிஸ் பயிற்சி இடங்களை திறந்துள்ளது. இதில் 163 ஃப்ரெஷர் இடங்களும் 4,308 எக்ஸ்-ஐடிஐ இடங்களும் அடங்கும். விண்ணப்பம் 27 செப்டம்பர் 2026 மாலை 5:00 மணி வரை ஆன்லைனில் மட்டுமே. இது நிரந்தர ரயில்வே பணி அல்ல; அப்ரெண்டிஸ் சட்டம் 1961-இன் கீழ் பயிற்சி.

யார் விண்ணப்பிக்கலாம்?

தமிழ்நாடு, புதுச்சேரி, கேரளா, அந்தமான் நிக்கோபார், இலட்சத்தீவு, ஆந்திரத்தின் SPSR நெல்லூர் மற்றும் சித்தூர், கர்நாடகத்தின் தக்ஷிண கன்னடம் ஆகிய பகுதிகளில் வசிப்பவர்கள் மட்டுமே தகுதி. ஃப்ரெஷர் ஃபிட்டர், வெல்டர், பெய்ண்டருக்கு 10-ஆம் வகுப்பு 50% மதிப்பெண் போதும். MLT-க்கு 12-ஆம் வகுப்பு PCB. எக்ஸ்-ஐடிஐ-க்கு சம்பந்தப்பட்ட தொழிலில் NCVT/SCVT ஐடிஐ சான்றிதழ் வேண்டும். SC/ST/PwBD-க்கு 10-ஆம் வகுப்பு 50% நிபந்தனை பொருந்தாது. வயது 28 ஆகஸ்ட் 2026 அன்று 15 முதல் 22 (ஃப்ரெஷர்) அல்லது 24 (எக்ஸ்-ஐடிஐ/MLT).

உதவித்தொகை மற்றும் தேர்வு எப்படி?

ஃப்ரெஷர் 10-ஆம் வகுப்புக்கு மாதம் ₹8,200. 12-ஆம் வகுப்பு மற்றும் எக்ஸ்-ஐடிஐ-க்கு ₹9,600. இரண்டாம் ஆண்டில் 10% உயர்வு, மூன்றாம் ஆண்டில் 15%. எழுத்துத் தேர்வு அல்லது நேர்காணல் இல்லை. 10-ஆம் வகுப்பு / 12-ஆம் வகுப்பு / ஐடிஐ மதிப்பெண் அடிப்படையில் மெரிட் பட்டியல். ஆவண சரிபார்ப்பு 15 அக்டோபர் 2026 (தற்காலிகம்) அன்று வெளியிடப்படும். பின்னர் மருத்துவ சான்றிதழ்.

எப்படி விண்ணப்பிப்பது?

sronline.etrpindia.com போர்ட்டலில் பதிவு செய்து விண்ணப்பத்தை நிரப்பவும். பொது/OBC/EWS ஆண்களுக்கு கட்டணம் ₹100. SC/ST/PwBD மற்றும் பெண்களுக்கு கட்டணம் இல்லை. முழு அறிவிப்பு sr.indianrailways.gov.in இல் Personnel Branch Information பகுதியில் உள்ளது.

How Are Candidates Selected?

No interview stage is mentioned in the current notification. Selection is based entirely on merit marks, then document verification and medical fitness.

1. Online application with marks and unit/trade preference.
2. Merit list prepared by the nominated committee:
   • Fresher: Class 10 marks converted to 200 (50% aggregate, except SC/ST/PwBD).
   • Ex-ITI: Class 10 converted to 100 + ITI converted to 100 = 200, equal weight.
   • MLT: Higher Secondary marks (notification cites Physics, Chemistry, Maths and Biology) converted to 200.
3. Tie-break (only as notified): older candidate first; if date of birth is the same, the candidate who passed Matriculation earlier.
4. Shortlist for DV (tentative publication 15 October 2026) on the Southern Railway Personnel Branch page and the apply portal.
5. Document verification with original TC of Class 10/12/ITI and category certificates.
6. Medical fitness under Schedule-II of the Apprenticeship Rules, 1992. Certificate must be signed by a Government-authorised doctor (Gazetted), not below Assistant Surgeon of a Central/State Government hospital.
7. Contract of apprenticeship under the Apprentices Act, 1961 (guardian may sign if the candidate is a minor), then joining at the allotted unit.

Unit allotment follows the candidate’s choice to the extent of vacancies. Administration may post the apprentice to another unit in the jurisdiction if required.

Medical/physical fitness

This is not a CAPF-style PET with a timed run. Fitness follows apprenticeship medical standards. PwBD suitability is trade-specific (for example, Electrician: LD, LC, DW, AA, Deaf, HH). Produce Form V/VI/VII disability certificates as in Annexure-IV if you claim PwBD.

Why Does Southern Railway Matter?

Southern Railway is a zonal railway of Indian Railways under the Ministry of Railways, Government of India. Its headquarters is Chennai. The zone runs workshops at Perambur (Carriage & Wagon and Loco Works), Golden Rock / Ponmalai, and Podanur, plus operating divisions at Chennai, Madurai, Tiruchirappalli, Palakkad, Salem and Thiruvananthapuram.

Candidates search this drive because it is one of the larger Act Apprentice intakes in the southern zone; the application is online without a written paper, and Course Completed Act Apprentices trained in railway units who hold an NAC get preference against 20% of Level-1 direct recruitment vacancies. That is preference, not absorption into this notification.

The honest downside is the training contract itself. There is no guarantee of employment when the contract ends. Apprentices arrange their own stay. The stipend is a training allowance, not 7th CPC pay.

Read more on Indian Railways careers and Tamil Nadu government jobs.

The SahisarkariJobs.in Analyst’s Take

This notification sits in the same tab as other zonal Act Apprentice drives running in 2026: ICF Chennai, ECoR, NCR and similar RRC circulars. Compared with those, Southern Railway’s 4,471-seat intake is larger than a typical single-workshop notice and is concentrated in Tamil Nadu and Kerala units. Unlike ICF, this list also covers open-line divisions, so posting can be a workshop or a division depot.

Also Read: Yadgir District Court Recruitment 2026 – Apply Online for 23 Typist, Process Server & Peon Posts

Best fit: ITI holders in Fitter, Electrician, Welder, COPA or Draughtsman (Civil) who already live in the notified belt and want workshop exposure plus a shot at the 20% CCAA preference in a later RRC Level-1 drive. Class 10 freshers can use the 143 Fitter/Welder/Painter seats if they accept a longer training period and a lower first-year stipend.

Who should skip: Anyone treating this as a confirmed railway job. Engineering graduates and diploma holders with a year of post-qualification experience are barred. Candidates outside the six-area residence list will waste the fee. If you need metro housing and a starting in-hand salary above ₹25,000, this stipend will not cover that expectation.

Practical tip: Enter unit preference against the largest matching trade in your home division (Salem Electrician 152, Chennai Mechanical C&W Fitter 187, GOC Fitter 117, Palakkad Fitter 70) and keep the exact Class 10 and ITI aggregates ready. Merit is arithmetic, not an interview performance.

Based on similar zonal apprentice cycles, expect roughly 6–10 weeks from the 27 September close to the DV shortlist, then joining after medical and contract. Promotion path after this training is not automatic; the realistic next step is a separate RRC Level-1 notification where CCAA + NAC can help.

What Documents Are Required?

Carry originals and copies to document verification:

• Class 10 marksheet and certificate (and Class 12 for MLT / SSA)
• ITI NCVT/SCVT / NTC certificate and marksheet (Ex-ITI)
• Transfer certificate of the qualifying exam (Class 10 / 12 / ITI)
• Proof of date of birth
• Proof of residence in the notified jurisdiction
• Community certificate (SC/ST) or OBC-NCL (current year) + NCL self-declaration
• EWS certificate if claimed
• PwBD certificate (Form V/VI/VII as applicable), 40% or more
• Medical certificate in the prescribed format at DV (Gazetted Assistant Surgeon or above)
• Fee payment acknowledgement
• Photo identity proof and copies of the uploaded photograph
• Apprenticeship contract papers after selection (guardian signature if minor)

Document alert: Tamil Nadu 2019–2020 Class 10/12 passers need the school marks statement cited in the notification. Kerala grade-card holders should expect midpoint conversion, not a self-made percentage.

Service Conditions

• Engagement is a contract of apprenticeship, not regular railway service.
• Contract ends when training ends. No guarantee of employment.
• 20% preference in later Level-1 direct recruitment may go to CCAAs trained in railway establishments who hold NAC.
• Willful absence can trigger recovery of training cost and stipend, as determined by the Central Apprenticeship Adviser.
• False declaration can end the training without notice.
• Administration may move an apprentice to another unit in the zone.
• Own accommodation and other facilities.

What Happens After Selection?

1. Southern Railway publishes the DV shortlist (tentative date 15 October 2026) on the Personnel Branch page and the apply portal. There is no admit card for a written exam.
2. You attend document verification with originals, including the qualifying TC and fee acknowledgement.
3. You submit the Schedule-II medical certificate from a Government-authorised Gazetted doctor (Assistant Surgeon or above).
4. You sign the apprenticeship contract (or your guardian does, if you are a minor) as per the Regional Director of Apprenticeship Training, Guindy, Chennai.
5. You join the allotted workshop or division and start trade training for the notified period (Fresher Welder/MLT: 1 year 3 months; Fresher Fitter/Painter: 2 years; Ex-ITI: Schedule-I rebate).
6. Stipend is released subject to attendance. After successful completion, you receive the National Apprenticeship Certificate under the Act. Permanent posting is a separate RRC recruitment, where CCAA + NAC can get preference in 20% of Level-1 vacancies.

Contact & Helpline

Issuing office
Office of the Chief Workshop Manager
Carriage & Wagon Works, Personnel Branch
Perambur, Chennai – 600 023
Notification signed by the Assistant Personnel Officer.

Portals
Southern Railway website → News & Updates → Personnel Branch Information
Act Apprentice 2026 application portal

A separate recruitment helpline number and email are not printed in Notification-01/2026. Use only the official pages above for DV lists and results.

⚠️ Contact details sourced from the official notification/website. Verify before contacting. NEVER pay any money over the phone or to any person claiming to offer job assistance. Report fraud to cybercrime.gov.in.

Important Links – Southern Railway Act Apprentice 2026

FAQs – Southern Railway Act Apprentice 2026

Q1: What is the last date to apply for Southern Railway Act Apprentice 2026?

A: 27 September 2026, 5:00 PM. The portal opened on 28 August 2026. Late forms are not accepted. No extension was notified as of 31 August 2026.

Q2: What is the age limit for Southern Railway Act Apprentice?

A: 15–22 years for freshers and 15–24 years for Ex-ITI and MLT as of 28 August 2026. OBC gets 3 extra years, SC/ST 5, PwBD 10, with combined PwBD + OBC 13 and PwBD + SC/ST 15.

Q3: Is there an exam for Southern Railway Act Apprentice, or is it interview-based?

A: No written exam and no interview. Merit is based on Class 10, Class 12, or ITI marks converted to 200. Shortlisted names then go for document verification and a Schedule-II medical certificate.

Q4: What is the stipend for Southern Railway Act Apprentice?

A: The stipend is ₹8,200 a month for Class 10 freshers and ₹9,600 for Class 12 freshers and Ex-ITI trainees. It rises by 10% in year two and 15% in year three. This is a training stipend, not 7th CPC salary.

Q5: Can final-year students or result-awaited candidates apply for Southern Railway 2026?

A: No, for Ex-ITI: the relevant ITI certificate must already be in hand when you apply. Freshers need to have passed Class 10 or Class 12. Produce the original TC of that qualifying exam at DV.

Q6: Is Southern Railway Act Apprentice a permanent government job?

A: No. This is apprenticeship training under the Apprentices Act, 1961. The contract ends after training. CCAA + NAC holders may later get preference in 20% of Level-1 RRC vacancies.

Q7: Can candidates from other states apply for Southern Railway recruitment?

A: Only if they live in Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Kerala, Andaman & Nicobar, Lakshadweep, SPSR Nellore, Chittoor or Dakshina Kannada. Other districts of Andhra Pradesh or Karnataka are outside this jurisdiction.

Q8: Where will I be posted if I get selected for Southern Railway Act Apprentice?

A: At a Southern Railway workshop or division: Perambur, Ponmalai, Podanur, Arakkonam, or the Chennai, Madurai, Tiruchirappalli, Palakkad, Salem or Trivandrum divisions. Choice is honoured only to the extent of vacancies.

Q9: Will I get a permanent job after Southern Railway apprenticeship?

A: No automatic job. The notification repeats that there is no guarantee of employment. The only stated bridge is preference in 20% of later Level-1 direct recruitment for railway-trained CCAAs with NAC.

Q10: Is ITI mandatory for Southern Railway apprenticeship?

A: Not for Fresher Fitter, Welder, Painter or MLT seats (163). For the 4,308 Ex-ITI seats, a matching NCVT/SCVT ITI is mandatory on the date of application.

Q11: Is railway apprenticeship worth doing or just cheap labour?

A: Worth knowing before you apply: the stipend is ₹8,200–₹9,600, and you arrange housing. The value is trade practice in a zonal workshop plus a later CCAA edge. If you need immediate regular pay, skip this cycle.

Q12: What is the stipend for railway trade apprentices in India?

A: On this Southern Railway list, it is ₹8,200 (Class 10 fresher) or ₹9,600 (Class 12 / Ex-ITI) a month, with 10% and 15% rises in later years. Other zones publish similar Act rates; always read that zone’s PDF.

Q13: Do railway workshops actually hire apprentices after training ends?

A: The trade-off is that hiring is a separate RRC Level-1 exam or notification. This contract cannot convert itself into a post. CCAA + NAC preference exists only where a later Level-1 drive keeps that 20% clause.

Pre-Apprenticeship Checklist – Before You Apply

• You meet age and education rules as on 28 August 2026.
• You live in the notified Southern Railway jurisdiction.
• You understand this is a contractual apprenticeship with no automatic permanent claim.
• You can live on a ₹8,200–₹9,600 stipend and arrange your own stay.
• You will maintain attendance under the Apprentices Act, 1961.

📄 Source: Official notification released by Southern Railway on 28 August 2026. All details are sourced from the Southern Railway Act Apprentice Notification-01/2026 PDF.