Southern Railway has released the Southern Railway Act Apprentice Recruitment 2026 notification for 4,471 Act Apprentice posts under Notification No. 01/2026. Eligible candidates can apply online from 28 August 2026 to 27 September 2026, up to 5:00 PM.
The vacancies are available for Fresher and Ex-ITI candidates in various trades and units under Southern Railway. Candidates should note that this is an apprenticeship training engagement and not a regular employment offer.
Southern Railway Apprentice Recruitment 2026 – Overview
| Particulars | Details |
| Organisation | Southern Railway, C&W Works, Perambur |
| Post Name | Act Apprentice |
| Total Vacancies | 4,471 |
| Vacancy Category | Fresher – 163, Ex-ITI – 4,308 |
| Age Limit | 15 to 22 years; MLT up to 24 years |
| Qualification | 10th / 12th / ITI as per trade |
| Application Fee | ₹100 |
| Application Mode | Online |
| Stipend | ₹8,200 – ₹9,600 per month initially |
| Experience | No regular work experience required; relevant ITI qualification is mandatory for Ex-ITI trades |
| Eligibility | Candidates must meet geographical, educational, age and trade-wise requirements |
| Job Location | Southern Railway jurisdiction |
| Training Type | Act Apprenticeship Training |
Important: This recruitment is for apprenticeship training. Completion of apprenticeship does not guarantee regular employment in Southern Railway.
Important Dates
| Event | Date |
| Online Application Starts | 28 August 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply Online | 27 September 2026, up to 5:00 PM |
| Tentative Shortlist for DV | 15 October 2026 |
Vacancy Details
Southern Railway has announced 4,471 vacancies:
- Fresher Category: 163 Posts
- Ex-ITI Category: 4,308 Posts
Major units include Carriage & Wagon Works Perambur, Central Workshop Ponmalai, S&T Workshop Podanur, Chennai Division, Madurai Division, Tiruchirappalli Division, Palakkad Division, Salem Division and Trivandrum Division.
Candidates should check the official notification for the complete trade-wise and unit-wise vacancy details.
Eligibility Criteria
Educational Qualification
Fresher Candidates:
- Fitter, Painter and Welder: 10th Pass with minimum 50% marks.
- MLT trades: 12th Pass with Physics, Chemistry and Biology with minimum 50%.
Ex-ITI Candidates:
- 10th Pass with minimum 50% marks.
- Relevant ITI trade certificate from NCVT/SCVT is required.
- Different trades such as Fitter, Electrician, Welder, Machinist, Turner, COPA/PASAA, Electronics Mechanic, Draughtsman-Civil and others are included.
The 50% requirement is relaxed for SC/ST/PwBD candidates as per the notification.
Age Limit
As on 28 August 2026:
- Minimum: 15 years
- Maximum: 22 years
- MLT: Maximum 24 years
- OBC-NCL: 3 years relaxation
- SC/ST: 5 years relaxation
- PwBD: 10 years relaxation
Geographical Eligibility
Candidates must reside within the prescribed Southern Railway geographical jurisdiction, including Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Kerala, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep, SPSR Nellore and Chittoor districts of Andhra Pradesh, and Dakshina Kannada district of Karnataka.
Experience – Important
No separate regular work experience is required for this apprenticeship recruitment. However, Ex-ITI candidates must possess the relevant ITI qualification at the time of application. Candidates who have already undergone certain qualifying training/experience mentioned in the notification may be ineligible.
Selection Process
Selection will be based on a merit list prepared using qualifying examination and ITI marks, depending on the category/trade.
- Fresher: Matriculation marks
- Ex-ITI: Matriculation + ITI marks with equal weightage
- MLT: Relevant Higher Secondary marks
Shortlisted candidates will be called for Document Verification and medical fitness verification.
Stipend
| Category | Monthly Stipend |
| Fresher – 10th | ₹8,200 |
| Fresher – 12th | ₹9,600 |
| Ex-ITI | ₹9,600 |
The stipend increases during subsequent years of apprenticeship as prescribed under the rules.
Application Fee
- General candidates: ₹100
- SC/ST/PwBD/Women candidates: No Fee
The fee is payable online and is non-refundable.
How to Apply for Southern Railway Act Apprentice Recruitment 2026
- Visit the Southern Railway Apprentice application portal.
- Read the notification and check your unit, trade, qualification and geographical eligibility.
- Complete the online application form with correct personal and educational details.
- Upload the required documents and pay the applicable application fee.
- Submit the application before 27 September 2026, 5:00 PM.
- Save/print the submitted application for future reference.
Official Apply Link
Candidates can submit their application through the official Southern Railway Apprentice application portal:
Apply Online:
https://sronline.etrpindia.com/rrcchennaiapprentice26/recruitmentIndex
Use the above link to access the application portal and complete the Southern Railway Act Apprentice application within the prescribed dates.
Details PDF
Candidates are strongly advised to read the official notification PDF before applying. It contains the complete trade-wise vacancies, unit-wise vacancies, eligibility conditions, reservation rules, documents, medical requirements and application instructions.
Official Details PDF:
https://sronline.etrpindia.com/rrcchennaiapprentice26/notifications/Act%20Apprentices%20Notification%202026-27%20with%20enclosures.pdf
Important Links
About Southern Railway
Southern Railway (SR) is one of the major railway zones of Indian Railways, serving important areas across southern India. It operates railway divisions, workshops, production and maintenance facilities and other units across its jurisdiction.
The Act Apprentice recruitment provides eligible candidates with an opportunity to receive industry-oriented training in railway workshops and units under the Apprentices Act, 1961.
FAQs – Southern Railway Apprentice Recruitment 2026
Q.1 How many vacancies are available?
There are 4,471 Act Apprentice vacancies.
Q.2 What is the last date to apply?
The last date is 27 September 2026 up to 5:00 PM.
Q.3 What is the minimum age?
Candidates must have completed 15 years as on the prescribed date.
Q.4 Is ITI mandatory?
ITI is mandatory for the Ex-ITI category, while Fresher vacancies have separate 10th/12th qualification requirements.
Q.5 Is work experience required?
No separate regular work experience is required, but relevant ITI qualification and other trade-specific conditions are important for Ex-ITI candidates.