NEW
APPRENTICE RECRUITMENT EXAM SOUTHERN RAILWAY
RAILWAY · All India
Post
APPRENTICEVacancies
4471Qualification
AS PER NOTIFICATIONAge Limit
15-22Salary / Pay Scale
FIXED STIPEND AS PER NOTIFICATIONApplication Fee
AS PER NOTIFICATIONStarting Date
28/08/2026Last Date
27/09/2026Exam Date
15/10/2026 TENTATIVESelection Process
CBT-Document verification-Medical exam Job Description
Southern Railway has released the Recruitment 2026 notification for 4471 Act Apprentice posts. The online application process will be conducted from 28-08-2026 to 27-09-2026. Eligible candidates can apply through the official website, sr.indianrailways.gov.in
Southern Railway (SR), through the Office of the Chief Workshop Manager, Carriage & Wagon Works, Perambur, has released Notification No. 01/2026 inviting online applications for engagement as Act Apprentices under the Apprentices Act, 1961, in various trades across Divisions/Workshops/Units under its jurisdiction. This is a training engagement, not an employment offer - there is no guarantee of employment on completion of training
Vacancies are divided into two categories - Fresher (163 posts) and Ex-ITI (4,308 posts) - spread across Carriage & Wagon Works Perambur, Central Workshop Ponmalai, Signal & Telecommunication Workshop Podanur, Railway Hospital Perambur, and multiple divisions (Chennai, Madurai, Tiruchirappalli, Palakkad, Salem, Trivandrum)
Unit Trades Covered Total Posts
Carriage & Wagon Works, Perambur Fitter, Welder, Painter 80
Central Workshop, Ponmalai Fitter, Welder (G&E) 43
S&T Workshop, Podanur, Coimbatore Fitter 20
Railway Hospital, Perambur MLT (Radiology, Pathology, Cardiology) 20
Fresher's Grand Total 163
Ex-ITI Category - Group-wise Total
Group Units Covered Total Posts
Carriage & Wagon Works group Perambur C&W, Chennai Division (multiple sections), Electrical Workshop Perambur, Engineering Workshop Arakkonam, Engineering HQ/SR, Loco Works Perambur, Railway Hospital Perambur 1,528
Central Workshops, Ponmalai group Ponmalai, Madurai Division, Tiruchirappalli Division 1,292
S&T Workshop Podanur group Palakkad Division, Salem Division, Podanur Workshop, Trivandrum Division 1,488
Ex-ITI Grand Total 4,308
Note: the Fresher category-wise sum (UR 68 + OBC 43 + SC 24 + ST 13 + EWS 14) computed from the source table equals 162, one less than the stated total of 163. The Ex-ITI category-wise sum (UR 1,744 + OBC 1,144 + SC 628 + ST 319 + EWS 394) computed from the source table equals 4,229, which is 79 less than the stated total of 4,308. Both discrepancies are in the source document and should be verified before publishing.
Southern Railway Act Apprentice Qualification
Fresher Category:
Fitter, Painter, Welder - Passed 10th Class (minimum 50% aggregate) under the 10+2 system or equivalent.
Medical Laboratory Technician (Radiology/Pathology/Cardiology) - Passed 12th Class (minimum 50% aggregate) with Physics, Chemistry, and Biology.
Ex-ITI Category:
Most trades (Fitter, Machinist, MMV, Turner, Diesel Mechanic, Carpenter, Painter, Welder(G&E), Wireman, Advance Welder, Plumber, Draughtsman-Civil, Instrument Mechanic, Mech. R&AC, Gas Cutter, MMTM, Structural Welder) - Passed 10th Class (min. 50%) + ITI course in the relevant trade with an NCVT/SCVT certificate.
Electrician - Same as above, with Science as a subject in 10th.
Electronics Mechanic - Same as above, with Science (Physics & Chemistry) and Mathematics.
Secretarial Assistant & Stenographer (English) - Passed 12th Class + ITI course with NCVT/SCVT certificate.
ICTSM - Passed 10th Class + ITI course with NCVT/SCVT certificate.
COPA/PASAA - Passed 10th Class (min. 50%) + National Trade Certificate in Computer Operator and Programming Assistant.
Note: The minimum 50% requirement in 10th standard does not apply to SC/ST/PwBD candidates. Course Completed Act Apprentices (CCAAs), Engineering Graduates/Diploma holders, or Vocational Certificate holders with one year or more of training/job experience after these qualifications are not eligible.Online Application Portal
Southern Railway Act Apprentice Age Limit
As on the date of notification (28-08-2026):
Minimum age: 15 years completed
Maximum age: 22 years (Fresher/Ex-ITI) / 24 years (MLT)
Upper age relaxation: 3 years for OBC-(NCL), 5 years for SC/ST, 10 years for PwBD
Combined relaxation for PwBD candidates: UR/EWS + PwBD = 10 years; OBC-(NCL) + PwBD = 13 years; SC/ST + PwBD = 15 years
To avoid any confusion regarding age eligibility, candidates can use our Age Calculator to calculate their exact age based on the prescribed cut-off date before applying.
Southern Railway Act Apprentice Stipend
Category Stipend (per month)
Fresher's - 10th Std Rs. 8,200/-
Fresher's - 12th Std Rs. 9,600/-
Ex-ITI Rs. 9,600/-
Southern Railway (SR), through the Office of the Chief Workshop Manager, Carriage & Wagon Works, Perambur, has released Notification No. 01/2026 inviting online applications for engagement as Act Apprentices under the Apprentices Act, 1961, in various trades across Divisions/Workshops/Units under its jurisdiction. This is a training engagement, not an employment offer - there is no guarantee of employment on completion of training
Vacancies are divided into two categories - Fresher (163 posts) and Ex-ITI (4,308 posts) - spread across Carriage & Wagon Works Perambur, Central Workshop Ponmalai, Signal & Telecommunication Workshop Podanur, Railway Hospital Perambur, and multiple divisions (Chennai, Madurai, Tiruchirappalli, Palakkad, Salem, Trivandrum)
Unit Trades Covered Total Posts
Carriage & Wagon Works, Perambur Fitter, Welder, Painter 80
Central Workshop, Ponmalai Fitter, Welder (G&E) 43
S&T Workshop, Podanur, Coimbatore Fitter 20
Railway Hospital, Perambur MLT (Radiology, Pathology, Cardiology) 20
Fresher's Grand Total 163
Ex-ITI Category - Group-wise Total
Group Units Covered Total Posts
Carriage & Wagon Works group Perambur C&W, Chennai Division (multiple sections), Electrical Workshop Perambur, Engineering Workshop Arakkonam, Engineering HQ/SR, Loco Works Perambur, Railway Hospital Perambur 1,528
Central Workshops, Ponmalai group Ponmalai, Madurai Division, Tiruchirappalli Division 1,292
S&T Workshop Podanur group Palakkad Division, Salem Division, Podanur Workshop, Trivandrum Division 1,488
Ex-ITI Grand Total 4,308
Note: the Fresher category-wise sum (UR 68 + OBC 43 + SC 24 + ST 13 + EWS 14) computed from the source table equals 162, one less than the stated total of 163. The Ex-ITI category-wise sum (UR 1,744 + OBC 1,144 + SC 628 + ST 319 + EWS 394) computed from the source table equals 4,229, which is 79 less than the stated total of 4,308. Both discrepancies are in the source document and should be verified before publishing.
Southern Railway Act Apprentice Qualification
Fresher Category:
Fitter, Painter, Welder - Passed 10th Class (minimum 50% aggregate) under the 10+2 system or equivalent.
Medical Laboratory Technician (Radiology/Pathology/Cardiology) - Passed 12th Class (minimum 50% aggregate) with Physics, Chemistry, and Biology.
Ex-ITI Category:
Most trades (Fitter, Machinist, MMV, Turner, Diesel Mechanic, Carpenter, Painter, Welder(G&E), Wireman, Advance Welder, Plumber, Draughtsman-Civil, Instrument Mechanic, Mech. R&AC, Gas Cutter, MMTM, Structural Welder) - Passed 10th Class (min. 50%) + ITI course in the relevant trade with an NCVT/SCVT certificate.
Electrician - Same as above, with Science as a subject in 10th.
Electronics Mechanic - Same as above, with Science (Physics & Chemistry) and Mathematics.
Secretarial Assistant & Stenographer (English) - Passed 12th Class + ITI course with NCVT/SCVT certificate.
ICTSM - Passed 10th Class + ITI course with NCVT/SCVT certificate.
COPA/PASAA - Passed 10th Class (min. 50%) + National Trade Certificate in Computer Operator and Programming Assistant.
Note: The minimum 50% requirement in 10th standard does not apply to SC/ST/PwBD candidates. Course Completed Act Apprentices (CCAAs), Engineering Graduates/Diploma holders, or Vocational Certificate holders with one year or more of training/job experience after these qualifications are not eligible.Online Application Portal
Southern Railway Act Apprentice Age Limit
As on the date of notification (28-08-2026):
Minimum age: 15 years completed
Maximum age: 22 years (Fresher/Ex-ITI) / 24 years (MLT)
Upper age relaxation: 3 years for OBC-(NCL), 5 years for SC/ST, 10 years for PwBD
Combined relaxation for PwBD candidates: UR/EWS + PwBD = 10 years; OBC-(NCL) + PwBD = 13 years; SC/ST + PwBD = 15 years
To avoid any confusion regarding age eligibility, candidates can use our Age Calculator to calculate their exact age based on the prescribed cut-off date before applying.
Southern Railway Act Apprentice Stipend
Category Stipend (per month)
Fresher's - 10th Std Rs. 8,200/-
Fresher's - 12th Std Rs. 9,600/-
Ex-ITI Rs. 9,600/-