Southern Railway Act Apprentice Recruitment 2026

Southern Railway Act Apprentice Recruitment 2026 notification has been released for the engagement of 4,471 Act Apprentices under the Apprentices Act, 1961. The recruitment is being conducted for various designated trades under the Fresher and Ex-ITI categories across different Divisions, Workshops and Units of Southern Railway.

Eligible candidates can submit their applications online from 28 August 2026. The last date to complete the online application is 27 September 2026 up to 5:00 PM. Candidates should carefully check the trade-wise qualification, age limit, residential eligibility and other conditions before applying.

The recruitment includes 163 Fresher opportunities and 4,308 Ex-ITI opportunities, making it an important apprenticeship opportunity for candidates seeking practical training in railway-related trades. The selection is based on merit, and there is no separate written examination for the apprenticeship engagement.

Southern Railway Act Apprentice Recruitment 2026 – Overview

Southern Railway Apprentice Recruitment 2026 – Important Dates

Candidates should complete the application and payment process well before the closing time rather than waiting until the final day. The published recruitment details specify that applications will be accepted online up to 5:00 PM on 27 September 2026.

Southern Railway Apprentice Vacancy 2026 – 4,471 Posts

Southern Railway has announced a total of 4,471 apprenticeship slots under the 2026 engagement notification.

The vacancies are distributed among different designated trades and railway establishments. Candidates should refer to the official notification for the exact trade, unit, category and vacancy details applicable to them.

Southern Railway Apprentice Trades 2026

The apprenticeship engagement covers multiple technical and non-technical trades. Depending on the category and establishment, opportunities are available in trades such as:

• Fitter

• Welder

• Painter

• Electrician

• Electronics Mechanic

• Machinist

• Turner

• Carpenter

• Plumber

• Wireman

• Mechanic Diesel

• Mechanic Motor Vehicle

• COPA

• Medical Laboratory Technician

• Other designated apprenticeship trades

The exact trade availability depends on the concerned Southern Railway unit and the category under which the candidate applies. Applicants should therefore verify the detailed trade list in the official notification before selecting their preference.

Who Can Apply for Southern Railway Act Apprentice Recruitment 2026?

Candidates who satisfy the prescribed educational qualification, age requirement and other eligibility conditions can apply for the Southern Railway Act Apprentice engagement.

The qualification is different for Fresher and Ex-ITI candidates. Applicants should select a trade only after confirming that their educational and technical qualifications match the requirements specified for that trade.

Southern Railway Apprentice Educational Qualification 2026

For Fresher Candidates

For certain Fresher trades such as Fitter, Painter and Welder, candidates are required to have passed the 10th standard with at least 50% aggregate marks under the 10+2 system or its equivalent qualification.

For the Medical Laboratory Technician category, candidates are required to have passed the 12th standard with the prescribed subjects and minimum marks mentioned in the notification.

For Ex-ITI Candidates

Applicants applying under the Ex-ITI category generally need to have passed Class 10 with the required minimum percentage and possess an ITI certificate in the relevant trade from an institution recognized by NCVT or SCVT.

The ITI trade should correspond to the apprenticeship trade selected by the applicant. Candidates should carefully verify the trade equivalence requirements before submitting the form.

Note: Engineering graduates and diploma holders are not eligible under this particular Act Apprentice notification where the prescribed qualification is 10th/12th plus ITI. Applicants must follow the qualification conditions stated against their selected trade.

Southern Railway Apprentice Age Limit 2026

The minimum age required for apprenticeship engagement is generally 15 years. The upper age limit depends on the category of apprenticeship.

The age is calculated with reference to the date prescribed in the recruitment notification. Eligible candidates belonging to reserved categories receive upper-age relaxation according to the applicable government rules.

Southern Railway Apprentice Salary / Stipend 2026

Selected candidates receive a monthly apprenticeship stipend during the training period. The stipend depends on the educational category of the apprentice.

The stipend structure may increase during subsequent years of apprenticeship training according to the applicable apprenticeship rules.

Southern Railway Apprentice Application Fee 2026

Candidates belonging to the applicable fee-paying categories are required to pay the prescribed application fee while submitting the online form.

The application fee is non-refundable for candidates who are required to pay it. Applicants should complete the payment through the available online payment facility before submitting the application.

Southern Railway Apprentice Selection Process 2026

The selection of Act Apprentices is conducted through a merit-based process. There is no separate competitive written examination for preparing the apprenticeship merit list.

For Ex-ITI candidates, the merit calculation considers the prescribed Matriculation and ITI marks. For Fresher candidates, the relevant academic marks are considered according to the category and trade requirements.

Merit List

A merit list is prepared using the academic performance of eligible applicants. Candidates shortlisted through the merit process are subsequently required to complete the prescribed document-verification and other apprenticeship formalities.

Document Verification

Shortlisted candidates must produce their original certificates and supporting documents for verification. The documents must establish the candidate's identity, educational qualification, category and other eligibility requirements.

Is There a Written Exam for Southern Railway Apprentice Recruitment 2026?

No written examination is conducted for selection under this apprenticeship engagement. Candidates are shortlisted through the prescribed merit-based procedure using their qualifying examination and ITI performance, as applicable to the category.

This makes accurate academic information particularly important while completing the application form.

Southern Railway Apprentice Training Locations 2026

The apprenticeship opportunities are available across various Divisions, Workshops and Units falling within the prescribed geographical jurisdiction of Southern Railway.

The notified jurisdiction includes areas such as Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Kerala, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep, specified districts of Andhra Pradesh and Dakshina Kannada district of Karnataka, subject to the detailed residential eligibility conditions in the notification.

Applicants should carefully verify the residence or jurisdiction requirement before submitting their application because this recruitment is not open without restriction to candidates from every location in India.

How to Apply for Southern Railway Act Apprentice Recruitment 2026?

Eligible candidates can submit their applications online through the recruitment facility linked from the Southern Railway website.

1. Visit the official Southern Railway website.

2. Open the Recruitment / News & Updates section.

3. Locate the notification for Act Apprentice Recruitment 2026.

4. Read the complete notification carefully before starting the application.

5. Check your trade, qualification, age and residential eligibility.

6. Open the online application link.

7. Complete the registration using your valid personal details.

8. Enter your educational and ITI information accurately.

9. Select the appropriate apprenticeship trade and category.

10. Upload the required photograph, signature and supporting documents.

11. Pay the applicable application fee, if required.

12. Review the completed form carefully.

13. Submit the application before 27 September 2026 at 5:00 PM.

14. Download and save the submitted application and payment confirmation for future reference.

The published application instructions specify online submission from 28 August 2026 through 27 September 2026.

Documents Required for Southern Railway Apprentice Application

Candidates should keep the required documents and details ready before beginning the online registration process. Depending on the category and trade, these may include:

• Recent passport-size photograph

• Signature

• Class 10 certificate and marksheet

• Class 12 certificate and marksheet, where applicable

• ITI certificate and marksheets for Ex-ITI applicants

• Valid identity proof

• Category certificate, where applicable

• PwBD certificate, where applicable

• Other documents specified in the official notification

Applicants should ensure that the name, date of birth and other details entered in the application correspond with the information recorded in their original documents.

Important Instructions for Southern Railway Apprentice Recruitment 2026

• Read the complete notification before submitting the application.

• Confirm that your selected trade matches your educational and technical qualification.

• Check the prescribed age limit before applying.

• Verify the residential or jurisdiction eligibility carefully.

• Use an active personal mobile number and email address.

• Enter your academic marks exactly as recorded in the original documents.

• Upload clear documents in the required format.

• Pay the applicable fee within the prescribed application period.

• Review the application carefully before final submission.

• Do not wait until the last few hours to complete the application.

• Save the registration details and application number securely.

• Download a copy of the completed application for future reference.

Southern Railway Act Apprentice Recruitment 2026 – Important Links

Frequently Asked Questions – Southern Railway Apprentice Recruitment 2026

1. What is Southern Railway Act Apprentice Recruitment 2026?

It is an apprenticeship engagement drive conducted by Southern Railway under the Apprentices Act, 1961 for training in various designated trades.

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

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

3. When does the Southern Railway Apprentice application process begin?

The online application process starts on 28 August 2026.

4. What is the last date to apply for Southern Railway Apprentice Recruitment 2026?

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

5. What qualification is required for Southern Railway Apprentice Recruitment 2026?

The qualification depends on the category and trade. Fresher applicants may require 10th or 12th qualification, while Ex-ITI applicants generally require Class 10 along with an ITI certificate in the relevant trade.