Southern Railway Apprentice 2026: 4471 Training Slots Open for Freshers and ITI Candidates

Southern Railway Apprentice Recruitment 2026

Southern Railway has announced a large-scale Act Apprentice engagement for 2026 under Notification No. 01/2026. The recruitment covers a total of 4,471 apprentice training slots across eligible workshops and divisions within the Southern Railway jurisdiction. The opportunity is divided between 163 Fresher positions and 4,308 Ex-ITI positions, making it relevant for candidates who have completed Class 10, Class 12, or ITI training in eligible trades.

The online application window begins on 28 August 2026 and closes on 27 September 2026 at 5:00 PM. Candidates should complete registration, enter academic and technical details carefully, upload the required documents, pay the applicable processing fee, and retain the final acknowledgement for future reference.

Vacancy Distribution and Training Categories

The total intake is 4,471. The Fresher category includes 143 slots for trades such as Fitter, Painter and Welder, while 20 slots are earmarked for Medical Laboratory Technician candidates. The Ex-ITI category contains 4,308 opportunities across various designated trades, including technical trades such as Fitter, Electrician, Welder, COPA, Turner and Machinist.

For Fresher trades, applicants generally need a Matriculation qualification under the 10+2 system with at least 50% aggregate marks. Candidates applying for the Medical Laboratory Technician category require Class 12 with Physics, Chemistry and Biology and a minimum of 50% marks. Ex-ITI applicants must generally have passed Class 10 with at least 50% marks and possess the relevant NCVT or SCVT National Trade Certificate in the applicable trade.

Age Limit

The age is calculated with reference to 28 August 2026. For Fresher applicants, the stated age range is 15 to 22 years. For Ex-ITI and MLT applicants, the stated age range is 15 to 24 years. Applicable relaxation in the upper age limit will be governed by the relevant Southern Railway Act Apprentice rules.

Stipend and Training Benefits

The monthly stipend depends on the qualification and category. Freshers with a 10th-pass qualification are stated to receive ₹8,200 per month, while 12th-pass Freshers and Ex-ITI candidates are stated to receive ₹9,600 per month. Apprenticeship training provides practical exposure in railway establishments and can help eligible candidates build trade-specific workplace experience.

The notification information also highlights a benefit for Course Completed Act Apprentices (CCAAs) holding NCVT certificates. Such candidates receive 20% preference in Level-1 direct recruitment in the railways, subject to the applicable recruitment rules and conditions. This preference should not be treated as an automatic appointment.

Application Fee and Important Dates

General, OBC and EWS candidates are required to pay a ₹100 processing fee. SC, ST, PwD and female candidates are exempted from the fee. The application process starts on 28 August 2026, and the final submission deadline is 27 September 2026 at 5:00 PM. The stated date for publication of the Document Verification shortlist is 15 October 2026. Any later schedule for verification or medical assessment will depend on the recruitment authority.

Selection Process

No written examination is specified for this apprentice engagement. Selection is based on preparation of a merit list using the prescribed academic and technical marks. For Freshers, the relevant matriculation marks are considered, while the MLT category uses the applicable Class 12 marks. For Ex-ITI candidates, the merit calculation uses the prescribed combination of Class 10 and ITI marks.

After merit-based shortlisting, candidates are required to participate in Document Verification. Original certificates and other supporting documents should be available for verification. Candidates who successfully complete the verification stage must also satisfy the prescribed medical fitness requirements before engagement.

How to Apply

Applicants should first visit the official Southern Railway website and locate the recruitment or personnel information relating to Act Apprentice Notification No. 01/2026. Candidates should select the appropriate applicant category, trade and unit preference, enter their educational and technical marks, and upload clear copies of the required documents, photograph and signature. Eligible candidates should pay the processing fee through the available online payment options, where applicable.

Before final submission, applicants should carefully review every field because incorrect academic marks, trade details or personal information can affect candidature. After successful submission, the system-generated acknowledgement should be downloaded or printed and retained safely. Candidates should also monitor official communications for the merit list, Document Verification and medical-related instructions.

Key Takeaway

Southern Railway Apprentice Recruitment 2026 offers 4,471 training opportunities without a written examination. With separate openings for Freshers and Ex-ITI candidates, the recruitment is particularly relevant to eligible Class 10, Class 12 and ITI-qualified applicants. Interested candidates should verify the detailed trade-wise requirements and complete their applications before the 27 September 2026 deadline.