Southern Railway Apprentice Recruitment 2026: Dates, Eligibility, Vacancies, Apply Online at Manabadi

The Southern Railway (SR) has officially released the notification for the engagement of Act Apprentices for the year 2026-27. Offering a massive opportunity for 10th-pass and ITI-certified candidates, the recruitment drive aims to fill a total of 4,471 vacant slots across various divisions, workshops, and units under its jurisdiction.

The online application portal opened on August 28, 2026, and interested candidates can submit their applications until September 27, 2026.

Key Highlights of the Recruitment

Important Dates

• Online Application Start Date: August 28, 2026

• Last Date to Apply: September 27, 2026 (up to 17:00 Hrs)

• Document Verification (Tentative): October 15, 2026

Eligibility Criteria

Before applying, candidates must ensure they meet the geographical, age, and educational requirements outlined in the official notification.

1. Geographical Eligibility To be eligible, candidates must reside in one of the following regions:

• Whole State of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Puducherry

• Andaman & Nicobar and Lakshadweep Islands

• SPSR Nellore and Chittoor districts (Andhra Pradesh)

• Dakshina Kannada district (Karnataka)

2. Educational Qualifications

• Fresher Category (Fitter, Painter, Welder): Must have passed 10th Class (under the 10+2 system) with a minimum of 50% aggregate marks.

• Fresher Category (Medical Laboratory Technician – MLT): Must have passed 12th Class with a minimum of 50% aggregate marks in Physics, Chemistry, and Biology.

• Ex-ITI Category: Must have passed 10th Class with 50% marks along with an ITI certificate in the relevant trade recognized by NCVT/SCVT. (Note: The 50% marks criteria is not applicable to SC/ST/PwBD candidates).

3. Age Limit (As of August 28, 2026)

• Minimum Age: 15 years

• Maximum Age: 22 years for Freshers (24 years for Ex-ITI and MLT trades)

• Age relaxations apply: 3 years for OBC (NCL), 5 years for SC/ST, and 10 years for PwBD candidates.

Selection Process

The best part about this recruitment drive is that there is no written examination or interview.

• For Freshers: The merit list will be calculated based on the marks obtained in the 10th or 12th board exams.

• For Ex-ITI: The merit list will be generated by taking the average of the percentage marks obtained in Matriculation (10th) and the ITI examination. Shortlisted candidates will be directly called for Document Verification.

How to Apply Online

1. Visit the official Southern Railway website: sr.indianrailways.gov.in.

2. Navigate to the News & Updates section and click on the Personnel Branch Information tab.

3. Select the “Act Apprentice 2026-27” notification link.

4. Register using your mobile number and email ID to generate login credentials.

5. Fill in the application form with your personal and educational details.

6. Upload scanned copies of required documents (photograph, signature, certificates).

7. Pay the non-refundable application fee of ₹100 (SC/ST/PwBD and Women candidates are fully exempted).

8. Submit the form and take a printout of the acknowledgment for future reference.

Disclaimer: This is purely an Apprenticeship Training under the Apprentices Act, 1961, and does not guarantee permanent railway employment, though Course Completed Act Apprentices (CCAAs) may get preference in Level-1 direct recruitments.

1. Division-Wise Vacancy Breakdown

The 4,471 total slots are distributed heavily across specific divisions and workshops, with Ex-ITI making up the vast majority (4,308 posts). Some of the major divisions for Ex-ITI placements include:

• Salem Division: 628 posts

• Tiruchirappalli Division: 562 posts

• Palakkad Division: 488 posts

• Madurai Division: 383 posts

• Central Workshop, Ponmalai: 347 posts

• Carriage & Wagon Works/Perambur: 250 posts

• Trivandrum Division: 209 posts

• Signal & Tele Workshop/Podanur, Coimbatore: 83 posts

The 163 Fresher positions are primarily concentrated in the Carriage & Wagon Workshop, Perambur (80 posts) and Central Workshop, Ponmalai (43 posts).

2. Detailed Educational Requirements by Trade

• Ex-ITI (Fitter, Electrician, Machinist, Welder, Painter, Turner, etc.): You must have passed the 10th standard (under the 10+2 system) with at least 50% marks, plus an ITI certificate in the relevant trade affiliated with NCVT/SCVT.

• Fresher (Medical Laboratory Technician – Radiology, Pathology, Cardiology): Must have completed 12th Standard with Physics, Chemistry, and Biology, securing a minimum of 50% aggregate.

• Important Constraint: Candidates holding higher qualifications such as a Diploma or Engineering Degree are not eligible to apply for these apprenticeship slots.

3. Selection Formula & Document Verification

There is absolutely no interview or written exam.

• For Ex-ITI Candidates: The final merit percentage is calculated by taking the exact average of your 10th standard percentage and your ITI percentage.

• Document Verification (DV): A tentative shortlist for DV will be released around October 15, 2026. During DV, you will need to produce original mark sheets, caste certificates (if applicable), and medical fitness certificates signed by a Government authorized doctor (not below the rank of Assistant Surgeon).

4. Stipend Details

During the 1 to 2-year training period, apprentices are paid according to the Minimum Wages Act:

• Class 10th Pass (Freshers): ₹8,200 per month.

• Class 12th Pass / Ex-ITI: ₹9,600 per month.

5. Essential Documents for the Online Portal

When applying on the official portal (sr.indianrailways.gov.in), you must upload:

1. Recent passport-size photograph (clear background).

2. Scanned signature.

3. Class 10 and/or 12 mark sheets.

4. Consolidated ITI Marksheet and National Trade Certificate (NTC).

5. Community Certificate for SC/ST/OBC (NCL) in the prescribed Central Government format.

Remember: The deadline to submit the online form and pay the ₹100 fee (exempt for SC/ST/PwBD/Women) is September 27, 2026, at 5:00 PM.