Southern Railway’s Carriage & Wagon Works at Perambur has released Southern Railway Act Apprentice Recruitment 2026 for a massive 4,471 Act Apprentice positions, split into 163 Fresher posts (Fitter, Painter, Welder, Medical Laboratory Technician) and 4,308 Ex-ITI posts across trades such as Machinist, Turner, Electrician, Electronics Mechanic, Secretarial Assistant and COPA.
Under Southern Railway Act Apprentice Recruitment 2026, eligibility is restricted to candidates residing in Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Kerala, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep, and select districts of Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. Selection is purely merit-based, using Matriculation marks for Freshers and a combination of Matriculation plus ITI marks for Ex-ITI candidates, with no written examination or interview.
Overview of Southern Railway Act Apprentice Recruitment 2026
Geographical Eligibility: Only residents of Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Kerala, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep, SPSR Nellore and Chittoor districts (AP), and Dakshina Kannada district (Karnataka).
Fresher (Fitter, Painter, Welder): 10th Class pass with minimum 50% aggregate (waived for SC/ST/PwBD).
Fresher MLT: 12th Class pass with Physics, Chemistry and Biology, minimum 50% aggregate.
Ex-ITI: 10th Class pass (minimum 50%) plus a relevant NCVT/SCVT ITI certificate.
Age Limit (as on 28.08.2026): 15 to 22 years (Fresher/Ex-ITI) or up to 24 years (MLT), with relaxation of 3 years for OBC-NCL, 5 years for SC/ST and 10–15 years for PwBD.
Stipend (Monthly)
Fresher – 10th Standard: Rs. 8,200
Fresher – 12th Standard: Rs. 9,600
Ex-ITI: Rs. 9,600
Stipend increases by 10% in the second year and a further 15% in the third year of training.
Selection Process
Fresher: Merit list based on Matriculation marks converted to 200 (50% minimum aggregate required, except SC/ST/PwBD).
Ex-ITI: Merit list based on Matriculation marks (100) plus ITI marks (100), totalling 200.
MLT: Merit list based on Higher Secondary marks in Physics, Chemistry, Maths and Biology, converted to 200.
Ties are resolved by age (older preferred), then by earlier Matriculation pass date.
Q1: How many total vacancies are there in Southern Railway Act Apprentice Recruitment 2026?
A: A total of 4,471 vacancies are notified — 163 Fresher and 4,308 Ex-ITI posts.
Q2: Who is eligible to apply, geographically?
A: Only residents of Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Kerala, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep, and select districts of Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka are eligible.
Q3: Does this apprenticeship guarantee a railway job afterward?
A: No, this is purely apprenticeship training with no guarantee of employment after completion.
Q4: What is the stipend for Ex-ITI apprentices?
A: Ex-ITI apprentices receive Rs. 9,600 per month, increasing in subsequent years.
Q5: What is the last date to apply online?
A: The online application window closes on 27 September 2026 at 17:00 hrs.
Candidates from the eligible southern states/districts should apply for Southern Railway Act Apprentice Recruitment 2026 before 27 September 2026 and ensure their Matriculation/ITI marks are accurately entered, since merit is based directly on these scores.
