Southern Railway (SR), through the Office of the Chief Workshop Manager, Carriage and Wagon Works, Perambur, has released Notification No. 01/2026 (CPB/P1/98/Act/TP/Vol.XXI) dated 28 August 2026 for engagement of 4,471 Act Apprentices under the Apprentices Act, 1961, across two categories – Fresher (163 posts) and Ex-ITI (4,308 posts) – in various trades at Workshops, Divisions and Units within Southern Railway’s jurisdiction. Applications are accepted online at sronline.etrpindia.com from 28 August 2026 to 27 September 2026 at 5:00 PM. This is a training engagement and does not guarantee employment – there is no right to a job at Southern Railway after completion of apprenticeship.
Important – Read Before You Apply: Four things that will make you ineligible regardless of your qualifications. First, you must reside within Southern Railway’s specified geographical jurisdiction – the entire states of Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry; the UTs of Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep; only two districts of Andhra Pradesh (SPSR Nellore and Chittoor); and only one district of Karnataka (Dakshina Kannada); candidates from outside these areas are not eligible. Second, Engineering graduates, diploma holders and Vocational Certificate holders are explicitly excluded – the notification bars candidates who hold these qualifications from applying, even if they also hold an ITI certificate. Third, Course Completed Act Apprentices (CCAAs) who have already finished apprenticeship training are also not eligible to apply – this recruitment is for new trainees only. Fourth, the application window opened on 28 August 2026 and has been live for 3 days – apply well before the 27 September 2026 deadline as portal traffic is typically heavy in the final days.
Southern Railway Act Apprentice Recruitment 2026 – Overview
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Recruiting Authority | Southern Railway, Office of the Chief Workshop Manager, C&W Works, Perambur |
| Notification No. | 01/2026 (CPB/P1/98/Act/TP/Vol.XXI) |
| Notification Date | 28 August 2026 |
| Posts | Act Apprentice – Fresher and Ex-ITI categories |
| Total Vacancies | 4,471 (Fresher: 163 + Ex-ITI: 4,308) |
| Application Mode | Online only at sronline.etrpindia.com |
| Application Fee | Rs. 100 (Nil for SC/ST/PwBD/Women) |
| Application Opens | 28 August 2026 |
| Application Last Date | 27 September 2026 at 17:00 hours |
| Shortlist for Document Verification | Tentatively 15 October 2026 |
| Nature | Training engagement – not employment |
| Jurisdiction | Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Puducherry, A&N Islands, Lakshadweep, SPSR Nellore and Chittoor (AP), Dakshina Kannada (Karnataka) |
| Official Website | sr.indianrailways.gov.in |
Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Notification released | 28 August 2026 |
| Online application opens | 28 August 2026 |
| Online application closes | 27 September 2026 at 17:00 hours |
| Tentative shortlist for Document Verification | 15 October 2026 |
Vacancy Details
Fresher Category – 163 Posts
| Unit | Trades | Posts |
|---|---|---|
| Carriage and Wagon Works, Perambur | Fitter, Welder, Painter | 80 |
| Central Workshop, Ponmalai | Fitter, Welder (G&E) | 43 |
| Signal and Telecommunication Workshop, Podanur | Fitter | 20 |
| Railway Hospital, Perambur | MLT – Radiology, Pathology, Cardiology | 20 |
| Total | 163 |
Ex-ITI Category – 4,308 Posts
| Group | Units Covered | Posts |
|---|---|---|
| Carriage and Wagon Works Group | C&W Perambur, 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 |
| Total | 4,308 |
Ex-ITI trades include Fitter, Machinist, Motor Mechanic Vehicle (MMV), Turner, Diesel Mechanic, Carpenter, Painter, Welder (G&E), Wireman, Advance Welder, Plumber, Draughtsman (Civil), Instrument Mechanic, Mechanic R&AC, Gas Cutter, MMTM, Structural Welder, Electrician, Electronics Mechanic, Secretarial Assistant, Stenographer (English), ICTSM, COPA/PASAA and others. The full unit-wise and trade-wise breakdown is in the notification PDF.
Eligibility Criteria
Fresher Category
- Fitter, Welder (G&E), Painter: Passed Class 10 with minimum 50% aggregate marks under the 10+2 system or equivalent (50% not required for SC/ST/PwBD).
- MLT (Radiology, Pathology, Cardiology): Passed Class 12 with minimum 50% aggregate with Physics, Chemistry and Biology.
Ex-ITI Category
- Most engineering trades (Fitter, Machinist, Turner, Carpenter, Painter, Welder, Plumber, Mechanic R&AC, Gas Cutter, MMTM, Structural Welder, Diesel Mechanic, MMV, Draughtsman Civil, Instrument Mechanic, ICTSM, COPA/PASAA): Passed Class 10 with minimum 50% + ITI with NCVT/SCVT certificate in the relevant trade.
- Electrician: Same as above, with Science as a subject in Class 10.
- Electronics Mechanic: Class 10 with Science (Physics and Chemistry) and Mathematics + relevant ITI.
- Secretarial Assistant and Stenographer (English): Class 12 pass + relevant ITI with NCVT/SCVT certificate.
Explicitly ineligible candidates:
- Engineering graduates, diploma holders or Vocational Certificate holders with one or more years of training or work experience.
- Course Completed Act Apprentices (CCAAs) who have already completed apprenticeship training anywhere.
Age Limit
Age is reckoned as on the date of notification (28 August 2026).
| Category | Minimum | Maximum |
|---|---|---|
| Fresher and Ex-ITI general trades | 15 years | 22 years |
| MLT (Fresher) | 15 years | 24 years |
| OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) relaxation | – | +3 years |
| SC/ST relaxation | – | +5 years |
| PwBD relaxation | – | +10 years |
| OBC + PwBD combined | – | +13 years |
| SC/ST + PwBD combined | – | +15 years |
Stipend
| Category | First Year | Increment in Year 2 | Increment in Year 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fresher (10th Standard) | Rs. 8,200 per month | +10% | +15% further |
| Fresher (12th Standard) – MLT | Rs. 9,600 per month | +10% | +15% further |
| Ex-ITI | Rs. 9,600 per month | +10% | +15% further |
Application Fee
| Category | Fee |
|---|---|
| General/OBC/EWS | Rs. 100 (non-refundable) |
| SC/ST/PwBD/Women | Nil |
Fee is paid online. No offline payment is accepted.
Selection Process
Selection is through a merit list – no written examination is conducted.
| Category | Merit Calculation |
|---|---|
| Fresher | Matriculation marks converted to a score out of 200 |
| Ex-ITI | Matriculation marks converted to 100 + ITI marks converted to 100 = 200 (equal weightage) |
| MLT (Fresher) | Higher Secondary marks in Physics, Chemistry, Maths and Biology converted to a score out of 200 |
Tie-breaking: older candidate ranked higher; if dates of birth are identical, the candidate who passed Matriculation earlier is ranked higher.
Note on CCAA preference: although CCAAs cannot apply here, 20% of vacancies in future Direct Recruitment to Level-1 posts in Indian Railways may give preference to Course Completed Act Apprentices who hold a National Apprenticeship Certificate (NAC) – this is a long-term benefit of completing the training.
How to Apply
- Visit the official Southern Railway website at sr.indianrailways.gov.in.
- Navigate to News and Updates, then Personnel Branch Information, for the application link.
- Alternatively, use the direct application link in the Important Links table below.
- Complete the online application form with personal, educational and trade details.
- Upload the required photograph and signature.
- Pay the applicable fee online (Rs. 100 for General/OBC/EWS; nil for SC/ST/PwBD/Women).
- Submit the application before 27 September 2026 at 17:00 hours.
Important Instructions
- This is an apprenticeship training engagement, not employment. There is no guarantee of a job at Southern Railway after completing the apprenticeship.
- Only candidates residing within Southern Railway’s specified geographical jurisdiction are eligible.
- Engineering graduates, diploma holders, vocational certificate holders with one or more years of post-qualification experience, and CCAAs are not eligible.
- The 50% minimum in Class 10 does not apply to SC/ST/PwBD candidates.
- All communication including shortlist, document verification schedule and selection results will be published only on the official Southern Railway website.
- Candidates must produce relevant certificates (SC/ST/OBC-NCL/PwBD) at document verification or they will be treated as General category.
- Candidates are responsible for arranging their own accommodation during training.
- Vacancies are tentative and subject to revision.
Important Links
| Description | Link |
|---|---|
| Apply Online | Apply Now |
| Official Notification PDF – Notification No. 01/2026 | Apply Now |
| Southern Railway Official Website | Apply Now |
Frequently Asked Questions – Southern Railway Act Apprentice Recruitment 2026
Q1. How many vacancies are there in Southern Railway Act Apprentice Recruitment 2026?
✅ 4,471 Act Apprentice posts – 163 Fresher and 4,308 Ex-ITI – across Workshops and Divisions within Southern Railway’s jurisdiction, under Notification No. 01/2026 dated 28 August 2026.
Q2. What is the last date to apply?
✅ 27 September 2026 at 17:00 hours (5:00 PM). Applications are submitted online at sronline.etrpindia.com. The portal has been open since 28 August 2026.
Q3. Who is NOT eligible to apply?
✅ Engineering graduates, diploma holders, vocational certificate holders with one or more years of experience, and Course Completed Act Apprentices (CCAAs). Also, candidates residing outside Southern Railway’s specified geographical jurisdiction are not eligible.
Q4. Which states and districts are within Southern Railway’s jurisdiction?
✅ Entire Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry; A&N Islands and Lakshadweep UTs; only SPSR Nellore and Chittoor districts of Andhra Pradesh; and only Dakshina Kannada district of Karnataka.
Q5. What is the stipend?
✅ Rs. 8,200 per month for Fresher (10th standard) and Rs. 9,600 per month for Fresher MLT (12th standard) and Ex-ITI candidates in the first year, with 10% increment in the second year and an additional 15% in the third year.
Q6. Is there a written examination?
✅ No. Selection is through a merit list based on Matriculation marks (plus ITI marks for Ex-ITI candidates, or Higher Secondary marks for MLT Fresher candidates). No written test is conducted.
Q7. Is the 50% minimum in Class 10 mandatory for all?
✅ No. The 50% minimum in Class 10 is waived for SC/ST/PwBD candidates.
Q8. Does completing this apprenticeship guarantee a job at Southern Railway?
✅ No. This is purely a training engagement. However, Course Completed Act Apprentices (CCAAs) holding a National Apprenticeship Certificate (NAC) may receive preference in 20% of future Direct Recruitment vacancies for Level-1 posts in Indian Railways.
Disclaimer: This article is based on Notification No. 01/2026 (CPB/P1/98/Act/TP/Vol.XXI) dated 28 August 2026, released by Southern Railway, Office of the Chief Workshop Manager, C&W Works, Perambur, for 4,471 Act Apprentice posts (163 Fresher + 4,308 Ex-ITI) under the Apprentices Act, 1961. Applications are accepted online from 28 August to 27 September 2026 at 17:00 hours. Eligibility is restricted to candidates residing within Southern Railway’s geographical jurisdiction. Engineering graduates, diploma holders and CCAAs are not eligible. This is a training engagement and does not guarantee employment. Vacancies are tentative. Candidates must read the official notification PDF before applying. JobShouter.com is not associated with Southern Railway or the Ministry of Railways in any manner.
