Southern Railway Act Apprentice Recruitment 2026 released for 4471 posts! Check 10th/ITI

 

Southern Railway Act Apprentice Recruitment 2026: Apply Online for 4471 Posts Now!

Hii friends! Welcome to new RRB New Notification, If you’ve been dreaming of kicking off a career with Indian Railways after finishing your 10th standard or ITI, I have fantastic news that you shouldn't miss. The Southern Railway (RRC SR) has officially released a major recruitment drive for 4,471 Act Apprentice posts.

I know how daunting official recruitment circulars can look with all their technical jargon and endless instructions. Having guided thousands of aspirants over the years, I've broken down this entire notification into clear, practical insights. Read through these details carefully before submitting your application so you don't miss a single step.

This recruitment drive provides technical training and hands-on exposure to 10th-pass students, 12th science graduates, and trade certificate holders. The online registration window is currently active, so let's break down all the official details to ensure your application gets accepted without any issues.

Notification Overview

Information ParameterDetails
Organization NameSouthern Railway (RRC SR, Carriage & Wagon Works, Perambur)
Post Name(s)Act Apprentice (Fresher & Ex-ITI Categories)
Total Vacancies4,471 Posts (163 Fresher + 4,308 Ex-ITI)
Application ModeOnline Only
Job TypeCentral Government Apprenticeship Training
Official Websitesr.indianrailways.gov.in

Key Job Details

Age Limit (Calculated as of 28/08/2026)

Another great piece of news about this recruitment drive is the candidate-friendly age criteria along with relaxed upper age limits for reserved categories.
  • Minimum Age: 15 Years
  • Maximum Age (Fresher): 22 Years
  • Maximum Age (Ex-ITI & MLT): 24 Years

Category-wise Age Relaxation:

  • SC / ST Candidates: Upper age relaxation of 5 years.
  • OBC (Non-Creamy Layer): Upper age relaxation of 3 years.
  • Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD): Upper age relaxation of 10 years.
Double-check your exact age against the official cutoff date before filling out the form to ensure seamless verification later.

Educational Qualification

  • Fresher (Fitter, Painter, Welder): Must have passed 10th Class (Matriculation) under the 10+2 system with a minimum of 50% aggregate marks. (50% mark criteria relaxed for SC/ST/PwBD candidates).
  • Fresher (Medical Laboratory Technician - MLT): Must have passed 12th Class with Physics, Chemistry, and Biology (PCB) with at least 50% aggregate marks.
  • Ex-ITI Category (Various Trades): Passed 10th Class with 50% aggregate marks PLUS a National Trade Certificate (NTC) in the relevant ITI trade issued by NCVT/SCVT.

Salary & Monthly Stipend

Selected candidates will receive a monthly stipend during the apprenticeship period as per the Apprenticeship Act rules:

  • 10th Pass Freshers: ₹8,200/- per month.
  • 12th Pass Freshers & Ex-ITI Candidates: ₹9,600/- per month.
  • Increments: 10% increase during the second year and 15% increase during the third year (where training duration exceeds one year).

Selection Process & Merit List Calculation

Whenever a railway notification drops, most candidates instantly assume the selection process is going to be incredibly tough with stressful exams and intense interviews. Here is the best part: there is no written exam or viva for these posts. The selection is purely merit-based.
  1. Merit List Preparation: Candidates are shortlisted purely on the marks scored in standard examinations.
  2. Document Verification (DV): Verification of original mark sheets, age proof, and category certificates.
  3. Medical Fitness Test: Final selection relies on passing the prescribed medical fitness standards under Schedule-II of the Apprenticeship Rules.

Merit List Calculation Formula

  • For Ex-ITI Candidates: Equal weightage is given to both 10th-standard marks (50%) and ITI marks (50%) to prepare the final merit rank.
  • For Freshers: Based directly on 10th or 12th Board aggregate percentages.

Important Dates

Recruitment EventKey Date
Notification Release Date28/08/2026
Online Application Start Date28/08/2026
Last Date to Apply Online27/09/2026 (Till 5:00 PM)
Tentative DV Shortlist Date15/10/2026

How to Apply Step-by-Step

  1. Visit the Official Portal
    Go to the official Southern Railway website at sr.indianrailways.gov.in and navigate to News & Recruitment → Personnel Branch Information.
  2. Registration
    Click on Act Apprentice Notification No. 01/2026 and complete the initial registration using a valid mobile number and email ID to receive your OTP and Registration ID.
  3. Fill Out the Application Form
    Log in using your credentials, select your category (Fresher or Ex-ITI), select your preferred trade/unit, and enter your educational and personal details.
  4. Upload Required Documents
    Upload scanned copies of your passport photo, signature, Class 10/12 marksheets, ITI NCVT/SCVT Certificate, and Community Certificate (if applicable).
  5. Pay Application Fee
    • General / OBC / EWS: ₹100/- (Payable online via UPI/Netbanking/Card).
    • SC / ST / PwBD / Women Candidates: Exempted (₹0/-).
  6. Final Submission
    Cross-check all entered information carefully and click Submit. Download and save the PDF application receipt for your records.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1: Is there any written exam for Southern Railway Apprentice Recruitment 2026? A: No, there is no written test or interview. Selection is made purely on a merit list derived from your 10th, 12th, or ITI marks.

Q2: What is the application fee for General category applicants? A: The application processing fee is ₹100/- for General, OBC, and EWS candidates. SC/ST/PwBD and female candidates do not have to pay any fee.

Q3: Are candidates from all over India eligible to apply? A: Candidates must reside within the geographical jurisdiction of Southern Railway, which includes Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Kerala, Andaman & Nicobar, Lakshadweep, specified Andhra Pradesh districts (SPSR Nellore & Chittoor), and Dakshina Kannada (Karnataka).

Reality Check / Important Advisory 

  • Avoid Fake Agents: Engagement as an Act Apprentice is strictly merit-based. Indian Railways does not charge money for job guarantees. Beware of fraud agents promising employment.
  • Server Rush Warning: Do not wait for the deadline of September 27, 2026. High traffic on the final day often leads to payment gateway timeouts and submission failures.
  • Certificate Readiness: Ensure your Community Certificate (OBC-NCL / SC / ST) is generated in the central government format before applying to prevent rejection during Document Verification.

Important Direct Links

Share & Join the Discussion

Securing an apprenticeship with Indian Railways is one of the smartest stepping stones to building a long-term technical career. Whenever major full-time Railway Recruitment Board (RRB) notifications are released in the future, candidates holding an official Railway Apprentice certificate are consistently given first priority and dedicated course-completed apprentice (CCAA) quotas.

If I can give you one critical piece of advice from watching candidates face issues every year: do not wait until the last day to submit your application.

In the final 48 hours before the deadline, payment gateways often fail and servers experience extreme traffic overload, which can leave your application incomplete or rejected. Take action today, complete your registration early, and keep your documents ready.

Found this job alert helpful? Share this guide with your friends on WhatsApp, Telegram, and Facebook who are preparing for railway jobs! Have questions about trade eligibility or mark calculation? Drop a comment below, and our team will guide you.

Meta Description: Southern Railway Act Apprentice Recruitment 2026 released for 4471 posts! Check 10th/ITI eligibility, stipend, and merit process. Apply by 27 Sept 2026!

I wish every single one of you the absolute best of luck!