Southern Railway Apprentice Recruitment 2026: 4,471 ITI Posts — Apply by 27 September
Sat, 12 Sept, 2026
Southern Railway's C&W Works, Perambur has opened 4,471 Act Apprentice posts — 4,308 for Ex-ITI candidates and 163 for Freshers. Applications close 27 September. Here's the vacancy split, eligibility, and what an apprenticeship actually means.
Southern Railway's Carriage & Wagon Works at Perambur has notified 4,471 Act Apprentice posts, with applications open until 27 September. This is one of the larger apprentice intakes on Indian Railways this year, but it's worth understanding exactly what you're signing up for before you apply — an apprenticeship isn't the same as a regular railway job, and the eligibility and stipend structure reflect that.
Two Categories, Very Different Odds
The notification splits vacancies into two tracks depending on your existing qualification, and the numbers are heavily skewed toward one side:
| Category | Vacancies | Qualification | Stipend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fresher's | 163 | 10th pass (50%+) or 12th with PCB | ₹8,200–9,600 |
| Ex-ITI | 4,308 | 10th pass + ITI in relevant trade | ₹9,600 |
Nearly 97% of the seats are reserved for candidates who've already completed an ITI course in a relevant trade — this drive is primarily aimed at ITI graduates, not fresh 10th/12th pass candidates. If you don't have an ITI qualification, your odds are competing for just 163 seats nationally.
Eligibility — Age and Qualification
Age limit is 15–24 years as on the cut-off date — notably lower than most other government recruitment, since this is a training scheme governed by the Apprentices Act, 1961, not a regular recruitment rule. Relaxations: SC/ST get 5 years, OBC 3 years, PwD 10 years.
Category-wise Vacancy Split
| Category | UR | SC | ST | OBC | EWS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fresher's | 68 | 24 | 13 | 43 | 14 |
| Ex-ITI | 1,744 | 628 | 319 | 1,144 | 394 |
Selection Process and How to Apply
Selection is purely merit-based on a written test — there's no interview. Candidates are ranked within their category (Fresher's or Ex-ITI) and further split by gender and reservation category. Shortlisted candidates go through document verification (originals of 10th/12th/ITI certificates, caste/PwD certificate if applicable) and a railway medical fitness check.
Application fee is ₹100 for General/OBC candidates and free for SC/ST/female/PwD/Ex-Servicemen candidates. Apply online at sr.indianrailways.gov.in before 27 September.
One thing to be clear about: an Act Apprenticeship is a fixed-term training program under the Apprentices Act — it is not a permanent railway job, and apprentices are not automatically absorbed into regular Railway employment at the end of the training period, though the trade certification and hands-on experience meaningfully strengthen your profile for future RRB technician and Group D recruitment.
Frequently Asked Questions — Southern Railway Apprentice Recruitment 2026: 4,471 ITI Posts — Apply by 27 September
Applications close on 27 September 2026. The notification and application window opened on 28 August 2026.
4,308 of the 4,471 total posts (about 97%) are for Ex-ITI candidates who've completed a relevant trade course. Only 163 posts are open to Freshers with just a 10th or 12th pass qualification.
15 to 24 years as on the cut-off date, with relaxation of 5 years for SC/ST, 3 years for OBC, and 10 years for PwD candidates.
No. This is a fixed-term training program under the Apprentices Act, 1961. Apprentices are not automatically absorbed into permanent Railway service, though the trade certificate strengthens future applications to RRB technician and Group D posts.
No. Selection is based purely on the written test merit list, followed by document verification and a medical fitness examination.