Southern Railway (RRC Chennai)

Southern Railway, Railway Recruitment Cell (RRC Chennai) has officially published the Act Apprentice Recruitment Notification 2026 (Notification No. 01/2026 - CPB/P1/98/Act/TP/Vol.XXI) for 4,471 apprenticeship training vacancies across various trades, divisions, and workshops. Applications opened on 28 August 2026 and close on 27 September 2026 (till 5:00 PM). This is a premier opportunity for 10th/12th pass candidates and ITI certificate holders to undergo paid technical training under the Apprentices Act, 1961 with a monthly stipend up to ₹9,600.

Southern Railway Apprentice 2026 — Quick Overview

Important Dates

Application Fee

Geographical Jurisdiction — Who Can Apply?

Vacancy Breakdown (4,471 Posts)

1. Fresher Category (163 Posts)

2. Ex-ITI Category (4,308 Posts)

Educational Qualification Requirements

Note: The 50% aggregate minimum requirement in 10th standard does not apply to SC / ST / PwBD candidates.

Age Limit & Relaxations (as on 28.08.2026)

• Fresher & Ex-ITI (General): Minimum 15 years (completed) to Maximum 22 years.
• Medical Laboratory Technician (MLT): Minimum 15 years (completed) to Maximum 24 years.
• OBC (Non-Creamy Layer): +3 years relaxation
• SC / ST Candidates: +5 years relaxation
• PwBD Candidates: +10 years relaxation (Combined up to 13 years for OBC+PwBD and 15 years for SC/ST+PwBD)

Monthly Stipend & Increments

Stipend Increment: 10% increase during 2nd year of training and an additional 15% increase during 3rd year of training.
Railway Level-1 Preference: 20% of vacancies in Direct Recruitment to Level-1 posts may give preference to Course Completed Act Apprentices (CCAAs) holding a National Apprenticeship Certificate (NAC).

Selection Process & Merit Computation

Selection is strictly based on academic marks — no written test or interview is conducted.

• Fresher Category: Matriculation (10th) marks normalized to 200 marks.
• Ex-ITI Category: 10th marks (out of 100) + ITI marks (out of 100) = Total 200 marks (equal 50:50 weightage).
• MLT Category: Higher Secondary (12th) marks in PCB normalized to 200 marks.
• Tie-Breaking: Older candidate is given higher rank; if dates of birth are identical, candidate passing Matriculation earlier is preferred.

Documents Required at Document Verification

• Document Verification Call Letter printout
• System-generated Online Application Form printout
• Proof of Date of Birth (Birth Certificate or 10th Mark Sheet)
• Photo Identity Proof (Aadhaar Card / PAN / Voter ID / Driving Licence)
• 10th / 12th Mark Sheets and Passing Certificates
• National Trade Certificate (NTC / ITI Certificate) from NCVT / SCVT (for Ex-ITI)
• Community Certificate (SC / ST / OBC-NCL / EWS in prescribed Govt format)
• Disability Certificate (for PwBD candidates issued by District Medical Board)
• Medical Fitness Certificate from Government-Authorized Doctor (Schedule-II standards)
• Domicile / Residence Proof verifying eligible jurisdiction

How to Apply Online for Southern Railway Apprentice 2026

1. Visit the official Southern Railway recruitment portal at sronline.etrpindia.com.
2. Select Act Apprentice Recruitment 2026 (Notification No. 01/2026).
3. Click on Register / Apply Online and choose your category (Fresher or Ex-ITI).
4. Fill in all personal details, communication address, educational qualifications, and trade preferences.
5. Upload scanned copies of recent passport-size photograph, signature, 10th/12th mark sheets, and ITI certificate.
6. Verify all details carefully before submitting the application.
7. Pay the ₹100 processing fee online (if applicable; SC/ST/PwBD/Female candidates are exempt).
8. Download and print the completed application form and fee confirmation receipt for document verification.