Southern Railway Apprentice 2026: If you wish to pursue an apprenticeship with the Railways, here is a great opportunity. Southern Railway has announced recruitment for apprentice positions. Applications have been invited for the 'Act Apprentice Recruitment 2026-27' across various trades under the Apprentices Act, 1961. A total of 4,471 vacancies are available for 'Fresher' and 'Ex-ITI' candidates. According to the notification, the online application process began on August 28, 2026, and will continue until 5:00 PM on September 27, 2026. Let us look at the available posts, required qualifications, selection process, and stipend details.

The recruitment covers several trades, including Fitter, Welder, Electrician, Carpenter, Painter, Diesel Mechanic, Wireman, Draftsman, COPA, PASAA, Electronics Mechanic, and MLT.

How many vacancies are there?
According to the notification, there are 163 vacancies in the 'Fresher' category and 4,308 vacancies in the 'Ex-ITI' category, making a total of 4,471 apprentice positions to be filled.

What are the qualifications?
For the 'Fresher' category, candidates must have passed Class 10 or Class 12 (depending on the specific trade) with a minimum of 50% marks. Meanwhile, 'Ex-ITI' candidates must have passed Class 10 and possess an ITI certificate in the relevant trade recognized by NCVT/SCVT. SC, ST, and PwBD candidates are exempted from the 50% marks requirement for Class 10.

Age Limit
Candidates must be at least 15 years old as of the date of the notification's release. The maximum age limit is set at 22 years for 'Fresher' and 'Ex-ITI' candidates, while it is 24 years for the MLT trade. Reserved categories will receive age relaxation as per the rules.

What is the stipend? Freshers (Class 10 pass) will receive a monthly stipend of ₹8,200, while Class 12 pass freshers and Ex-ITI candidates will receive ₹9,600 per month. There is also a provision for an increase in the stipend during the second and third years of training.

How will the selection be made?
Selection will be based on merit. For fresher candidates, the merit list will be prepared based on Class 10 marks, whereas for Ex-ITI candidates, the merit list will be created by assigning equal weightage to marks from both Class 10 and ITI. There will be no written examination for this process.

However, the Railways have clarified that this recruitment is solely for apprenticeship training and does not guarantee a permanent job.

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