Southern Railway Apprentice Recruitment 2025
Southern Railway Apprentice Recruitment 2025: Southern Railway has released the official notification (No. 01/2025) for the engagement of Act Apprentices under the Apprentices Act 1961. A total of 2860 vacancies have been announced in different trades such as Fitter, Welder, Electrician, Carpenter, Machinist, Painter, and Medical Lab Technician.
This notification is open for candidates belonging to Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Kerala, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep Islands, SPSR Nellore and Chittoor districts of Andhra Pradesh, and Dakshina Kannada district of Karnataka. Eligible candidates can apply online through the official website of Southern Railway.
Southern Railway Apprentice Recruitment 2025 Overview
- Organization: Southern Railway (SR)
- Notification Number: 01/2025
- Post Name: Act Apprentice
- Total Vacancies: 2860
- Training Location: Various Units/Workshops under Southern Railway
- Application Mode: Online
- Official Website: sr.indianrailways.gov.in
- Important Dates Starting Date of Online Application: 25 August 2025
Last Date to Apply Online: 25 September 2025 (till 5:00 PM)
Southern Railway Apprentice Recruitment 2025 Eligibility Criteria
Educational Qualification: For Fresher Candidates
Fitter, Welder, Painter: 10th pass with at least 50 percent marks
Medical Lab Technician (Radiology, Pathology, Cardiology): 12th pass with Physics, Chemistry and Biology
For Ex-ITI Candidates:10th pass with ITI Certificate in relevant trade (NCVT or SCVT recognized)
Electrician: 10th pass with Science as a subject
Electronics Mechanic: 10th pass with Science and Mathematics
COPA/PASAA: 10th pass with National Trade Certificate
Note: 50 percent marks criteria is not applicable for SC, ST, and PwBD candidates.
Southern Railway Apprentice Recruitment 2025 Age Limit (as on 25 August 2025)
Minimum Age: 15 years
Maximum Age for Fresher Candidates: 22 years
Maximum Age for Ex-ITI and MLT: 24 years
Southern Railway Apprentice Recruitment 2025 Age Relaxation
OBC candidates: 3 years
SC/ST candidates: 5 years
PwBD candidates: 10 years
Southern Railway Apprentice Recruitment 2025 Stipend
Fresher (10th pass): Rs. 6000 per month
Fresher (12th pass): Rs. 7000 per month
Ex-ITI candidates: Rs. 7000 per month
The stipend will increase by 10 percent in the second year and 15 percent in the third year of training.
Southern Railway Apprentice Recruitment 2025 Trade List
Some of the major trades available are:
- Fitter
- Welder
- Carpenter
- Painter
- Machinist
- Turner
- Electrician
- Wireman
- Plumber
- Draughtsman (Civil)
- Blacksmith
- Medical Lab Technician (Radiology/Pathology/Cardiology)
- COPA/PASAA
- Electronics Mechanic
- Mechanic Motor Vehicle
Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD)
Candidates with benchmark disabilities are also eligible to apply for suitable trades such as Electrician, Fitter, Welder, COPA, MLT and others. The disability must be at least 40 percent to be considered eligible.
Application Process for Southern Railway Apprentice Recruitment 2025
- Visit the official website: sr.indianrailways.gov.in
- Go to the Personnel Branch Information section
- Click on Act Apprentice Notification 2025 link
- Register with basic details and create login credentials
- Fill in the application form carefully
- Upload the required documents including photo, signature and certificates
- Pay the application fee if applicable
- Submit the application form and take a printout for reference
Important Note Southern Railway Apprentice Recruitment 2025
This recruitment is for Apprenticeship Training under the Apprentices Act 1961. It does not guarantee a permanent job in the Railways. However, candidates who successfully complete the course will be eligible for 20 percent reservation in future Level-1 Railway recruitments under Course Completed Act Apprentices (CCAA) category.
Eligibility of Persons with Benchmark Disability (PwBD) Candidates
The Ministry of Law and Justice (Legal Department), Government of India, vide Gazette Notification No.59 dated 28th December 2016, has enhanced the reservation for Persons with Disabilities (PwD) from 3% to 4% across five categories of benchmark disabilities.
As per Section 34(1) and The Schedule (Clause ZC of Section (2)) of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 (RPwD Act, 2016), the benchmark disabilities and their specifications have been defined.
Further, the Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (MSDE), Apprenticeship Training Division, vide Letter No. MSDE-4/3/2023-AP(PMU) dated 11-04-2025, has issued the trade eligibility list of 266 designated trades under the Apprenticeship Training Scheme in compliance with the RPwD Act, 2016.
Abbreviations of Disabilities
- LD – Locomotor Disability
- CP – Cerebral Palsy
- LC – Leprosy Cured
- DW – Dwarfism
- AA – Acid Attack Victim
- Blind / LV – Blindness / Low Vision
- Deaf / HH – Deaf / Hard of Hearing
- ID – Intellectual Disabilities
- Autism – Autism Spectrum Disorder
- SLD – Specific Learning Disabilities
- MI – Mental Illness
- MD – Multiple Disabilities
Disability Certificate Requirements
Candidates who wish to avail the benefits of reservation must submit a valid Disability Certificate issued by the Competent Authority (Medical Board constituted by the Central or State Government).
Such certificates will be subject to verification/re-verification by the competent authority at the time of appointment.
Degree of Benchmark Disability:
Only candidates with not less than 40% of the relevant benchmark disability are eligible for relaxation/reservation.
Southern Railway Apprentice Recruitment 2025 Certificate Format:
PwBD candidates must submit the Disability Certificate in Form V, VI, or VII of Rule 18(1) of the Gazette Notification (Extraordinary) dated 14 March 2024 under Chapter 7 of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Rules, 2017. Refer to Annexure-IV (A, B & C) for revised formats.
Validity of Old Certificates:
Certificates issued under the Persons with Disabilities Act, 1995 (now repealed) will remain valid for the period mentioned in them.
Important Instructions for PwBD Candidates
Candidates must select the correct PwBD sub-category (LD/HI/VI/MD, etc.) while filling the application form, strictly as per their Disability Certificate.
No change of PwBD sub-category will be permitted later under any circumstances.
The requisite Disability Certificate must be produced at the time of Document Verification.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. How many vacancies are there in Southern Railway Apprentice Notification 2025?
There are 2860 vacancies in total.
Q2. What is the last date to apply for Southern Railway Apprentice 2025?
The last date to apply is 25 September 2025.
Q3. What is the minimum and maximum age limit?
The minimum age is 15 years. The maximum is 22 years for freshers and 24 years for Ex-ITI/MLT candidates.
Q4. What is the stipend offered to apprentices?
The stipend ranges from Rs. 6000 to Rs. 7000 per month depending on qualification and training year.
Q5. Does apprenticeship guarantee a job in Railways?
No, it is only a training program. However, 20 percent preference is given to apprentices in future Level-1 recruitments.