For Fresher Category, candidates must have passed 10th Class with at least 50% aggregate marks for Fitter, Painter and Welder trades, while Medical Laboratory Technician candidates must have passed 12th Class with at least 50% aggregate marks with Physics, Chemistry and Biology. For Ex-ITI Category, candidates must generally have passed 10th Class with at least 50% aggregate marks and passed ITI in the relevant trade from a Government-recognized ITI with NCVT/SCVT certificate. Specific requirements apply to Electrician, Electronics Mechanic, Secretarial Assistant/Stenographer, ICTSM and COPA/PASSA trades.

There is no written examination. Selection is made through a merit list. For Fresher candidates, Matriculation marks are converted to 200 marks. For Ex-ITI candidates, Matriculation marks are converted to 100 marks and ITI marks to 100 marks, with equal weightage, making 200 marks in total. For MLT, Higher Secondary marks with Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics and Biology are converted to 200 marks.

Southern Railway has notified 4,471 Act Apprentice training slots, comprising 163 vacancies under the Fresher Category and 4,308 vacancies under the Ex-ITI Category across various workshops, divisions and units.

Selection is based on a merit list prepared from the qualifying examination marks. No written examination or interview is prescribed. Fresher merit is based on converted Matriculation marks, Ex-ITI merit is based equally on converted Matriculation and ITI marks, and MLT merit is based on converted Higher Secondary marks. Shortlisted candidates are called for document verification and medical fitness verification.

The notification provides apprenticeship stipend rather than a regular salary. Fresher candidates with Xth qualification receive ₹8,200 per month, while Fresher 12th-standard candidates and Ex-ITI candidates receive ₹9,600 per month. The prescribed minimum stipend increases by 10% during the second year and a further 15% during the third year.

The non-refundable processing fee is ₹100 and is payable online. No fee is required from SC, ST, PwBD and Women candidates.

This notification is only for apprenticeship training and does not guarantee employment. The apprenticeship contract ends on completion of training. Candidates must satisfy the prescribed age, educational/technical, medical and geographical eligibility conditions and produce original documents during document verification.

Candidates should keep original and supporting documents relating to 10th/12th/ITI qualification, caste/category, PwBD status where applicable, transfer certificate and online application acknowledgement ready for document verification. Selected candidates must also produce the prescribed medical certificate issued by an authorized Government doctor.