The Integral Coach Factory (ICF), Chennai has released the Railway ICF Act Apprentice Recruitment 2026 notification for 1,010 apprenticeship training slots. Eligible 10th-pass, 12th-pass, and ITI-qualified candidates can apply online through the ICF Personnel Branch portal until 7 September 2026, 5:30 PM.
ICF is inviting applications under Notification No. APP/01/2026-2027 (No. PB/RR/39/App/2026) for Freshers and Ex-ITI candidates in trades such as Fitter, Electrician, Welder, Carpenter, Machinist, Painter, MLT, and PASAA. Selection will be based on academic merit—there is no written examination or interview.
ICF Apprentice 2026 Overview
| Recruitment Organisation | Integral Coach Factory (ICF), Chennai |
|---|---|
| Post Name | Act Apprentice |
| Notification No. | APP/01/2026-2027 |
| Total Vacancies | 1,010 |
| Application Mode | Online |
| Application Start Date | 8 August 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply | 7 September 2026, 5:30 PM |
| Selection Method | Merit-based selection |
| Job Location | Chennai, Tamil Nadu |
| Official Portal | pb.icf.gov.in |
| Notification PDF | ICF Act Apprentice Recruitment 2026 Notification |
The recruitment includes 330 Freshers vacancies and 680 Ex-ITI vacancies. Applicants should carefully confirm their age, educational qualification, residence/employment-exchange conditions, and trade eligibility before submitting the ICF Apprentice online application.
Railway ICF Vacancy Details 2026
The trade-wise distribution of the 1,010 Act Apprentice posts is given below:
| Trade | Freshers Posts | Ex-ITI Posts | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carpenter | 40 | 50 | 90 |
| Electrician | 40 | 160 | 200 |
| Fitter | 80 | 180 | 260 |
| Machinist | 40 | 50 | 90 |
| Painter | 40 | 50 | 90 |
| Welder | 80 | 180 | 260 |
| MLT – Radiology | 5 | — | 5 |
| MLT – Pathology | 5 | — | 5 |
| PASAA | — | 10 | 10 |
| Total | 330 | 680 | 1,010 |
Fitter and Welder have the highest number of vacancies, with 260 posts each. Electrician is another major trade with 200 available training slots, making this notification particularly relevant for ITI Fitter, ITI Electrician, and ITI Welder candidates.
Eligibility Criteria
For most Fresher trades, candidates must have passed Class 10 under the 10+2 system with at least 50% aggregate marks. Candidates applying for Fresher Fitter, Electrician, and Machinist trades must have studied Mathematics and Science in Class 10. The training period for these trades is generally two years.
Ex-ITI applicants must have passed Class 10 with at least 50% marks and possess an NCVT/SCVT National Trade Certificate in the relevant notified trade. For example, Ex-ITI Electrician candidates need an ITI certificate in Electrician, while Ex-ITI Fitter candidates need the corresponding Fitter trade certificate. Ex-ITI training is for one year.
For MLT Radiology and MLT Pathology posts, candidates should have passed Class 12 with Physics, Chemistry, and Biology. Candidates holding qualifications above the prescribed level, such as engineering degrees or completed Act Apprenticeships, may not be eligible except where specifically permitted for MLT posts.
The age limit is 15 to 24 years for ITI candidates and 15 to 22 years for non-ITI Fresher candidates, calculated as on 7 September 2026. SC/ST candidates receive five years’ relaxation, OBC candidates receive three years, and PwBD candidates receive ten years of age relaxation.
Application Fee and Selection
General, OBC, and EWS applicants must pay an application processing fee of ₹100 plus applicable service charges. Women candidates and applicants from SC, ST, and PwBD categories are exempt from paying the fee.
The ICF Chennai Apprentice selection process is merit-based. The merit list will be prepared using Class 10 marks, subject to eligibility and document verification. Freshers may receive trade allotment based on merit rank, preferences, and available vacancies, while Ex-ITI candidates are considered for the relevant ITI trade. Shortlisted applicants must complete document verification and medical examination.
Selected apprentices will receive a monthly stipend of ₹8,200 for Class 10 pass candidates and ₹9,600 for Class 12 pass or National/State Certificate holders; the stipend rises by 10% in the second year where applicable. Apprentices should note that completion of training does not guarantee regular employment or absorption in Indian Railways.
How to Apply Online
- Visit the official ICF Personnel Branch website, pb.icf.gov.in.
- Find the Act Apprentice Recruitment 2026 notification and read it fully.
- Register using valid mobile and email details.
- Enter personal, educational, and trade-related details accurately.
- Upload the required photograph and applicable certificates.
- Pay the application fee if required.
- Review every entry before final submission.
- Submit the online form and save or print the acknowledgement page.
Candidates should not wait until the final day to apply, as the application link is scheduled to close at 5:30 PM on 7 September 2026. Keep your registration number, payment proof, uploaded-document copies, and final application printout safe for the merit-list and document-verification stages.