ICF Chennai Act Apprentice Recruitment 2026 – Apply Online for 1010 Posts

Integral Coach Factory (ICF), Chennai, under the Ministry of Railways, has invited online applications for the engagement of Act Apprentices for imparting training under the Apprentices Act-1961, in designated trades at the factory, under the Skill India Mission. The notification, numbered APP/01/2026-2027 and dated 8 August 2026, offers a very large number of apprenticeship training slots, with preference duly given to candidates from Tamil Nadu.

ICF Chennai is one of the largest coach-manufacturing units of Indian Railways, and this Act Apprentices scheme is purely for imparting structured training under the Apprentices Act, 1961 – it does not constitute employment, and there is no guarantee of a job at ICF or in Indian Railways after completion of the training period.

Overview of ICF Chennai Act Apprentice Recruitment 2026

Trade-wise Vacancy Details

Act Apprentices will be engaged across nine trades, with slots divided between Freshers and Ex-ITI (candidates who already hold an ITI/NCVT certificate) categories. The full category-wise break-up is given below.

PASAA stands for Programming and System Administration Assistant, and MLT stands for Medical Lab Technician. Candidates belonging to SC, ST and OBC categories must necessarily enclose the requisite category certificates; otherwise they will be considered under the UR category, with the UR age limit applicable to them. PwBD candidates should enclose the requisite disability certificate.

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Eligibility Criteria

Educational Qualification and Training Period

Important Note: Candidates with higher qualifications than 10th/Matric/SSLC – such as a Degree, Diploma, Engineering Degree, or those who have already Completed Act Apprenticeship – are NOT eligible to apply for Act Apprenticeship at ICF, except for the MLT trades where the qualification is 12th/HSC.

Age Limit

Age will be reckoned as on 7 September 2026.

• ITI candidates: must have completed 15 years and not completed 24 years of age.
• Non-ITI (Fresher) candidates: must have completed 15 years and not completed 22 years of age.
• Upper age limit is relaxable by 5 years for SC/ST candidates and 3 years for OBC candidates.
• For Persons with Disability, the upper age limit is relaxable by 10 years.

Sources of Engagement

As per Railway Board norms, Act Apprentices are engaged from: (i) nearest Employment Exchanges, (ii) SC/ST Organisations, (iii) ITIs wherever existing, and (iv) wards of Railway employees. Applicants must be residents of and/or registered with a local Employment Exchange falling within the jurisdiction of Tamil Nadu; this condition does not apply to wards of Railway employees, who must submit proof of their parent’s Railway service at the time of document verification.

Rate of Stipend

• Freshers – School pass-outs (Class 10th): Rs.8,200 per month
• Freshers – School pass-outs (Class 12th): Rs.9,600 per month
• Ex-ITI – National or State certificate holder: Rs.9,600 per month

During the second year of apprenticeship training, there shall be a 10 percent increase in the prescribed minimum stipend amount.

Application Fee

A processing fee of Rs.100 plus applicable service charges (non-refundable) is to be paid through online mode. No application fee is required to be paid by SC/ST/PwBD/Women candidates. No request for refund of fee once remitted will be entertained by ICF under any circumstances.

How to Apply

1. Visit the official ICF web portal, https://pb.icf.gov.in, during the application window – 8 August 2026, 9:30 AM to 7 September 2026, 5:30 PM.
2. Keep ready all relevant documents/certificates and a recent passport-size photograph (not more than 200 KB) in JPG/JPEG format.
3. Read the notification thoroughly and fill in the online application form correctly, then submit it.
4. Pay the processing fee online, where applicable, and note the unique Transaction ID (starting with ‘DU’) sent to your registered mobile number.
5. Generate and print the acknowledgement form from the system after final submission – this is required at the time of Document Verification.

Candidates are NOT required to send or submit any documents, including the system-generated application form, to ICF by Post, e-mail, FAX or by hand.

Mode of Engagement and Selection

The merit list will be based on marks obtained in Std X (for COVID-pass candidates in Std X, proof of IX Std mark sheet/X Std half-yearly mark sheet duly signed by the Principal will be considered). In case of equal marks, the candidate with the older age will be preferred; if the date of birth is also the same, the candidate who passed Std X earlier will be considered first. Fresher candidates are allowed to exercise trade options and will be allotted a trade based on merit order and vacancy availability – once allotted, no change of trade will be entertained. Ex-ITI candidates will be trained in the trade for which they hold an ITI certificate.

Important Instructions

• Selection and training are strictly in compliance with the Apprentices Act, 1961; NO EMPLOYMENT IS GUARANTEED to Apprentices on completion of their training.
• Imparting training in Railways does not confer any right to absorption in Railways after successful completion of training, as per Para-10 of Schedule V of the Apprenticeship Rules, 1991.
• Selected candidates must produce a Medical Certificate at the time of document verification, signed by a Government-authorised doctor not below the rank of Assistant Surgeon.
• Canvassing in any form will disqualify the candidature, and no correspondence will be entertained in this regard.
• Accommodation must be arranged at the candidate’s own cost; ICF will not provide food or accommodation.
• Vacancies are reserved for Persons with Benchmark Disabilities as per prescribed physical standards for each trade; candidates should check the detailed notification for trade-wise disability categories eligible for engagement.

About Integral Coach Factory, Chennai

Integral Coach Factory, Chennai, established in 1955, is one of the flagship production units of Indian Railways and manufactures a large proportion of the passenger coaches that run on the Indian rail network, including LHB coaches, Vande Bharat train sets, and Metro coaches for various Indian cities. With such a wide manufacturing base spanning fabrication, electrical fitting, welding, machining and painting, ICF requires a steady pipeline of trained technical hands each year, and its Act Apprentice scheme – offered under the Skill India Mission – is one of the largest single apprenticeship intakes among Indian Railways production units. For candidates from Tamil Nadu in particular, who are given preference under this notification, it represents a significant opportunity to gain nationally recognised, hands-on trade training inside one of the country’s largest rail manufacturing facilities.

Important Links

• Notification PDF
• Official Website
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is ICF Chennai Act Apprentice Recruitment 2026?

It is an engagement of Act Apprentices by Integral Coach Factory, Chennai, under the Apprentices Act-1961, offering 1,010 training slots across nine trades for Freshers and Ex-ITI candidates.

2. What is the last date to apply?

Online applications can be submitted till 7 September 2026, 5:30 PM, through https://pb.icf.gov.in.

3. What is the age limit for this apprenticeship?

ITI candidates: 15 to 24 years; Non-ITI (Freshers): 15 to 22 years, both as on 7 September 2026, with relaxation for SC/ST (5 years), OBC (3 years) and PwBD (10 years).

4. What is the stipend for Act Apprentices at ICF?

Rs.8,200/month for Class 10 pass Freshers, Rs.9,600/month for Class 12 pass Freshers, and Rs.9,600/month for Ex-ITI candidates, with a 10% increase in the second year.

5. Is there an application fee?

Yes, Rs.100 plus applicable service charges, online only. No fee is charged to SC/ST/PwBD/Women candidates.

6. Are candidates with a degree or diploma eligible to apply?

No. Candidates with higher qualifications than 10th/Matric (Degree, Diploma, Engineering Degree, or Completed Act Apprentices) are not eligible, except for the MLT trades where 12th/HSC is the qualification.

7. Does this apprenticeship guarantee a job at ICF or in Railways?

No. This notification is purely for imparting Apprenticeship training under the Apprentices Act, 1961, and does not guarantee employment on completion of training.

8. Who is eligible to apply for this apprenticeship?

Candidates resident in and/or registered with a local Employment Exchange within Tamil Nadu, drawn from Employment Exchanges, SC/ST Organisations, ITIs, and wards of Railway employees, with preference to candidates from Tamil Nadu.

9. How is the merit list prepared?

Based on marks obtained in Std X. In case of a tie, the older candidate is preferred; if age is also the same, the candidate who passed Std X earlier is considered first.

10. Will ICF provide accommodation to selected apprentices?

No. Accommodation must be arranged by the candidate at their own cost; ICF does not provide food or accommodation.