ICF Apprentice 2026 Notification: Trade-Wise Vacancy, Stipend & Eligibility Guide
Integral Coach Factory (ICF), Chennai, a unit of the Ministry of Railways, has released its Act Apprentice notification for 1,010 training slots — Fitter, Welder, Electrician, Machinist, Carpenter, Painter, MLT and PASAA. There is no written exam; the merit list comes from your Class 10 marks. Degree, Diploma and Engineering Degree holders, and course-completed Act Apprentices, are not eligible — only MLT is excepted. Check more railway sector opportunities too.
Applications opened on 8 August 2026 and close on 7 September 2026 at 17:30 hrs. Freshers need Std X with 50% marks; ITI holders apply under a separate quota. Only Tamil Nadu residents, or candidates registered with a Tamil Nadu Employment Exchange, are eligible. Below you get trade-wise vacancies, stipend, age limits, fee and the exact application steps. Bookmark GovtJobsAlert.in for every update.
Key Highlights — ICF Trade Apprentice Recruitment 2026
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Organisation | Integral Coach Factory (ICF), Chennai — Ministry of Railways |
| Post Names | Fitter, Welder, Electrician, Machinist, Carpenter, Painter, MLT (Radiology), MLT (Pathology), PASAA |
| Total Vacancies | 1,010 apprentice slots |
| Stipend | ₹8,200 to ₹9,600 per month |
| Training Period | 1 year (Ex-ITI) / 2 years (Freshers) / 1 year 3 months (Freshers Welder & MLT) |
| Job Location | Integral Coach Factory, Chennai — 600038, Tamil Nadu |
| Application Window | 8 August 2026 to 7 September 2026 (17:30 hrs) |
| Selection | Merit on Class 10 marks — no written exam |
ICF engages these apprentices under the Apprentices Act, 1961. It is a training engagement, not a job posting. 10th pass candidates should read the eligibility bar below with care.
How Many Vacancies Are There in ICF Trade Apprentice 2026? Trade-Wise List
The 1,010 slots run in two quotas — Freshers (school pass-outs, no ITI) and Ex-ITI (National/State Trade Certificate holders). Training length also changes by trade, so check the last column before you pick.
| Trade (Quota) | Vacancies | Training Period |
|---|---|---|
| Fitter (Freshers) | 80 | 2 years |
| Welder (Freshers) | 80 | 1 year 3 months |
| Electrician (Freshers) | 40 | 2 years |
| Machinist (Freshers) | 40 | 2 years |
| Carpenter (Freshers) | 40 | 2 years |
| Painter (Freshers) | 40 | 2 years |
| MLT – Radiology (Freshers) | 5 | 1 year 3 months |
| MLT – Pathology (Freshers) | 5 | 1 year 3 months |
| Fitter (Ex-ITI) | 180 | 1 year |
| Welder (Ex-ITI) | 180 | 1 year |
| Electrician (Ex-ITI) | 160 | 1 year |
| Carpenter (Ex-ITI) | 50 | 1 year |
| Machinist (Ex-ITI) | 50 | 1 year |
| Painter (Ex-ITI) | 50 | 1 year |
| PASAA (Ex-ITI) | 10 | 1 year |
| Total | 1,010 | — |
Community-wise, the position across all trades is given below.
| Category | Vacancies |
|---|---|
| UR | 463 |
| OBC | 276 |
| SC | 154 |
| ST | 77 |
| PwBD | 40 |
| Total | 1,010 |
Fitter (260), Welder (260) and Electrician (200) together hold over 70% of the slots, so your best odds sit there.
What is the Eligibility Criteria for ICF Trade Apprentice 2026?
Educational Qualification
What you need depends on the quota you choose.
| Trade | Ex-ITI Quota | Freshers Quota |
|---|---|---|
| Fitter, Electrician, Machinist | Std X with 50% marks with Science & Maths + NTC (NCVT/SCVT, one year and above) in that trade | Std X with 50% aggregate with Science & Maths |
| Carpenter, Painter, Welder | Std X with 50% marks + NTC in that trade | Std X with 50% aggregate marks |
| MLT (Radiology & Pathology) | Not applicable | Std XII (10+2) with Physics, Chemistry & Biology |
| PASAA | Std X with 50% marks + NTC in IT, COPA, Database System Assistant or Software Testing Assistant | Not applicable |
⚠️ Over-qualification bar: candidates holding a Degree, Diploma or Engineering Degree, and those who have already completed an Act Apprenticeship, cannot apply. MLT is the only exception, where 12th/HSC is the required qualification. ITI certificate holders belong in the Ex-ITI quota.
Residency Condition
Only residents of Tamil Nadu, or candidates registered with an Employment Exchange inside Tamil Nadu, are eligible. Your registration date must not be later than 7 September 2026. Wards of Railway employees are exempt from this rule, but must produce the Railway employee’s Identity Card or Service Certificate attested by a Gazetted Officer.
Age Limit
Age is reckoned as on 7 September 2026.
| Quota | Age Limit | Upper Age Relaxation |
|---|---|---|
| Ex-ITI candidates | 15 to 24 years | SC/ST 5 years, OBC 3 years, PwBD 10 years |
| Freshers (Non-ITI) | 15 to 22 years | SC/ST 5 years, OBC 3 years, PwBD 10 years |
🎂 Not sure if you meet the age criteria? Use our free Age Calculator for Government Exams to find your exact age on the cut-off date and instantly check your eligibility — including SC / ST / OBC / PwBD age relaxation. →
Without a caste certificate you are treated as UR, and the UR age limit applies. SC and ST candidates must produce their caste certificate at Document Verification, and OBC candidates must produce an OBC Non-Creamy Layer certificate.
Physical & Medical Requirements
You must be physically fit under the Apprentices Act, 1961, and produce a medical certificate signed by a Government doctor not below the rank of Assistant Surgeon. PwBD reservation applies only where the relevant disability is 40% or more, and only the trades permissible for that disability are allotted. MLT and PASAA carry no PwBD slots.
What is the Salary and Stipend for ICF Apprentice 2026?
Apprentices get a monthly stipend, not a pay scale.
| Category | Monthly Stipend |
|---|---|
| Freshers — Class 10 pass-outs | ₹8,200 |
| Freshers — Class 12 pass-outs (MLT) | ₹9,600 |
| Ex-ITI — NCVT/SCVT certificate holders | ₹9,600 |
In the second year of training the minimum stipend rises by 10 percent, so only the two-year Freshers trades receive it. ICF gives no food or accommodation, so budget for that yourself. If you withdraw without valid reason or remain wilfully absent, you are liable to refund the whole cost of your training plus the stipend paid. Also note: no employment is guaranteed on completion.
What is the Selection Process for ICF Apprentice 2026?
There is no written examination and no interview.
| Stage | What Happens |
|---|---|
| Merit list | Prepared purely on marks obtained in Std X |
| COVID-pass candidates | Class IX mark sheet or Class X half-yearly mark sheet, signed by the Principal, is used |
| Tie-breaker | Older candidate wins; if the date of birth is also same, the one who passed Std X earlier |
| Trade allotment | Freshers give preferences; allotment by merit and vacancy. Once allotted, no change of trade. Ex-ITI train in their ITI trade |
| Document verification | Acknowledgement printout, original Transfer Certificate, caste/NCL/disability certificate, medical certificate |
| Final step | Selected candidates execute a Contract of Apprenticeship |
Since marks decide everything, candidates preparing for other railway posts should also track the latest exam syllabus and pattern updates.
How to Apply Online for ICF Apprentice 2026?
Applications are accepted online only. Before you start, keep your Class X mark sheet, ITI certificate, caste certificate, Employment Exchange registration details and a passport-size photo (JPG/JPEG, under 200 KB) ready.
| Step | What to Do |
|---|---|
| 1 | Open the ICF recruitment portal — direct link is in Essential Links below |
| 2 | Read the notification, then open the online application form |
| 3 | Fill personal, educational and contact details exactly as on your Class X certificate |
| 4 | Upload the scanned photograph in the prescribed size and format |
| 5 | Pay the ₹100 fee online (SC, ST, PwBD and Women exempt); save the Transaction ID starting with “DU” |
| 6 | Check every entry, submit, and note the Registration Number generated |
| 7 | Download and print the acknowledgement — it is demanded at Document Verification |
Do not post, email or hand-deliver any document to ICF. Every message from ICF comes by SMS (sender ID “PBICF”) or email, so keep the same mobile number and email active until selection ends.
What Are the Important Dates for ICF Trade Apprentice 2026?
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Notification Released | 8 August 2026 |
| Online Application Starts | 8 August 2026 (09:30 hrs) |
| Last Date to Apply Online | 7 September 2026 (17:30 hrs) |
| Last Date for Fee Payment | 7 September 2026 (paid inside the online form) |
| Age Reckoned As On | 7 September 2026 |
| Employment Exchange Registration Cut-Off | 7 September 2026 |
What is the Application Fee for ICF Trade Apprentice 2026?
| Category | Fee |
|---|---|
| All other candidates (UR / OBC male) | ₹100 + service charges |
| SC, ST, PwBD and Women | No Fee |
Pay online only through the gateway on the ICF portal. The fee is non-refundable, so confirm your eligibility before paying.
Essential Links — ICF Trade Apprentice Recruitment 2026
- Download Official Notification PDF
- Apply Online for ICF Trade Apprentice 2026
- Visit ICF Official Website
- Raise a Query on the ICF Apprentice Helpdesk
- Join WhatsApp Channel for Government Jobs
- Join Telegram Channel for Government Jobs
With 1,010 slots and selection resting only on your Class 10 marks, this is one of the fairest chances of the year. If you are eligible, apply well before 7 September 2026 — a last-minute server rush should not cost you the seat. Keep visiting GovtJobsAlert.in for more government job openings in Tamil Nadu and every railway update.