ICF Act Apprentice Recruitment 2026 – Apply Online for 1010 Fitter, Electrician and More Posts

Integral Coach Factory (ICF), Chennai, under the Skill India Mission, has thrown open 1010 Act Apprentice training seats under the Apprentices Act, 1961. The openings span Carpenter, Electrician, Fitter, Machinist, Painter, Welder, MLT (Radiology & Pathology), and  PASAA trades, for both Freshers and Ex-ITI candidates, with preference given to candidates from Tamil Nadu. Online applications are open from 8 August 2026 to 7 September 2026, 5:30 PM. Here's everything you need to know.

About ICF Chennai

The Integral Coach Factory in Chennai is one of Indian Railways' major production units, manufacturing coaches for the country's rail network. Beyond its manufacturing role, ICF runs a large annual Act Apprentice programme under the Apprentices Act, 1961, giving 10th, 12th, and ITI-qualified candidates structured, paid, hands-on training in core technical and support trades. This 2026-27 cycle is one of the bigger such intakes, with 1010 seats split between candidates just starting out and those who've already completed an ITI course.

ICF Act Apprentice Recruitment 2026 – Overview

Important Dates

Vacancy Details / Trade Wise Break-up

The 1010 seats split into two separate pools — 330 for Freshers and 680 for Ex-ITI candidates — and it's worth applying under the pool that actually matches your background, since trades and seat counts differ between the two.

Each trade's total is further split by category (UR/OBC/SC/ST/PwBD) — for instance, the 80 Fresher Fitter seats break down as UR-37, OBC-22, SC-12, ST-6, and PwBD-3. Candidates claiming SC/ST/OBC status must enclose the requisite certificates, or they'll be considered under UR with the UR age limit; PwBD candidates need a valid disability certificate to claim their reserved seats.

Eligibility Criteria

Educational Qualification

Candidates with a higher qualification than 10th/Matric — a Degree, Diploma, Engineering Degree, or a Course Completed Act Apprentice certificate — aren't eligible to apply, except for the MLT posts where 12th/HSC is the required qualification.

Other Eligibility Conditions

• Applicants must be resident and/or registered with a local Employment Exchange within Tamil Nadu, with the registration date not later than the application's last date — except wards of Railway employees.
• Wards of Railway employees must submit the parent's Railway ID/Service Certificate (attested by a Gazetted Officer), along with the UMID card and PPO copy.
• PwBD seats are reserved trade-wise for candidates with at least 40% relevant disability, verified through a Central/State Government-issued disability certificate.

Age Limit (as on 07 Sep 2026)

• ITI Candidates: 15 to 24 Years
• Non-ITI Candidates: 15 to 22 Years

SC/ST candidates need to produce a caste certificate, and OBC candidates an OBC Non-Creamy Layer certificate, at the time of Document Verification.

Stipend Details

Since this is apprenticeship training rather than a salaried job, selected candidates receive a fixed monthly stipend that varies by qualification level.

The stipend goes up by 10% in the second year of training. For NCVT/SCVT certificate holders, any training period already completed elsewhere is factored into how the minimum payable stipend is worked out.

Selection Process

There's no written exam here — selection runs purely on your Std X academic record.

• Merit list prepared based on marks scored in Std X (COVID-batch candidates may submit Std IX or Std X half-yearly marks, signed by the Principal)
• Tie-breaker: older candidate preferred first; if DOB also matches, whoever passed Std X earlier is ranked higher
• Freshers select trade preferences, and trades are allotted by merit order against seat availability — once allotted, trade changes aren't entertained
• Ex-ITI candidates are trained in the trade matching their existing ITI certificate
• Medical fitness certificate from a Government-authorised doctor, produced at Document Verification
• Execution of an apprenticeship contract (guardian signs on behalf of minors)

Application Fee

The fee is non-refundable once paid, under any circumstances. Candidates who do need to pay will receive a unique Transaction ID starting with "DU" via SMS — worth saving that for your records.

Required Documents

Keep the following ready before you sit down to fill the application, since the qualifying certificates and photograph need to be uploaded during submission itself.

• Std X Certificate/Marksheet (mandatory for all trades)
• Std XII Marksheet, for MLT and 12th-pass-linked stipend category
• ITI/National Trade Certificate (NCVT/SCVT), for Ex-ITI applicants
• Caste Certificate (SC/ST) or OBC Non-Creamy Layer Certificate, if applicable
• Disability Certificate from Central/State Government, for PwBD applicants
• Employment Exchange Registration proof (Tamil Nadu), or Railway employee ward proof where applicable
• Recent passport-size photograph (JPG/JPEG, max 200KB)

How to Apply Online

1. Visit the official ICF web portal: pb.icf.gov.in/act2026
2. Read the full notification carefully before starting the application.
3. Keep your certificates and a recent passport-size photograph (max 200KB, JPG/JPEG) ready.
4. Fill in the required details and submit — you'll get a system-generated Registration ID, with your date of birth (ddmmyyyy) as the password for the acknowledgement.
5. Pay the ₹100 processing fee plus service charges online, unless you're SC/ST/PwBD/Women (exempt).
6. Double-check every entry before hitting the final submit button.
7. Generate and print the system acknowledgement — you'll need this printout at Document Verification.

Don't send any documents or the application by post, email, fax, or in person — ICF only accepts the online submission, and all communication comes back only via SMS from "PBICF" or email, so keep your contact details unchanged through the process.

Important Instructions

• This is purely apprenticeship training — no employment is guaranteed on completion, and it confers no right to absorption in Railways under the Apprenticeship Rules, 1991.
• Canvassing in any form disqualifies a candidate, with no correspondence entertained on the matter.
• Any false declaration leads to disqualification or termination at any stage, without notice.
• Accommodation is entirely at the candidate's own cost — ICF doesn't provide food or lodging.
• Selected candidates can't withdraw except for reasons beyond their control; wilful absentees are liable to refund the full training cost and stipend already paid.
• For clarifications, use the helpdesk linked on the ICF apprenticeship portal.

Why Should You Apply?

With 1010 seats and a straightforward, marks-based selection process (no written exam to prepare for), this is a genuinely accessible entry point into structured technical training at a major railway production unit — ideal for 10th/12th pass-outs and ITI holders in Tamil Nadu looking for hands-on skill-building and a stipend while they train.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)