Railway ICF Act Apprentice Recruitment 2026; 1010 Posts, Apply Online OPEN

Railway ICF Act Apprentice Recruitment 2026 – Overview

ICF Act Apprentice 2026 — Key Highlights

Important Dates 2026

• Notification Date: 8 August 2026
• Online Application Start Date: 8 August 2026, 9:30 AM
• Last Date to Apply Online: 7 September 2026, 5:30 PM
• Merit List / Selection List: To be announced on the official website after application closure
• Document Verification: To be intimated to shortlisted candidates via official portal

Age Limit (As on Cut-off Date)

• Minimum Age: 15 Years
• Maximum Age: 24 Years

Age Relaxation

Education Qualification — Trade-Wise

Local Residence / Employment Exchange Requirement

• ICF gives preference to candidates from Tamil Nadu in this recruitment
• Candidates must satisfy the Tamil Nadu residence requirement OR be registered with a Tamil Nadu Employment Exchange
• This condition does not apply to eligible wards of Railway employees, who are exempted from the residence/exchange registration requirement

ICF Act Apprentice Vacancy 2026 — Category-Wise Break-up

Application Fee

Stipend & Training Period 2026

Selection Process 2026

• No Written Test / No Interview — selection is purely on merit
• Merit list is prepared based on the marks obtained in the Class 10 (Std X) examination
• Tie-breaker rule: if two candidates have the same marks, the candidate with the older date of birth is preferred; if DOB is also the same, the candidate who passed 10th earlier is given preference
• Freshers can indicate trade preferences — trades are allotted based on merit order and vacancy availability; once allotted, requests for change of trade are NOT entertained
• Ex-ITI candidates are trained only in the trade for which they hold a valid ITI/NTC certificate
• Candidates against PwBD vacancies are allotted only the trade permissible for their category of disability
• Shortlisted candidates undergo Document Verification, where they must produce a Medical Fitness Certificate from a Government-authorised doctor (not below the rank of Assistant Surgeon)
• Selected candidates execute a formal contract of apprenticeship before joining training

How to Apply Online for ICF Act Apprentice Recruitment 2026

• Visit the official ICF Act Apprentice portal — pb.icf.gov.in/act2026
• Read the complete official notification carefully and confirm your eligibility for the trade you wish to apply for
• Click on the Online Application link and complete New Registration with a valid, active Mobile Number and Email ID
• Fill in personal, educational, and category-related details accurately in the application form
• Upload a recent passport-size photograph (not exceeding 200 KB, JPG/JPEG format) and other required scanned documents
• Select your preferred trade(s) — Freshers may indicate trade preference; Ex-ITI candidates apply for the trade matching their NTC
• Pay the applicable processing fee of ₹100/- (plus service charges) online — SC/ST/PwBD/Women candidates are exempted
• Review all details carefully — no correction is possible after final submission
• Submit the application before 7 September 2026, 5:30 PM
• Generate and keep a printout of the acknowledgement/application form for Document Verification — do NOT send it by post or email to ICF

Documents Required for ICF Act Apprentice Application 2026

• Class 10 (SSLC) Marksheet & Certificate — mandatory proof of qualification and Date of Birth
• Class 12 Marksheet & Certificate (for MLT trade applicants)
• National Trade Certificate (NTC)/ITI Certificate in the relevant trade (for Ex-ITI candidates)
• Tamil Nadu Residence Proof OR Tamil Nadu Employment Exchange Registration Card (unless applying as a ward of a Railway employee)
• Category Certificate (SC/ST/OBC-NCL/EWS/PwBD, if applicable, in the prescribed Government format)
• Disability Certificate (for PwBD candidates)
• Recent Passport-size Photograph (scanned, under 200 KB)
• Valid Photo ID Proof (Aadhaar Card/Voter ID, etc.)

Note: SC/ST/OBC candidates must enclose the relevant category certificate at the time of application — failing which they will be treated as Unreserved (UR) category, including for age-limit purposes.

Important Conditions & Instructions to Note

• This notification is purely for apprenticeship training and does not create any employment relationship or right to future employment in ICF or Indian Railways
• Canvassing in any form will disqualify the candidature — no correspondence will be entertained on this account
• If any declaration furnished by a candidate is found false at any stage, the candidature/training will be terminated without notice
• Candidates must arrange their own accommodation at their own cost — ICF does not provide food or lodging to apprentices
• Selected candidates are not allowed to withdraw once training has commenced, except under specific circumstances defined in the Apprentices Rules
• Only candidates who have not previously completed an Act Apprenticeship are eligible to apply under this notification

Tips for Candidates Applying to ICF Act Apprentice 2026

• Since selection is purely on Class 10 marks, there’s no exam to prepare for — focus entirely on getting your application and documents 100% correct instead
• Double-check your trade eligibility before applying — Degree/Diploma holders will be rejected for regular trades, and Ex-ITI candidates can only apply for the trade matching their NTC certificate
• Confirm your Tamil Nadu residence/Employment Exchange status early, since this is a key eligibility filter for most applicants
• Choose trade preferences thoughtfully if you’re a Fresher — once a trade is allotted based on merit, change requests are not entertained
• Keep your Class 10 marksheet handy while filling the form, since your percentage directly determines your merit rank
• Apply well before the deadline — with 1010 seats and no written exam, this attracts heavy last-minute traffic on the portal close to 7 September 2026
• Budget for your own accommodation in advance if you’re applying from outside Chennai, since ICF does not provide housing or food during training

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