Integral Coach Factory (ICF), Chennai, Ministry of Railways
Last Date: 07 September 2026

Integral Coach Factory has opened online registration for 1,010 Act Apprentice seats spread across 8 trades. Applications began on 8 August 2026 and close on 7 September 2026, and both fresh Std X pass-outs and candidates already holding an ITI trade certificate can apply, however, this year's vacancy distribution has a noticeably larger share of posts for Ex-ITI candidates.

ICF Chennai Apprentice Recruitment 2026: Quick Overview

ICF Chennai Apprentice Recruitment 2026: Quick Intro

Integral Coach Factory (ICF) in Perambur is one of India's major railway production units and has played a central role in the country's coach manufacturing. The facility has also been associated with the development and production of Vande Bharat trains and has built thousands of railway coaches over its long operating history. Apprentices trained at Integral Coach Factory get exposure to a large-scale railway production environment and training takes place within an active manufacturing facility involved in the production of modern railway coaches.

This is not a one-time recruitment drive for ICF and the unit has conducted apprentice recruitment on a similar scale in recent years, with the previous cycle also offering around 1,000 seats and following a broadly similar distribution between fresh candidates and Ex-ITI applicants. 

One important eligibility condition is that recruitment is not open to candidates from every state. Applicants must generally be residents of Tamil Nadu or registered with an Employment Exchange in Tamil Nadu. with Wards of Railway employees covered under a specific exemption in this recruitment. 

Vacancy Details

ICF has announced 1,010 apprentice vacancies this year, including 330 posts for Freshers and 680 posts for Ex-ITI candidates. The detailed post-wise and category-wise vacancy distribution is given below:

Note: Fitter and Welder are the two largest trades in this recruitment. Together, they account for 260 of the 330 Fresher seats and 360 of the 680 Ex-ITI seats, making up a significant share of the total vacancies in both categories.

Application Fee

The application fee is Rs.100, along with any applicable service charges, and must be paid through the online payment gateway. SC, ST, PwBD, and women candidates are exempt from paying the application fee. After successful payment, the system generates a unique Transaction ID beginning with “DU”. Candidates should save this ID separately along with their application acknowledgement for future reference. Also the application fee is non-refundable once paid, so applicants should verify their details carefully before completing the payment.

Note: Since selection is based on merit rather than a written examination, the application fee is a one-time registration cost and candidates do not have to pay again for multiple exam attempts, making the financial commitment different from railway recruitments that involve competitive written tests.

Age Limit

The age limit is calculated as on 7 September 2026, the closing date for applications. Freshers must be between 15 and 22 years of age, while the upper age limit for Ex-ITI candidates is 24 years. This wider age limit for Ex-ITI applicants allows for the additional time generally required to complete ITI training. Eligible SC/ST candidates receive 5 years of age relaxation, while OBC candidates receive 3 years. Candidates with benchmark disabilities (PwBD) are entitled to 10 years of relaxation, subject to the applicable rules. Also, the required category or disability certificate must be produced during document verification to claim the relaxation.

Educational Qualification

Post/Trade-wise Qualification for Freshers:

Post/Trade-wise Qualification for Ex-ITI:

Note: Candidates holding a qualification higher than Std X, such as a Degree, Diploma, or Engineering Degree, are not eligible to apply for any trade except MLT, where there is a separate qualification requirement. Candidates who have already completed an Act Apprenticeship elsewhere are also not eligible to apply.

Selection Process

There is no written examination, skill test, or interview in this recruitment. Selection is based entirely on the marks already obtained in Class 10, while Class 12 marks are considered for MLT posts. The merit list is prepared using these academic marks, subject to the applicable selection rules. One important point to note is that candidates from the COVID-affected examination batches who do not have a regular Class 10 result may submit a Class 9 marksheet or Class 10 half-yearly marksheet instead, provided it is signed by the school principal.

If two candidates have the same merit score, preference is first given to the older candidate. If both candidates also have the same date of birth, the candidate who passed Class 10 earlier is placed higher in the merit order. Freshers can indicate their preferred trade during the application process, but the final allotment depends on their merit position and the availability of seats in that trade. Once a trade is allotted, requests for a change will not be entertained. For PwBD, trade allotment will be limited to the trades permitted for their certified disability category.

Since there is no written examination, document verification becomes an especially important part of the selection process. Candidates should therefore ensure that their transfer certificate, caste or OBC certificate, NTC documents for Ex-ITI candidates, and disability certificate, wherever applicable, are accurate and consistent with the details entered in the application. Because if a document doesn't support the claimed category, the candidate may be considered under the Unreserved (UR) category, subject to the applicable UR age limit and eligibility conditions, rather than receiving the benefit of the claimed category.

Salary, Job Location and Service Conditions

Fresher apprentices who have passed Class 10 receive a stipend of Rs.8,200 per month. Class 12 pass-out freshers in MLT and all Ex-ITI apprentices, regardless of trade, receive Rs.9,600 per month. The stipend increases by 10% in the second year of apprenticeship training. ICF doesn't mention any probation period or bond requirement for the apprenticeship.

The entire apprenticeship training is conducted at the Integral Coach Factory (ICF) campus in Perambur, Chennai. Unlike some railway apprentice recruitments that assign trainees across different divisions or workshops, this engagement is tied to a single training location, providing clarity about where candidates will complete their apprenticeship.
Candidates should plan for their own food and accommodation expenses, as ICF does not provide these facilities during the apprenticeship. ICF has also clearly stated that the engagement is for training purposes and does not constitute employment. Completing the apprenticeship doesn't guarantee a permanent or regular job with ICF or the Indian Railways.

How to Apply

1. Visit the official ICF portal at https://pb.icf.gov.in between 8 August 2026 and 7 September 2026, 17:30 hrs.
2. Open the Act Apprentice online application link for Notification No. APP/01/2026-2027.
3. Register using a valid email ID and an active mobile number, and note the system-generated Registration ID that appears.
4. Log back in using that Registration ID, with your date of birth in ddmmyyyy format as the password.
5. Fill in personal, educational, and category details exactly as they appear on your certificates.
6. Upload a recent passport-size photograph in jpg or jpeg format, no larger than 200 KB.
7. Pay the Rs.100 processing fee plus service charges online, unless you are applying under SC, ST, PwBD, or Women category, where this step doesn't apply.
8. Note down the Transaction ID starting with 'DU' once payment goes through, and keep it safe.
9. Review every entered detail carefully, since corrections are not possible after final submission.
10. Submit the form and download the system-generated acknowledgement for use at document verification later.

No documents need to be posted, emailed, faxed, or hand-delivered to ICF at the application stage.

Required Documents and Important Instructions

Keep these below mentioned documents and scanned copies ready before starting the online application:
= Std 10 mark sheet and certificate (Std XII for MLT applicants),
= Transfer Certificate,
= National Trade Certificate for Ex-ITI and PASAA applicants,
= SC or ST caste certificate or OBC Non-Creamy Layer certificate where applicable,
= disability certificate from a Central or State government authority for PwBD applicants,
= and a recent photograph in jpg or jpeg format and not larger than 200 KB.
Note: Wards of Railway employees must also provide the required Railway employee documents, including the employee's Identity Card or Service Certificate, duly attested by the Gazetted Officer of the concerned unit. Candidates should also keep copies of the father's UMID Card, their own UMID Card, mother's UMID Card, and PPO ready.
 
A few instructions candidates should read carefully:
>The Employment Exchange registration must have been completed on or before the application closing date, as registrations made after the deadline will not be considered valid for this recruitment.
> Candidates should keep the mobile number and email address provided in the application active throughout the selection process. ICF may communicate important updates, including Document Verification notices, through SMS or email from the sender ID 'PBICF'. Therefore, any change in contact details or an inactive email account could result in candidates missing an important communication. 
> Any form of canvassing in connection with the recruitment can lead to disqualification and ICF's decision regarding the eligibility, acceptance, or rejection of an application will be treated as final.

Read the points below for better understanding of this recruitment: 

The Vacancy Distribution Favors Ex-ITI Candidates

This year's recruitment gives 680 of the 1,010 seats to Ex-ITI candidates, more than twice the number available for Freshers. This continues ICF's recent pattern of offering a larger share of apprentice seats to candidates with National Trade Certificate (NTC) qualifications. For a Class 10 pass candidate deciding between applying as a Fresher or completing ITI training first, the vacancy distribution shows that Ex-ITI candidates have access to a significantly larger pool of seats in this recruitment.

Consider Trade Availability Before Applying

Fitter and Welder account for more than half of the available seats across both the Fresher and Ex-ITI categories, while Trades such as Carpenter, Painter, and Machinist have comparatively smaller allocations, with around 40 to 50 seats each. This means competition may vary significantly from one trade to another, depending on the number of applicants and seats available and since the trade preference cannot be changed after allotment, candidates should consider their preferred trade carefully before submitting the application.  

Related Reading:

• RRB Section Controller CEN 03/2026 Recruitment 2026
• Northeast Frontier Railway Act Apprentice Recruitment 2026
• RRC North Central Railway Act Apprentice Recruitment 2026
• SAIL Rourkela Steel Plant Apprentice Recruitment 2026

❓Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How many vacancies are there in ICF Chennai Apprentice Recruitment 2026?

ICF Chennai has notified 1,010 Act Apprentice seats this year, split as 330 for Freshers and 680 for Ex-ITI candidates across eight trades.

What is the last date to apply for ICF Apprentice 2026?

The online application window closes on 7 September 2026 at 17:30 hrs, and no submissions are accepted after this deadline.

Who is eligible to apply for this ICF apprenticeship?

Freshers need a Std X pass with 50% marks, or Std XII with Physics, Chemistry and Biology for MLT posts. Ex-ITI candidates additionally need an NCVT or SCVT trade certificate, and only Tamil Nadu residents or Employment Exchange registrants qualify.

What is the age limit for ICF Apprentice 2026, including relaxation?

Freshers must be 15 to 22 years old and Ex-ITI candidates 15 to 24 years old as on 7 September 2026. SC and ST candidates get 5 years of relaxation, OBC candidates get 3 years, and PwBD candidates get 10 years.

What qualification is required for trades like Fitter and Electrician?

Both freshers and Ex-ITI applicants need Std X passed with Science and Maths and a minimum of 50% marks. Ex-ITI applicants additionally need the matching NCVT or SCVT trade certificate.

What does the ICF Apprentice selection process involve?

There is no written exam. Selection runs entirely on a merit list built from Std X marks, or Std XII for MLT, followed by document verification and a medical fitness check.

What stipend will ICF apprentices receive?

Freshers with a Std X pass get ₹8,200 a month. Std XII pass MLT freshers and all Ex-ITI apprentices get ₹9,600 a month, and both figures rise by 10% in the second year of training.

Is there an application fee for ICF Apprentice 2026?

Yes, ₹100 plus service charges, payable online. SC, ST, PwBD and Women candidates are exempt, and no refund is issued once the fee is paid.

How can I apply for ICF Chennai Apprentice Recruitment 2026?

Applications are accepted only online at pb.icf.gov.in. Register with your email and mobile number, fill in your details, upload your photograph, pay the fee if applicable, and submit before the deadline.

What is the official website for ICF Chennai apprentice recruitment?

The official portal is https://pb.icf.gov.in, where the notification, application link, and future updates including the merit list will be published.

Can a diploma or degree holder apply for this ICF apprenticeship?

No, except for MLT posts. Candidates holding a Degree, Diploma, or Engineering Degree, or who have already completed an Act Apprenticeship elsewhere, are not eligible for the other seven trades.

Can candidates from outside Tamil Nadu apply for ICF Chennai Apprentice 2026?

Only if they are registered with a Tamil Nadu Employment Exchange before the closing date. Wards of Railway employees are exempt from this residency condition, subject to submitting the required service and identity documents.

Conclusion

At apnaupdates, we have tried to bring together the most relevant information about this recruitment so that candidates can understand the eligibility, selection process, vacancy distribution, and other important conditions clearly.
The most useful step now is to check your Class 10 marksheet against the qualification requirements for your preferred trade, as selection is based on academic marks and there is no written exam through which the score can be improved. Candidates applying under SC, ST, OBC, or PwBD categories should also ensure that their required certificates are valid and correctly issued before applying. If the documents do not support the claimed category during verification, the candidate may be considered under the UR category, subject to the applicable UR age limit and eligibility conditions.

The official ICF portal, pb.icf.gov.in, is the primary source for the merit list, Document Verification schedule, corrigenda, and other recruitment updates. Candidates should also keep the mobile number and email address provided during registration active throughout the selection process, as ICF may send important communication through SMS or email from the sender ID “PBICF.” (You can also bookmark this page for quick reference and follow our Telegram and WhatsApp channels to receive important recruitment updates and notifications without missing any major announcement)

This article is based on the official notification and simplified for easy understanding. For the most accurate and updated information, always refer to the official website.