ICF Apprentice Recruitment 2026: 1,010 Act Apprentice Posts, Apply Online Before 7 September

The ICF Apprentice Recruitment 2026 notification has been released by Integral Coach Factory (ICF), Chennai, under the Ministry of Railways. The recruitment is for 1,010 Act Apprentice training slots for the 2026–27 training session under the Apprentices Act, 1961.

The vacancies are available for Freshers and Ex-ITI candidates in trades such as Fitter, Electrician, Welder, Carpenter, Machinist, Painter, MLT and PASAA. The online application window opened on 8 August 2026 and will close on 7 September 2026 at 5:30 PM.

⚠️ Important: This is an apprenticeship training opportunity, not direct permanent employment in Indian Railways. Completion of training does not create an automatic right to a Railway job.

📢 ICF Apprentice Recruitment 2026 Overview

The notification provides 1,010 training slots divided between Freshers, Ex-ITI and the specified MLT/PASAA categories.

📊 ICF Apprentice Vacancy 2026

The largest number of seats are available for Fitter and Welder, with 260 seats each.

The trade-wise figures above correspond to the notification’s overall 1,010-seat distribution.

🔹 Category-wise distribution

For the six major Freshers trades, the notification provides category-wise reservation including UR, OBC, SC, ST and PwBD seats. For Ex-ITI candidates, the same major trades carry 670 seats, while 10 additional seats are available for PASAA.

🎓 Educational Qualification

Eligibility depends on the category and trade.

👨‍🎓 Freshers – Non-ITI

For the main trades, candidates generally need:

• Class 10th passed with at least 50% aggregate marks.
• For Fitter, Electrician and Machinist, Science and Mathematics under the 10+2 system are required.
• Carpenter, Painter and Welder have their prescribed Class 10 requirements.
• MLT-Radiology and MLT-Pathology: Class 12th with Physics, Chemistry and Biology.

🛠️ Ex-ITI Candidates

Candidates applying under Ex-ITI seats generally require:

• Class 10th with at least 50% marks, and
• A relevant National Trade Certificate (NTC) issued by NCVT/SCVT in the notified trade.

For PASAA, the prescribed ITI qualification must match the eligible computer-related trades specified in the notification.

⚠️ Candidates holding higher qualifications such as a Degree, Diploma or Engineering Degree are generally not eligible for the applicable apprentice seats, except where the notification specifically permits the qualification for MLT. Candidates should check the exact trade condition before applying.

🎂 Age Limit

Age will be calculated as on 7 September 2026.

Upper-age relaxation is available as per the applicable rules, including 5 years for SC/ST, 3 years for OBC and 10 years for PwBD candidates, subject to the notification’s conditions.

💳 Application Fee

The processing fee is paid online and is non-refundable after payment.

💰 ICF Apprentice Stipend 2026

This recruitment provides an apprenticeship stipend rather than a regular employee salary.

The applicable stipend may increase according to the rules governing apprenticeship training.

📝 ICF Apprentice Selection Process 2026

There is no written examination for this recruitment.

The selection process broadly works as follows:

1. 📊 Merit List – Candidates are ranked on the basis prescribed in the notification, primarily using Standard X marks.
2. 📑 Document Verification – Shortlisted candidates must produce their original certificates and required documents.
3. 🩺 Medical Fitness – Candidates must satisfy the prescribed medical requirements.
4. 🛠️ Trade Allotment – Freshers indicate trade preferences, while Ex-ITI candidates are trained in the trade corresponding to their ITI qualification.
5. 📜 Apprenticeship Training – Selected candidates complete the prescribed training at ICF Chennai.

In case of equal marks, the notification provides tie-breaking criteria based on age and, where required, the year of passing Standard X.

📚 ICF Apprentice Exam Pattern 2026

No written examination is prescribed.

Therefore, candidates should concentrate on ensuring that their academic marks, ITI details and uploaded documents are correct rather than preparing for a conventional Railway written examination.

📅 Important Dates

The merit-list and document-verification schedule will be communicated by ICF after completion of the application process.

🖥️ How to Apply Online for ICF Apprentice Recruitment 2026

Candidates should follow these steps:

1. 🌐 Visit the official ICF Apprentice portal.
2. Open the Act Apprentice 2026–27 recruitment section.
3. Read Notification No. APP/01/2026-2027 carefully.
4. Complete the online registration.
5. Enter personal, educational and trade-related information.
6. Select the appropriate trade/category.
7. Upload the required photograph and documents.
8. Pay the applicable ₹100 processing fee, if required.
9. Preview all details carefully.
10. Submit the application before 7 September 2026, 5:30 PM.
11. Download and save the acknowledgement/application confirmation.
12. Keep the original documents ready for later verification.

Candidates should avoid waiting until the final hours because incomplete applications or payment problems can create unnecessary difficulties.

📄 Documents Required

Keep the following documents/details ready:

• 📸 Recent passport-size photograph
• 🪪 Valid identity proof
• 📜 Class 10 certificate and marksheet
• 📜 Class 12 certificate/marksheet, where applicable
• 🛠️ ITI certificate for Ex-ITI candidates
• 🏷️ SC/ST/OBC certificate, where applicable
• ♿ PwBD certificate, where applicable
• 🏥 Prescribed medical certificate
• 📄 Transfer Certificate, where required
• 🧾 Application acknowledgement/printout

The original documents must be produced during the verification process as required by ICF.

🎫 ICF Apprentice Admit Card & Result 2026

Since no written examination is prescribed, a conventional CBT admit card is not applicable.

After applications are processed, ICF is expected to publish the merit/selection information and document-verification schedule through its official portal. Candidates should regularly check the ICF website for the latest notices.

📊 Previous ICF Apprentice Recruitment Data

The previous ICF Apprentice cycle for 2025–26 was also advertised with 1,010 apprentice slots under Advertisement No. APP/01/2025-26. The application window ran from July to August 2025.

📌 Previous Forms Filled

A consolidated, officially published figure for the total number of applications received in the 2025 ICF Apprentice recruitment could not be verified from the sources reviewed.

Therefore, NaukriDoot is not publishing an estimated application count as an official figure.

📌 Previous Cut-Off

ICF Apprentice selection is merit-based, and the merit level can vary by trade, category and candidate pool. Although some websites publish estimated cut-offs, a single official consolidated 2025 cut-off figure could not be reliably verified.

For this reason, candidates should not treat unofficial percentages such as “90% cut-off” as an official ICF cut-off.

🛡️ Why NaukriDoot Is Important & Trustworthy

At NaukriDoot, we believe government-job information should be useful before a candidate clicks the Apply button.

Our recruitment articles focus on:

✅ Official notification details
✅ Correct vacancy breakdown
✅ Eligibility and age limits
✅ Application fee
✅ Selection process
✅ Stipend/salary information
✅ Previous recruitment comparison
✅ Admit card and result updates
✅ Important official links

We also follow an important principle: if an application count, cut-off or exam date cannot be verified from a reliable source, we do not present an estimate as confirmed information.

Candidates should always read the original ICF notification before completing their application.

🔗 Important Links

The ICF portal may update the recruitment page after the application deadline. Candidates should use the official portal for all subsequent notices.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

1. How many vacancies are available in ICF Apprentice Recruitment 2026?

ICF has announced 1,010 Act Apprentice training slots for the 2026–27 session.

2. What is the last date for ICF Apprentice Recruitment 2026?

The last date to submit the online application is 7 September 2026 at 5:30 PM.

3. Is there any written examination for ICF Apprentice 2026?

No. Selection is based on merit according to the prescribed academic marks, followed by document verification and medical requirements.

4. Can 10th-pass candidates apply?

Yes. Eligible 10th-pass candidates can apply for the prescribed Fresher trades, subject to the trade-specific requirements and minimum marks.

5. Can ITI candidates apply?

Yes. Ex-ITI candidates can apply where they possess the required Class 10 qualification and relevant ITI/NTC qualification for the notified trade.

6. What is the ICF Apprentice stipend?

The prescribed monthly stipend is ₹8,200 for Class 10th freshers and ₹9,600 for Class 12th freshers and eligible Ex-ITI candidates.

7. Does ICF Apprentice training guarantee a permanent Railway job?

No. This is apprenticeship training and does not provide an automatic claim to employment in ICF or Indian Railways after completion.

📌 Conclusion

The ICF Apprentice Recruitment 2026 provides 1,010 apprenticeship training opportunities for eligible Freshers and Ex-ITI candidates in several technical and specialised trades. The biggest opportunities are available in Fitter, Welder and Electrician trades.

The application deadline is 7 September 2026 at 5:30 PM. Eligible candidates should check their trade, qualification, age and document requirements carefully before submitting the application.

Remember: this is apprenticeship training, not direct permanent Railway recruitment. For future ICF merit-list and document-verification updates, candidates should regularly check the official ICF portal and NaukriDoot.