South Eastern Railway Sports Quota Recruitment 2026-27: South Eastern Railway (SER), Kolkata has invited online applications from eligible Indian sportspersons under the Sports Quota Open Advertisement. Through Employment Notice No. SER/Pers/Sports Quota/OA/2026-27, the Railway has announced 54 vacancies across different sports disciplines.

The vacancies include Group C Level-4/5, Group C Level-2/3 and Group D Level-1 posts. Eligible candidates can apply online from 31 October 2026 to 30 November 2026 (11:59 PM) through the Railway Recruitment Cell (RRC), South Eastern Railway website.

Selection is based on recognised sports achievements, performance in Sports Trials and educational qualifications. Candidates should check the vacancies for their discipline and the corresponding sports eligibility criteria before applying.

South Eastern Railway Sports Quota Recruitment 2026-27: Quick Answer

South Eastern Railway has announced 54 Sports Quota posts for 2026-27. The recruitment is open to eligible Indian sportspersons who meet the prescribed age, educational qualification and sports achievement requirements.

• Total Vacancies: 54
• Post Categories: Group C and Group D
• Pay Levels: Level-1, Level-2/3 and Level-4/5
• Application Start Date: 31 October 2026
• Last Date to Apply: 30 November 2026, 11:59 PM
• Age Limit: 18 to 25 years as on 01 January 2027
• Qualification: Degree, 12th, 10th, ITI or NAC, depending on the pay level
• Selection: Sports Achievement Assessment, Sports Trials and Educational Qualification Assessment
• Application Mode: Online
• Official Website: RRC South Eastern Railway

Who can apply? Indian sportspersons aged 18 to 25 years who possess the required educational qualification and meet the sports achievement criteria for the relevant pay level and discipline can apply.

South Eastern Railway Recruitment 2026-27: Overview

Vacancy Distribution by Pay Level

The 54 vacancies are distributed across three pay-level groups under the 7th Central Pay Commission.

Sports-Wise Vacancy Details

The advertised disciplines include Athletics, Archery, Ball Badminton, Body Building, Bridge, Chess, Cricket, Cycling, Football, Golf, Gymnastics, Hockey, Kabaddi, Kho Kho, Rifle Shooting, Table Tennis, Volleyball, Water Polo and Weightlifting. The tables below show the available playing positions and the number of posts at each pay level.

Level-4/5 Posts – 5 Vacancies

Level-2/3 Posts – 16 Vacancies

Level-1 Posts – 33 Vacancies

Eligibility Criteria for SER Sports Quota Recruitment

To qualify for South Eastern Railway Sports Quota Recruitment 2026-27, applicants must satisfy the age limit, educational qualification and sports achievement requirements. The applicable conditions depend on the pay level and discipline selected by the candidate.

Age Limit

The prescribed age limit is 18 to 25 years as on 01 January 2027. The notification does not permit relaxation in the upper or lower age limit.

Candidates must upload a Matriculation certificate or Birth Certificate as proof of date of birth.

Educational Qualification

The minimum educational qualification varies by pay level. Candidates should check the accepted qualification for the post they intend to apply for.

For Group C Technician-III appointments under the Sports Quota, the notification provides a special provision allowing 10th pass as the minimum qualification. Railway Board instructions will regulate the training period.

Candidates appearing in final examinations or waiting for their final results cannot apply. The Railway does not permit relaxation in the minimum educational qualification.

Sports Achievement Requirements

Which sports achievements are accepted? Candidates must meet the achievement standards prescribed for their chosen pay level. These standards cover specified international and national competitions, rankings, medals and, for some disciplines, additional performance criteria.

Level-4/5 Sports Eligibility

For Level-4/5 posts, candidates must satisfy the applicable criteria, which include one of the following:

• Represented India in the Olympic Games in the Senior Category.
• Secured at least third position in specified World Cup or World Championship events, Asian Games (Senior), Commonwealth Games (Senior), Youth Olympics, Davis Cup (Tennis), Champions Trophy (Hockey) or Thomas/Uber Cup (Badminton).

Additional discipline-specific provisions apply to the following sports:

• Athletics (Men): Gold medal winners in Open National Championship (Senior), Inter State Athletics Championships (Senior) and Asian Championships (Senior) may also qualify.
• Chess (Men): Candidates holding the Grandmaster title may qualify.
• Table Tennis (Women): Senior Singles players ranked up to 8th position in the current Annual All India Ranking may qualify.

Level-2/3 Sports Eligibility

The Level-2/3 sports norms include the following achievements, subject to the discipline-specific conditions in the notification:

• Representation in World Cup or World Championships (Junior/Senior), Asian Games (Senior) or Commonwealth Games (Senior).
• At least third position in the Commonwealth Championships, Asian Championships, Asia Cup, SAF Games, USIC World Railways Championships or World University Games.
• At least third position in Senior, Youth or Junior National Championships.
• Third position in National Games organised under the Indian Olympic Association.
• Third position in All India Inter University Championships organised under the Association of Indian Universities.
• First position in Senior Category Federation Cup Championships.

Separate conditions are specified for Athletics, Hockey, Archery and Rifle Shooting. For Women’s Rifle Shooting, for example, the notification considers individual performance in the National Shooting Championship Competition under the prescribed conditions.

Level-1 Sports Eligibility

The Level-1 sports norms include the following achievements, subject to the exceptions and conditions stated in the notification:

• Representation of India in specified Commonwealth Championships, Asian Championships, Asia Cup, SAF Games, USIC World Railways Championships or World University Games.
• At least third position in Senior Category Federation Cup Championships.
• Representation of a State-equivalent unit with at least 8th position in Senior National Championships.

Cricket, Volleyball, Golf and Body Building candidates must also meet the separate achievement conditions prescribed for their disciplines.

Conditions for Sports Certificates

Sports certificates must satisfy the notification’s date and recognition requirements:

1. Sports achievements must date from 01 April 2024 or later.
2. The concluding day of the championship or event determines the relevant achievement date.
3. Recognised International or National Sports Federations/Associations must conduct the competitions.
4. The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports must recognise the concerned federation at the time of the competition.
5. Certificates from National Championships organised by unrecognised federations will not be accepted.

Sportspersons who meet the minimum sports norms for higher pay levels may also qualify for lower pay levels, subject to the notification’s conditions.

South Eastern Railway Application Fee

The application fee depends on the candidate’s category. The notification also provides a refund to eligible applicants who appear in the Sports Trials.

Payment must be made online through Internet Banking, Debit Card or Credit Card. Applicants must bear applicable bank and service charges.

The Railway refunds the prescribed portion only to eligible candidates who actually appear in the Sports Trials. Applicable bank charges may be deducted from the refund.

Selection Process

How are candidates selected for SER Sports Quota Recruitment 2026-27? The Railway assesses candidates on a 100-mark scale comprising recognised sports achievements, performance in Games Skill, Physical Fitness and Coach’s Observation, and educational qualification. Candidates must also meet the prescribed minimum qualifying marks for their pay level.

1. Sports Trials.
2. Assessment of recognised sports achievements.
3. Assessment of educational qualification.
4. Verification of sports and educational certificates.
5. Medical fitness before appointment.

Distribution of Selection Marks

A candidate must score at least 25 marks out of 40 in Games Skill, Physical Fitness and Coach’s Observation to qualify in this assessment component.

Minimum Qualifying Marks

The Railway will prepare the final merit according to the vacancies in each sports discipline. If two candidates secure equal marks, preference will be given to the younger candidate.

Pay Scale and Salary

Selected sportspersons will be placed in the applicable 7th CPC Pay Matrix level for their post.

The applicable Pay Matrix and Railway service rules will determine the actual salary. Allowances, where admissible, will be governed by the relevant rules and appointment conditions.

Documents Required for Application

Keep the following documents ready for registration and certificate verification, as applicable to your category and circumstances:

• Recent colour passport-size photograph.
• Scanned signature.
• Left Thumb Impression (LTI).
• Government-issued photo identity proof, such as Aadhaar Card, PAN Card, Driving Licence or Voter ID.
• Matriculation certificate or date of birth proof.
• Educational qualification certificates.
• Recognised sports achievement certificates.
• SC/ST community certificate, wherever applicable.
• OBC-NCL certificate and prescribed self-declaration, wherever applicable.
• EBC income certificate, if applicable.
• EWS certificate, if applicable.
• Minority community declaration, if applicable.
• Ex-Servicemen discharge certificate and PPO-related documents, if applicable.
• NOC for serving Railway or Government employees.

Photograph and Signature Specifications

Photograph

• Colour passport-size photograph with a white or light-coloured background.
• Dimensions: 3.5 cm × 3.5 cm.
• JPG/JPEG format, scanned at 100 DPI.
• Maximum file size: 70 KB.
• The photograph must not be older than three months from the application date.
• The face should remain clearly visible without a cap or sunglasses.

Signature and Left Thumb Impression

• Use black ink on white paper.
• Dimensions: 50 mm × 20 mm or 140 × 60 pixels.
• JPG/JPEG format at 100 DPI.
• File size: 10 KB to 40 KB.
• Sign in Hindi or English. Avoid capital or disjointed letters.

Upload all other supporting certificates in PDF format. Documents issued in languages other than Hindi or English require an attested translation.

How to Apply Online?

How can eligible candidates apply? Applications must be submitted online through the RRC South Eastern Railway website. The application window closes on 30 November 2026 at 11:59 PM; the RRC office will not accept applications sent manually.

1. Visit RRC South Eastern Railway.
2. Open the Online/E-Application for Sports Quota Open Advertisement 2026-27.
3. Select New Registration.
4. Enter your name, father’s name, date of birth, community, email address and mobile number.
5. Complete registration and note the registration number and password received through email/SMS.
6. Log in using your registration credentials.
7. Enter personal details, educational qualifications and sports achievements.
8. Upload your photograph, signature, LTI and supporting certificates.
9. Pay the applicable examination fee through the available online payment options.
10. Enter the required bank account details for the examination fee refund, wherever applicable.
11. Review all details before final submission.
12. Submit the form and save your registration number and two printouts of the completed application.

Check all entries before final submission because the Railway will not entertain changes afterwards. Candidates cannot submit multiple applications.

Candidate Guidelines

• Match your name, father’s name, date of birth and educational details with your supporting certificates.
• Mention the correct sports discipline in the application form.
• Keep your registered mobile number and email address active.
• Enter accurate information and upload all required documents.
• Download the e-call letter when the Railway releases it.
• Carry original identity, educational and sports achievement documents to the Sports Trials.
• SC/ST candidates can avail free second-class rail travel for Sports Trials, subject to the notification’s conditions.
• Clear the prescribed medical fitness requirements before appointment.
• Submit the five-year service bond required by the Railway.
• Be prepared for posting at any unit of South Eastern Railway.
• Arrange your own travel, accommodation and sports kit because the Railway will not provide TA/DA or accommodation for Sports Trials.
• Serving employees must attach an NOC from their employer.
• Candidates debarred from RRB/RRC examinations should not apply unless their debarment period ends by the closing date.

South Eastern Railway has warned candidates against agents or coaching centres promising selection in exchange for money. The Railway follows a merit-based selection process and has not appointed any agent for recruitment.

Recruitment Timeline

Sports Trials dates and venues have not been specified in the notification. Candidates should check the RRC/SER website for official announcements and e-call letter updates.

Official Recruitment Resources

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How many vacancies are available in South Eastern Railway Sports Quota Recruitment 2026-27?

There are 54 vacancies: 5 Level-4/5, 16 Level-2/3 and 33 Level-1 posts.

2. What is the last date to apply online?

The last date for online applications is 30 November 2026 at 11:59 PM.

3. What is the age limit for SER Sports Quota Recruitment?

Applicants must be between 18 and 25 years of age as on 01 January 2027. The notification does not permit age relaxation.

4. What educational qualification is required?

Level-4/5 requires a university degree, Level-2/3 generally requires 12th pass or an accepted equivalent qualification, and Level-1 requires 10th pass, ITI or NAC, as applicable to the post.

5. What is the selection process?

The assessment carries 100 marks: 50 for recognised sports achievements, 40 for Games Skill, Physical Fitness and Coach’s Observation, and 10 for educational qualification. Certificate verification and medical fitness are also required as part of the recruitment process.

6. What is the minimum marks requirement in Sports Trials?

Candidates must score at least 25 marks out of 40 in Games Skill, Physical Fitness and Coach’s Observation. The overall minimum qualifying marks are 70 for Level-4/5, 65 for Level-2/3 and 60 for Level-1.

7. Are sports achievements from before 01 April 2024 accepted?

No. The notification requires the relevant sports achievements to be dated 01 April 2024 or later. The concluding day of the championship or event is considered for determining the achievement date.

8. Is the application fee refundable?

Eligible candidates who actually appear in Sports Trials can receive a refund of ₹400 for UR/OBC and ₹250 for other eligible fee categories, subject to the notification’s conditions.

9. When will the Sports Trials take place?

The notification does not specify the exact dates or venues. RRC/SER will publish this information on its official website and communicate details through e-call letters.

10. Are vacancies reserved for SC/ST/OBC/EWS categories?

The notification does not reserve separate posts for SC/ST/OBC/EWS communities. Selection is based on the prescribed sports achievements and overall merit. Applicants must still follow the applicable certificate and fee provisions.

Final Overview

South Eastern Railway Sports Quota Recruitment 2026-27 offers 54 Group C and Group D posts across several sports disciplines. Candidates should compare their sports achievements, playing position and educational qualification with the requirements for the relevant pay level before applying.

Eligible applicants must complete the online form by 30 November 2026, 11:59 PM. For the detailed sports norms and application instructions, refer to the official notification and check the RRC/SER website for further recruitment updates.

Official Notification: South Eastern Railway Sports Quota Recruitment 2026-27 PDF