South Eastern Railway has opened a fresh Sports Quota recruitment cycle for 54 posts across Pay Levels 1 to 5, giving eligible sportspersons a new route into railway service through recognised competitive achievements rather than a conventional mass written examination. Employment Notice No. SER/Pers/Sports Quota/OA/2026-27 was published on 26 October 2026, and online applications are scheduled to open on 31 October and close on 30 November 2026 at 23:59 hrs. The vacancy structure includes 5 posts in Level 4/5, 16 posts in Level 2/3 and 33 posts in Level 1 across athletics, archery, hockey, cricket, football, kabaddi, kho-kho, volleyball, water polo and several other disciplines. Academic eligibility changes with the pay level: candidates may need Class 10, ITI/NAC, Class 12 or a university degree. The more important filter, however, is the prescribed sports standard for the exact discipline and level applied for. Applicants must also be 18 to 25 years old as on 1 January 2027, with no age relaxation. Selection is based on sports achievements, performance in the railway sports trial and educational qualification. Candidates should therefore compare their achievement certificate, event, playing position and pay-level eligibility carefully before paying the application fee.
Recruitment Overview
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| Recruiting authority | Railway Recruitment Cell, South Eastern Railway |
| Recruitment | Sports Quota (Open Advertisement) 2026-27 |
| Employment Notice | SER/Pers/Sports Quota/OA/2026-27 |
| Notification date | 26 October 2026 |
| Total vacancies | 54 |
| Pay levels | Level 1 to Level 5 |
| Application mode | Online |
| Applications open | 31 October 2026 |
| Last date | 30 November 2026, 23:59 hrs |
| Age cut-off | 1 January 2027 |
| Posting | Any applicable unit of South Eastern Railway |
| Selection | Sports trial + certificate verification |
Vacancy Details
| Pay level group | Vacancies |
|---|---|
| Level 4 / Level 5 | 5 |
| Level 2 / Level 3 | 16 |
| Level 1 | 33 |
| Total | 54 |
The notified 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 advertisement also specifies event, playing position or weight category for individual vacancies, so candidates should match the exact vacancy rather than applying only by sport name.
Basic Qualification and Sports Eligibility
Academic eligibility depends on the pay level:
| Pay level | Basic educational qualification |
|---|---|
| Level 4 / 5 | University degree or equivalent |
| Level 2 / 3 | Class 12, or the notified Class 10 + ITI / Act Apprenticeship / NAC route as applicable to the post offered |
| Level 1 | Class 10, ITI, equivalent qualification or NAC |
This is a Sports Quota recruitment. Applicants must also satisfy the prescribed recognised sports-achievement standard for the exact discipline and pay level. The notice states that qualifying achievements must have been earned on or after 1 April 2024 and must come from recognised events/federations covered by the recruitment rules.
Age Limit
Candidates must be 18 to 25 years old as on 1 January 2027. The notified date-of-birth window is 2 January 2002 to 1 January 2009.
No upper- or lower-age relaxation is permitted under this recruitment.
Use the Regal Naukri Age Calculator to check your exact age on the official cut-off date.
Pay Level
The recruitment spans 7th CPC Pay Levels 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5, depending on the vacancy category and post ultimately offered. Because the 54 vacancies cover multiple pay levels, there is no single salary figure that accurately represents every selected candidate.
Application Fee
| Candidate category | Fee |
|---|---|
| UR / OBC | ₹500 |
| SC / ST / Ex-Servicemen / PwD / Women / Minorities / Economically Backward Classes | ₹250 |
Candidates who actually appear in the sports trial are eligible for the notified refundable portion of the fee: ₹400 for UR/OBC candidates and ₹250 for the reduced-fee categories, subject to applicable bank charges and the official refund conditions.
Selection Process
Selection is based on performance in the sports trial followed by verification of sports and educational certificates.
| Assessment component | Maximum marks |
|---|---|
| Recognised sports achievement | 50 |
| Games skill, physical fitness and coach's observation during trial | 40 |
| Educational qualification | 10 |
| Total | 100 |
The trial component carries a minimum qualifying requirement of 25 marks. Overall minimum qualifying marks are 70 for Level 4/5, 65 for Level 2/3 and 60 for Level 1.
Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Official notification published | 26 October 2026 |
| Online application opens | 31 October 2026 |
| Online application closes | 30 November 2026, 23:59 hrs |
| Sports trial dates | To be announced by RRC/SER |
How to Apply for South Eastern Railway Sports Quota Recruitment 2026
- Open the official Railway Recruitment Cell, South Eastern Railway notice page and locate the Sports Quota 2026-27 notification.
- Read the event-wise vacancy and sports-achievement rules for the pay level you want. Use the Eligibility Pre-check only as a preparation aid; the railway notification remains final.
- Check that you are within 18–25 years on 1 January 2027 using the Age Calculator.
- Prepare your education, age, identity, category and sports-achievement records with the Government Job Document Checklist.
- From 31 October 2026, use the Sports Quota online-application link provided on the official RRC/SER website. Do not use unofficial payment or registration links.
- Register with your active mobile number and email address, complete the application, upload the required photograph, signature, left-thumb impression and supporting certificates, and pay the applicable fee online.
- Review every entry before final submission because the notice states that changes are not entertained after final submission.
- Save the registration number and submitted form. For a general submission workflow, see How to Apply for Government Jobs in India.
Documents to Keep Ready
| Document / record | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Matriculation / Class 10 certificate | Date-of-birth and basic education proof |
| Class 12 / ITI / NAC / degree certificate, as applicable | Pay-level education requirement |
| Recognised sports-achievement certificates | Core Sports Quota eligibility |
| Recent colour photograph | Online application |
| Signature and left-thumb impression | Online application |
| Valid photo identity document | Candidate identity |
| Category / fee-concession certificate, where applicable | Fee and category claim |
| Bank-account details | Fee-refund processing, where applicable |
Important Candidate Notes
- The 54 vacancies are open only to candidates who satisfy the prescribed sports-achievement standard for the notified discipline and level.
- No posts are reserved for SC, ST, OBC or EWS communities; selection is based on overall merit within the notified sports vacancies.
- Sports achievements relied upon for eligibility must fall within the period and recognised-event conditions stated in the notification.
- Candidates must produce original age, education, sports and identity documents at the trial/verification stage.
- Trial dates and venues will be announced separately on the official RRC/SER website.
- The official online application is scheduled to activate on 31 October 2026; applicants should not rely on any third-party form before then.
Important Links
| Resource | Link |
|---|---|
| RRC/SER recruitment notice board | Open official recruitment page |
| Official Sports Quota notification | Read Employment Notice SER/Pers/Sports Quota/OA/2026-27 |
| South Eastern Railway RRC website | Open RRC/SER |
FAQ
How many vacancies are available in South Eastern Railway Sports Quota Recruitment 2026?
There are 54 vacancies: 5 in Level 4/5, 16 in Level 2/3 and 33 in Level 1.
When can candidates apply online?
Online applications are scheduled to open on 31 October 2026 and close on 30 November 2026 at 23:59 hrs.
What is the age limit?
Candidates must be 18 to 25 years old as on 1 January 2027. The notification does not permit age relaxation.
What is the basic educational qualification?
It depends on the pay level. The recruitment covers Class 10/ITI/NAC, Class 12 and degree-level routes.
Can a candidate apply without recognised sports achievements?
No. This is a Sports Quota recruitment, so the prescribed sports-achievement standard for the relevant discipline and pay level is an essential eligibility condition.
How will candidates be selected?
Selection is based on recognised sports achievement, performance in the sports trial and educational qualification, followed by certificate verification.
What is the application fee?
The fee is ₹500 for UR/OBC candidates and ₹250 for the reduced-fee categories listed in the official notification. A refundable portion is available to eligible candidates who actually appear in the trial.