South Eastern Railway is looking for 54 sportspersons and will choose them on sports trials, recent medals and education, with no written exam. The Railway Recruitment Cell (RRC) in Kolkata published Employment Notice No. SER/Pers/Sports Quota/OA/2026-27 on 26.10.2026 (OA means Open Advertisement). You can apply online from 31.10.2026 until 30.11.2026, 11:59 pm.
SC / ST / Ex-Servicemen / Persons with Disabilities / Women / Minorities / Economically Backward Classes
Rs 250
Refund if you attend the trial
Rs 400 (UR / OBC) or Rs 250 (others), after bank charges
How to pay
Online only – Internet banking, debit card or credit card. Cash, cheque, DD or money order is not accepted
Vacancy Details
Level 4/5 (Grade Pay Rs 2,400 / 2,800) – 5 Posts
Sports Discipline
Event / Position
Posts
Athletics (Men)
200 Mtrs.
1
Athletics (Men)
High Jump
1
Chess (Men)
Individual
1
Hockey (Women)
Forward
1
Table Tennis (Women)
Individual
1
Total
5
Level 2/3 (Grade Pay Rs 1,900 / 2,000) – 16 Posts
Sports Discipline
Event / Position
Posts
Athletics (Men)
200 Mtrs.
1
Athletics (Men)
High Jump
1
Athletics (Men)
20 KM Race Walking
1
Athletics (Men)
Cross Country
1
Archery (Men)
Compound
2
Archery (Women)
Compound
1
Body Building (Men)
65 KG
1
Bridge (Men)
Individual
1
Cycling (Men)
Individual Road Race
1
Cycling (Men)
Individual Pursuit
1
Cycling (Men)
Points Race (Track)
1
Gymnastics (Women)
Artistic (WAG)
1
Hockey (Women)
Forward
1
Hockey (Men)
Defender
1
Rifle Shooting (Women)
3 Position
1
Total
16
Level 1 (Grade Pay Rs 1,800) – 33 Posts
Sports Discipline
Event / Position
Posts
Ball Badminton (Men)
Back
2
Ball Badminton (Men)
Front
2
Cricket (Men)
Batsman (Middle Order)
1
Cricket (Men)
Fast Bowler
1
Football (Men)
Side Back (Left / Right)
2
Football (Men)
Stopper
1
Golf (Men)
Individual
1
Kabaddi (Women)
Right Raider
1
Kabaddi (Women)
Left Cover
1
Kabaddi (Women)
Left Corner
1
Kabaddi (Women)
Right Corner
1
Kabaddi (Men)
Right Raider
1
Kabaddi (Men)
Right Corner
1
Kabaddi (Men)
Left Corner
1
Kabaddi (Men)
All Rounder
1
Kho Kho (Men)
All Rounder
3
Kho Kho (Men)
Defender
3
Volley Ball (Women)
Centre Blocker
1
Volley Ball (Women)
Counter Attacker
1
Volley Ball (Men)
Setter
1
Volley Ball (Men)
Opposite Player
1
Water Polo (Men)
Winger
2
Water Polo (Men)
Centre Forward
1
Weight Lifting (Men)
65 KG
1
Weight Lifting (Men)
71 KG
1
Total
33
No post is reserved for SC, ST, OBC or EWS candidates. Selection is on overall merit, whatever your community.
Eligibility Criteria
Criterion
Detail
Nationality
Indian national
Education – Level 4/5
A degree from a recognised university
Education – Level 2/3
12th pass, or 10th pass plus Act Apprenticeship course, or 10th pass plus ITI (or equivalent)
Education – Level 1
10th pass, ITI or equivalent, or NAC (National Apprenticeship Certificate) from NCVT
Education – note
Final-year students and those waiting for results are not eligible. No relaxation in education
Age Limit
18 to 25 years as on 01.01.2027. The notice also prints a date-of-birth window in para 3.1, so check it against your certificate Check your age eligibility →
Age Relaxation
None. No upper or lower relaxation for any category
Sports achievement date
Must be earned on or after 01.04.2024. The day the championship ended is the date that counts
Federation recognition
The event must have been run by a sports federation that the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MoYAS) recognised at that time
Serving employees
A No-Objection Certificate from the employer is needed
Debarred candidates
Anyone debarred from RRB / RRC exams can apply only if the ban ends before the closing date
So the age rule is strict: 25 is the cap for everyone, including SC, ST and OBC candidates, and nobody gets extra years.
Not sure whether you are within the age limit?
Enter your date of birth and the cut-off date of 01.01.2027 to see at once whether you fall inside the 18 to 25 year band. This notice gives no age relaxation for any category.
3rd place or better in the World Cup or World Championships (Junior, Youth or Senior), Asian Games (Senior), Commonwealth Games (Senior), Youth Olympics, Davis Cup (Tennis), Champions Trophy (Hockey) or Thomas / Uber Cup (Badminton)
Level 2/3 – option 1
Played for India in the World Cup, World Championships, Asian Games (Senior) or Commonwealth Games (Senior)
Level 2/3 – option 2
3rd place or better in the Commonwealth Championships, Asian Championships, Asia Cup, SAF Games (Senior), USIC (World Railways) Championship (Senior) or World University Games
Level 2/3 – option 3
3rd place or better in Senior, Youth or Junior National Championships
Level 2/3 – option 4
3rd place or better in the National Games run under the Indian Olympic Association
Level 2/3 – option 5
3rd place or better in the All India Inter University Championship (Association of Indian Universities)
Level 2/3 – option 6
1st place in the Federation Cup (Senior)
Level 1 – option 1
Played for India in the Commonwealth Championship (Junior or Senior), Asian Championship, Asia Cup, SAF Games (Senior), USIC (World Railways) Championship (Senior) or World University Games
Level 1 – option 2
3rd place or better in the Federation Cup (Senior)
Level 1 – option 3
Played for a State-equivalent unit and finished 8th or better in the Senior National Championship (not for Marathon and Cross Country)
Extra Rules for Some Sports
Sport
Rule
Athletics (Men)
Level 4/5 is also open to Gold medal winners in the Open National, Inter-State and Asian Championships (Senior). Level 2 is also open to medal winners in the National Inter-State Senior Championship
Chess (Men)
Level 4/5: Grand Master title
Table Tennis (Women)
Level 4/5: Senior singles, current annual All India ranking up to 8th
Hockey (Women)
Level 2/3: 2nd place or better in an international tournament of four or more nations, or semifinalist in the Senior National Championships
Hockey (Men)
Level 2/3: played in an international tournament (Senior or Junior) of four or more nations, or semifinalist in the Senior National Championships
Archery (Men and Women)
3rd place or better in the All India Inter University Championship counts. Events run by the Archery Association of India are considered
Rifle Shooting (Women)
National Shooting Championship (all age groups). Only individual performance counts
Golf (Men)
Level 1: IGU ranking up to 100 with a single-digit handicap (below 10)
Cricket (Men)
Level 1: depends on matches played for India (Senior, India-A or India U-19) or at set BCCI inter-state and inter-zonal levels. See para 3.3(d) of the notice
Volley Ball (Men and Women)
Certificates for Volleyball Federation of India events up to 28.10.2025 and after 21.04.2026 are not valid. Those from 29.10.2025 to 21.04.2026 are valid. Association of Indian Universities and international federation certificates are valid
Body Building (Men)
Indian Body Builders Federation events are not valid. Association of Indian Universities and international federation certificates are valid
Who Should Apply
There is no written test, so your recent medals and how you do at the trial decide everything.
Seats are tiny and tied to one sport and one position. Most positions have just 1 post, so check the vacancy tables above for yours before you apply.
If you are selected, you must sign a bond to serve the railway for 5 years, and you can be posted to any unit of South Eastern Railway.
Skip this one if your medal was won before 01.04.2024, if you are older than 25 on 01.01.2027, or if you are still waiting for your final exam result. The notice allows no age or education relaxation.
You pay your own way to the trial. There is no travel or stay allowance, you bring your own kit, and the selection can run for 2 to 3 days.
Selection Process
Stage
Details
1. Sports trials
Your game skill, fitness and the coach’s view are marked out of 40. You need at least 25 to qualify. Dates and venue will be put on the RRC SER website
2. Certificate verification
A recruitment committee checks your sports achievement (50 marks) and your education (10 marks). Bring the originals of your date of birth, education and sports certificates and your ID on trial day
3. Final merit
Total is 100 marks. The minimum is 70 for Level 4/5, 65 for Level 2/3 and 60 for Level 1. If marks are equal, the younger candidate ranks higher
4. Medical and joining
Selected candidates must pass the medical fitness test. Appointment stays provisional until all certificates are verified
In short: your recent medals carry half of the total marks, so a strong achievement matters more than a good trial alone. You still have to clear the trial minimum and the overall minimum for your level.
Level 1: Rs 18,000. Level 2: Rs 19,900. Level 3: Rs 21,700. Level 4: Rs 25,500. Level 5: Rs 29,200. These are the standard Pay Matrix figures and are not printed in this notice
Allowances and other benefits
Not specified in notification
In plain terms, you start at roughly Rs 18,000 to Rs 29,200 a month depending on your level, before allowances. The notice does not list the allowances.
How to Apply
Go to the official RRC South Eastern Railway website (rrcser.co.in) and open the “Online / E-Application for Sports Quota (OA) / 2026-27” link. It goes live on 31.10.2026.
Click “New Registration” and fill in your name, father’s name, date of birth, community, email and mobile number. Spell everything exactly as on your 10th (Matriculation) certificate.
Note the registration number and password that arrive by email and SMS, then log in.
Fill in the form and choose your sports discipline. Upload your photo, signature, LTI (left thumb impression), photo ID, education and sports certificates, and add your bank details for the fee refund.
Pay the fee online, submit the form and keep your registration number safe.
Take two printouts of the filled form for later stages.
Note: Applications sent by post or in person are not accepted. Use your own mobile number and email, because the RRC will not change them later.
Photograph or signature rejected by the upload form?
The notice asks for a 3.5 cm x 3.5 cm photo of up to 70 KB, and a signature plus LTI image of 140 x 60 pixels and 10 to 40 KB. Resize yours to those exact limits before you upload.
Colour, white or light background, 3.5 cm x 3.5 cm, JPG / JPEG, 100 DPI, up to 70 KB, not older than 3 months. No cap or sunglasses Resize your photo and signature →
Signature and LTI
On white paper in black ink inside a 50 mm x 20 mm box (140 x 60 pixels), JPG / JPEG, 100 DPI, 10 to 40 KB. LTI means left thumb impression. Sign in Hindi or English, not in capitals
Photo ID
Aadhaar, PAN, Driving Licence or Voter ID. Self-attested, PDF
Proof of date of birth
10th (Matriculation) certificate or birth certificate. Self-attested, PDF
Education certificates
Self-attested, PDF
Sports achievement certificates
For events that ended on or after 01.04.2024. Self-attested, PDF
SC / ST certificate
From the competent authority, not below the rank of Tehsildar (Annexure I)
OBC certificate
OBC Non-Creamy Layer certificate issued within the last 1 year, plus self-declaration (Annexure II and IIA)
Fee-waiver and other documents
EBC income certificate (Annexure III), EWS certificate (Annexure IV), Minority declaration (Annexure V), and discharge certificate and PPO for Ex-Servicemen
Other languages
Certificates not in English or Hindi need an attested translation
Your name, father’s name, date of birth and community must match your 10th certificate exactly. If they do not, your candidature is cancelled.
Check your medal date first. Only events that ended on or after 01.04.2024, under a federation recognised by the sports ministry, count.
Apply only once. More than one application from the same person is rejected.
Leave no column blank and name your sports discipline, or the form can be rejected.
Do not upload a black-and-white photo, a photo with a cap or sunglasses, or a signature written in capital letters.
Apply well before 30.11.2026. The site can slow down or fail in the last days, and the RRC takes no responsibility for it.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the last date to apply for the South Eastern Railway Sports Quota?
Online applications close on 30.11.2026 at 11:59 pm, and they open on 31.10.2026.
How many posts are there?
There are 54 posts: 5 at Level 4/5, 16 at Level 2/3 and 33 at Level 1.
Is there a written exam?
No, selection is by sports trials followed by a check of your sports and education certificates.
What is the age limit?
You must be 18 to 25 years old as on 01.01.2027, with no age relaxation for any category.
What qualification is needed?
You need a degree for Level 4/5, 12th pass (or 10th pass with apprenticeship or ITI) for Level 2/3, and 10th pass or ITI for Level 1.
What is the application fee?
The fee is Rs 500 for UR (General) and OBC candidates and Rs 250 for others, and Rs 400 or Rs 250 comes back once you attend the trial.
Do SC, ST and OBC candidates get reserved posts?
No post is reserved, and everyone is selected on overall merit, though you may still upload your community certificate.
When and where will the sports trials be held?
The dates and venue are not announced yet and will be put on rrcser.co.in, and no travel or stay allowance is given.
Disclaimer: The information above has been compiled from the official notification for the convenience of job seekers. Candidates are advised to verify all details from the official website before applying.
