South Eastern Railway (SER) has released an open-advertisement notification to recruit sportspersons against its Sports Quota for 2026-27. A total of 54 posts across Group C (Level 2 to 5) and Group D (Level 1) are on offer, and online applications will be accepted from 31 October 2026 to 30 November 2026. If you are a trained athlete or player with a recent national-level or international achievement, this is a rare chance to build a stable career with Indian Railways while continuing your sport.
This guide explains the vacancies, age limit, sports norms, education, fees, documents, selection process and application steps in plain language, based on the official Employment Notice No. SER/Pers/Sports Quota/OA/2026-27 issued by the Office of the Principal Chief Personnel Officer, Garden Reach, Kolkata.
South Eastern Railway Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Notification published | 26 October 2026 |
| Online applications open | 31 October 2026 |
| Last date to apply | 30 November 2026 (up to 23:59 hrs) |
| Sports trials | To be announced on www.rrcser.co.in |
Vacancy Overview
The 54 vacancies are divided into three categories:
| Category | Post Level (7th CPC) | Vacancies |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Group C, Level 4/5 (Grade Pay Rs. 2400/2800) | 5 |
| 2 | Group C, Level 2/3 (Grade Pay Rs. 1900/2000) | 16 |
| 3 | Group D, Level 1 (Grade Pay Rs. 1800) | 33 |
Candidates will be placed in posts at the matching level in any unit of South Eastern Railway.
Level 4/5 Vacancies (5 posts)
- Athletics (Men): 200 m (1), High Jump (1)
- Chess (Men): Individual (1)
- Hockey (Women): Forward (1)
- Table Tennis (Women): Individual (1)
Level 2/3 Vacancies (16 posts)
- Athletics (Men): 200 m, High Jump, 20 km Race Walking, Cross Country (1 each)
- Archery (Men, Compound): 2
- Archery (Women, Compound): 1
- Body Building (Men, 65 kg): 1
- Bridge (Men, Individual): 1
- Cycling (Men): Individual Road Race, Individual Pursuit, Points Race (Track) (1 each)
- Gymnastics (Women, Artistic): 1
- Hockey (Women, Forward): 1
- Hockey (Men, Defender): 1
- Rifle Shooting (Women, 3 Position): 1
Level 1 Vacancies (33 posts)
- Ball Badminton (Men): Back (2), Front (2)
- Cricket (Men): Middle-order Batsman (1), Fast Bowler (1)
- Football (Men): Side Back (2), Stopper (1)
- Golf (Men): Individual (1)
- Kabaddi (Women): Right Raider, Left Cover, Left Corner, Right Corner (1 each)
- Kabaddi (Men): Right Raider, Right Corner, Left Corner, All Rounder (1 each)
- Kho Kho (Men): All Rounder (3), Defender (3)
- Volleyball (Women): Centre Blocker (1), Counter Attacker (1)
- Volleyball (Men): Setter (1), Opposite Player (1)
- Water Polo (Men): Winger (2), Centre Forward (1)
- Weightlifting (Men): 65 kg (1), 71 kg (1)
Reservation: What Candidates Should Know
No post is reserved for SC, ST, OBC or EWS candidates in this recruitment. Selection is based purely on overall merit in the chosen discipline, irrespective of community. Candidates may still upload their community certificates, and OBC candidates should also provide a Non-Creamy Layer certificate issued within the last one year.
Eligibility Criteria
Age Limit
The minimum age is 18 years and the maximum is 25 years as on 1 January 2027. This means your date of birth must fall between 2 January 2002 and 1 January 2009. The notification states that no age relaxation, upper or lower, is permissible. Proof of date of birth must be a Matriculation (or equivalent) certificate or a Birth Certificate.
Educational Qualification
| Post Level | Minimum Qualification |
|---|---|
| Level 4/5 | A university degree or equivalent from a recognised university |
| Level 2/3 | Class 12 pass (or equivalent) from a recognised board, or other equivalent routes listed in the notification such as Matriculation with Act Apprenticeship or Class 10 with ITI |
| Level 1 | Class 10 pass, ITI, or equivalent, or National Apprenticeship Certificate (NAC) granted by NCVT |
Candidates who are still appearing in final exams or awaiting results are not eligible, and no relaxation in educational qualification is allowed.
Sports Achievement Norms
All achievements must have been earned on or after 1 April 2024. The concluding day of the championship is the date that counts, and the event must have been conducted under a national or international federation recognised by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports at the time of the event.
For Level 4/5, a candidate should have represented India in the Olympic Games (senior), or finished at least third in events such as the World Cup, World Championships, Asian Games or Commonwealth Games, Youth Olympics, Davis Cup, Champions Trophy (Hockey) or Thomas/Uber Cup (Badminton). Special norms apply to some disciplines: gold in senior national or inter-state championships or the Asian Championships in Athletics (Men), a Grand Master title in Chess (Men), and a current All India ranking up to 8th in Table Tennis (Women) singles.
For Level 2/3, any one of the following is generally accepted:
- Represented India at the World Cup, World Championships, Asian Games or Commonwealth Games
- At least third place in Commonwealth Championships, Asian Championships, Asia Cup, SAF Games, USIC (World Railways) Championships or World University Games
- At least third place in a Senior, Youth or Junior National Championship
- At least third place in the National Games or the All India Inter University Championship
- First place in the Federation Cup (Senior)
Discipline-specific conditions also apply for Hockey, Archery and Rifle Shooting (Women), so read para 3.2 of the official notification carefully.
For Level 1, candidates should have represented India in championships such as the Commonwealth, Asian, SAF Games, USIC or World University Games, or finished at least third in the Federation Cup (Senior), or represented a State-equivalent unit with at least 8th position in a Senior National Championship. Separate norms apply for Cricket (Men), Golf (Men), Volleyball and Body Building.
A sportsperson who meets the norms for a higher grade is also eligible for lower grades.
Application Fee
| Category | Fee | Refundable on attending trial |
|---|---|---|
| UR / OBC | Rs. 500 | Rs. 400 |
| SC / ST / Ex-Servicemen / Women / Minorities / EBC | Rs. 250 | Rs. 250 |
The fee must be paid online by net banking, debit card or credit card. Cash, cheque, money order, demand draft or postal-type payments are not accepted and will lead to rejection. Refunds are made only to candidates who actually appear in the trial, after deduction of applicable bank charges.
Documents and Photo Specifications
Photograph: colour passport-size, 3.5 cm x 3.5 cm, white or light background, JPG/JPEG, 100 DPI, up to 70 KB, taken within the last three months, with no cap or sunglasses.
Signature and Left Thumb Impression (LTI): on white paper in black ink within a 50 mm x 20 mm box, JPG/JPEG, 100 DPI, file size 10 to 40 KB. The signature must be in Hindi or English and not in capital or disjointed letters.
Other documents (PDF format):
- Self-attested photo ID such as Aadhaar, PAN, Driving Licence or Voter ID
- Self-attested proof of educational qualification
- Self-attested proof of date of birth (Matriculation or 10th certificate)
- Self-attested certificates of sports achievements
- Community, OBC-NCL, EBC income, EWS or minority declaration certificates, if applicable
- Discharge certificate and PPO copy for ex-servicemen
- No-Objection Certificate for serving employees
Certificates in languages other than English or Hindi must be accompanied by an attested translation.
How to Apply Online
- Visit the official website of RRC South Eastern Railway at www.rrcser.co.in.
- Click on the link for Online Application for Sports Quota (OA) 2026-27 and choose New Registration.
- Enter your name, father’s name, date of birth, community, email ID and mobile number. A registration number and password will be sent by email and SMS.
- Log in, fill in the application step by step, select your sports discipline and provide your photo ID details and refund bank details.
- Upload your photograph, signature, LTI and all required certificates.
- Pay the examination fee online.
- Submit the form, note your unique registration number and keep two printouts.
Your name, father’s name, community and date of birth must exactly match your Matriculation certificate, because a mismatch can cancel your candidature. No changes are allowed after final submission, and requests to change your mobile number or email address will not be entertained. Apply well before the last date to avoid website overload.
Selection Process
Selection is based on sports trials followed by certificate verification (sports and education) by a recruitment committee. The 100 marks are distributed as follows:
| Attribute | Maximum Marks |
|---|---|
| Recognised sports achievement as per norms | 50 |
| Game skill, physical fitness and coach’s observation during trial | 40 (minimum 25 to qualify) |
| Educational qualification | 10 |
| Total | 100 |
Minimum qualifying marks are 70 for Level 4/5, 65 for Level 2/3 and 60 for Level 1. In case of a tie in a discipline, the younger candidate is preferred.
Key Points to Remember
- Selected candidates must submit a service bond to serve the Railways for 5 years.
- Candidates must pass the required medical fitness standards before appointment.
- Those appointed as Clerk-cum-Typist must acquire typing proficiency of 30 wpm in English or 25 wpm in Hindi within four years.
- Bring original certificates (date of birth, education, sports achievements) and photo ID to the trial. No TA/DA or accommodation is provided, and you must bring your own kit and may need to stay 2 to 3 days.
- Recruitment is purely merit based. SER has not appointed any agent or coaching centre, so beware of anyone claiming to guarantee selection.
Important Links
| Link | URL |
|---|---|
| Apply Online (Sports Quota OA 2026-27) | www.rrcser.co.in |
| Official Notification PDF | Read Here |
| Official Website (RRC SER) | https://www.rrcser.co.in |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the last date to apply for SER Sports Quota Recruitment 2026-27?
The last date is 30 November 2026 (up to 23:59 hrs). Applications open on 31 October 2026.
How many vacancies are available?
There are 54 posts in total: 5 in Level 4/5, 16 in Level 2/3 and 33 in Level 1.
What is the age limit?
The age must be between 18 and 25 years as on 1 January 2027. No age relaxation is allowed.
Is there any reservation for SC/ST/OBC/EWS candidates?
No. Selection is purely on merit in the chosen sports discipline, regardless of community.
What is the application fee?
UR/OBC candidates pay Rs. 500 and other eligible categories pay Rs. 250. Rs. 400 or Rs. 250 is refunded to candidates who attend the trial.
Which sports achievements are valid?
Only achievements earned on or after 1 April 2024, in events organised under federations recognised by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports.
How will candidates be selected?
Through sports trials followed by certificate verification. The 100 marks are split into sports achievement (50), trial performance (40) and education (10).
How can I apply?
Apply online only, through the official website www.rrcser.co.in. Offline applications are rejected.
