East Coast Railway recruitment 2026 has been announced by the Railway Recruitment Cell (RRC), East Coast Railway, Bhubaneswar, for eligible regular employees. The General Departmental Competitive Examination (GDCE) 2026 will fill 1,421 vacancies for Assistant Loco Pilot, Station Master, Goods Train Manager, Junior Engineer, Technician, Junior Clerk cum Typist, and Commercial Clerk cum Ticket Collector posts.
This is a departmental recruitment drive and is not open to the general public. Eligible regular ECoR employees, including eligible employees of the erstwhile Waltair Division/South Coast Railway, may apply online. Employees of RPF/RPSF are excluded from this recruitment. Read the official notification carefully before submitting the application.
East Coast Railway recruitment 2026: Overview
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| Recruiting organisation | Railway Recruitment Cell, East Coast Railway, Bhubaneswar |
| Examination | General Departmental Competitive Examination (GDCE) 2026 |
| Advertisement number | ECoR/Pers/RRC-GDCE/2026 |
| Total vacancies | 1,421 |
| Application mode | Online |
| Eligible applicants | Eligible regular ECoR employees, excluding RPF/RPSF |
| Official website | www.rrcbbs.org.in |
Important dates
As per the East Coast Railway recruitment 2026 schedule, candidates should complete the form well before the closing date. Waiting until the last day may cause difficulty because of heavy website traffic or document-upload problems.
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Notification publication date | 07 August 2026 |
| Online application begins | 15 August 2026 |
| Last date to apply online | 14 September 2026 |
| Examination date | To be notified later |
| Admit card release | To be notified later |
Application fee
This is a departmental examination for eligible regular ECoR employees. Therefore, the application fee is as mentioned in the applicable RRC notification, and open-market application charges do not apply. Applicants should check the official notice and application portal for the final fee instruction before submitting the form.
Age limit as on 01 January 2027
The age limit under East Coast Railway recruitment 2026 will be calculated on 01 January 2027. The category-wise upper age limits and date-of-birth conditions are given below:
| Category | Upper age limit | Date of birth not earlier than |
|---|---|---|
| UR | 42 years | 02 January 1985 |
| OBC | 45 years | 02 January 1982 |
| SC/ST | 47 years | 02 January 1980 |
The date of birth must not be later than 01 January 2009 for all categories. An SC, ST, or OBC-NCL candidate applying against an UR vacancy will not receive the reserved-category age relaxation. Candidates must also satisfy the service-related eligibility conditions stated in the notification.
Post-wise vacancy details
The main vacancy distribution in East Coast Railway recruitment 2026 is shown below. Candidates should check the official vacancy annexure for the applicable post, department, community category, and PwBD details.
| Post | UR | SC | ST | OBC | Total | PwBD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assistant Loco Pilot | 495 | 197 | 104 | 250 | 1,046 | – |
| Station Master | 7 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 12 | – |
| Goods Trains Manager | 134 | 47 | 24 | 79 | 284 | – |
| Junior Engineer | 14 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 22 | 1 |
| Technicians (Grade III) | 27 | 7 | 3 | 14 | 51 | – |
| Junior Clerk cum Typist | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | – |
| Commercial Clerk cum Ticket Collector | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | – |
| Grand Total | 679 | 256 | 135 | 351 | 1,421 | 1 |
Educational qualification and eligibility
Applicants should confirm the detailed departmental eligibility requirements in Annexure-B before applying for East Coast Railway recruitment 2026. The post-wise educational qualifications are as follows:
- Assistant Loco Pilot: Matriculation/SSLC with ITI in the relevant trade from NCVT or SCVT, an act apprenticeship, or a three-year diploma/degree in mechanical, electrical, electronics, or automobile engineering.
- Station Master: A degree or equivalent qualification from a recognized university.
- Goods Trains Manager: A degree or equivalent qualification from a recognized university.
- Junior Engineer: A three-year diploma in the relevant discipline or a B.Sc. in civil engineering, as applicable to the notified post.
- Technician (Grade III): Matriculation/SSLC with ITI in the relevant trade from NCVT or SCVT or act as an apprenticeship.
- Junior Clerk cum Typist: 12th standard (+2) with at least 50% marks, along with the prescribed typing proficiency. The percentage condition is relaxed for SC, ST, and PwBD candidates as applicable.
- Commercial Clerk cum Ticket Collector: 12th standard (+2) with at least 50% marks. The applicable relaxation for SC, ST, and PwBD candidates should be checked in the official notice.
Meeting the academic qualification alone does not guarantee selection. Candidates must be regular eligible employees, fulfill the prescribed service conditions, and submit valid certificates in the required format.
Selection process
The selection process for East Coast Railway recruitment 2026 includes a computer-based test (CBT), followed by the applicable skill or aptitude test, document verification, and medical examination.
- Computer Based Test (CBT): Applicable to all notified posts.
- Computer Based Aptitude Test (CBAT): Applicable to Assistant Loco Pilot and Station Master posts.
- Computer Based Typing Skill Test (CBTST): Applicable to Junior Clerk cum Typist.
- Document Verification: Applicable to all posts.
- Medical Examination: Applicable to all posts as per the prescribed medical standard.
Post-wise exam pattern
| Post | Duration | Total questions | Subjects |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assistant Loco Pilot | 120 minutes | 100 | Mathematics 25, Reasoning 25, basic sciences & engineering, 25 trade-specific |
| Station Master | 90 minutes | 120 | General Awareness 50, Mathematics 35, Reasoning 35 |
| Goods Trains Manager | 90 minutes | 120 | General Awareness 50, Mathematics 35, Reasoning 35 |
| Junior Engineer | 120 minutes | 150 | General Awareness, Physics and Chemistry, Computers, Environment, and Technical Ability; technical section carries 100 questions |
| Technician (Grade III) | 90 minutes | 100 | Mathematics 25, Reasoning 25, General Science 40, General Awareness 10 |
| Junior Clerk cum Typist | 90 minutes; 120 minutes for PwBD candidates | 120 | General Awareness 50, Mathematics 35, Reasoning 35 |
| Commercial Clerk cum Ticket Collector | 90 minutes; 120 minutes for PwBD candidates | 120 | General Awareness 50, Mathematics 35, Reasoning 35 |
Negative marking: One-third mark will be deducted for every incorrect answer in the CBT. There is no negative marking in the CBAT.
Minimum qualifying marks
| Category | Minimum qualifying percentage |
|---|---|
| UR | 40% |
| OBC (NCL) | 30% |
| SC | 30% |
| ST | 25% |
Where there is a shortage of PwBD candidates against the available vacancies, relaxation of up to two marks may be allowed as per the applicable rules.
How to apply online
Follow these steps to submit the application:
- Visit the official RRC East Coast Railway website at www.rrcbbs.org.in.
- Open the GDCE 2026 online application link.
- Enter your name, father’s name, date of birth, IPAS ID, HRMS ID, and other required details carefully.
- Upload the photograph, signature, and scanned forwarded application/no objection document in the prescribed format.
- Review every field before registration. No editing may be permitted after registration.
- Submit the form and save the application number.
- Download and retain the acknowledgement or printout for future reference.
Documents required
- Passport-size photograph: JPEG, 100 DPI, maximum 100 KB, and not older than three months.
- Signature: JPEG, 10–40 KB, in running handwriting.
- Date of birth proof: Self-attested copy.
- Educational/technical certificate: Self-attested copy.
- Caste certificate: If applicable, in the prescribed Annexure C/D format.
- PwBD certificate: If applicable, in the prescribed format.
- Forwarded application: Scanned copy with the controlling officer’s no objection/forwarding certification.
Important instructions for candidates
Before completing the form, candidates should remember the following points:
- The recruitment is limited to eligible regular ECoR employees and excludes RPF/RPSF employees.
- Post preferences cannot be changed after submission.
- Only one online application should be submitted, even if a candidate applies for more than one post.
- The call letter will be available on the official website and will not be sent by post.
- Requests to change the examination center, date, or shift will not be accepted.
- Mobile phones, calculators, smartwatches, and other electronic devices are prohibited in the examination hall.
- Keep the application number, acknowledgement, and uploaded-document details safely until the recruitment process ends.
Official links
| Item | Information Links |
|---|---|
| Apply online | Apply Now |
| Official notification | Download Now |
| Official Website | Click Here |
| Read More | Click Here |
Conclusion
East Coast Railway recruitment 2026 offers 1,421 departmental vacancies across operating, technical, clerical, and commercial positions. Eligible employees should verify their service status, age, qualification, category documents, and post preference before submitting the single online application. Apply before 14 September 2026 and rely on the official RRC website for updates on the examination, admit card, and call letter.
Disclaimer: This article is an original informational summary based on the East Coast Railway RRC/Bhubaneswar notification dated 07 August 2026, Advertisement No. ECoR/Pers/RRC-GDCE/2026. Candidates must read the official notification before applying. In case of any discrepancy, the official notification will be final.
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