South Eastern Railway Group ‘C’ Sports Person Recruitment

Your Application Timeline and Age Eligibility Decoded for SER Sports Quota 2026

A Strict One-Month Window: Plan Your Application

The application window for the SER Sports Quota 2026 is open for exactly one month, from 10 January to 09 February 2026. Candidates must note that the notification is silent on a specific time cut-off on the last day, so it's advisable to submit well before the deadline. Crucially, the notification explicitly states that no corrections or edits are allowed after final submission. This zero-correction policy makes it imperative to review every detail in your application before clicking submit. Dates for the physical sports trials will be announced separately on the official RRC-SER website, so candidates must monitor it regularly.

A Rigid Age Bar: No Relaxations Apply

This recruitment has one of the strictest age policies. The age is calculated as on 01 January 2026, and you must be between 18 and 25 years old. This means your date of birth must fall strictly within 02 January 2001 and 01 January 2008. Unlike most government recruitments, this sports quota notification offers absolutely no age relaxation for any category, including SC, ST, OBC, PwD, or Ex-Servicemen. The selection is based purely on sports merit, and the age limit is uniformly applied to all applicants without exception.

54 Posts Across Three Levels: A Pure Merit-Based Opportunity

Understanding the Vacancy Breakdown and Pay Scales

South Eastern Railway is offering a total of 54 posts for sportspersons across Group C and Group D. The majority of vacancies (33) are for Level-1 (Group D), while there are 16 posts in Level-2/3 and 5 in Level-4/5 of Group C. A defining feature of this recruitment is that there is no reservation for any community (SC/ST/OBC/EWS) or PwD. The selection is conducted purely on the basis of sports merit and performance in the trial. Successful candidates will be placed in the respective pay levels of the 7th CPC, with grade pay ranging from ₹1800 to ₹2800, along with all admissible allowances.

Salary, Bond, and Service Conditions You Must Know

Selected candidates will be compensated as per the 7th Pay Commission matrix for Central Government employees. In addition to the basic pay, they will receive Dearness Allowance, House Rent Allowance, and other benefits as per Railway rules. However, this opportunity comes with a significant commitment. Appointees must sign a mandatory service bond to serve the Railways for a minimum of 5 years. Failure to complete this period can lead to legal and financial action as per Railway service rules. The appointment is also provisional, subject to verification of all original documents at a later stage.

Meeting the Dual Benchmarks: Academics and Sporting Prowess

The Non-Negotiable Educational Criteria for Each Level

Your educational qualification must exactly match the post you are applying for. For the higher-level Group C posts (Level-4/5), a Graduate Degree is mandatory. For other Group C posts (Level-2/3), you need to be a 12th Pass. For entry-level Group D (Level-1) posts, a 10th pass certificate or an ITI/NAC qualification is required. A critical rule is that candidates appearing in their final year or awaiting results are not eligible to apply. You must have already passed the required examination and possess the final certificate at the time of submitting your application. No relaxation is provided in educational norms.

Validating Your Sports Credentials: Recent and Recognized

The heart of this recruitment is your sports achievement. Your certificates must be for performances dated on or after 01 April 2023, ensuring recent form is considered. More importantly, the tournaments or events must have been conducted by federations recognized by the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports (MoYAS). Certificates from unrecognized bodies or local events will be summarily rejected. All eligible candidates will also have to prove their current skill and fitness in a mandatory Sports Trial, which includes assessment of game skills, physical fitness, and coach's observations.

Critical Training Clause for Technician-III Posts

A specific condition applies for candidates appointed as Technician-III (Sports Quota) in Group C. The training period varies based on your educational background. If you are appointed with only a 10th pass qualification, you will undergo 3 years of training. However, if you possess an ITI qualification in the relevant trade, the training period is significantly reduced to just 6 months. This clause highlights the importance of having technical qualifications for certain sports quota positions.

From Trial to Appointment: The Merit-Based Selection Roadmap

A Sequential Filtering Process With No Written Exam

The selection is a meticulous five-stage process designed to assess both current ability and past accomplishments. It begins with the Sports Trial, which is a qualifying stage. Candidates must then clear the verification of their sports and educational certificates. A Medical Fitness Test is mandatory before the final appointment. At any of these stages, if a candidate is found ineligible or provides incorrect information, their candidature will be cancelled. There is no written examination or Computer Based Test (CBT) in this recruitment. Selection is based entirely on sports performance, achievements, and educational qualifications.

Understanding the Scoring System, Cut-offs and Tie-Breaker

Your final score out of 100 will decide your rank. Past Sports Achievements carry the highest weightage of 50%. Your performance on the day of the Sports Trial accounts for 40 marks, with a strict qualifying benchmark of 25 marks. Failing to score 25 in the trial leads to elimination, regardless of your past achievements. Educational qualification contributes the remaining 10 marks. Furthermore, there are minimum aggregate qualifying marks that vary by level: 70 for Level-4/5, 65 for Level-2/3, and 60 for Level-1. In case of a tie in total marks, the younger candidate will be given clear preference as the official tie-breaker rule.

Your Step-by-Step Application Guide and Compliance Checklist

Navigating the Online Portal and Fee Payment

Applications are accepted only online via the RRC-SER website. You have from 10 January to 09 February 2026 to complete the process. The fee structure is designed to encourage serious candidates: while UR/OBC candidates pay ₹500, a significant portion (₹400) is refunded upon attending the trial. For SC/ST/PwD/Women/EBC/Minority/Ex-Servicemen candidates, the fee is ₹250, which is fully refunded upon trial attendance. Remember, transaction charges for online payment are additional and must be borne by you. The refund process is initiated only after you participate in the sports trial.

Preparing and Uploading Documents Correctly

Adherence to document specifications is non-negotiable. Your photograph must be a recent passport-sized (3.5x3.5 cm) JPG image under 70 KB. Signature and Left Thumb Impression scans must also meet the prescribed format. You will need to upload clear scans of your Photo ID (Aadhaar, Voter ID, etc.), all educational mark sheets and certificates, and your sports achievement certificates. If you are claiming fee concession under EBC/Minority categories, you must upload the relevant declarations (Annexures from the notification). Incorrectly sized or unclear uploads are a primary reason for application rejection.

Critical Document Requirement for Sports Trials

When called for the Sports Trial, you must appear with all original documents and two sets of self-attested photocopies of every uploaded certificate. This includes your educational certificates, sports achievement certificates, photo ID, and any community/income declarations. Failure to bring both the originals and the two self-attested copies will result in you not being allowed to participate in the trials. This is a mandatory checkpoint before you can demonstrate your sporting skills.

Travel Benefit for SC/ST Candidates

In a notable provision, SC and ST category candidates are eligible for free second-class railway travel to attend the sports trials. This benefit is specifically mentioned to facilitate participation from these communities. Candidates must arrange this through the proper channels and should keep their community certificate ready to avail this facility when traveling for trials.

• Irreversible Application Submission: The notification is unequivocal: "No change whatsoever will be entertained after final submission." There is no correction window. Any mistake in personal details, discipline name, or document upload can lead to permanent rejection.
• Typing Skill Mandate for Clerk-cum-Typist: Candidates appointed as Clerk-cum-Typist in Group C must acquire typing proficiency within 4 years of appointment: 30 WPM in English or 25 WPM in Hindi. Failure to achieve this will mean your appointment remains provisional indefinitely.
• Provisional Appointment & Right to Reject: Any offer of appointment is provisional and subject to verification of original documents. The Railway administration reserves the right to reject any application at any stage, even after appointment, if any discrepancy is found.
• No TA/DA or Accommodation: Candidates called for the sports trial will not be paid any Travel Allowance or Daily Allowance. They must arrange and bear the cost of their travel, stay, and food for the 2-3 days of trials. The exception is SC/ST candidates who get free second-class rail travel.
• Anywhere Posting in SER: Selected candidates can be posted anywhere within the South Eastern Railway zone. They must be willing to serve in any division, workshop, or unit under SER's jurisdiction.
• Strict Action Against Agents: The recruitment process is merit-based and free. Involvement of any agent or middleman is strictly prohibited and can lead to disqualification.
• Exclusive Legal Jurisdiction: Any legal dispute arising from this recruitment process will be subject to the jurisdiction of the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT), Kolkata Bench only.
• Certificate Authenticity: Sports certificates must be from MoYAS-recognized federations for events on or after 01-04-2023. Certificates from unrecognized bodies, school/college events, or outside the validity period will be invalid.
• Multiple Application Ban: Submitting more than one application for the same or different disciplines will lead to the cancellation of all your applications.
• Document Presentation at Trials: You must bring all original documents plus two sets of self-attested photocopies to the sports trial venue. Without these, you will not be permitted to participate in the trials.