About the East Coast Railway GDCE Recruitment 2026
The East Coast Railway GDCE Recruitment 2026 notification has been officially released by the Railway Recruitment Cell (RRC), Bhubaneswar, under Notification No. ECoR/Pers/RRC-GDCE/2026, dated 07 August 2026. This General Departmental Competitive Examination (GDCE) aims to fill 1,421 vacancies across various Safety and Non-Safety category posts. The recruitment drive includes key positions such as Assistant Loco Pilot (ALP), Junior Engineer (JE), Station Master, Goods Trains Manager, Technicians, Junior Clerk cum Typist, and Commercial Clerk cum Ticket Collector.
It is important to note that this is an internal recruitment process, not open to the general public. Only regular and eligible employees of East Coast Railway (including those from the erstwhile Waltair division/SCoR), who currently hold a lien in ECoR and are not RPF/RPSF staff, are eligible to apply.
ECoR GDCE Vacancy Details 2026
A total of 1,421 vacancies are available through the ECoR GDCE 2026, distributed across different posts and categories. One post under Junior Engineer is specifically reserved for PwBD (Locomotor Disability) candidates.
| S. No. | Post Name | No. of Posts |
|---|
| 1 | Assistant Loco Pilot | 1,046 (UR-495, SC-197, ST-104, OBC-250) |
| 2 | Station Master | 12 (UR-7, SC-2, ST-1, OBC-2) |
| 3 | Goods Trains Manager | 284 (UR-134, SC-47, ST-24, OBC-79) |
| 4 | Junior Engineer | 22 (UR-14, SC-2, ST-2, OBC-4, incl. 1 PwBD) |
| 5 | Technicians (various trades) | 51 (UR-27, SC-7, ST-3, OBC-14) |
| 6 | Junior Clerk cum Typist | 4 (UR-1, SC-1, ST-1, OBC-1) |
| 7 | Commercial Clerk cum Ticket Collector | 2 (UR-1, OBC-1) |
| Grand Total | 1,421 (UR-679, SC-256, ST-135, OBC-351, PwBD-1) |
The official notification PDF provides a detailed division/unit-wise breakdown of vacancies for each post, covering Khurda Road, Waltair, Sambalpur, MCS/CRW, and ECoR HQ. All vacancies are provisional and may be adjusted based on the Railway Administration's requirements.
Eligibility Criteria for ECoR GDCE 2026
Candidates must be regular employees of East Coast Railway (including erstwhile Waltair division/SCoR), excluding RPF/RPSF staff, and must currently hold a lien in ECoR. Employees who have resigned or transferred out of ECoR are not eligible. Employees in the same or lower grade/pay level as the notified post can apply, provided they meet the educational qualifications.
Educational Qualifications
The minimum educational and technical qualifications vary significantly by post. Candidates must possess the required qualification as of the GDCE notification date, and those awaiting final results are not eligible.
| Post | Minimum Qualification |
|---|
| Assistant Loco Pilot | Matriculation/SSLC with ITI (NCVT/SCVT) in a relevant trade, OR Matriculation/SSLC with Act Apprenticeship in a relevant trade, OR a 3-year Diploma/Degree in Mechanical/Electrical/Electronics/Automobile Engineering. |
| Station Master | A Degree from a recognized university or its equivalent. |
| Goods Trains Manager | A Degree from a recognized university or its equivalent. |
| Junior Engineer (various disciplines) | A 3-year Diploma in the relevant engineering discipline (Civil/Mechanical/Electrical/Electronics, as applicable), or a B.Sc. Engineering of 3-year duration for Civil posts. |
| Technicians (various trades) | Matriculation/SSLC with ITI (NCVT/SCVT) in the relevant trade, OR Matriculation/SSLC with Act Apprenticeship in the relevant trade (trades vary, e.g., Electrician, Fitter, Welder, Machinist). |
| Junior Clerk cum Typist | 12th (+2 Stage) or equivalent with a minimum of 50% aggregate marks (relaxed for SC/ST/PwBD and higher-qualified candidates). Typing proficiency in English/Hindi on a computer is also required. |
| Commercial Clerk cum Ticket Collector | 12th (+2 Stage) or equivalent with a minimum of 50% aggregate marks (relaxed for SC/ST/PwBD and higher-qualified candidates). |
Age Limit
The age limits for candidates applying to ECoR GDCE 2026 are calculated as on 01 January 2027:
- Unreserved (UR) candidates: Maximum 42 years.
- Other Backward Classes (OBC) candidates: Maximum 45 years.
- Scheduled Caste (SC) / Scheduled Tribe (ST) candidates: Maximum 47 years.
No age relaxation is applicable for SC/ST/OBC-NCL candidates applying against unreserved (UR) vacancies.
Application Fee
The official notification for ECoR GDCE Recruitment 2026 does not mention any application fee for candidates.
Salary and Pay Scale
The notification specifies the applicable 7th CPC Pay Level for each post, but does not provide exact monthly salary or pay matrix figures.
- Assistant Loco Pilot and Technicians: Pay Level 2
- Commercial Clerk cum Ticket Collector: Pay Level 3
- Goods Trains Manager: Pay Level 5
- Station Master and Junior Engineer: Pay Level 6
ECoR GDCE Selection Process
The selection process for ECoR GDCE 2026 involves a Computer Based Test (CBT) as the initial stage, followed by additional post-specific tests, Document Verification, and a Medical Examination.
| Post | Exam Mode | Additional Test |
|---|
| Assistant Loco Pilot | CBT (120 min, 100 questions) | Computer Based Aptitude Test (CBAT) |
| Station Master | CBT (90 min, 120 questions) | Computer Based Aptitude Test (CBAT) |
| Goods Trains Manager | CBT (90 min, 120 questions) | None |
| Junior Engineer | CBT (120 min, 150 questions) | None |
| Technicians | CBT (90 min, 100 questions) | None |
| Junior Clerk cum Typist | CBT (90 min, 120 questions) | Computer Based Typing Skill Test (CBTST) |
| Commercial Clerk cum Ticket Collector | CBT (90 min, 120 questions) | None |
Key points regarding the selection process:
- The CBT includes negative marking, with 1/3rd of a mark deducted for each incorrect answer. There is no negative marking in the CBAT.
- Minimum qualifying marks in CBT are 40% for UR, 30% for OBC (Non-Creamy Layer), 30% for SC, and 25% for ST candidates. These marks are relaxable by 2 marks for PwBD candidates in case of a shortage against reserved vacancies.
- Candidates will be shortlisted for CBAT/Typing Skill Test at 8 times the number of vacancies, based on their CBT merit.
- For Assistant Loco Pilot, the final merit is determined by a 50% weightage for CBT and 50% for CBAT. For Station Master, it is 70% CBT and 30% CBAT.
- Candidates equal to the number of vacancies will be called for Document Verification, based on their combined CBT/CBAT merit.
- Final appointment is contingent upon successfully passing the prescribed Medical Fitness Test.
How to Apply Online for ECoR GDCE 2026
Eligible employees of East Coast Railway must submit their applications online through the official RRC Bhubaneswar website. A single online application is sufficient even if applying for multiple posts.
- Visit the official RRC Bhubaneswar website: www.rrcbbs.org.in.
- Locate and click on the ECoR GDCE 2026 application link.
- Carefully fill in all personal details and bio-data in the online application form.
- Upload a recent colour passport-size photograph (35mm x 45mm, JPEG format, up to 100 KB) and a scanned signature (JPEG, 10–40 KB).
- Ensure you have scanned self-attested copies of your date of birth, educational/technical qualification certificates, caste certificate, and PwBD certificate (if applicable) ready for upload.
- Thoroughly review all entered details before clicking the register button, as no changes can be made after registration.
- Note down the unique application number generated post-registration and download/print the completed application form in PDF format.
- Obtain the necessary forwarding by your controlling officer on the printed application and then upload the signed, scanned copy under the supporting documents tab (this step is mandatory).
- Submit the application well in advance of the closing date, 14 September 2026, to prevent any last-minute technical issues.
Important Instructions for Applicants
- Only regular ECoR employees (excluding RPF/RPSF) with lien in ECoR/erstwhile Waltair division/SCoR are eligible. Resigned or transferred-out employees are not permitted to apply.
- The name, father's name, and date of birth entered in the application must precisely match Matriculation/SSLC records and service records. No requests for changes will be entertained later.
- Applicants must maintain a valid personal mobile number and email ID throughout the recruitment process, as all official communication will be sent via SMS/email only. Changes to these contact details will not be entertained after submission.
- Applications may be rejected for reasons such as a missing Immediate Supervisor's certification PDF, incorrect educational qualification, being overage, invalid/incorrect photo specifications, using block/capital letters for the signature, or an incomplete application.
- SC/ST/OBC-NCL candidates must present original caste/OBC-NCL certificates in the prescribed formats (Annexure-C, D, E of the notification) during Document Verification. Failure to do so will result in their candidature being considered under the UR category, provided they meet other eligibility criteria.
- There is no separate reservation for Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) under this specific notification.
- Electronic gadgets, wallets, belts, and metallic items are strictly prohibited inside the examination hall.
- Any candidate found engaging in unfair means or attempting impersonation will be permanently debarred from all RRB/RRC examinations and will face legal action.
- The number of vacancies is provisional and may be increased, decreased, or cancelled at any stage as per the requirements of the Railway Administration.
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