For talented athletes across India, the South Central Railway has unveiled a golden opportunity to transform sporting excellence into a stable and prestigious government career. The Railway Recruitment Cell (RRC) of the South Central Railway has officially announced its Sports Quota Recruitment for the year 2025-26, inviting online applications from eligible Indian sportspersons. This is not just a job offer; it’s a chance to be officially recognized for your athletic prowess and be compensated for the years of dedication and hard work you have invested in your sport. By offering 61 positions across a wide array of individual and team sports, the Indian Railways continues its legacy of nurturing national talent and strengthening its sports teams. If you have represented your state or country and dream of a secure future, this is your call to action.
Important Dates at a Glance
Mark your calendars and ensure you do not miss these critical deadlines. The entire application process is online, and no extensions are anticipated.
- Start of Online Applications: 25th October 2025 (From 5:00 PM)
- Last Date for Online Applications: 24th November 2025 (Until 11:59 PM)
Candidates are strongly advised not to wait until the last day to submit their applications to avoid any last-minute technical issues or website congestion.
Vacancy Details: Positions and Sports
The South Central Railway aims to fill a total of 61 vacancies for Group ‘C’ and Group ‘D’ posts across its Headquarters in Secunderabad and its various divisions. The break-up is as follows:
Total Vacancies: 61
The recruitment is divided into two primary pay levels, with vacancies distributed across numerous sports disciplines:
1. For Pay Level 3/2 (Group ‘C’ Posts – 21 Vacancies)
These are higher-grade posts for athletes with significant achievements. Vacancies under the SCR Headquarters quota include:
- Athletics (Men & Women): Triple Jump, 5000 Mts
- Shuttle Badminton (Men & Women): Singles
- Basketball (Men & Women): All-rounder
- Boxing (Men): +92 Kgs, 50 Kgs
- Cricket (Men & Women): All-rounder, Batswoman, etc.
- Cycling, Gymnastics, Kho-Kho, Powerlifting, Volleyball, Weightlifting
2. For Pay Level 1 (Group ‘D’ Posts – 40 Vacancies)
These posts are for sportspersons with notable state-level achievements. Vacancies are spread across:
- SCR Headquarters: Athletics, Cricket, Hockey (10 Posts)
- Secunderabad Division: Basketball, Handball, Boxing, Gymnastics (5 Posts)
- Hyderabad Division: Handball, Volleyball (5 Posts)
- Vijayawada Division: Archery, Handball (5 Posts)
- Guntur Division: Athletics, Weightlifting, Powerlifting (5 Posts)
- Guntakal Division: Football, Cricket (5 Posts)
- Nanded Division: Kho-Kho, Kabaddi (5 Posts)
Note: Candidates must apply for a specific sport, event, and position as listed in the notification. The railway administration reserves the right to change the number of posts or cancel the recruitment process.
Application Fees
The application fee structure is designed to be inclusive, with concessions for candidates from various backgrounds.
- For All General Candidates: ₹500/- (Rupees Five Hundred Only)
- For SC/ST/Women/Minorities/Economically Backward Classes (EBC): ₹250/- (Rupees Two Hundred Fifty Only)
- Minorities include Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, and Zoroastrians (Parsis), who must submit a self-declaration.
- EBC candidates must have an annual family income of less than ₹50,000/- and upload an income certificate from a competent authority.
The fee must be paid online through the payment gateway integrated into the RRC website using Net Banking, Debit/Credit Card, or UPI.
Eligibility Criteria
Before applying, candidates must meticulously ensure they meet the following eligibility conditions:
A. Age Limit (as on 01st January 2026):
- Minimum Age: 18 years
- Maximum Age: 25 years
- A candidate must have been born not earlier than 2nd January 2001 and not later than 1st January 2008.
- Crucially, there is no relaxation in the upper or lower age limit for any category of candidates.
B. Educational Qualification:
- For Pay Level 1 (Group ‘D’) Posts: Matriculation (10th pass) or ITI or equivalent or National Apprenticeship Certificate (NAC) granted by NCVT.
- For Pay Level 2/3 (Group ‘C’) Posts: 12th (+2 stage) or its equivalent examination.
C. Sports Achievement Norms:
This is the most critical component. The minimum sports norms required are categorized based on the pay level of the post.
- For Pay Level 2/3 (Grade Pay ₹1900/₹2000):
- Represented India in Category-B international championships (World Cup, World Championships, Asian Games, etc.), OR
- Secured at least 3rd position in Category-C championships (Asian Championships, Commonwealth Championships, etc.), OR
- Secured at least 3rd position in Senior/Youth/Junior National Championships, OR
- Secured at least 3rd position in National Games, OR
- Secured at least 3rd position in All India Inter-University Championships.
- For Pay Level 1 (Grade Pay ₹1800):
- Represented India in any Category-C international championship, OR
- Secured at least 3rd position in Federation Cup Championships (Senior), OR
- Represented a State or equivalent unit and secured at least 8th position in Senior National Championships.
- Sport-Specific Notes:
- Badminton: Current World Ranking (up to 70th for Seniors) or All India Ranking (up to 20th for Seniors) are also considered.
- Cricket: Achievements like being a quarter-finalist in Senior/U-23/U-19 All India Inter State Championships are considered for higher posts.
- Boxing, Handball, Volleyball, Powerlifting: Achievements in events conducted by certain federations after specific dates are not recognized. Please refer to the official notification for detailed, sport-specific criteria.
- Validity of Achievements: Sports achievements must have been attained on or after 1st April 2023, and the candidate must be an active player.
Salary Scale and Perks
Selected candidates will be appointed in the 7th Central Pay Commission pay structure, offering a attractive salary and job security.
- For Pay Level 3/2 (Group ‘C’): Pay Band of ₹5,200 – ₹20,200 with a Grade Pay of ₹2000/₹1900. The initial pay will be at the minimum of the pay scale.
- For Pay Level 1 (Group ‘D’): Pay Band of ₹5,200 – ₹20,200 with a Grade Pay of ₹1800. The initial pay will be at the minimum of the pay scale.
In addition to the basic pay, employees are entitled to various allowances such as Dearness Allowance (DA), House Rent Allowance (HRA), Travel Allowance (TA), and other benefits as admissible to railway employees. This position offers unparalleled job security, a respected social standing, and opportunities for career progression within the world’s largest railway network.
Selection Process
The selection is a multi-stage process designed to comprehensively assess a candidate’s sporting merit and fitness.
- Scrutiny of Applications: A Scrutiny Committee will shortlist eligible candidates based on the documents uploaded with the online application.
- Document Verification: Shortlisted candidates will be called for verification of all original certificates, including educational qualifications, sports achievements, age, and category.
- Sports Trials (40 Marks): Candidates who clear document verification will undergo sports trials. A Trial Committee will assess game skills, physical fitness, and overall performance.
- Candidates must score a minimum of 25 marks out of 40 to be declared “FIT” and proceed to the next stage.
- Assessment of Sports Achievements & Education (60 Marks): Candidates declared “FIT” will be assessed by a Recruitment Committee.
- Sports Achievements: 50 Marks
- Educational Qualification: 10 Marks
- Final Merit List (100 Marks): The marks from the Trial (max 40) and the Assessment (max 60) will be combined to create a final merit list out of 100 marks.
Minimum Qualifying Marks:
- Pay Level 3 (GP ₹2000): 65 Marks
- Pay Level 2 (GP ₹1900): 60 Marks
- Pay Level 1 (GP ₹1800): 55 Marks
The offer of appointment is purely on the basis of merit. In case of a tie, the younger candidate will be preferred.
How to Apply: A Step-by-Step Guide
The application process is entirely online through the official South Central Railway website.
- Visit the Official Website: Go to the South Central Railway’s RRC webpage.
- Prepare Scanned Documents: Keep ready scanned (JPG/JPEG format) copies of:
- Recent passport-size color photograph (4.5cm x 3.5cm, 20-70 KB).
- Your signature (3.5cm x 2.5cm, 20-30 KB).
- Self-attested copies of Date of Birth proof, Educational Certificates, Sports Achievement certificates, Caste/Income Certificate (if applicable), and NOC (if employed).
- New Registration: Click on the recruitment notification and register using a valid personal email ID and mobile number. You will receive a registration number and password.
- Log In and Fill Form: Use your credentials to log in and carefully fill out the online application form.
- Upload Documents: Upload all the prepared, scanned documents in the specified fields.
- Pay Fee: Proceed to pay the application fee online via the integrated payment gateway.
- Submit and Print: Review all details, submit the application, and save/print the final submitted form for your records.
Critical General Instructions
- One Application per Sport: A candidate applying for more than one sport or event must submit a separate application with a separate fee for each.
- No TA/DA: No travel or daily allowance will be provided for attending the trials. Candidates must make their own arrangements for travel and stay.
- Service Bond and Probation: Selected candidates will have to sign a 5-year service bond and will undergo a probation period of two years, which may be extended based on performance.
- Medical Fitness: The final appointment is contingent upon the candidate being found medically fit as per railway standards.
- Zero Tolerance for Malpractice: Impersonation, suppression of facts, or submission of fake documents will lead to disqualification, debarment from future railway recruitments, and possible legal action. The use of performance-enhancing drugs is strictly banned.
- NOC for Employed Candidates: Candidates serving in government/PSUs must apply with a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from their employer.
