East Central Railway GDCE 2026: Apply Online for 1465 Posts

Recruitment Board Railway Recruitment Cell, East Central Railway
Post Name Assistant Loco Pilot (ALP), Technician, Junior Engineer (JE), Depot Material Superintendent (DMS), Station Master, Goods Train Manager, Section Controller, Senior Clerk, Commercial Cum Ticket Clerk
Total Vacancies 1465 Posts
Start Date 15 Sep 2026
Last Date To Apply 15 Oct 2026
Qualification 1oth with ITI | Diploma/Engineering | Graduate
Age Limit 18 - 47 Years
Application Fee Nil
Salary (e.g. 25000-40000) ₹19,900 - ₹1,12,400
Job Street Address Railway Recruitment Cell (RRC), East Central Railway
Job Locality (City) 5th Floor, 'C' Block, Maurya Lok Complex, Dak Bunglow Road
Job Region (State) Patna, Bihar
Job Postal Code 800001

The Railway Recruitment Cell (RRC), East Central Railway has released the East Central Railway GDCE Recruitment 2026 notification for 1,465 vacancies in various railway posts. The recruitment is being conducted through the General Departmental Competitive Examination (GDCE).

The vacancies include Assistant Loco Pilot (ALP), Technician, Junior Engineer (JE), Depot Material Superintendent (DMS), Station Master, Goods Train Manager, Section Controller, Senior Clerk, Commercial Cum Ticket Clerk and other posts.

Important: Check Out Other Railway Jobs 2026

Importantly, this is a departmental recruitment examination. The opportunity is primarily for eligible regular employees of East Central Railway and Rail Wheel Plant (RWP), Bela, subject to the conditions prescribed in the notification. RPF and RPSF personnel are not eligible.

The online application process started on 15 September 2026 and eligible employees can submit applications up to 15 October 2026 at 11:59 PM.

East Central Railway GDCE Recruitment 2026: Overview

ParticularDetails
Recruiting OrganizationRailway Recruitment Cell, East Central Railway
Railway ZoneEast Central Railway
ExaminationGeneral Departmental Competitive Examination (GDCE) 2026
Notification NumberRRC/ECR/HRD/Rectt/GDCE/2026
Total Vacancies1,465
Application ModeOnline
Application Start Date15 September 2026
Last Date15 October 2026, 11:59 PM
EligibilityEligible regular ECR/RWP, Bela employees
Pay LevelsLevel 2, Level 3, Level 5 and Level 6
SelectionCBT, applicable aptitude/typing test, DV and Medical
Official WebsiteEast Central Railway

The notification number and application schedule are reported as RRC/ECR/HRD/Rectt/GDCE/2026, with applications open from 15 September to 15 October 2026.

East Central Railway GDCE Vacancy 2026

A total of 1,465 vacancies have been notified across 24 post categories. The major post-wise distribution is given below.

Post NamePay LevelVacancies
Assistant Loco PilotLevel 2910
Technician III – BlacksmithLevel 22
Technician III – FitterLevel 21
Technician III – MasonLevel 21
Technician III – WelderLevel 22
Technician III – Electrical GeneralLevel 22
Technician III – TRSLevel 21
Technician III – Mechanical PowerLevel 26
Technician III – C&W WelderLevel 219
Technician III – SignalLevel 28
Technician III – TeleLevel 23
Junior Engineer – C&WLevel 615
Junior Engineer – Diesel MechanicalLevel 66
Junior Engineer – Electrical GeneralLevel 63
Junior Engineer – Electrical TRDLevel 61
Junior Engineer – P.WayLevel 67
Junior Engineer – WorksLevel 65
Depot Material SuperintendentLevel 619
Chief Commercial Cum Ticket SupervisorLevel 65
Station MasterLevel 69
Goods Train ManagerLevel 5389
Senior ClerkLevel 56
Section ControllerLevel 63
Commercial Cum Ticket ClerkLevel 342
Total1,465

ECR GDCE 2026 Salary Structure

The salary is based on the 7th Central Pay Commission Pay Matrix, with the applicable level depending on the post. The basic pay range associated with the notified levels is as follows:

Pay LevelBasic Pay RangeMajor Posts
Level 2₹19,900 – ₹63,200ALP, Technician posts
Level 3₹21,700 – ₹69,100Commercial Cum Ticket Clerk
Level 5₹29,200 – ₹92,300Goods Train Manager, Senior Clerk
Level 6₹35,400 – ₹1,12,400JE, DMS, Station Master, Section Controller, CCTS

The figures above represent the basic pay range under the applicable Pay Matrix. Actual monthly salary will depend on admissible allowances and deductions.

Download Railway ECR GDCE 2026 Recruitment

Who Can Apply for ECR GDCE 2026?

This recruitment is different from an open-market Railway recruitment. Candidates must satisfy the departmental eligibility conditions.

Generally, applicants must be:

  • Regular employees of East Central Railway or Rail Wheel Plant, Bela.
  • Eligible for the post according to the prescribed educational and technical qualifications.
  • In possession of the required qualification by the prescribed closing date.
  • Able to satisfy the post-specific medical and service conditions.
  • Not serving in RPF/RPSF, as personnel of these forces are excluded from the notification.

Employees who have resigned or transferred out of the applicable organization are not eligible. Candidates also need to ensure that their qualification is properly recorded in their service records.

ECR GDCE 2026 Age Limit

The age is calculated as on 1 January 2027.

CategoryAge Limit
UR18 to 42 years
OBC18 to 45 years
SC/ST18 to 47 years

The corresponding date-of-birth conditions and other age-related provisions should be checked in the official notification before submitting the application.

Educational Qualification

The educational qualification varies considerably according to the post.

Assistant Loco Pilot

Candidates generally require Matriculation/SSLC with ITI or an approved Act Apprenticeship in a prescribed trade. Certain engineering diploma/degree qualifications are also accepted for the relevant ALP categories.

Technician

Technician posts generally require Matriculation/SSLC with ITI or Act Apprenticeship in the relevant trade. Certain Signal and Telecommunication posts have additional qualification routes.

Junior Engineer

JE posts generally require a relevant three-year Diploma or Engineering Degree, depending on the particular engineering discipline and post.

Depot Material Superintendent

The notified qualification includes a three-year Diploma in Engineering in the prescribed discipline/route.

Station Master

A recognized university degree or equivalent is required.

Goods Train Manager

A recognized university degree or equivalent is required.

Senior Clerk

A recognized university degree or equivalent along with the prescribed computer typing proficiency is required.

Commercial Cum Ticket Clerk

12th standard or equivalent qualification is required, subject to the prescribed marks and relaxation provisions.

Because the exact qualification differs by post and trade, applicants should carefully match their service record and qualification against the relevant post in Annexure A of the official notification.

ECR GDCE 2026 Application Fee

The recruitment notification does not specify a separate application fee for this departmental GDCE process. Candidates should nevertheless check the application portal and official notification for any subsequent clarification before final submission.

East Central Railway GDCE 2026 Selection Process

The selection process varies according to the post. The recruitment generally involves:

For posts such as Assistant Loco Pilot, a Computer Based Aptitude Test (CBAT) is applicable after the CBT. For posts requiring typing proficiency, a Computer Based Typing Skill Test may be conducted.

The CBT is generally of 100 questions for 100 marks with a duration of 120 minutes, with applicable negative marking.

Exam Pattern and Syllabus

The ECR GDCE CBT generally tests candidates through objective-type questions covering areas relevant to the post.

CBT Pattern

ParticularDetails
ModeComputer Based Test
Question TypeObjective/MCQ
Questions100
Marks100
Duration120 minutes
Negative Marking1/3 mark for each incorrect answer
Qualifying MarksAs prescribed for the candidate category

Major Syllabus Areas

Depending on the post, the CBT syllabus may cover areas such as:

  • General Awareness
  • General Science
  • Mathematics
  • Reasoning
  • Current Affairs
  • General Intelligence
  • Technical/Professional Knowledge
  • Trade-specific subjects

For ALP and other technical posts, candidates should pay particular attention to the technical subjects prescribed for their respective qualification and trade.

Minimum Qualifying Marks

The reported minimum qualifying requirements for the CBT are:

CategoryMinimum Marks
UR40%
OBC-NCL30%
SC30%
ST25%

For the ALP aptitude test, candidates are required to achieve the prescribed minimum T-score of 42 in each test battery, with no category-based relaxation in that requirement.

For the Senior Clerk typing test, the prescribed qualifying speed is generally 30 words per minute in English or 25 words per minute in Hindi. The typing test is qualifying in nature.

ECR GDCE 2026 Important Dates

EventDate
Notification Date11 September 2026
Online Application Starts15 September 2026 at 12:01 AM
Last Date to Apply15 October 2026 at 11:59 PM
CBT DateTo be announced
Aptitude/Typing TestTo be announced
Document VerificationTo be announced
Medical ExaminationTo be announced

The application window and closing time have been reported as 15 September 2026 to 15 October 2026, respectively.

How to Apply for East Central Railway GDCE 2026

Eligible employees can submit their applications online through the prescribed RRC/ECR process.

Step 1: Visit the Official Website

Open the official East Central Railway website.

Step 2: Go to RRC/Patna

Navigate to the Hajipur Headquarters → RRC Patna → GDCE section.

Step 3: Select GDCE 2026

Open the application link associated with notification RRC/ECR/HRD/Rectt/GDCE/2026.

Step 4: Register

Select the new registration option and enter the required employee identification and date-of-birth details.

Step 5: Enter Details

Fill in the personal, service, educational and contact information carefully.

Step 6: Upload Documents

Upload the required photograph, signature and other supporting documents in the prescribed format.

Step 7: Select Posts

Select the eligible posts and enter preferences carefully. Candidates should ensure that they meet the qualification and medical requirements for every post selected.

Step 8: Submit the Application

Review all information before final submission. After submitting the form, save a copy of the application for future reference.

Only one online application is required, and candidates generally do not need to send a hard copy of the application or certificates to RRC/ECR by post.

Documents Required

Candidates should keep the following information/documents ready:

  • Recent passport-size photograph
  • Scanned signature
  • Employee ID/service details
  • Date-of-birth proof
  • Educational certificates
  • Technical/ITI certificates, wherever applicable
  • Category certificate, where applicable
  • OBC-NCL documents, wherever applicable
  • Disability certificate, where applicable
  • Other documents required under the relevant post

Important Points Before Applying

Candidates should keep the following points in mind before submitting the ECR GDCE application:

  1. This is a departmental GDCE recruitment, not a general open recruitment for all railway aspirants.
  2. Only employees satisfying the prescribed departmental eligibility conditions should apply.
  3. RPF and RPSF personnel are not eligible under this notification.
  4. Post-wise educational qualifications are different.
  5. Medical standards can differ according to the nature of the post.
  6. Candidates should carefully select their eligible posts and preferences.
  7. The application should be submitted before 15 October 2026, 11:59 PM.
  8. Candidates should preserve the submitted application and registration details.
  9. The CBT date will be announced separately.
  10. Applicants should rely on the official notification for the final interpretation of eligibility, vacancy, qualification and selection provisions.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many vacancies are announced under ECR GDCE Recruitment 2026?
A total of 1,465 vacancies have been notified under East Central Railway GDCE 2026.
What is the last date to apply for ECR GDCE 2026?
The last date for online application is 15 October 2026 up to 11:59 PM.
What is the ECR GDCE 2026 notification number?
The notification number is RRC/ECR/HRD/Rectt/GDCE/2026.
Who can apply for ECR GDCE 2026?
The recruitment is intended for eligible regular employees of East Central Railway and Rail Wheel Plant, Bela, subject to the conditions specified in the notification.
Are RPF employees eligible for ECR GDCE?
No. RPF and RPSF personnel are not eligible under this GDCE recruitment.
What posts are available?
The vacancies include Assistant Loco Pilot, Technician, Junior Engineer, Depot Material Superintendent, Station Master, Goods Train Manager, Section Controller, Senior Clerk, Commercial Cum Ticket Clerk and other notified posts.
What is the salary in ECR GDCE 2026?
The posts fall under Pay Levels 2, 3, 5 and 6, depending on the position. Basic pay ranges from ₹19,900 to ₹1,12,400 across these levels before applicable allowances and deductions.
Is there negative marking in ECR GDCE CBT?
Yes. One-third of the marks allotted to a question is deducted for an incorrect answer, according to the reported examination provisions.
When will the ECR GDCE CBT be conducted?
The CBT date has not yet been announced and will be communicated by the recruiting authority separately.

The East Central Railway GDCE Recruitment 2026 has opened 1,465 departmental vacancies across technical, operating, commercial and clerical positions. Since eligibility is linked to the prescribed railway employee conditions, candidates should first confirm their departmental status, qualification, service-record details and post-specific medical requirements.

Eligible employees should complete the online application before 15 October 2026 and use the official notification as the final authority for all recruitment-related conditions.