East Central Railway recruitment 2026: apply for 1,465 ALP, other posts by October 15

In short

Applications for 1,465 Assistant Loco Pilot and other Group-C posts opened on September 15, 2026.
The application window for eligible East Central Railway and Rail Wheel Plant, Bela, employees closes on October 15, 2026, at 23:59 HRS.
The recruitment is conducted via the General Departmental Competitive Examination (GDCE) 2026, with notification number RRC/ECR/HRD/Rectt/GDCE/2026.
The selection process includes a Computer Based Test (CBT), with potential aptitude or typing skill tests, document verification, and a medical examination.
Candidates must possess the required qualifications by October 15, 2026, and have them recorded in their service register.

The East Central Railway (ECR), through its Railway Recruitment Cell (RRC), commenced the application process on September 15, 2026, for 1,465 vacancies across various Group-C posts, including Assistant Loco Pilot (ALP). The recruitment drive is being conducted under the General Departmental Competitive Examination (GDCE) 2026, with the application window scheduled to close on October 15, 2026.

Official notification screenshot — Screenshot of the official page at ecr.indianrailways.gov.in

This recruitment is exclusively open to regular employees of East Central Railway and Rail Wheel Plant, Bela, and is not accessible to external job seekers. The notification, numbered RRC/ECR/HRD/Rectt/GDCE/2026, was officially published on September 11, 2026, under Notice No. GDCE/02/2026.

Vacancy Details and Eligibility Criteria

A total of 1,465 vacancies have been announced, with Assistant Loco Pilot (ALP) accounting for the largest share at 910 posts. Other significant vacancies include 389 for Goods Train Manager and 42 for Commercial Cum Ticket Clerk. The recruitment covers a range of positions across different pay levels, from Level 2 to Level 6.

Only regular employees of East Central Railway or Rail Wheel Plant, Bela, are eligible to apply, provided they do not apply for the same post they currently hold. Personnel from the Railway Protection Force (RPF) and Railway Protection Special Force (RPSF) are not eligible. Candidates must possess the required qualifications by the application closing date of October 15, 2026, and these qualifications must be officially recorded in their employee service register.

Post Name	Pay Level	Vacancies
Assistant Loco Pilot	Level 2	910
Technician III – Blacksmith	Level 2	2
Technician III – Fitter	Level 2	1
Technician III – Mason	Level 2	1
Technician III – Welder	Level 2	2
Technician III – Electrical General	Level 2	2
Technician III – TRS	Level 2	1
Technician III – Mechanical Power	Level 2	6
Technician III – C&W Welder	Level 2	19
Technician III – Signal	Level 2	8
Technician III – Tele	Level 2	3
Junior Engineer – C&W	Level 6	15
Junior Engineer – Diesel Mechanical	Level 6	6
Junior Engineer – Electrical General	Level 6	3
Junior Engineer – Electrical TRD	Level 6	1
Junior Engineer – P.Way	Level 6	7
Junior Engineer – Works	Level 6	5
Depot Material Superintendent	Level 6	19
Chief Commercial Cum Ticket Supervisor	Level 6	5
Station Master	Level 6	9
Goods Train Manager	Level 5	389
Senior Clerk	Level 5	6
Section Controller	Level 6	3
Commercial Cum Ticket Clerk	Level 3	42
Total	—	1,465

Age Limits and Application Process

The upper age limit for candidates will be calculated as of January 1, 2027. For Unreserved (UR) candidates, the upper age limit is 42 years. Other Backward Classes (OBC) candidates have an upper age limit of 45 years, while Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) candidates are eligible up to 47 years of age. The official GDCE notification does not specify an application fee for this recruitment.

Eligible employees can apply by visiting the official East Central Railway website at ecr.indianrailways.gov.in. The process involves clicking on the recruitment or registration link, completing the registration, filling out the application form with required details, and submitting it before the deadline of October 15, 2026, at 23:59 HRS. Applicants are advised to download and retain a hard copy of the confirmation page for future reference.

Selection Procedure and Examination Details

The selection process for the East Central Railway’s General Departmental Competitive Examination (GDCE) 2026 will primarily involve a Computer Based Test (CBT). Depending on the specific post, this initial test may be followed by additional stages, including a Computer Based Aptitude Test or a Computer Based Typing Skill Test, Document Verification, and a Medical Examination, as stated by the East Central Railway and Railway Recruitment Cell (RRC).

The CBT will consist of 100 questions and candidates will have 120 minutes to complete it. A negative marking scheme will be implemented, deducting one-third of a mark for each incorrect answer. For positions requiring an aptitude test, candidates must achieve a minimum T-score of 42 in each test battery, with no category-based relaxation permitted for this requirement. Candidates for the Senior Clerk post must demonstrate a typing speed of 30 words per minute in English or 25 words per minute in Hindi; this typing test is qualifying in nature and its marks will not contribute to the final merit list, if you look at the RRC East Central Railway GDCE Recruitment 2026.