East Coast Railway ECR GDCE 2026 – Overview
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| Recruiting Organization | East Coast Railway (ECoR) |
| Recruitment Cell | Railway Recruitment Cell, Bhubaneswar |
| Recruitment Name | GDCE 2026 |
| Notification No. | ECoR/Pers/RRC-GDCE/2026 |
| Notification Date | 07 August 2026 |
| Total Vacancies | 1,421 Posts |
| Major Post | Assistant Loco Pilot (ALP) |
| Application Mode | Online |
| Online Application Starts | 15 August 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply | 14 September 2026 |
| Official Website | RRC Bhubaneswar |
| Job Category | Railway Departmental Recruitment |
Vacancies Detail for East Coast Railway GDCE Recruitment 2026
East Coast Railway has announced 1,421 vacancies across different categories. The largest share is for Assistant Loco Pilot/Electrical, with 1,046 posts distributed among Sambalpur, Waltair and Khurda Road divisions.
| Post | Division/Unit | Total Posts |
|---|---|---|
| Assistant Loco Pilot / Electrical | Sambalpur | 203 |
| Assistant Loco Pilot / Electrical | Waltair | 300 |
| Assistant Loco Pilot / Electrical | Khurda Road | 543 |
| Station Master | Sambalpur | 4 |
| Station Master | Waltair | 8 |
| Goods Train Manager | Khurda Road | 120 |
| Goods Train Manager | Waltair | 79 |
| Goods Train Manager | Sambalpur | 85 |
| Junior Engineer – Various Disciplines | ECoR/Divisions | 22 |
| Technician-III – Various Trades | ECoR/Divisions | 48 |
| Junior Clerk cum Typist | ECoR | 4 |
| Commercial Clerk cum Ticket Collector | Sambalpur | 2 |
| Total | — | 1,421 |
East Coast Railway ALP Vacancy 2026
For candidates looking specifically for the ECoR ALP GDCE Recruitment 2026, the Assistant Loco Pilot/Electrical vacancies are as follows:
| Division | UR | SC | ST | OBC | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sambalpur (SBP) | 104 | 55 | 31 | 13 | 203 |
| Waltair (WAT) | 147 | 51 | 28 | 74 | 300 |
| Khurda Road (KUR) | 244 | 91 | 45 | 163 | 543 |
| Total ALP | 495 | 197 | 104 | 250 | 1,046 |
Thus, ALP alone accounts for 1,046 out of the 1,421 notified posts.
Selection Procedurefor East Coast Railway GDCE Recruitment 2026
Selection for ECR GDCE Recruitment 2026 involves the following stages:
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Computer Based Test (CBT): Objective-type multiple-choice examination. Negative marking of 1/3rd mark applies for each wrong answer.
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Skill Test / Aptitude Test:
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Computer Based Aptitude Test (CBAT) for ALP and Station Master posts.
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Typing Skill Test for Junior Clerk cum Typist posts.
-
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Document Verification (DV): Verification of original certificates and service book record.
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Medical Examination: Standard medical fitness test appropriate for the applied post.
Application Fees
Here is the complete information about East Coast Railway ECR GDCE Notification 2026 application fee. We advise the candidates that read the rules, methods and guidelines in the official notification before any payment of the application fee.
| Category | Application Fee |
|---|---|
| Fee | Not Mentioned |
Who Can Apply for ECR GDCE 2026?
One of the most important points candidates should understand is that ECoR GDCE is meant for eligible existing railway employees.
The notification states that the applicant should be a regular employee/lien holder of East Coast Railway, including the erstwhile Waltair Division/SCoR. Employees who have resigned or transferred to another railway from East Coast Railway are not eligible under this notification.
Therefore, candidates should not confuse this recruitment with regular RRB open-market recruitment.
ECR GDCE Educational Qualification 2026
Educational requirements vary according to the post.
Assistant Loco Pilot / Electrical
Candidates must have any one of the following:
- Matriculation/SSLC + ITI in the prescribed trades from recognized NCVT/SCVT institutions; or
- Matriculation/SSLC + completed Act Apprenticeship in the relevant prescribed trades; or
- 3-year Diploma in Mechanical, Electrical, Electronics or Automobile Engineering from a recognized institution.
- Degree in the relevant engineering disciplines is also acceptable in place of the Diploma.
The notification lists relevant ITI trades including Electrician, Electronics Mechanic, Fitter, Instrument Mechanic, Machinist, Mechanic Diesel, Mechanic Motor Vehicle, Refrigeration & Air-Conditioning Mechanic, Turner, Wireman and other specified trades.
Station Master
A Degree from a recognized University or equivalent is required.
Goods Train Manager
Candidates need a recognized University Degree or equivalent qualification.
Junior Engineer
Qualification differs according to the engineering discipline. For example, several Civil Engineering JE positions require a three-year Diploma in Civil Engineering or an eligible B.Sc. Engineering qualification, while the Track Machine JE has specified Mechanical/Production/Automobile/Electrical/Electronics/Instrumentation-related qualifications.
Technician-III
The required qualification depends on the individual trade. Generally, the notification specifies Matriculation/SSLC along with ITI or relevant Act Apprenticeship for the notified technical categories.
Junior Clerk cum Typist
Candidates should have:
- 12th (+2 Stage) or equivalent
- Normally at least 50% aggregate marks
- Typing proficiency in English/Hindi on computer
The 50% requirement is not insisted upon for specified categories such as SC/ST, PwBD candidates and candidates possessing qualifications higher than 12th.
Commercial Clerk cum Ticket Collector
Candidates should have:
- 12th (+2 Stage) or equivalent
- Normally at least 50% aggregate marks
The notification provides specified exemptions from the 50% requirement for certain categories and candidates having higher qualifications.
ECR GDCE Age Limit 2026
The age will be calculated as on 01 January 2027.
| Category | Age Limit |
|---|---|
| UR | 18 to 42 Years |
| OBC | 18 to 45 Years |
| SC/ST | 18 to 47 Years |
The official notification specifies the applicable date-of-birth cut-offs and makes it clear that the age requirement is to be reckoned as on 01.01.2027.
East Coast Railway GDCE Selection Process 2026
The selection procedure depends upon the post applied for.
The broad recruitment stages include:
- Computer Based Test (CBT)
- Computer Based Aptitude Test (CBAT) – where applicable
- Typing Skill Test (CBTST) – where applicable
- Document Verification
- Medical Examination
For ALP, the official notification specifies single-stage CBT followed by Computer Based Aptitude Test (CBAT).
Post-Wise Selection
| Post | CBT | Additional Test |
|---|---|---|
| Assistant Loco Pilot | Yes | CBAT |
| Station Master | Yes | CBAT |
| Goods Train Manager | Yes | — |
| Junior Engineer | Yes | — |
| Technician-III | Yes | — |
| Junior Clerk cum Typist | Yes | Typing Skill Test |
| Commercial Clerk cum Ticket Collector | Yes | — |
ECR ALP Exam Pattern 2026
For the Assistant Loco Pilot post, the CBT is scheduled for 120 minutes and contains 100 questions.
| Subject | Questions |
|---|---|
| Mathematics | 25 |
| General Intelligence & Reasoning | 25 |
| Basic Science & Engineering | 25 |
| Trade-Specific Section | 25 |
| Total | 100 |
The ALP CBT carries negative marking, with 1/3 mark deducted for each incorrect answer.
Candidates qualifying for the next stage are shortlisted for CBAT. The notification states that candidates up to eight times the number of ALP vacancies may be shortlisted for the aptitude test, subject to the applicable conditions.
For ALP final merit, 50% weightage is given to CBT marks and 50% to CBAT score, among candidates who qualify the CBAT.
Station Master Exam Pattern
For Station Master, the CBT has:
- 120 questions
- 90 minutes
- General Awareness – 50 questions
- Mathematics – 35 questions
- General Intelligence & Reasoning – 35 questions
Candidates qualifying for CBAT must obtain the prescribed minimum T-score in each test battery. The final Station Master merit gives 70% weightage to CBT and 30% to CBAT.
Negative Marking in ECR GDCE 2026
Candidates should be careful while attempting the CBT.
The notification specifies that 1/3 of the marks allotted to a question will be deducted for every wrong answer in CBTs. However, there is no negative marking in CBAT.
Minimum Qualifying Marks
The notification specifies the following minimum percentage for eligibility in the CBT:
| Category | Minimum Marks |
|---|---|
| UR | 40% |
| OBC-NCL | 30% |
| SC | 30% |
| ST | 25% |
The notification also provides for a limited relaxation for PwBD candidates where applicable and subject to the conditions mentioned therein.
ECR GDCE 2026 Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Notification Released | 07 August 2026 |
| Online Application Begins | 15 August 2026 |
| Last Date for Online Application | 14 September 2026 |
| CBT Date | To be announced |
| CBAT/Typing Test | To be announced |
| Document Verification | To be announced |
| Medical Examination | To be announced |
The official notification confirms the 15 August 2026 opening date and 14 September 2026 closing date for online registration and application submission.
How to Apply for East Coast Railway GDCE Recruitment 2026
Eligible East Coast Railway employees can submit their applications through the RRC Bhubaneswar portal.
Step-by-step application process
Step 1: Visit the official RRC Bhubaneswar website.
Step 2: Find the link for ECoR GDCE 2026.
Step 3: Read the notification carefully before starting the application.
Step 4: Enter the required personal, service and educational information.
Step 5: Provide the required IPAS ID, HRMS ID and Date of Birth carefully.
Step 6: Upload the required photograph, signature and supporting certificates.
Step 7: Take a printout of the completed application.
Step 8: Get the application duly forwarded/certified by the controlling officer as prescribed.
Step 9: Upload the signed application/supporting document on the relevant tab.
Step 10: Submit the application and save the acknowledgement/application PDF for future reference.
The notification specifically instructs applicants to obtain the required No Objection from their controlling authority and upload the duly forwarded signed application.
Important Links for East Coast Railway GDCE Recruitment 2026
You can find here all-important links to apply for East Coast Railway ECR GDCE Notification 2026.
| Description | Link |
|---|---|
| Apply Online (Link will be updated on 15th August 2026) | Click Here |
| Download Official Notification | Click Here |
| Official Website – RRC Bhubaneswar | Click Here |
Other Important Information
Important Information:
- Eligibility: Only regular employees (except RPF/RPSF) having lien in East Coast Railway (including erstwhile Waltair Division/SCoR) are eligible. Candidates who resigned or transferred to any other railway are not eligible.
- GDCE Quota: Vacancies are for 25% of net Direct Recruitment Quota in Safety/Non-Safety category posts.
- No Supplementary Exam: There will be no supplementary exam for absentee candidates under any circumstances.
- PwBD Vacancies: 1 vacancy reserved for PwBD (Locomotor Disability) for Junior Engineer/P.Way/Civil Engineering at KUR.
- No EWS Reservation: There is no separate reservation for Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) as per Railway Board’s letter.
- Age Reckoning Date: Age will be reckoned as on 01.01.2027.
- Normalization: Raw marks for single session and normalized marks for multi-session papers will be used for merit computation using percentile equivalence methodology.
- Post Preference: Post preference once opted is final and no change is permissible at any stage.
- Banned Items: Mobile phones, Bluetooth devices, pen drives, laptops, calculators, wrist watches, and other electronic/communication devices are strictly prohibited inside the exam hall.
- Malpractices: Candidates found using unfair means will be debarred from all RRC/RRB examinations for lifetime and may face legal prosecution.
- Scribe Facility: Available for eligible PwBD candidates. Scribe must register on the RRC portal and obtain an OTR number.
- Vacancies are provisional and may increase, decrease, or become NIL depending on actual needs of Railway Administration.
- Jurisdiction: Legal issues arising from this notification fall within the jurisdiction of Hon’ble Central Administrative Tribunal, Cuttack only.
- Contact: Technical assistance: rrcecor@gmail.com | Helpline: 7303484063 | support@ecorbbs.in | Phone: 0674-2303106 (Working days, 10:00-17:00 hrs).
- Certificates: All certificates must be in English or Hindi only. OBC certificate must not be older than one year at the time of Document Verification.
