Southern Railway, Railway Recruitment Cell (RRC), Chennai, has released a notification for the recruitment of Sports Persons against Sports Quota for the year 2026-27. A total of 67 posts are available under the Open Advertisement scheme in Pay Matrix Level 1 to Level 5 of the 7th CPC.
Eligible sportspersons who are Indian citizens can submit their applications online through the RRC Chennai website. The recruitment will consider the candidates' sports achievements, educational qualifications and performance in trials.
Official Notification PDF: RRC Southern Railway Sports Quota Recruitment 2026
Southern Railway Sports Quota Recruitment 2026 - Overview
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| Organization | Southern Railway |
| Recruiting Body | Railway Recruitment Cell, Chennai |
| Recruitment | Sports Persons Against Sports Quota |
| Advertisement No. | RRC-02/Sports/2026-27 |
| Recruitment Year | 2026-27 |
| Total Vacancies | 67 |
| Pay Levels | Level 1 to Level 5 |
| Application Mode | Online |
| Opening Date | 26 September 2026 at 09:00 Hrs |
| Last Date | 25 October 2026 at 23:59 Hrs |
| Age Limit | 18 to 25 years as on 01 January 2027 |
| Job Location | Southern Railway |
Southern Railway Sports Quota Vacancy 2026-27
The notification provides 67 vacancies across Pay Matrix Levels 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5. The vacancy distribution is based on sports discipline, event or position and category.
Level 5/4 Vacancies
| Sports Discipline | Event / Position / Category | Posts |
|---|---|---|
| Athletics (Men) | Long Jump, Decathlon | 2 |
| Athletics (Women) | 100m, 400m | 2 |
| Boxing (Men) | 47-50 Kg | 1 |
| 5 |
If vacancies in Level 5/4 for a particular sports discipline are not filled because suitable candidates are not available, such vacancies may be filled in Level 3/2 from the same discipline.
Level 3/2 Vacancies
| Sports Discipline | Event / Position / Category | Posts |
|---|---|---|
| Athletics (Men) | 400m, 1500m | 2 |
| Athletics (Women) | 400m Hurdles / Long Jump | 1 |
| Basketball (Men) | Pivot | 3 |
| Cricket (Men) | Left Arm Spinner; Right Top Order Batsman; Left Hand Top Order Batsman | 3 |
| Cricket (Women) | Left Arm Fast Bowler | 1 |
| Cue Sports (Men) | Red Snooker | 1 |
| Football (Men) | Midfielder | 1 |
| Volleyball (Men) | Middle Blocker; Universal Opposite Hitter | 2 |
| Volleyball (Women) | Attacker-Outside Hitter; Middle Blocker | 2 |
| Total | 16 | |
Level 1 Vacancies
| Sports Discipline | Event / Position / Category | Posts |
|---|---|---|
| Athletics (Men) | 100m, 1200m, 400m Hurdles | 4 |
| Athletics (Women) | 100m, 100m Hurdles, 800m, 1500m | 4 |
| Boxing (Men) | 65-70 Kg, 70-75 Kg, 80-85 Kg, Above 80 Kg | 4 |
| Boxing (Women) | 54-57 Kg, 57-60 Kg, 65-70 Kg, Above 80 Kg | 4 |
| Cricket (Men) | Left Arm Spinner / Top Order Batsmen (All-Rounder); Right Top Order Batsman; Left Arm Fast Bowler | 3 |
| Cricket (Women) | Opening Batsmen; Top Order Batsmen / Off Spinner (All-Rounder) | 4 |
| Football (Men) | Forward; Midfielder; Defender | 7 |
| Hockey (Men) | Goal Keeper; Forward; Defender; Midfielder | 7 |
| Volleyball (Men) | Attacker-Outside Hitter; Middle Blocker | 3 |
| Volleyball (Women) | Setter; Libero | 2 |
| Weightlifting (Men) | 65 Kg; 79 Kg | 2 |
| Weightlifting (Women) | 53 Kg; 77 Kg | 2 |
| Total | 46 | |
Pay Scale for Southern Railway Sports Quota Posts
| Pay Matrix Level | Initial Pay |
|---|---|
| Level 1 | Rs. 18,000/- |
| Level 2 | Rs. 19,900/- |
| Level 3 | Rs. 21,700/- |
| Level 4 | Rs. 25,500/- |
| Level 5 | Rs. 29,200/- |
The specific Pay Matrix Level and place of posting will be decided by Southern Railway at the time of offering appointment based on the availability of posts, educational qualifications, sports achievements and minimum qualifying marks obtained in the recruitment process.
Who Can Apply for Southern Railway Sports Quota Recruitment?
The recruitment is open to eligible Indian citizens who satisfy both the prescribed educational qualification and the required sports achievement norms for the post and Pay Matrix Level applied for.
Age Limit
Candidates must be between 18 and 25 years of age as on 01 January 2027.
Candidates should have been born between 02 January 2002 and 01 January 2009, both dates inclusive. No relaxation in the upper or lower age limit is permissible under this notification.
The date of birth entered in the application must match the date recorded in the candidate's SSC, SSLC, Matriculation, 10th Class or equivalent certificate. Any difference in the date of birth can lead to disqualification.
Educational Qualification
| Pay Level | Minimum Educational Qualification |
|---|---|
| Level 1 | 10th Pass or ITI or equivalent or NAC granted by NCVT |
| Level 2/3 | 12th (+2 stage) or equivalent; or Matriculation plus Course Completed Act Apprenticeship for technical categories; or Matriculation plus ITI approved by NCVT/SCVT for technical categories |
| Level 4/5 | Graduation |
No relaxation in the minimum educational qualification is permitted. The qualification must be obtained from a Government-recognized institution.
Candidates who are awaiting their final examination or the results of their final examination are not eligible to apply.
For candidates appointed as Clerk cum Typist, typing proficiency of 30 words per minute in English or 25 words per minute in Hindi must be acquired within four years from the date of appointment. Until then, the appointment to this category will remain provisional.
Sports Achievement Eligibility
For this recruitment, recognized sports achievements must have been obtained during the current financial year and/or the immediately preceding two financial years. The candidate must be an active player.
The notification specifies that sports achievements considered for this recruitment should be on or after 01 April 2024 up to the date of the notification. For determining the validity of a sports achievement, the concluding day of the championship is taken into account.
Sports performance will also be assessed during the trials.
Minimum Sports Norms for Recruitment
Candidates must satisfy the prescribed sports achievement norms applicable to the Pay Matrix Level for which they are applying. The notification sets separate standards for Level 5/4, Level 3/2 and Level 1.
Level 5/4 Sports Norms
Candidates are eligible where they have achievements such as participation in the World Cup, World Championships, Asian Games, Commonwealth Games, Youth Olympics or Champions Trophy in Hockey in the categories and disciplines specified in the notification.
Level 3/2 Sports Norms
The notification includes qualifying achievements such as participation in specified international championships and events, including Asian Championships, Asia Cup, South Asian Federation Games, USIC World Railway Championships and World University Games.
Candidates may also qualify through achievements such as securing at least third position in Senior/Youth/Junior National Championships, National Games conducted under the aegis of the Indian Olympic Association, All India Inter-University Championships conducted under the Association of Indian Universities, first position in Federation Cup Championships in the Senior Category, or other specified achievements.
Level 1 Sports Norms
The Level 1 norms include specified achievements such as third position in Youth/Junior National Championships, third position in National Games under the Indian Olympic Association, third position in All India Inter-University Championships, first position in Federation Cup Championships and specified representation at State or equivalent level with the required position in Senior National Championships.
The detailed sports norms vary according to the sports discipline, level, category and achievement. Candidates should therefore check the relevant sports norm in the notification before applying.
Recognized Sports Championships and Federations
The notification specifies recognized international and national championships and states that the championships must be conducted under the aegis of recognized International/National Sports Federations and recognized by the Railway Sports Promotion Board (RSPB).
For future recruitment in Indian Railways under Sports Quota, the notification also refers to certificates issued by recognized National Sports Federations for recognized sports achievements. Certificates for National Championships conducted by a federation not recognized by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports are not accepted for recruitment.
Additional Sports Eligibility Provisions
- In Athletics, medal-winning performance in National Inter-State Senior Athletics Championships may also be considered for Level 2 posts in the circumstances specified in the notification.
- In Athletics, Gold medal winners in Open National Championships (Senior), Inter-State Athletics Championships (Senior) and Asian Championships (Senior) may also be considered for Level 5/4.
- In Cricket, specified achievements at National level organized under the aegis of BCCI may be considered for recruitment.
- For Hockey, specified participation in international tournaments may also be considered for Level 2 or Level 3 where the required number of nations participate.
- Volleyball certificates issued by Volleyball Federation or its affiliated units after 25 June 2020 are subject to the specific conditions mentioned in the notification.
Can Higher Sports Achievement Candidates Apply for Lower Pay Levels?
Yes. Candidates satisfying the minimum sports norms for a higher Pay Level may apply for recruitment against lower Pay Levels. However, they will be considered only for the Pay Level for which they applied.
Such candidates must give an undertaking that they will not claim a higher Pay Level after joining the Railways on the basis of sports achievements acquired before joining the Railways.
Southern Railway Sports Quota Selection Process 2026
The recruitment is based on performance during trials, assessment of sports achievements and educational qualification. Only candidates who are found fit in the trials will proceed to the next stage.
Recruitment Stages
- Application scrutiny
- Sports Trials
- Assessment of recognized sports achievements
- Assessment of educational qualification
- Merit preparation
- Document verification
- Medical examination
Sports Trial Assessment
The Trial Committee will assess candidates on game skill, physical fitness and the coach's observation during the trials. The maximum marks for trial performance are 40 marks.
Only candidates declared FIT in the trials will be considered for the next stage. Candidates declared NOT FIT will not be shortlisted by the Recruitment Committee.
| Assessment | Maximum Marks |
|---|---|
| Game Skill, Physical Fitness and Coach's Observation during Trials | 40 |
| Recognized Sports Achievements | 50 |
| Educational Qualification | 10 |
| Total | 100 |
Minimum Qualifying Marks
| Pay Level | Minimum Qualifying Marks |
|---|---|
| Level 5/4 | 65 marks |
| Level 3/2 | 65 marks |
| Level 1 | 60 marks |
Appointment will be offered purely on the basis of merit and availability of vacancies. If more than one sportsperson obtains the same marks, preference will be given to the younger candidate for deciding merit.
Only sportspersons who can be fitted into the Southern Railway team will be considered for recruitment.
Southern Railway Sports Quota Trial Dates
The exact dates, venue and timings of the trials will be notified later through the Railway Recruitment Cell, Chennai website.
Candidates should regularly check the RRC Chennai website because they may be required to appear for the selection tests at short notice.
Candidates must produce the original documents relating to educational qualification, community, sports achievements, date of birth, minority status, income certificate and proof of identity on the day of trials and document verification. Candidates who fail to produce the required originals will not be allowed to appear in the trials.
Application Fee
| Candidate Category | Fee | Refund Provision |
|---|---|---|
| All candidates except fee concession categories | Rs. 500 | Rs. 400 will be refunded after deducting bank charges on appearing in the trials |
| SC/ST, Women, Ex-Servicemen, Persons with Disabilities, Minority Community and Economically Backward Classes | Rs. 250 | Rs. 250 will be refunded after deducting bank charges on appearing in the trials |
The application fee must be paid online through the payment gateway integrated with the online application. Candidates may use a Debit Card, Credit Card, Internet Banking or other payment options available through the gateway. Any applicable online transaction charges are to be borne by the candidate.
After successful payment, an e-receipt will be generated. Candidates should save or print the e-receipt for future reference.
Economically Backward Classes
For the purpose of fee concession, Economically Backward Classes means candidates whose annual family income is less than Rs. 50,000 per annum.
The notification specifies the following authorities/documents for identifying EBC candidates, subject to the prescribed format:
- District Magistrate or Revenue Officer not below the rank of Tahsildar.
- Sitting Member of Parliament of the Lok Sabha for persons of the concerned constituency.
- Below Poverty Line (BPL) Card or another certificate issued by the Central Government.
- Union Minister recommendation as specified in the notification.
- Sitting Member of Parliament of the Rajya Sabha for persons of the district in which the MP normally resides.
The prescribed EBC income certificate must be issued in the prescribed format and uploaded with the application. Failure to upload the required certificate can result in rejection of the application.
Community Certificate Requirements
No post is exclusively reserved for any particular community such as OBC, SC or ST.
Candidates claiming OBC or SC/ST status must produce the required community certificate from the competent authority in the prescribed format. OBC candidates must also submit the prescribed certificate indicating that they do not belong to the creamy layer. Candidates claiming reservation without the appropriate certificate may be treated as UR candidates.
Medical Examination
Sportspersons recommended for appointment must satisfy the prescribed medical standards applicable to the post to which they are appointed.
Documents to Upload
Candidates must upload clear and legible scanned documents along with the online application. The notification requires documents including the following:
- Self-attested certificate/marksheet of the essential minimum educational qualification.
- Certificates/marksheets of higher educational qualifications, such as graduation or post-graduation, if applicable.
- Self-attested certificate of essential sports achievements as prescribed in the notification.
- Standard 10 / Matriculation / Secondary School Leaving Examination certificate or equivalent certificate/marksheet showing date of birth.
- Community certificate issued by the competent authority for candidates claiming SC/ST/OBC status.
- Documents supporting fee exemption or concession, wherever applicable.
- Minority declaration, where applicable.
- Income certificate/BPL Card/Izzat MST as applicable for Economically Backward Classes.
- Recent scanned colour photograph.
- Scanned signature.
Certificates in languages other than English or Hindi must be accompanied by an attested English or Hindi translation and uploaded with the application.
Photograph and Signature Specifications
Photograph
- Recent colour photograph.
- Size: 3.5 cm × 3.5 cm.
- The photograph should not be older than one month from the date of application.
- JPG/JPEG format.
- 100 DPI.
- File size between 50 KB and 100 KB.
- Clear front view of the candidate.
- No cap or sunglasses.
Candidates should keep at least three additional copies of the same photograph ready for document verification. RRC Chennai may reject applications where an old or unclear photograph is uploaded or where there is significant variation between the uploaded photograph and the candidate's actual physical appearance.
Signature
- Size: 3.5 cm × 2.5 cm.
- JPG/JPEG format.
- 100 DPI.
- File size between 10 KB and 40 KB.
- Signature must be in English or Hindi.
- Signature must be in running hand and not in BLOCK/CAPITAL or disjointed letters.
How to Apply for Southern Railway Sports Quota Recruitment 2026?
- Visit the official Railway Recruitment Cell, Chennai website.
- Open the online application link for Southern Railway Sports Quota Recruitment 2026-27.
- Read the notification and confirm that you satisfy the educational and sports eligibility requirements.
- Select the appropriate sports discipline and the specific event or position/category correctly.
- Enter the required personal, educational and sports achievement details.
- Upload the prescribed certificates, photograph and signature in the required format.
- Upload the appropriate community, EBC, minority or other supporting documents wherever applicable.
- Pay the applicable examination/application fee online.
- Verify all information before final submission.
- Submit the application online and save the application details and e-receipt.
Candidates should submit the application well before the closing date to avoid difficulties caused by heavy server load.
Important Instructions Before Applying
- Applications must be submitted online only. Physical applications will not be accepted.
- Candidates must keep their personal mobile number and valid email ID active throughout the recruitment process.
- The mobile number and email ID should not be changed until completion of selection and related administration.
- Candidates applying for more than one game/sport discipline or event must submit separate applications with the required documents and fee.
- Candidates applying for sports discipline/event for posts in different Pay Levels must pay a separate fee for each Pay Level.
- Candidates should correctly select the sports discipline and specific event/position while completing the online application.
- The sports achievement certificate must clearly mention the sports discipline, event/position/category and the position obtained.
- Original certificates must be produced during trials and document verification.
- Candidates should be prepared to attend trials and document verification at short notice after the last date of application.
- Trial and document verification attendance will be at the candidate's own expense.
- No request to change the trial date, time or venue will be entertained.
- Candidates must make their own travel and stay arrangements at Chennai or any other place indicated for the trials.
- Canvassing or misconduct at any stage can lead to rejection of candidature.
- False or forged documents/information can result in cancellation of candidature and may also lead to criminal prosecution.
Invalid Applications: Common Reasons for Rejection
Applications can be summarily rejected for deficiencies including:
- Unfilled columns or incomplete application.
- Application without a scanned signature.
- Application without a scanned photograph.
- Photograph showing goggles, cap, wig or coloured glasses.
- Disfigured, very small, unclear or unrecognizable photograph.
- Failure to mention the specific event or position played in the sport.
- Candidate being under-aged or over-aged.
- Date of birth being missing or incorrectly entered.
- Failure to possess the required educational or sports qualification.
- Non-payment or short payment of the application fee.
- Failure to upload documents supporting fee concession or exemption.
- Failure to upload proof of date of birth, educational qualification or sports achievements.
- Illegible or unreadable uploaded documents.
- Multiple applications with minor changes or different details for the same post and discipline.
- Application submitted through any mode other than online.
- Any other irregularity or deficiency identified by RRC Chennai.
