To
The Director General (HR),
Railway Board,
Rail Bhawan,
New Delhi.
Sub: Request for Age Relaxation for Ex-Servicemen and Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD) for appearing in LDCE
Ref:
- Railway Board’s letter No. E(NG)I/2022/PM1/36 dated 08.02.2024 (RBE No. 11/2024)
- Railway Board’s letter No. E(NG)I/2022/PM1/36 dated 26.05.2025 (RBE No. 47/2025)
- Railway Board’s letter No. E(NG)I/2025/PM1/3 dated 28.07.2025
Dear Sir,
The Railway Board, through the above-referred letters, has recently standardized various instructions concerning departmental selections through Computer-Based Tests (CBT), including the constitution of Selection Committees and Question Paper Setters. These were aimed at addressing difficulties experienced by Zonal Railways and Production Units in implementing provisions of Board’s letter dated 26.05.2025 regarding departmental selections through CBT.
Further, to facilitate better understanding, the Railway Board, vide letter dated 28.07.2025, circulated a detailed flowchart outlining activities involved in centralized and Division/Unit-wise formats of CBT-based departmental selections.
While these instructions cover several operational aspects, one crucial issue remains unaddressed — the age limit prescribed for Ex-Servicemen and Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD) in the Limited Departmental Competitive Examination (LDCE).
It has come to notice that on various Zonal Railways and Production Units, a considerable number of Ex-Servicemen who were recruited after the age of 40 years and PwBD employees appointed under reserved quota are currently serving in Commercial, Operating, and other departments. However, the existing upper age limit of 40 years prescribed for appearing in LDCE for CCTs posts under the 10% quota has rendered many such employees ineligible, depriving them of fair opportunities for career progression.
It is pertinent to mention that Ex-Servicemen join the Railways after rendering several years of distinguished service in Defence or Paramilitary Services. Their entry into Railways was permitted with age relaxation equivalent to their defence service tenure plus three years, acknowledging their contribution to the nation. Similarly, PwBD employees were granted 10 years relaxation during recruitment, promoting inclusivity and equal opportunity.
Considering these facts, it is only fair that such employees, who were already given age relaxation at the entry stage, may also be granted corresponding relaxation for promotional examinations such as LDCE. Failure to do so will disqualify a large segment of deserving Ex-Servicemen and PwBD employees despite their competence, experience, and commitment to service.
In view of the foregoing, the All India Railwaymen’s Federation (AIRF) urges the Railway Board to sympathetically consider granting appropriate age relaxation to Ex-Servicemen and PwBD employees for appearing in LDCE, at par with the relaxation given to SC/ST and OBC employees.
Such a measure will safeguard legitimate career interests of these employees and promote the values of justice, equality, inclusiveness, and employee welfare that Indian Railways has always upheld.
We therefore request the Railway Board to examine this matter on priority and issue suitable instructions at the earliest.
Yours sincerely,
(Sd/-)
(Shiv Gopal Mishra)
General Secretary, AIRF
Copy to: General Secretaries, AIRF-affiliated unions – for information.
