No. AIRF/53 (LS) Dated: 06.01.2026

To
The Chairman & CEO,
Railway Board,
Rail Bhavan,
New Delhi.

Sub: General Departmental Competitive Examination (GDCE) for filling up Direct Recruitment (DR) quota vacancies – need for clarity, uniform implementation and adherence to Board’s own instructions – reg.

Ref:–

Railway Board’s letter no. E(NG)I/2001/PM2/12 dated 21.01.2002 (RBE No. 09/2002).

  1. Railway Board’s letter no. E(NG)I/2020/PM1/5/Pt. I dated 28.07.2023.
  2. Railway Board’s letters No. E(NG)I/2025/PM1/3 dated 26.02.2025 & 28.05.2025 (RBE No. 19/2025 & RBE No. 47/2025).
  3. AIRF’s PNM Item No 09/2021 at Railway Board’s level.
  4. Railway Board’s letter no. E(NG)I/2025/PM1/3 dated 23.12.2025.

Dear Sir,

The All India Railwaymen’s Federation (AIRF) desires to invite the kind attention of the Railway Board to certain serious and persisting issues relating to the conduct of the General Departmental Competitive Examination (GDCE) for filling up vacancies earmarked from the Direct Recruitment (DR) quota, particularly in the light of the instructions reiterated vide Board’s letter dated 23.12.2025 (Ref. 5).

  1. At the outset, AIRF wishes to recall that the GDCE scheme itself was conceptualised as a welfare-oriented and administratively pragmatic measure to ensure speedy redeployment of surplus staff, timely filling up of vacancies in essential categories and optimum utilisation of experienced manpower. In this context, Railway Board’s letter dated 21.01.2002 (RBE No. 09/2002) clearly stipulated that 25% net DR quota vacancies shall ordinarily be filled through GDCE in eligible categories. Significantly, pursuant to the demand raised by AIRF in the PNM meeting held on 23–24.08.2001, the Board, after due consideration, delegated powers to the General Managers to fill DR quota vacancies through GDCE in excess of 25%, up to a ceiling of 50%, under their personal approval, with a specific objective of expediting recruitment and facilitating redeployment of surplus staff.
  2. The aforesaid instructions further underscore the intent of the Board to treat GDCE not as an exception but as an important recruitment channel. The same letter also extended GDCE eligibility to regular Group ‘C’ and Group ‘D’ staff of Production Units and mandated circulation of GDCE notifications to such units, thereby reinforcing the inclusive and uniform character of the scheme across Indian Railways.

  1. Further, AIRF draws attention to Railway Board’s letter dated 28.07.2023 (Ref. 2), issued in pursuance of Item No. 9/2021 of the PNM meeting with AIRF held on 11th & 12th April, 2023, wherein Zonal Railways were explicitly advised to compute GDCE quota vacancies while assessing their DR quota indents. This clarification leaves no ambiguity that GDCE vacancies are required to be identified, segregated and accounted for at the very stage of DR vacancy assessment, and that indents to RRBs are to be placed only for the balance vacancies after earmarking GDCE quota.
  2. However, despite the above-mentioned categorical instructions, it has been brought to the notice of AIRF that considerable ambiguity continues to prevail at the field level. Divergent practices are being followed by different Zonal Railways with regard to earmarking of GDCE vacancies, mode of examination and engagement of Examination Conducting Agencies (ECAs). This has resulted in avoidable delays, confusion among eligible staff and inconsistent implementation of the GDCE scheme.
  3. While the Board’s intention to bring standardisation through Master Circular No. 69/2024 dated 08.10.2024 and the instructions issued under RBE No. 47/2025 is appreciated, it is necessary to clearly appreciate that GDCE is a distinct recruitment mechanism. As per Para 26 of Master Circular No. 69/2024, the question paper for GDCE is required to be set by the ECA itself, which is fundamentally different from departmental selections under RBE Nos. 47/2025 & 75/2025, where the question paper is set by a departmental officer of appropriate rank. This vital distinction appears to have been overlooked at the field level, leading to incorrect application of departmental selection norms to GDCE.
  4. It is also a matter of concern that, in the absence of comprehensive and consolidated instructions regarding finalisation of ECAs specifically for GDCE, Zonal Railways are interpreting the guidelines in their own manner, resulting in lack of uniformity. Moreover, AIRF has been informed by the Pr. CPO/ South Central Railway that no explicit Board instructions exist for automatic segregation of 25% of DR vacancies for GDCE, a position which is clearly contrary to the spirit and contents of Board’s letters dated 21.01.2002 and 28.07.2023.
  5. In this background, AIRF is constrained to state that the present manner of implementation of GDCE defeats the very purpose for which the scheme was evolved. More importantly, dilution or non-adherence to the understanding arrived at with AIRF regarding enhancement of GDCE share up to 50% of DR quota vacancies, as already permitted under RBE No. 09/2002, would amount to a deviation from the commitment made during negotiations and adversely impact staff morale.

In view of the foregoing, AIRF earnestly urges the Railway Board to:

(i) Issue clear, comprehensive and unambiguous instructions to all Zonal Railways reiterating mandatory earmarking of GDCE quota vacancies at the stage of DR vacancy assessment, strictly in terms of Board’s letters dated 21.01.2002 and 28.07.2023;

(ii) Reaffirm and operationalise the provision for filling up to 50% of DR quota vacancies through GDCE, as envisaged under RBE No. 09/2002, wherever administrative exigencies so warrant;

(iii) Issue specific and uniform guidelines regarding conduct of GDCE through ECAs, distinctly separating the same from departmental selection procedures;

(iv) Immediate steps be taken to keep in abeyance the Railway Board’s letter dated 23.12.2025 (RBE No. 128/2025) and revised notification be issued after proper assessment of vacancies by the Zonal Railways in accordance with instruction exists on the subject matter.

AIRF sincerely hopes that the Railway Board will accord due priority to this long-pending issue and issue necessary policy clarifications at the earliest. Such timely intervention will not only ensure uniformity, transparency and administrative consistency, but will also restore the confidence of thousands of railway employees awaiting legitimate avenues of career progression.

We, therefore, request your kind and immediate intervention in the matter.

Yours Sincerely,

(Signed)

(Shiva Gopal Mishra)
General Secretary

Copy to: General Secretary, All affiliated Unions of AIRF – For information.