GDCE: RBE No.128/2025 – General Department Competitive Examination
No.E(NG)I/2025/PM1/3, dated 23.12.2025
Sub: General Department Competitive Examination (GDCE) for filling up 25% of the Direct Recruitment Quota Vacancies – reg.
1. Attention is invited to Board’s letter No.E(NG)I/2023/PM1/19, dated 08.10.2024 (Master Circular No. 69/2024) on GDCE, wherein consolidated instructions on the subject of conduct of GDCE are issued for ease of understanding and clarity. Attention is also drawn to Railway Board’s instructions issued by the letter of even number dated 26.05.2025 (RBE 47/2025 as amended from time to time) wherein, it was advised to hold examinations in CBT/TBT mode for departmental selections. In this regard, it has been informed to Board that some more clarity is required in the field units regarding holding of GDCE examinations on CBT mode.
2. It is therefore, clarified that the Zonal Railways may conduct the GDCE at their own Railway level as is already advised by Railway Board vide RBE 18/2024 and 25/2024, through an Examination Conducting Agency (ECA) as finalised by the concerned RRB entrusted to provide ECA for the Departmental CBT/TBTs.
3. Accordingly, Zonal Railways may conduct the GDCE at their own level through an Examination Conducting Agency (ECA) as finalized by the nodal RRB and on the lines of Departmental selections, in accordance with extant rules on GDCE.
4. The aspect that under GDCE Scheme the Question Paper is to be set by the ECA conducting the GDCE as per Para-26 of RBE 69/2024 supra. which is not the case in departmental selections as per the instructions issued vide RBE 47/2025 and 75/2025, wherein a nominated departmental officer of appropriate level is stipulated to be a Question Paper Setter, should be kept in mind while conducting the GDCE through designated ECA in the above mentioned manner.
5. Further, specific guidelines shall be issued by RRB Dte./ Railway Board pertaining to finalisation of ECA to conduct the GDCE in due course as was done in the case of departmental selections through СВТ/TBT mode.
Hindi version will follow.
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Download Railway Board Circular RBE No.128/2025
Forward reference ⇒ RBE No.