Railway Board Secretariat Service Regulations 2026

REGD. No. D. L.-33004/99 The Gazette of India CG-DL-E-03062026-273123 EXTRAORDINARY PART II-Section 3-Sub-section (i) PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY No. 391] NEW DELHI, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 3, 2026/JYAISTHA 13, 1948 4010 GI/2026 MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS (Railway Board) NOTIFICATION New Delhi, the 1st June, 2026 G.S.R. 433(E). — In pursuance of sub-rule (6) of rule 8 of the Railway Board Secretariat Service Rules, 2026, the President hereby makes the following regulations, namely:- 1. Short title and commencement.- (1) These regulations may be called the Railway Board Secretariat Service (Promotion to Senior Administrative Grade, Senior Selection Grade, Selection Grade and Grade-I) Regulations, 2026. (2) They shall come into force on the date of their publication in the Official Gazette. 2. Definitions.- (1) In these regulations, unless the context otherwise requires,- (a) "Eligible Officer" means any officer who is eligible to be considered for appointment to Senior Administrative Grade, Senior Selection Grade, Selection Grade and Grade-I of the Service, as the case may be, under rule 8 of the Railway Board Secretariat Service Rules, 2026, as on 1st July of the calendar year in which the Select List is prepared; (b) "Field of Selection" means the list of eligible officers from which a selection shall be made for inclusion in the Select List; (c) "Government" means the Government of India in the Ministry of Railways; (d) "Rules" means the Railway Board Secretariat Service Rules, 2026; (e) "Selection Committee" means the Committee constituted under regulation 4; (f) "Select List" means the list of eligible officers considered fit for appointment to the Senior Administrative Grade, Senior Selection Grade, the Selection Grade or the Grade-I, as the case may be, and prepared in accordance with regulations 6 to 9. (2) The words and expressions used herein and not defined, but defined in the Railway Board Secretariat Service Rules, 2026 shall have the same meanings assigned to them in the rules. 3. Strength of Select List and field of selection.- (1) The strength of officers to be included in the Select List for the Senior Administrative Grade, Senior Selection Grade, Selection Grade or the Grade-I shall be as determined from time to time by the Government. (2) The field of selection shall be as prescribed under the Departmental Promotion Committee guidelines issued by the Government. 4. Constitution of the Selection Committees for Senior Administrative Grade, Senior Selection Grade and Selection Grade.- (1) The composition of the Selection Committee to consider the cases of eligible officers for appointment to the post of Senior Administrative Grade, Senior Selection Grade and Selection Grade and to make suitable recommendations, shall comprise Chairman, Railway Board and Chief Executive Officer and two other Members of Railway Board as nominated by Chairman, Railway Board and Chief Executive Officer. (2) The Departmental Promotion Committee shall follow the guidelines or instructions as laid down by the Central Government from time to time. 5. Constitution of Departmental Promotion Committee for Grade-I.- (1) There shall be a Departmental Promotion Committee consisting of the Chairman of the Union Public Service Commission or, where the Chairman is unable to attend, any other Member of the Commission representing it and other members as follows:- (a) The Chairman or a Member of the Union Public - Chairman; Service Commission (b) Secretary, Railway Board - Member; (c) One Executive Director or Joint Secretary, - Member. Railway Board (2) The Departmental Promotion Committee shall follow the guidelines or instructions as laid down by the Central Government from time to time. 6. Preparation of Select List for Senior Administrative Grade.- (1) Select List for the Senior Administrative Grade shall be published every year on the first of July of the year in accordance with the sanctioned strength of that grade. (2) The field of selection shall be determined by the Selection Committee by taking the required number of eligible Senior Selection Grade Officers in the order of their seniority. (3) The Selection Committee shall determine the merit of those being assessed for promotion to the Senior Administrative Grade with reference to the prescribed bench-mark and accordingly grade the officers as 'fit' or 'unfit' only. (4) Subject to the orders of the Government, the recommendations of the Selection Committee as regards classification shall be accepted. (5) The Select List shall be prepared by including the names of only those who are graded as 'fit' (that is who meet the prescribed bench-mark) by the Selection Committee and arranged in the Select List in the order of their inter- se seniority in the Senior Selection Grade and those officers who are graded 'unfit' (in terms of the prescribed bench-mark) by the Selection Committee shall not be included in the Select List and the Select List so prepared shall be issued by the Ministry of Railways. 7. Preparation of Select List for Senior Selection Grade.- (1) Select List for the Senior Selection Grade shall be published every year on the first of July of the year in accordance with the sanctioned strength of that grade. (2) The field of selection shall be determined by the Selection Committee by taking the required number of eligible Selection Grade Officers in the order of their seniority. (3) The Selection Committee shall determine the merit of those being assessed for promotion to the Senior Selection Grade with reference to the prescribed bench-mark and accordingly grade the officers as 'fit' or 'unfit' only. (4) Subject to the orders of the Government, the recommendations of the Selection Committee as regards classification shall be accepted. (5) The Select List shall be prepared by including the names of only those who are graded as 'fit' (that is who meet the prescribed bench-mark) by the Selection Committee and arranged in the Select List in the order of their inter- se seniority in the Selection Grade and those officers who are graded 'unfit' (in terms of the prescribed bench- mark) by the Selection Committee shall not be included in the Select List and the Select List so prepared shall be issued by the Ministry of Railways. 8. Preparation of Select List for Selection Grade.- (1) Select List for the Selection Grade shall be published every year on the first day of July of the year in accordance with the sanctioned strength of that grade. (2) The field of selection shall be determined by the Selection Committee by taking the required number of eligible Grade-I Officers in the order of their seniority. (3) The Selection Committee shall determine the merit of those being assessed for inclusion in the Select List for the Selection Grade with reference to the prescribed bench-mark and accordingly grade the officers as 'fit' or 'unfit' only. (4) Subject to the orders of the Government, the recommendations of the Selection Committee as regards classification shall be accepted. (5) The Select List shall be prepared by including the names of only those officers who are graded as 'fit' (that is who meet the prescribed bench-mark) by the Selection Committee and arranged in the Select List in the order of their inter-se seniority in the Grade-I and those officers who are graded 'unfit' (in terms of the prescribed bench-mark) by the Selection Committee shall not be included in the Select List and the Select List so prepared shall be issued by the Ministry of Railways. 9. Preparation of Select List for Grade-I.- (1) Select List for the Grade-I shall be published every year on the first of July of the year in accordance with the sanctioned strength of that grade. (2) The names of all eligible Section Officers shall be arranged in accordance with the order of their seniority in that Grade fixed by the Ministry of Railways. (3) The field of selection shall be determined by the Selection Committee by taking the required number of persons from the list drawn up under sub-regulation (2), in the order of their inclusion in that list. (4) The Selection Committee shall determine the merit of those being assessed for inclusion in the Select List with reference to the prescribed bench-mark and accordingly grade the officers as 'fit' or 'unfit' only. (5) The recommendations of the Selection Committee, together with the upto date Annual Performance Assessment Reports of the concerned officers and such other information as may be relevant, shall be forwarded to the Commission for the advice. (6) Subject to the orders of Government, the recommendations of the Commission as regards suitability and classification of the concerned officer shall be accepted. (7) The Select List shall be prepared by including the names of only those officers who are graded as 'fit' (that is who meet the prescribed bench-mark) by the Selection Committee and arranged in the Select List in the order of their inter-se seniority in the list prepared under sub-regulation (2) and those officers who are graded 'unfit' (in terms of the prescribed bench-mark) by the Selection Committee shall not be included in the Select List and the Select List so prepared shall be issued by the Ministry of Railways. 10. Savings.- Notwithstanding anything contained in regulations 6 to 9, officers already approved for but not appointed to the Senior Administrative Grade, the Senior Selection grade, the Selection Grade or the Grade-I, as the case may be, before the coming into force of these regulations, shall continue to be eligible for appointment to that grade. [F. No. ERB-I/2012/11/2] V.S. DAHIYA, Jt. Secy. NOTIFICATION New Delhi, the 1st June, 2026 G.S.R. 434(E).— In pursuance of sub-rule (2) of rule 9 of the Railway Board Secretariat Service Rules, 2026, the President hereby makes the following regulations, namely:- 1. Short title and commencement.- (1) These regulations may be called the Railway Board Secretariat Service Section Officers' Grade (Limited Departmental Competitive Examination) Regulations, 2026. (2) They shall come into force on the date of their publication in the Official Gazette. 2. Definitions.- (1) In these regulations, unless the context otherwise requires,- (a) "crucial date" means the 1st day of July of the year in which the examination is held; (b) "examination" means a limited departmental competitive examination held by the Commission for making additions to the Select List for the Section Officers' Grade; (c) "Selection" means inclusion in the Select List for the Section Officers' Grade; (2) The words and expressions used herein and not defined, but defined in the Railway Board Secretariat Service Rules, 2026, shall have the same meanings as assigned to them in the rules. 3. Holding of examination.- (1) The examination shall be conducted by the Commission in the manner notified by the Department of Personnel and Training in the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions from time to time. (2) The dates on which and the places at which the examination shall be held shall be fixed by the Commission. 4. Conditions of eligibility.- Any officer of the Assistant Section Officers' Grade of the Railway Board Secretariat Service, or of Personal Assistants' Grade (Stenographer Grade 'C') of the Railway Board Secretariat Stenographers' Service possessing a Bachelor's Degree from a recognised University or equivalent, who, on the crucial date, satisfies the following conditions, shall be eligible to appear at the examination:- (a) he shall have rendered not less than five years' approved service and shall also have earned at least four Annual Performance Appraisal Reports in the Assistant Section Officers' Grade of the Railway Board Secretariat Service or Personal Assistants' Grade of Railway Board Secretariat Stenographers' Service; (b) he shall pay such fees as may be specified from time to time, by the Commission: 5. Decision as to eligibility.- The decision of the Commission as to the eligibility or otherwise of a candidate for admission to the examination shall be final and no candidate to whom a certificate of admission has not been issued by the Commission shall be admitted to the examination. 6. Results.- (1) The names of the candidates who are considered by the Commission to be suitable for selection on the results of any examination shall be arranged in the order of merit and they shall be recommended for selection in that order upto the required number. (2) Selection on the basis of results of any examination shall be made to the extent required, in the order of merit of the candidates recommended by the Commission for selection, subject to reservation policy and in accordance with orders issued by the Central Government in this behalf from time to time. (3) The form and manner of communication of the results of the examination to individual candidates shall be decided by the Commission in its discretion. 7. Selection.- Success in the examination confers no right to selection unless the Central Government is satisfied, after such enquiry as may be considered necessary, that the candidate, having regard to his conduct in service, is suitable in all respects for selection: Provided that the decision as to whether a particular candidate recommended for selection by the Commission is not suitable shall be taken by the Ministry of Railways in consultation with the Commission. 8. Disciplinary action for misconduct.- A candidate who is or has been declared by the Commission to be guilty of:- (i) obtaining support for his candidature by any means; or (ii) impersonating; or (iii) procuring impersonation by any person; or (iv) submitting fabricated documents or documents which have been tampered with; or (v) making statements which are incorrect or false, or suppressing material information; or (vi) resorting to any other irregular or improper means in connection with his candidature for the examination; or (vii) using unfair means in the examination hall; or (viii) misbehaving in the examination hall; or (ix) attempting to commit or, as the case may be, abetting the Commission of all or any of the acts specified in the foregoing clauses; shall, in addition to rendering himself liable to criminal prosecution, be liable - (a) to be disqualified by the Commission from the examination for which he is a candidate; or (b) to be debarred either permanently or for a specified period- (i) by the Commission, from any examination or selection held by them; and (ii) by the Central Government from any employment under them; and (c) to disciplinary action under the appropriate rules: Provided that no penalty under this regulation shall be imposed except after- (i) giving the candidate a reasonable opportunity of making such representation in writing as he may wish to make in that behalf, and (ii) taking the representation, if any, submitted by the candidate, within the period allowed to him, into consideration. [F. No. ERB-I/2012/11/2] V.S. DAHIYA, Jt. Secy. NOTIFICATION New Delhi, the 1st June, 2026 G.S.R. 435(E). — In pursuance of sub-rule (3) of rule 9 of the Railway Board Secretariat Service Rules, 2026, the President hereby makes the following regulations, namely:- 1. Short title and commencement.- (1) These regulations may be called the Railway Board Secretariat Service (Preparation of Select List for the Section Officers' Grade) Regulations, 2026. (2) They shall come into force on the date of their publication in the Official Gazette. 2. Definitions.- In these regulations, unless the context otherwise requires,- (a) "Central Government" means the Government of India in the Ministry of Railways; (b) "Rules" means the Railway Board Secretariat Service Rules, 2026; (c) "Eligible Officer" means any officer who is eligible to be considered for appointment to Section Officers' Grade under rule 9 of the Railway Board Secretariat Service Rules, 2026, as on the first of July of the year for which the Select List is prepared; (d) "Departmental Promotion Committee" means the Committee constituted under regulation 5; (e) "Examination" means Limited Departmental Competitive Examination; (f) "Zone of Consideration" means the list of eligible officers from which inclusions will be made in the Select List. (2) The words and expressions used herein and not defined, but defined in Railway Board Secretariat Service Rules, 2026 shall have the same meanings as assigned to them in the Rules. 3. Strength of Select List and zone of consideration.- (1) The strength of officers to be included in the Select List for a year shall be determined by the Central Government in the Ministry of Railways, from time to time and, keeping in view the existing regular vacancies, including carried forward, as on the first of July of the year and anticipated regular vacancies upto the thirtieth June of the following year. (2) The zone of consideration shall be as specified under the Departmental Promotion Committee guidelines and approved by the Central Government in the Ministry of Railways. 4. Preparation of the Select List.- (1) Select List for the Section Officers' Grade shall be published every year as on the first of July of the year in accordance with the strength of Select List. (2) Inclusions in the Select List for the year shall be made by the Central Government in the Ministry of Railways by taking one person each by rotation from out of the categories of persons specified below and become available against the strength determined for that year:- (i) eligible Officers of the Assistant Section Officers' Grade who have rendered not less than eight years' approved service in that Grade and are in the zone of consideration, in the order of their seniority, subject to the rejection of the unfit, on the recommendations of the Departmental Promotion Committee; (ii) persons selected on the basis of results of Examination referred to in sub-rule (1) of Rule 9, held by the Union Public Service Commission, from time to time, in the order of their merit: Provided that the rotation of persons from each of the aforesaid category shall be taken only to the extent of the available persons from any of the stated category and persons from the other category shall, thereafter, be included enbloc. 5. Departmental Promotion Committee.- (1) The composition of Departmental Promotion Committee for assessing the suitability of eligible officers in the zone of consideration and making suitable recommendations of inclusions in the Select List of the Section Officers' Grade, shall be as follows:- (a) Joint Secretary level officer : Chairperson; (b) Two Directors or Deputy Secretary level officers : Members. (2) The Departmental Promotion Committee shall follow the guidelines or instructions as laid down by the Central Government in the Ministry of Railways, from time to time. 6. Seniority.- (1) Eligible officers included in the Select List under regulation 4 shall rank inter-se in the order in which they are included in the Select List. (2) If adequate number of persons appointed to the Grade on the basis of seniority or Limited Departmental Competitive Examination, as the case may be, are not available in the Grade, rotation of quotas of vacancies for each of the aforesaid category for the purpose of determining seniority shall be taken only to the extent of the available persons from any of the category and the persons from the other category shall be placed enbloc below the last slot. 7. Removal of names from Select List.- The names of the persons of the following categories shall be removed by the Central Government in the Ministry of Railways from the Select List: (a) persons appointed to the concerned Grade; (b) persons transferred to another service or post; and (c) persons who die or retire from service or whose services are otherwise terminated. [F. No. ERB-I/2012/11/2] V.S. DAHIYA, Jt. Secy. NOTIFICATION New Delhi, the 1st June, 2026 G.S.R. 436(E). — In pursuance of sub-rule (5) of rule 10 and sub-rule (2) of rule 15 of the Railway Board Secretariat Service Rules, 2026, the President hereby makes the following regulations, namely:- 1. Short title and commencement.- (1) These regulations may be called the Railway Board Secretariat Service (Preparation of Seniority Quota Panel, Select List and Seniority List for the Assistant Section Officers' Grade) Regulations, 2026. (2) They shall come into force on the date of their publication in the Official Gazette. 2. Definitions.- (1) In these regulations, unless the context otherwise requires, - (a) "Eligible Officer" means any officer who is eligible for appointment to the Assistant Section Officers' Grade under rule 10 of the Railway Board Secretariat Service Rules, 2026, as on the first of July of the year for which the Seniority Quota Panel is prepared; (b) "Departmental Promotion Committee" means the Committee constituted under regulation 3; (c) "zone of consideration" means the list of eligible officers from which inclusions will be made in the Seniority Quota Panel; (d) "Seniority List" means the list of officers working as Assistant Section Officer as on the 1st July of any year and revised in accordance with these regulations. (2) The words and expressions used herein and not defined, but defined in the Railway Board Secretariat Service Rules, 2026 shall have the same meanings as assigned to them in the Rules. 3. Constitution of Departmental Promotion Committee and preparation of Seniority Quota Panel.- (1) The composition of the Departmental Promotion Committee to be constituted to assess the suitability of eligible officers for appointment to the post of Assistant Section Officer under seniority quota and to make suitable recommendations, shall be as follows:- (i) Director or Deputy Secretary Chairman; (ii) Two Under Secretaries or Deputy Directors Members. (2) The Departmental Promotion Committee shall follow the guidelines or instructions as laid down by the Central Government from time to time. (3) The strength of officers to be included in the panel for a year shall be determined by the Central Government in the Ministry of Railways, from time to time and, keeping in view the existing regular vacancies, including carried forward, as on the first of July of the year and anticipated regular vacancies upto the thirtieth June of the following year. (4) The zone of consideration shall be as specified under the Departmental Promotion Committee guidelines and approved by the Central Government in the Ministry of Railways. (5) Seniority Quota Panel for the Assistant Section Officers' Grade shall be published every year on the first of July of the year in accordance with the strength of panel. (6) Inclusions in the panel for the year shall be made by taking eligible officers of the Senior Secretariat Assistants' Grade who have rendered not less than ten years' approved service in that Grade and are in the zone of consideration, in the order of their seniority in that grade, subject to the rejection of the unfit, on the recommendations of the Departmental Promotion Committee approved by the competent authority: Provided that eligibility service shall continue to be five years' of approved service for officials holding the post of Senior Secretariat Assistant on regular basis as on the date of notification of the Railway Board Secretariat Service Rules, 2026. Provided further that where sufficient number of eligible Senior Secretariat Assistants with ten years' approved service are not available, officials having rendered twenty-one years' approved service from Multi Tasking Staff Grade till Senior Secretariat Assistant's Grade (including a minimum of five years' approved service as Senior Secretariat Assistant) shall also be eligible for inclusion in the Select List for Assistant Section Officers' Grade. Further provided that the resultant vacancies of Assistant Section Officer arisen from the cadre restructuring of Railway Board Secretariat Service for the recruitment year 2004 and recruitment year 2011 shall be deemed to have been filled up from Senior Secretariat Assistant through seniority. 4. Appointment to Assistant Section Officer Grade.- (1) Appointment to the vacancies of seniority quota in the grade of Assistant Section Officer shall be made by the competent authority in the order in which the names of the officials appear in the panel. (2) Inclusion in the panel shall not confer any right to appointment to the grade as appointments shall be made only upon the availability of regular vacancies. 5. Removal of names from the panel.- The names of the persons of the following categories shall be removed from the panel: (a) persons appointed to Assistant Section Officers' Grade; (b) persons transferred to another service or post; (c) persons who die or retire from service or whose services are otherwise terminated; and (d) (i) persons officiating in the Grade beyond the period of probation specified in Rule 12, who are reverted therefrom as a result of a departmental enquiry or proceedings under the Railway Servants (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 1968; or (ii) persons who, either during or at the end of the period of probation in the Grade prescribed in Rule 12, are reverted therefrom under sub-rule (4) of Rule 14, on the ground of unfitness to continue in the Grade; or (iii) persons yet to be appointed to the Grade, who on an annual review of the panel are found, because of deterioration in their record or conduct since inclusion in the panel to have fallen below the required standard. 6. Preparation of the Select List.- Select List or provisional Select List, as the case may be, shall be prepared at the end of the recruitment year by interpolating the names of officers included in the Seniority Quota Panel and Limited Departmental Competitive Examination Panel, in the order in which they appear in the relevant panel, for that select list year, in the ratio of 3:2: Provided that the rotation of persons from each of the category stated above shall be taken only to the extent of the available persons from any of the stated category and persons from the other category shall, thereafter, be included enbloc: Provided that number of officers to be included in the Select List from each of the panels will be restricted to the actual vacancies for that mode of recruitment for that Select List year: Provided further that if selection process has not been completed for both the Seniority Quota and Limited Departmental Competitive Examination modes, a provisional Select List shall be prepared. 7. Preparation of Seniority List. - (1) A Seniority List shall be prepared as on the 1st July every year for Assistant Section Officers' grade of the Service to determine the inter-se seniority of all officers serving in the grade and the Seniority List may be updated every year as on the 1st July of that year. (2) Eligible Officers included in the Select List under regulations 4, 5 and 6 shall rank inter-se in the order in which they are included in the Select List. (3) The relative seniority of persons regularly appointed to the Assistant Section Officers' Grade from the Select List and direct recruits recruited against the regular vacancies for the period corresponding to the period for which the Select List has been prepared shall be determined according to the rotation of quota of regular vacancies in the Grade earmarked for the appointment of persons included in the Select List and direct recruitment in the ratio of 1:3, respectively. (4) If adequate number of persons appointed to the Grade on the basis of seniority or Limited Departmental Competitive Examination or direct recruitment, as the case may be, are not available in the Grade, rotation of quotas of vacancies for each of the aforesaid category for the purpose of determining seniority shall be taken only to the extent of the available persons from any of the category and the persons from the other category shall be placed en bloc below the last slot. 8. Finalisation of Seniority List.- (1) The draft Seniority List as prepared in accordance with regulation 7 shall be posted on the website of Railway Board for inviting objections, if any. (2) All objections received within thirty days of the publication of draft Seniority List will be decided by the competent authority, and the final seniority list shall be prepared after making revisions, if any, within thirty days thereafter. (3) Final Seniority List shall not be modified except in case where it is required to implement an order of a competent court or a tribunal or in case when a supplementary selection list is received from the Staff Selection Commission and such modification shall be made following the general principles laid down for preparation of draft/final Seniority List as detailed above provided that it does not come in conflict with the relevant order of the court or tribunal. [F. No. ERB-I/2012/11/2] V.S. DAHIYA, Jt. Secy. NOTIFICATION New Delhi, the 1st June, 2026 G.S.R. 437(E). — In pursuance of sub-rules (1) and (4) of rule 10 of the Railway Board Secretariat Service Rules, 2026, the President hereby makes the following regulations, namely:— 1. Short title and commencement.- (1) These regulations may be called the Railway Board Secretariat Service Assistant Section Officers' Grade (Limited Departmental Competitive Examination) Regulations, 2026. (2) They shall come into force on the date of their publication in the Official Gazette. 2. Definitions.- (1) In these regulations, unless the context otherwise requires,- (a) "relevant date" means the first day of July of the year for the vacancies of which such examination is held; (b) "examination" means the Limited Departmental Competitive Examination held by the Staff Selection Commission for making additions to the Select List for the Assistant Section Officers' Grade; (c) "selection" means inclusion in the Select List for the Assistant Section Officers' Grade; (d) "Commission" means the Staff Selection Commission; (e) "regular officer” means a person appointed on regular basis in Senior Secretariat Assistants' Grade of Railway Board Secretariat Clerical Service, on being included in the Select List for that Grade, in accordance with the procedure prescribed in Railway Board Secretariat Clerical Service Rules, 1970. (2) The words and expressions used herein and not defined, but defined in the Railway Board Secretariat Service Rules, 2026 shall have the same meanings as assigned to them in the Rules. 3. Holding of examination.- (1) The examination shall be conducted by the Commission in pursuance of the notification issued in this regard. (2) The dates, places and the manner for the examination referred to in sub-regulation (1) shall be such as may be determined by the Commission. 4. Conditions of eligibility.- Any officer in Senior Secretariat Assistants' Grade of the Railway Board Secretariat Clerical Service, who, on the relevant date, has rendered not less than six years approved service in the Grade, shall be eligible to appear at the examination. 5. Decision as to eligibility.- (1) The Commission shall decide as to the eligibility or otherwise of a candidate for admission to the examination. (2) No candidate to whom a certificate of admission has not been issued by the Commission under sub-regulation (1) above shall be admitted to the examination. 6. Results.- (1) The names of the candidates who have been considered by the Commission to be suitable for selection on the basis of results of examinations held, shall be arranged in the order of merit and be recommended for selection in that order upto the required number of vacancies. (2) The form and manner of communication of the results of the examination to individual candidates shall be as determined by the Commission. 7. Selection.- (1) Success in the written examination shall confer no right to the candidate to the selection unless the Central Government in the Ministry of Railways is satisfied, after such enquiry as may be considered necessary, that the candidate, having regard to his conduct in service, is found suitable in all respects for such selection. (2) Save as provided in sub-regulation (1) of this regulation, the selection on the basis of results of any examination shall be made to the extent required in the order of merit of the candidates recommended by the Commission for selection, subject to the reservation policy and in accordance with the orders issued by the Central Government in this behalf from time to time. 8. Penalty for misconduct.- A candidate who is or has been declared by the Commission to be guilty of - (a) obtaining support for his candidature by any means; or (b) impersonating; or (c) procuring impersonation by any person; or (d) submitting fabricated documents or documents which have been tampered with; or (e) making statements which are incorrect or false, or suppressing material information; or (f) resorting to any other irregular or improper means in connection with his candidature for the examination; or (g) using unfair means in the examination; or (h) misbehaving in the examination; or (i) attempting to commit or, as the case may be, abetting the commission of all or any of the acts specified in the foregoing clauses; shall in addition to rendering himself liable to criminal prosecution, be liable- (A) (i) to be disqualified by the Commission from appearing in the said examination; or (ii) to be debarred either permanently or for a period so specified by the Commission from any examination or selection held by it; and (B) to disciplinary action under the appropriate rules on the recommendation of the Commission. [F. No. ERB-I/2012/11/2] V.S. DAHIYA, Jt. Secy. NOTIFICATION New Delhi, the 1st June, 2026 G.S.R. 438(E). — In pursuance of sub-rules (1) and (4) of rule 10 of the Railway Board Secretariat Service Rules, 2026, the President hereby makes the following regulations, namely:- 1. Short title and commencement.- (1) These regulations may be called the Railway Board Secretariat Service Assistant Section Officers' Grade (Direct Recruit Competitive Examination) Regulations, 2026. (2) They shall come into force on the date of their publication in the Official Gazette. 2. Definitions.- (1) In these regulations, unless the context otherwise requires,- (a) "available vacancies" means such vacancies in the Assistant Section Officers' Grade of the Service as are required to be filled on the results of open competitive examination; (b) "examination" means a competitive examination held by the Commission for direct recruitment to the Assistant Section Officers' Grade of the Service; (c) "Commission" means the Staff Selection Commission. (2) The words and expressions used herein and not defined, but defined in the Railway Board Secretariat Service Rules, 2026 shall have the same meanings as assigned to them in the rules. 3. Holding of examination.- (1) The examination shall be conducted by the Commission in the manner notified from time to time by the Government of India in the Department of Personnel and Training, Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions. (2) The dates on which and the places at which the examination shall be held shall be fixed by the Commission. 4. Conditions of eligibility.- In order to be eligible to compete at the examination, a candidate must satisfy the following conditions, namely:- (a) Nationality (i) he must be a citizen of India; or (ii) he must belong to such categories of persons as may from time to time be notified in this behalf by the Government of India in the Department of Personnel and Training, Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions. (b) Age- The candidate must have attained the age of 20 years, and must not have attained the age of 30 years on the 1st day of August of the year in which the examination is held: Provided that if the recruitment is made by the Staff Selection Commission through a combined examination by which recruitment to other posts is also made, the crucial date for determining the age limit shall be as fixed by the Staff Selection Commission: Provided further that the upper age limit may be relaxed in respect of such categories of persons as may, from time to time, be notified in this behalf by the Government of India in the Department of Personnel and Training, Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, to the extent notified in respect of each category. (c) Educational qualifications.- The candidate must - (A) hold a degree of a University established or incorporated by or under a Central Act, a Provincial Act or a State Act, or otherwise possess any qualification recognized by the Central Government as equivalent thereto; and (B) qualify a proficiency test in computer operations approved or conducted by the Commission: Provided that- (a) in exceptional cases, a candidate who, though not possessing any of the qualifications specified in this clause, may be treated by the Commission as qualified if he has passed such examinations conducted by any institution as are, in the opinion of the Commission, of a standard sufficient to justify his admission to the examination; and (b) candidates who are otherwise qualified but have taken degrees from Foreign Universities may also be admitted to the examination at the discretion of the Commission. (d) Fees.- Subject to such exemptions or concessions or both, as may be notified in this behalf by the Government of India in the Department of Personnel and Training, Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions from time to time, the candidate shall pay the fees specified by the Commission. 5. Decision as to eligibility.- The decision of the Commission as to the eligibility or otherwise of a candidate for admission to the examination shall be final and no candidate to whom a certificate of admission has not been issued by the Commission shall be admitted to the examination. 6. Results.- (1) The names of the candidates who are considered by the Commission to be suitable for appointment on the results of the examination shall be arranged in the order of merit and subject to the provisions of sub-regulation (5) of Regulation 7, they shall be recommended for appointment up to the number of appointments required to be made. (2) The form and manner of communication of the results of the examination to individual candidates shall be decided by the Commission in their discretion, and the Commission shall not enter into any correspondence with the individual candidates regarding the results. 7. Appointments.- (1) Success at the examination shall confer no right to appointment to the Assistant Section Officers' Grade of the Service unless the candidate recommended by the Commission successfully completes such of the Training Programme or Foundation Course as the Central Government in the Ministry of Railways may prescribe. (2) Success at the examination shall confer no right to appointment to the Assistant Section Officers' Grade of the Service unless the Central Government in the Ministry of Railways is satisfied, after such enquiry as may be considered necessary, that the candidate having regard to his character and antecedents is suitable in all respects for appointment to public service. (3) No candidate shall be appointed to the Assistant Section Officers' Grade of the Service unless he is, after such Medical examination as the Central Government may prescribe, found to be free from any mental or physical defect which is likely to interfere with the discharge of the duties of the Service. (4) No person who has more than one spouse living or who, having a spouse living, marries in any case in which such marriage is void by reason of its taking place during the life time of such spouse, and no person whose marriage is void by reason of his or her spouse having already a spouse living at the time of such marriage shall be eligible for any appointment on the results of the examination: Provided that Central Government in the Ministry of Railways may, if satisfied that there are special grounds for so doing, exempt any person from the operation of this sub-regulation. (5) Appointments to the Assistant Section Officers' Grade of the Service on the results of any examination shall be made to the extent of the available vacancies, in the order of the merit of the candidates. (6) Appointments to the Service shall be subject to orders regarding special representation in service for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Other Backward Classes, Persons with Benchmark Disabilities and other special categories of persons, issued by the Central Government from time to time. 8. Penalty for misconduct.- A candidate who is or has been declared by the Commission to be guilty of - (a) obtaining support for his candidature by any means; or (b) impersonating; or (c) procuring impersonation by any person; or (d) submitting fabricated documents or documents which have been tampered with; or (e) making statements which are incorrect or false, or suppressing material information; or (f) resorting to any other irregular or improper means in connection with his candidature for the examination; or (g) using unfair means in the examination hall; or (h) misbehaving in the examination hall; or (i) attempting to commit, or as the case may be, abetting the commission of all or any of the acts specified in the foregoing sub-regulations; shall in addition to rendering himself liable to criminal prosecution, be liable - (A) to be disqualified by the Commission from the examination for which he is a candidate; or (B) to be debarred either permanently or for a specified period- (i) by the Commission from any examination or selection held by them; (ii) by the Central Government from any employment under them; and (C) if he is already in service under the Central Government, to disciplinary action under the appropriate rules. Provided that no penalty under this regulation shall be imposed except after- (i) giving the candidate a reasonable opportunity of making such representation in writing as he may wish to make in that behalf; and (ii) taking the representation, if any submitted by the candidate, within a period allowed to him, into consideration. [F. No. ERB-I/2012/11/2] V.S. DAHIYA, Jt. Secy.