NFR Cultural Quota Recruitment 2026 - Apply Offline for Saxophonist, Western Classical Pianist Posts

NF Railway Cultural Quota Recruitment 2026 has been announced by the Northeast Frontier Railway, Maligaon, Guwahati (Assam), inviting applications against Cultural Quota for the year 2026-27 for the posts of Saxophonist and Western Classical Pianist in Level-2 (GP-1900). The application process opened on 4 July 2026 and closes on 3 August 2026 (17:30 hrs). This article covers the complete notification, vacancy details, eligibility criteria, application fee, selection process, and how to apply.

Passed 12th (+2 stage) or its equivalent examination with not less than 50% marks in the aggregate for NTPC categories. The 50% marks condition is not required for SC/ST/Ex-servicemen/Persons with Disabilities (PWD) candidates, and for candidates possessing a qualification higher than the essential minimum qualification. | OR Matriculation plus Course Completed Act Apprentice approved by NCVT/SCVT for technical categories. | OR Matriculation plus ITI approved by NCVT/SCVT for Technical Categories. | Candidates must possess the requisite academic and professional qualification on the date of submission of application. Those awaiting results of the final examination are not eligible to apply. | Candidates must additionally hold a Degree/Diploma/Certificate in the relevant cultural talent for which the notification is issued, from a Government-recognized institute. | Experience in the field of applied discipline and performance on AIR/All India Radio/Doordarshan. | Awards/Prizes won at the National level in the applied discipline. | Serving Railway employees including casual labour who have put in three years of continuous service, and substitutes who had put in three years of continuous service or three years in broken spells in the Railways: Maximum age - UR: 40 years, OBC: 43 years, SC/ST: 45 years. | Widows/Divorced women and women judicially separated but not remarried: Maximum age - UR: 35 years, OBC: 38 years, SC/ST: 40 years. | Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD): Age relaxation of 10 years in the respective communities, subject to production of a Disability Certificate in the proper format. | Ex-servicemen: The upper age limit is relaxable to the extent of service rendered in Defence Forces plus 3 years, provided they have put in a minimum of 6 months at a stretch of service. Ex-servicemen who have already joined Government service in a civilian capacity after availing this benefit are not eligible for this relaxation again. | Persons domiciled in the State of Jammu & Kashmir during the period from 1 January 1980 to 31 December 1989: Relaxation of 10 years.

1. There will be negative marking in the written test; 1/3rd of the marks allotted for the objective type question will be deducted for every wrong answer.
2. The medium for the written examination is either Hindi or English.
3. The minimum qualifying percentage is 40% for both Stage-I and Stage-II separately. Only candidates qualifying Stage-I are eligible for the Stage-II recruitment process.
4. Candidates to the extent of only 5 times the number of vacancies, in order of merit, who have scored a minimum of 40% marks out of 50 in the written examination, will be called for practical demonstration and marking of testimonials/prizes. The merit list of the written examination will be the criterion for shortlisting.
5. After clearing Stage-I and Stage-II, and on the recommendation of the Recruitment Committee, the candidate will be sent for medical examination at a Railway Hospital, as per order of merit. The final panel will be drawn as per merit according to the marks obtained out of 100.
6. It is mandatory for the candidate to be declared fit in the prescribed medical category by the Railway Medical Authority, as applicable for the offered post.
7. The Written Test will consist of objective type multiple-choice questions covering General Knowledge, General Science, General Mathematics, Knowledge of General English & Hindi Language, Professional Knowledge, Reasoning, and Aptitude. The duration of the Written Test is 60 minutes, with a qualifying percentage of 40%.
8. Assessment of talent will be in the relevant cultural discipline, based on Practical Demonstration and Testimonials/Prizes examination.
9. The time and venue of the written test, practical demonstration, and document verification will be fixed by the Railways and intimated to eligible candidates in due course. No request for postponement of the written test, practical demonstration, or document verification will be entertained under any circumstances.