SW Railway Recruitment Exams Postponed Following Protests by Karnataka Rakshana Vedike

The recruitment examination scheduled on March 17, 2026, for the South-Western Railway has been postponed after the Karnataka Rakshana Vedike protested near the exam centres across Karnataka against the government exam being conducted only in English and Hindi. The South-Western Railway decided to postpone the exams indefinitely to ensure no candidates face problems in arriving at the exam centre or attempting the exams, considering the protests. 

As per reports, revised dates for the postponed exams will be notified in due course of time. 

Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah took to social media, stating that the Railway Department has abruptly cancelled the promotion exams scheduled to be held for 194 Goods Train Manager posts in South Western Railway and 101 LDCE posts in Hubballi division, placing Kannada employees in uncertainty following strong opposition from Kannadigas and Kannada organisations. He also pointed out that the department should have taken appropriate steps in advance to fix the problem, as the issue had already been raised by Kannada employees and organisations. Objections were raised over the lack of provision to write the exam in Kannada despite peaceful protests. The department failed to respond in time, cancelling the exams at the last minute, leading to the present situation. 

He further pointed out that had the department acted early and allowed the examination in Kannada, the situation could have been avoided. The indifferent approach and last-minute cancellation after protests intensified is condemnable. 

He also objected to Hindi enforcement in the state of Karnataka. This is not the first time, and nor will this be the last of Lannadigas facing injustice in central government examinations. He also added that due to the continued imposition of Hindi in recruitment processes across central departments, Kannada candidates have been subjected to unfair treatment.

Objecting to the chain of events, the CM also pointed out that while locals do not oppose the Hindi language, they will not put up with the apparent imposition of Hindi over Kannada. 

Kannadigas have already experienced the adverse impact of the Centre's preference for Hindi and neglect of regional languages. The CM also urged the PM to ensure that Kannada-speaking candidates are not subjected to such injustice and also requested SWR to conduct the postponed exams at the earliest, with provision to write them in Kannada.