South Western Railway Recruitment Exam Postponed Amid Protests

The South Western Railway has postponed its recruitment examination following protests from pro-Kannada organizations. The protests were triggered by the decision to conduct the exam solely in English and Hindi, leading to concerns about local candidates' participation. The Karnataka Rakshana Vedike has been vocal about the need for exams to be available in Kannada, arguing that this would provide better opportunities for local applicants. The organization has warned of renewed protests if their demands are not met in future scheduling. This situation highlights the ongoing debate over language inclusion in government recruitment processes.

By Sourabh Singh Mar 19, 2026, 09:04 IST

Recruitment Exam Delayed Due to Protests

South Western Railway has decided to delay its recruitment examination following demonstrations by pro-Kannada groups. The protests arose from the announcement that the exam would only be conducted in English and Hindi. An official from South Western Railway confirmed, "In light of the protests, we have postponed the recruitment exams, and new dates will be communicated later." The morning session of the exams was affected after pro-Kannada activists protested near various examination centers across the state, including Bengaluru. The official further noted that the afternoon sessions have also been postponed.

Details of the Recruitment

295 Positions Available
On Tuesday, South Western Railway (SWR) had planned promotional exams to fill 295 positions, which included 194 vacancies for Goods Train Managers. Members of the Karnataka Rakshana Vedike protested outside examination venues in Bengaluru and Hubballi, insisting that the exams be conducted in Kannada as well.

Opposition to Language Exclusion

The Karnataka Rakshana Vedike has voiced strong opposition to the exclusion of the local language from the recruitment process, arguing that it would hinder local candidates from participating. While the organization welcomed the postponement of the exams, they warned that protests would resume if their demands were not addressed in the rescheduling.

Respect for Local Languages

"Every State's Language Should Be Honored"
Hanumanthappa Ambigere, a representative of the Karnataka Rakshana Vedike, emphasized, "The language of every state must be honored. Candidates should have the option to take exams in their local languages—Kannada in Karnataka, Tamil in Tamil Nadu, Marathi in Maharashtra—ensuring that local candidates have a fair chance at securing higher positions."