NewsFlash Daily™
18 March 
CBT Exams for 295 Posts Deferred Indefinitely as Protesters Demand Inclusion of Kannada as Exam Medium
Hubballi: In a significant development, the Indian Railways has postponed multiple departmental recruitment exams scheduled in Hubballi following protests demanding the inclusion of Kannada as an exam language.
Protest Disrupts Examination Process
The exams, organised by the Railway Recruitment Cell, were planned for March 17 and 18, 2026, at the RRC centre in Hubballi. However, members of Kannada Rakshana Vedike (Narayan Gowda faction) staged a protest at around 8:30 AM on March 17, blocking the entry of candidates and staff into the examination premises.
The protesters demanded that departmental promotion exams be conducted in Kannada as well, rather than limiting them to Hindi and English.
Exams Deferred Amid Ongoing Controversy
Considering the tense situation, authorities decided to postpone the Computer-Based Tests (CBT) for both the Hubballi division and the headquarters staff. Officials stated that the issue of including Kannada as a medium will be taken up at an appropriate level, and a final decision will be made after due deliberation.
295 Vacancies Affected
The postponed exams were meant to fill a total of 295 posts, including:
- 194 Goods Train Manager positions
- 101 posts under Limited Departmental Competitive Examination (LDCE)
These exams were initially scheduled to be conducted only in English and Hindi, which triggered strong opposition.
“The matter of including Kannada will be examined at the appropriate level. Revised dates and further updates will be announced officially,” said Manjunath Kanamadi, Chief Public Relations Officer of South Western Railway.
Next Steps Awaited
Railway authorities have confirmed that the exams are postponed indefinitely, and fresh dates along with any changes in exam language policy will be announced soon.
