The RRB Group D 2026 recruitment drive has turned out to be one of the largest railway job notifications of the year, with the Railway Recruitment Board (RRB) officially announcing 22,195 Level-1 vacancies under CEN 09/2025. The official notification was released on January 30, 2026, and applications were accepted at the central portal rrbapply.gov.in from January 31, 2026. The last date to apply was subsequently extended to March 9, 2026 — and the application window is now closed for fresh submissions.
Candidates who have already submitted their applications are now awaiting the release of the official exam schedule. Here is a complete breakdown of everything you need to know about RRB Group D 2026.
Posts and Vacancy Details
All vacancies notified under RRB Group D 2026 are for Level-1 posts in various departments of Indian Railways. The major posts included are:
| Department | Posts |
| Engineering | Track Maintainer Grade IV |
| Electrical | Helper / Technician Grade IV |
| Mechanical | Helper / Technician Grade IV |
| Signal & Telecommunication (S&T) | Helper / Technician Grade IV |
| Operations | Pointsman |
A total of 22,195 Level-1 posts have been notified across all RRB zones in India.
Eligibility Criteria
Educational Qualification
To apply for RRB Group D 2026, candidates must have:
- Passed Class 10 (Matriculation) from a recognised board, OR
- Completed an ITI (Industrial Training Institute) certificate in the relevant trade, OR
- Hold a National Apprenticeship Certificate (NAC) granted by NCVT
Candidates who have appeared for their Class 10 exam and are awaiting results are not eligible to apply.
Age Limit
The age limit for RRB Group D 2026 is:
- Minimum Age: 18 years
- Maximum Age: 36 years
Age relaxation is applicable as per Government of India rules: SC/ST candidates get 5 years, OBC candidates get 3 years, and PwBD candidates get 10 years of relaxation.
Nationality
Candidates must be a citizen of India, or a subject of Nepal, a subject of Bhutan, or a Tibetan refugee who settled in India before January 1, 1962, or a person of Indian origin who has migrated from certain specified countries with the intention of permanently settling in India.
Pay Scale and Salary
Selected candidates in RRB Group D 2026 will be placed at Level-1 of the 7th CPC Pay Matrix, which carries a basic pay of ₹18,000/- per month. In addition, employees receive Dearness Allowance (DA), House Rent Allowance (HRA), Travel Allowance (TA), and other benefits under Indian Railways service rules — bringing the effective monthly take-home to approximately ₹22,000 – ₹26,000 depending on posting location.
Application Fee
The fee structure for RRB Group D 2026 is:
| Category | Application Fee |
| General / OBC / EWS | ₹500/- |
| SC / ST / Ex-Servicemen / PwBD / Women / Minorities / EBC | ₹250/- (refundable after appearing in CBT) |
Fee payment was processed online through Debit Card, Credit Card, Net Banking, or UPI via the rrbapply.gov.in portal.
Selection Process
The RRB Group D 2026 selection is a four-stage process. Every stage is qualifying in nature — candidates must clear each round to move forward.
Stage 1: Computer-Based Test (CBT)
The CBT is the first and most critical stage of the selection process. The exam pattern is as follows:
| Subject | No. of Questions | Marks |
| Mathematics | 25 | 25 |
| General Intelligence & Reasoning | 30 | 30 |
| General Science | 25 | 25 |
| General Awareness & Current Affairs | 20 | 20 |
| Total | 100 | 100 |
Duration: 90 minutes- Negative Marking: 1/3 mark deducted per wrong answer
- Medium: Available in 15 languages
Stage 2: Physical Efficiency Test (PET)
Candidates who qualify the CBT will be called for the PET. The tasks vary for male and female candidates:
Male Candidates:
- Run 1000 metres in 4 minutes 15 seconds (one chance)
- Lift and carry 35 kg weight for 100 metres in 2 minutes (one chance)
Female Candidates:
- Run 1000 metres in 5 minutes 40 seconds (one chance)
- Lift and carry 20 kg weight for 100 metres in 2 minutes (one chance)
PwBD candidates are exempt from PET.
Stage 3: Document Verification (DV)
Shortlisted candidates post-PET are called for Document Verification, where original certificates and mark sheets are cross-checked for eligibility compliance.
Stage 4: Medical Examination
The final stage is a mandatory medical fitness test conducted by Railway Medical Officers. Posts are categorised under Medical Standards A2, B1, and C1 depending on the role.
What’s Next: Exam Date Update
As of May 4, 2026, the official RRB Group D 2026 exam date has not yet been announced. CareerPower reports that the official exam schedule is expected to be released soon on the respective RRB zone websites. Candidates who have applied are advised to keep checking rrbapply.gov.in and their registered email IDs for admit card and exam date notifications.
Important Dates at a Glance
| Event | Date |
| Event | Date |
| Official Notification Released | January 30, 2026 |
| Application Opens | January 31, 2026 |
| Application Closes (Extended) | March 9, 2026 |
| Exam Date | To be announced |
| CEN Number | CEN 09/2025 |
| Official Application Portal | rrbapply.gov.in |
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