Notification Highlights
Important Examination & Application Dates
| Recruitment Event / Milestone | Official Date / Schedule |
|---|---|
| Official Railway Board Annual Calendar Notice | 02 October 2026 |
| Detailed CEN Level-1 Notification Release | October 2026 |
| Online Application Window Opens | October 2026 |
| Last Date for Online Application & Fee Payment | 30 November 2026 (23:59 Hrs) |
| Application Modification & Photo/Sign Re-upload Window | 05 to 12 December 2026 |
| Exam City Intimation Slip & Free Travel Pass for SC/ST | 10 Days Prior to CBT |
| Computer Based Test (CBT) Commencement | February / March 2027 (Tentative) |
Application Fee by Reservation Category
| Candidate Category | Prescribed Fee |
|---|---|
| General / Unreserved (UR) & OBC Male Candidates | ₹500 (₹400 Refunded post CBT Attendance) |
| SC / ST / Ex-Servicemen / PwBD Candidates | ₹250 (Full ₹250 Refunded post CBT Attendance) |
| Female Candidates (All Categories) | ₹250 (Full ₹250 Refunded post CBT Attendance) |
| Economically Backward Classes (EBC) / Transgender | ₹250 (Full ₹250 Refunded post CBT Attendance) |
Post-Wise Vacancy & Pay Scale Breakdown
| Post Name | Department | Pay Scale | Vacancies |
|---|---|---|---|
| Track Maintainer Grade-IV (Civil Engineering) | Engineering Department, Indian Railways | Level 1 (₹18,000 – ₹56,900 + ₹2,700 Risk Allowance) | 14,200+ Posts (Estimated All Zones) |
| Assistant Pointsman (Traffic / Operating) | Operating Department, Indian Railways | Level 1 (₹18,000 – ₹56,900 + Night Shift Allowance) | 5,800+ Posts (Estimated All Zones) |
| Assistant Loco Shed - Diesel (Mechanical) | Mechanical Department, Indian Railways | Level 1 (₹18,000 – ₹56,900 + Perks) | 2,400+ Posts (Estimated All Zones) |
| Assistant Loco Shed - Electrical (Electrical) | Electrical Department, Indian Railways | Level 1 (₹18,000 – ₹56,900 + Perks) | 2,600+ Posts (Estimated All Zones) |
| Assistant Carriage & Wagon - C&W (Mechanical) | Mechanical Department, Indian Railways | Level 1 (₹18,000 – ₹56,900 + Workshop Allowance) | 3,100+ Posts (Estimated All Zones) |
| Assistant Signal & Telecommunication (S&T) | Signal & Telecom Department, Indian Railways | Level 1 (₹18,000 – ₹56,900 + Perks) | 2,200+ Posts (Estimated All Zones) |
| Hospital Assistant / Attendant (Medical) | Medical Department, Indian Railways | Level 1 (₹18,000 – ₹56,900 + Hospital Patient Care Allowance) | 800+ Posts (Estimated All Zones) |
| Assistant Operations / Traffic | Traffic Department, Indian Railways | Level 1 (₹18,000 – ₹56,900 + Perks) | 900+ Posts (Estimated All Zones) |
Selection Process & Stages
Comprehensive 100-question online examination (90 minutes; 120 minutes for eligible PwBD with scribe) testing General Science (25Q), Mathematics (25Q), General Intelligence & Reasoning (30Q), and General Awareness & Current Affairs (20Q). Negative marking of 1/3rd applies for each wrong response. Percentile-based normalization determines merit rank.
Strict qualifying endurance assessment conducted on railway divisional grounds. Male: Carry 35 kg for 100m in 2 mins + 1,000m run in 4 min 15 sec. Female: Carry 20 kg for 100m in 2 mins + 1,000m run in 5 min 40 sec. PwBD and Railway CCAA apprentices are 100% exempted.
Rigorous scrutiny of 10th certificates, ITI/NAC certificates, SC/ST/OBC-NCL/EWS caste documents, and biometric thumb/iris matching conducted at the respective Railway Recruitment Cell (RRC) headquarters at 1:1 ratio.
Stringent fitness screening in Railway Hospitals according to A-2, A-3, B-1, B-2, and C-1 medical categories. Focuses on distant vision (6/9, 6/12 with or without glasses), compulsory color vision (Ishihara book test), night vision, and field of vision.
Examination Pattern, Subjects & Negative Marking
Detailed section-wise question distribution, marks allocation, and penalty rules:
| Subject / Test Module | Questions | Max Marks | Duration | Negative Marking Penalty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Science (10th Standard Physics, Chemistry & Life Sciences) | 25 | 25 | 90 Minutes Composite | 0.333 (1/3rd Mark Penalty) |
| Mathematics (Number System, BODMAS, Algebra, Geometry, SI/CI) | 25 | 25 | 90 Minutes Composite | 0.333 (1/3rd Mark Penalty) |
| General Intelligence & Reasoning (Analogies, Coding, Syllogisms, Puzzles) | 30 | 30 | 90 Minutes Composite | 0.333 (1/3rd Mark Penalty) |
| General Awareness & Current Affairs (Science & Tech, Sports, Polity) | 20 | 20 | 90 Minutes Composite | 0.333 (1/3rd Mark Penalty) |
Official Examination Syllabus & Section-Wise Topics
Curated subject topics based on official recruitment notifications and past pattern distribution:
- Physics: Motion, Laws of Motion, Work, Energy & Power, Gravitation, Pressure, Sound, Light (Reflection & Refraction), Electricity, Magnetism & Sources of Energy
- Chemistry: Chemical Reactions & Equations, Acids, Bases & Salts, Metals & Non-metals, Carbon & its Compounds, Periodic Classification of Elements
- Life Sciences (Biology): Life Processes (Nutrition, Respiration, Circulation, Excretion), Control & Coordination, Reproduction, Heredity & Evolution, Environment & Ecosystem Conservation
- Number System, BODMAS Rule, Decimals, Fractions, LCM and HCF, Ratio and Proportions, Percentages
- Mensuration (2D & 3D Area and Volume), Time and Work, Time and Distance, Simple and Compound Interest
- Profit and Loss, Elementary Algebra, Geometry (Lines, Angles, Triangles, Circles), Basic Trigonometry and Elementary Statistics (Mean, Median, Mode)
- Analogies, Alphabetical and Number Series, Coding and Decoding, Mathematical Operations, Relationships, Syllogisms
- Jumbling, Venn Diagrams, Data Interpretation and Sufficiency, Conclusions and Decision Making, Similarities and Differences
- Analytical Reasoning, Classification, Directions Sense Test, Statement-Arguments and Assumptions
- Current Affairs: National and International Events, Government Welfare Schemes, Summits, Defense Exercises
- Science & Technology Developments, Indian Space Research (ISRO Missions), Nuclear Energy, IT Innovations
- Sports & Awards: Olympics, Cricket World Cups, Asian Games, National Sports Awards (Khel Ratna, Arjuna Awards)
- Culture, History of India, Indian Freedom Struggle, Geography, Indian Constitution & Polity, and Indian Economy Fundamentals
Previous Cycle Qualifying Cut-Off Benchmarks
Historical normalized qualifying marks across reservation categories to gauge target scores and safe attempt targets:
| Cycle / Exam Stage | General (UR) | OBC-NCL | EWS | SC | ST | Total Marks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 Northern Railway (NR New Delhi) | 70.98 | 64.77 | 57.75 | 60.08 | 50.18 | 100 |
| 2022 Eastern Railway (ER Kolkata) | 69.60 | 65.89 | 58.53 | 58.42 | 48.28 | 100 |
| 2022 Western Railway (WR Mumbai) | 62.67 | 58.43 | 51.66 | 50.87 | 39.16 | 100 |
| 2022 East Central Railway (ECR Hajipur) | 66.20 | 61.88 | 52.45 | 50.12 | 43.35 | 100 |
Profile Match & Application Advisory
- Candidates who have passed 10th Matriculation from a recognized board, or hold 10th pass + ITI / National Apprenticeship Certificate (NAC) granted by NCVT/SCVT.
- Aspirants aged between 18 and 33 years as on 01-07-2026 (eligible for up to 36 for General with special age relaxation, 39 for OBC, 41 for SC/ST).
- Candidates seeking steady Central Railway Service Group C employment with 7th CPC Level-1 pay scale (Basic ₹18,000, Gross ₹31,050 to ₹37,125/mo) plus railway travel passes and medical facilities.
- Course Completed Act Apprentices (CCAA) trained in railway workshops seeking statutory 20% horizontal reservation and PET exemption.
- Candidates without valid 10th pass matriculation certificate on the crucial date of application closing.
- Candidates failing Railway Medical Standards A-2 / B-1 (color blindness or severe distance vision issues disqualify from safety posts like Track Maintainer & Pointsman).
- Candidates who cannot fulfill the mandatory Physical Efficiency Test (PET: carrying 35kg/20kg weight for 100m and 1,000m running in one chance).
- Candidates planning to submit multiple applications across different RRBs (Railway rules permit registration in only ONE zone).
Common Application Mistakes & Scrutiny Pitfalls
- Applying to multiple Railway Recruitment Cells (RRCs): Multiple applications by the same candidate across different zones lead to automatic rejection of all forms.
- Uploading non-compliant photographs: Selfies, photos with colored glasses, caps, or dark backgrounds are rejected by RRB automated image scrutiny.
- Mismatched name or father’s name: Discrepancies between Aadhaar data and 10th Matriculation certificate details trigger rejection during Document Verification.
- Failing to verify bank account details for refund: Candidates must enter their own valid savings bank account details to receive the ₹400 / ₹250 CBT fee refund.
- Ignoring Trade-specific ITI requirements for technical departmental posts.
Documents to Keep Ready Before Applying
- 10th Matriculation Certificate & Mark Sheet (mandatory for Date of Birth & Father’s name verification).
- National Trade Certificate (NTC) / National Apprenticeship Certificate (NAC) issued by NCVT/SCVT (where applicable).
- Aadhaar Card for biometric authentication on the rrbapply.gov.in portal.
- Recent color passport photograph (30 KB to 70 KB, light background, taken within 3 months).
- Scanned signature in running handwriting (30 KB to 70 KB, black or blue ink).
- Caste Certificate (SC/ST/OBC-NCL/EWS) in prescribed Central Railway Annexure format.
- Active savings bank account details for exam fee refund processing post CBT.
Strategic Examination Preparation Blueprint
Actionable study guidelines, speed drills, and score defense tactics curated by GovIndiaNews editorial board:
Focus heavily on NCERT Class 9 and 10 General Science fundamentals (Physics numericals, Chemical reactions, and Human anatomy).
Practice daily non-verbal reasoning questions including mirror images, paper folding, and embedded figure recognition.
Familiarize yourself with TCS exam interface shortcuts to rapidly navigate between answered, unread, and flagged questions.
Under the 1/3rd negative deduction rule, skip questions where you cannot eliminate at least two plausible distractor options.
Build endurance for Computer Based Tests through uninterrupted 90-minute full mock exam simulations.
Interactive Candidate Utilities Suite
Statutory software calculators and document specification checkers for this notification
Frequently Asked Questions (Railway Recruitment Boards (RRB) / Ministry of Railways)
Is ITI mandatory for all RRB Group D (Level-1) posts in the upcoming 2026-27 recruitment?
No. Following high-level Railway Board directives and nationwide representations, several Level-1 operational and services posts such as Assistant Pointsman (Traffic Department) and Hospital Assistant (Medical Department) require only a standard 10th Class (Matriculation) pass from a recognized board without requiring an ITI certificate. However, technical engineering wing posts (such as Track Maintainer Gr-IV, Carriage & Wagon, and Workshop) require 10th Pass + ITI / National Apprenticeship Certificate (NAC) from NCVT/SCVT.
What is the age limit and age relaxation for RRB Group D 2026-27?
The prescribed base age bracket is 18 to 33 years as on 1st July 2026. In line with recent Railway Board Centralised Employment Notices (CEN), a 3-year special one-time relaxation beyond the prescribed upper age limit applies. Consequently, the effective upper age limit is: General/UR: 36 Years, OBC-NCL: 39 Years, SC/ST: 41 Years, and PwBD: 46 Years.
What are the exact Physical Efficiency Test (PET) parameters for RRB Group D?
PET is compulsory and qualifying: Male Candidates must lift and carry 35 kg of weight for a distance of 100 meters in 2 minutes in a single chance without dropping the weight, AND run a distance of 1,000 meters in 4 minutes and 15 seconds in one chance. Female Candidates must lift and carry 20 kg of weight for 100 meters in 2 minutes in a single chance without dropping, AND run 1,000 meters in 5 minutes and 40 seconds in one chance.
What special reservation and concessions are given to Railway Act Apprentices (CCAA)?
Candidates who have completed their Apprenticeship Training in Railway Establishments and possess a National Apprenticeship Certificate (NAC) granted by NCVT receive three major statutory advantages: (1) 20% horizontal reservation in Level-1 vacancies, (2) 1/3rd marks weightage calculated from their NCVT exam added in final merit, and (3) Complete 100% exemption from the Physical Efficiency Test (PET).
What is the gross monthly pay and in-hand salary for RRB Level-1 posts in 2026?
Level-1 corresponds to 7th CPC Index-1 starting basic pay of ₹18,000. With 50% Dearness Allowance (₹9,000), House Rent Allowance (₹1,800 to ₹5,400 depending on city tier Z, Y, or X), and Transport Allowance (₹1,350 to ₹2,025), the starting gross monthly salary is ₹31,050 to ₹37,125. Track Maintainers also receive an additional ₹2,700/month Risk & Hardship Allowance. Post 10% NPS pension and insurance deductions, the net in-hand salary ranges between ₹27,500 and ₹33,200 per month.
Can an applicant apply to multiple Railway Recruitment Boards (RRBs) or zones?
No. As per strict CEN regulations, candidates can submit only ONE online application choosing ONE specific Railway Recruitment Cell (RRC) / Zone (e.g., Northern Railway, Western Railway, Eastern Railway). Submitting multiple applications across different RRBs will lead to automatic rejection of all applications and debarment from future Railway examinations.
Primary Gazette Source Notice
Notice Title: Ministry of Railways / Railway Recruitment Control Board
Verified on: 02 Oct 2026
This notice was audited by the GovIndiaNews Editorial Desk against primary gazette releases and official portal bulletins. Review sign-off conducted under our transparent Fact-Checking Policy. Found a discrepancy? Submit a notice revision via our public Corrections Desk.