Railway Recruitment Boards (RRB) have issued Centralised Employment Notification CEN 09/2025 for 22,195 Level-1 posts including Track Maintainer, Pointsman, and Assistants across all Railway Zones. Indian nationals who have passed Class 10 or hold an ITI certificate are eligible. The online application window at rrbapply.gov.in is open from 31 January 2026 and closes on 2 March 2026 at 23:59 hrs.
Last verified on: 21 February 2026 (IST)
Source: Official CEN 09/2025 notification PDF (rrbajmer.gov.in) and rrbapply.gov.in portal.
Key Highlights
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Recruitment Body | Railway Recruitment Boards (RRB) on behalf of Railway Recruitment Cells (RRC) |
| Notification Number | CEN 09/2025 |
| Total Vacancies | 22,195 (revised via Corrigendum No. 3, dated 19 February 2026) |
| Post Level | Level-1, 7th CPC Pay Matrix |
| Application Start | 31 January 2026 |
| Application Last Date | 2 March 2026 (23:59 hrs) |
| Application Mode | Online only – rrbapply.gov.in |
| Minimum Education | 10th Pass / ITI / NAC (NCVT) |
| Age Limit (UR) | 18–33 years as of 1 January 2026 |
| Basic Pay | ₹18,000/- per month (Level-1, 7th CPC) |
| Application Fee (UR/OBC) | ₹500 (₹400 refundable on appearing in CBT) |
| Application Fee (SC/ST/PwBD/Female/EBC) | ₹250 (fully refundable on appearing in CBT) |
| Exam Date | Not announced – to be notified on RRB websites |
Vacancy Details
As per the official notification and Corrigendum No. 3 (19 February 2026), the total revised vacancy count is 22,195 across all 21 Railway Recruitment Boards. Posts notified under CEN 09/2025 include Track Maintainer Grade IV, Pointsman, Assistant (various departments including S&T, Signal, Loco Shed, Operations, and TL & AC). Zone-wise and category-wise breakdowns are provided in Annexure B of the detailed CEN PDF, available on each regional RRB website. Vacancies are provisional and may be revised upward or downward by Railway Administration.
Eligibility Criteria
Educational Qualification
Candidates must have passed Matriculation (Class 10) from a recognised Board, OR hold an ITI certificate from a NCVT/SCVT-recognised institution, OR possess a National Apprenticeship Certificate (NAC) issued by NCVT, OR have completed a Course Completed Act Apprenticeship from any trade. Candidates who are still awaiting their final exam results as of the application closing date are not eligible.
Age Limit and Relaxation
The age limit is 18 to 33 years as of 1 January 2026 for the Unreserved (UR) category. The following standard government relaxations apply as stated in CEN 09/2025: SC/ST candidates receive a 5-year relaxation; OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) candidates receive a 3-year relaxation; PwBD candidates receive 10 to 15 years depending on their base category; Ex-Servicemen receive relaxation as per Central Government rules. The crucial date for all category-related claims (fee concession, reservation, age relaxation) is the closing date of the online application, i.e., 2 March 2026.
Nationality
Applicants must be Indian citizens. Citizens of Nepal, Bhutan, Tibetan refugees who settled in India before 1 January 1962, and persons of Indian origin who migrated from specified countries with intent to permanently settle in India are also eligible, subject to producing a certificate of eligibility from the Government of India.
Salary and Benefits
Selected candidates are placed in Level-1 of the 7th CPC Pay Matrix with a basic pay of ₹18,000 per month. In addition to basic pay, they are entitled to Dearness Allowance (DA), House Rent Allowance (HRA based on X/Y/Z city classification), Transport Allowance (TA), Night Duty Allowance where applicable, and medical facilities for self and family as admissible under Central Government rules. Final terms and conditions are strictly as stated in CEN 09/2025.
Selection Process
The selection process consists of four stages as specified in CEN 09/2025. In Stage 1, candidates appear for a Computer Based Test (CBT) — a single-stage or multi-stage objective examination of 100 questions to be answered in 90 minutes. Subjects covered include Mathematics, General Intelligence and Reasoning, General Science, and General Awareness. Each wrong answer carries a negative mark of 1/3rd of the allocated marks. Minimum qualifying marks are 40% for UR/EWS, and 30% for OBC-NCL/SC/ST candidates.
Candidates qualifying the CBT (up to 3 times the number of vacancies) are called for Stage 2, the Physical Efficiency Test (PET), which is qualifying in nature. Male and female candidates have separate standards. Stage 3 is Document Verification (DV), and Stage 4 is the Medical Examination conducted by Railway Administration. Medical fitness categories (A2, A3, B1, B2, C1, etc.) vary by post. Candidates found medically unsuitable for their opted post(s) at the time of appointment may be considered for alternative posts, as per Railway rules.
Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Notification release date | 30 January 2026 |
| Online application opens | 31 January 2026 |
| Last date to apply online | 2 March 2026 (23:59 hrs) |
| Application modification window | To be announced after closing date |
| CBT Exam Date | Not announced in the official notification |
Application Fee
For General (UR) and OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) candidates, the fee is ₹500, of which ₹400 is refunded upon appearing in the CBT. For SC, ST, PwBD, Female, Transgender, Ex-Servicemen, Minority Communities, and Economically Backward Class (EBC) candidates, the fee is ₹250, which is fully refunded upon appearing in the CBT. Payment must be made online via Debit Card, Credit Card, UPI, or Net Banking. No fee is accepted by any other mode.
How to Apply – Step by Step
- Visit the official application portal at rrbapply.gov.in or the website of your chosen regional RRB (listed in Para 24.0 of CEN 09/2025).
- Create a new account by entering your name, date of birth, email ID, and mobile number, then set a password.
- Log in with your registered credentials and select CEN 09/2025 – Group D (Level-1).
- Choose only one RRB/Railway Zone. This selection is final and cannot be changed.
- Fill in personal, educational, and contact details accurately. Select your preferred CBT exam city.
- Upload scanned copies of your recent photograph, signature, and relevant certificates (category certificate, educational qualification, etc.) in the prescribed format and size.
- Pay the application fee via the available online payment modes.
- Review all details before final submission. Once submitted, changes may only be made during the official modification window.
- Download and print the application confirmation page and fee receipt for future reference.
Important: Submitting multiple applications to different RRBs will result in disqualification. One application per candidate per chosen RRB is the rule.
Documents Required
At the time of application and Document Verification, candidates will need: Class 10 marksheet and passing certificate (or ITI/NAC certificate), date of birth proof, valid photo identity proof, recent passport-size photograph and signature (for upload), caste/community certificate (SC/ST/OBC-NCL/EWS/EBC) issued by competent authority if claiming reservation or fee concession, PwBD certificate if applicable, Ex-Servicemen discharge certificate if applicable, and income/assets certificate for EWS claim. All certificates must be from competent authorities as defined in the notification.
Offer and Notice Verification – Scam Warning
RRB issues all official communications — including call letters, exam schedules, and results — exclusively through the regional RRB websites listed in Para 24.0 of CEN 09/2025 and through the central portal rrbapply.gov.in. No offer letter or appointment order is issued via WhatsApp, Telegram, email from private domains, or third-party websites. Any message claiming early selection, guaranteed placement, or requesting money at any stage of recruitment is fraudulent. Indian Railways does not charge any fee beyond the official application fee paid through rrbapply.gov.in. If you receive a suspicious communication, report it to the concerned RRB using contact details on their official website. Downloading notification PDFs only from gov.in domains is the safest practice; reuploaded PDFs on job blogs may be outdated or manipulated.
Official Links
- Apply Online – rrbapply.gov.in (Official Application Portal)
- Download CEN 09/2025 Detailed Notification PDF (RRB Ajmer – Official)
- Indian Railways Official Website – indianrailways.gov.in
- RRB Ajmer (Regional RRB example) – rrbajmer.gov.in
For your specific zone, locate the corresponding RRB website from Annexure 24.0(A) of the official CEN 09/2025 notification PDF. All 21 regional RRB portals carry the same official notification and application link.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the last date to apply for RRB Group D Recruitment 2026?
The last date to submit the online application is 2 March 2026 at 23:59 hrs, as stated in CEN 09/2025.
2. Can I apply to more than one RRB zone under CEN 09/2025?
No. As clearly stated in the official notification, candidates can apply to only one RRB/Railway Zone. Multiple applications across zones will result in disqualification.
3. Is the application fee refundable?
Yes, partially or fully. UR/OBC candidates who appear in the CBT will receive a refund of ₹400 out of ₹500 paid. SC/ST/PwBD/Female/EBC/Transgender/Ex-Servicemen candidates who appear in the CBT will receive their full ₹250 back.
4. What is the age limit for OBC candidates applying to RRB Group D 2026?
OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) candidates get a 3-year relaxation over the UR upper age limit, making their effective upper age limit 36 years as of 1 January 2026, per CEN 09/2025.
5. Is the Physical Efficiency Test (PET) mandatory for all posts?
Yes. All candidates qualifying the CBT must appear for the PET. It is qualifying in nature. The specific physical standards for male and female candidates are detailed in CEN 09/2025.
6. When will the RRB Group D CBT Exam Date 2026 be announced?
The CBT exam date has not been mentioned in the official notification. It will be announced separately on the respective RRB websites. Candidates should monitor the official RRB portals for updates.
