RRB Group D Recruitment 2026 is a latest-status update article, not a fresh standalone 2026 notification. As of the latest official notices, the active Railway Group D cycle continues under CEN 08/2024 for Level 1 posts. The recruitment opened in January 2025, the exam ran into February 2026 after rescheduling, and the answer key objection window closed in February 2026. In the official sources reviewed here, I did not find a final result notice yet.
This matters because many candidates are searching for “Group D Recruitment 2026” expecting a new form. Right now, the official update is about the ongoing RRB Level 1 / Group D process, so candidates should track official RRB websites for the next result or shortlist notice.
Important Links
| Link Type | Status |
|---|---|
| Direct Apply Link | Official RRB Apply portal was listed on the Group D page, but the application window is closed. (RRB Chandigarh) |
| Official Website | Candidates should follow official RRB websites and the Group D notification page for updates. (Railway Recruitment Board, Bhubaneswar) |
| Download Official Notification PDF | Detailed CEN 08/2024 notification for Level 1 posts. |
| Application Status | Official application status notice says candidates can check status by logging in at the RRB portal. (RRB Chandigarh) |
| Latest Exam / Answer Key Update | Revised exam schedule and answer key notice were released officially by RRBs. (rrbranchi.gov.in) |
Key Highlights
- Recruitment name: RRB Level 1 / Group D under CEN 08/2024.
- Total vacancies: 32,438.
- Pay level: Level 1 of 7th CPC, initial pay ₹18,000.
- Age limit used in notification: 18 to 36 years as on 01.01.2025 for this cycle.
- Application mode: Online only.
- Recruitment stages: CBT, PET, Document Verification, Medical Examination.
- Latest official status: CBT held up to 10 February 2026; answer key objection window closed on 23 February 2026.
Vacancy / Post Details
The official notification advertises 32,438 Level 1 vacancies across Indian Railways. This recruitment is railway-zone-wise / RRB-wise, not officially state-wise.
Common notified Group D post categories include:
- Track Maintainer-IV
- Pointsman B
- Assistant Track Machine
- Assistant TRD Electrical
- Assistant TL & AC
- Assistant Loco Shed
- Assistant Carriage and Wagon
- Assistant Bridge
- Assistant Workshop
- Assistant (S&T)
Selected railway-zone vacancy totals
| Railway / Zone | Total Vacancies |
|---|---|
| Northern Railway | 4,785 |
| Central Railway | 3,244 |
| Southern Railway | 2,694 |
| North Frontier Railway | 2,048 |
| North Central Railway | 2,020 |
| Eastern Railway | 1,817 |
| South Central Railway | 1,642 |
| West Central Railway | 1,614 |
For the exact category-wise, post-wise, and railway-wise breakup, candidates should use Annexure B of the official notification.
Eligibility Criteria
Educational Qualification
The notification says candidates must already possess the required educational qualification by the closing date of application. Those waiting for final results were not eligible for this cycle.
For many Level 1 posts, the qualification shown in Annexure A is:
- 10th pass, or
- ITI or equivalent, or
- National Apprenticeship Certificate (NAC) granted by NCVT.
Age Limit
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Base post age in normal course | 18 to 33 years |
| Age applicable to this CEN | 18 to 36 years as on 01.01.2025 |
Age Relaxation
The notification provides upper-age relaxation for reserved categories such as OBC-NCL, SC/ST, Ex-Servicemen and others as per rules.
Experience
No separate prior work experience requirement appears in the main Level 1 recruitment stages. Eligibility depends mainly on age, qualification, medical standard and category claim rules.
Nationality / Citizenship
A candidate must be a citizen of India, or fall within the other nationality categories listed in the official notification, such as certain Nepal, Bhutan, Tibetan refugee, and person of Indian origin cases.
Application Process
The application process for this cycle was online only through official RRB websites. Multiple applications could lead to rejection.
How candidates applied
- Create or use an RRB account.
- Choose the RRB carefully.
- Fill personal, educational and category details.
- Upload the required documents and images.
- Pay the application fee online.
- Submit the form.
- Use the modification window if correction was allowed.
Application Fees
| Category | Fee |
|---|---|
| All candidates except concession categories | ₹500 |
| PwBD / Female / Transgender / Ex-Servicemen / SC / ST / Minority Communities / EBC | ₹250 |
Refund rule
The notification says ₹400 out of ₹500 is refundable for the general-fee category on appearing in CBT, after bank charges. For the concessional category fee, ₹250 is refundable after bank charges on appearing in CBT.
Payment mode
Fee payment was accepted online only through options such as internet banking, debit card, credit card and UPI.
Selection Process
The official recruitment process has four stages:
- Computer Based Test (CBT)
- Physical Efficiency Test (PET)
- Document Verification (DV)
- Medical Examination (ME)
Important points:
- PET shortlisting is based on CBT merit.
- PET is qualifying in nature.
- Candidates called for DV are shortlisted at 1:1 of vacancies, based on CBT performance and PET qualification.
- Course Completed Act Apprentices (CCAAs) and Ex-Servicemen are exempt from PET, subject to the rules in the notification.
Syllabus & Exam Pattern
CBT Pattern
| Section | Questions |
|---|---|
| General Science | 25 |
| Mathematics | 25 |
| General Intelligence & Reasoning | 30 |
| General Awareness & Current Affairs | 20 |
| Total | 100 |
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Exam duration | 90 minutes |
| Duration for eligible PwBD candidates with scribe | 120 minutes |
| Negative marking | 1/3 mark for each wrong answer |
| Minimum marks for shortlisting | UR 40%, EWS 40%, OBC-NCL 30%, SC 30%, ST 30% |
Syllabus Topics
The official syllabus says the CBT includes:
- Mathematics: number system, ratio, percentage, mensuration, time and work, algebra, geometry, trigonometry, statistics, clock, pipes and cistern.
- General Intelligence and Reasoning: analogies, series, coding-decoding, syllogism, jumbling, venn diagram, data interpretation, classification, directions and similar topics.
- General Science: physics, chemistry and life science of 10th standard level.
- General Awareness and Current Affairs: science and technology, sports, culture, personalities, economics, politics and other important subjects.
PET Standards
| Candidate Type | PET Requirement |
|---|---|
| Male | Lift and carry 35 kg for 100 meters in 2 minutes, then run 1000 meters in 4 min 15 sec |
| Female | Lift and carry 20 kg for 100 meters in 2 minutes, then run 1000 meters in 5 min 40 sec |
Salary / Pay Scale
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Pay level | Level 1 of 7th CPC |
| Initial pay | ₹18,000 |
The official notification clearly shows the initial pay, but it does not give one fixed in-hand salary because actual take-home pay depends on posting place, allowances and deductions.
Important Dates & Event Timeline
| Event | Official Date / Status |
|---|---|
| Indicative notice | 28.12.2024 |
| Detailed notification published | 22.01.2025 |
| Application start | 23.01.2025 |
| Original last date to apply | 22.02.2025 |
| Revised last date to apply | 01.03.2025 |
| Revised last date for fee payment | 03.03.2025 |
| Revised correction window | 04.03.2025 to 13.03.2025 |
| Application status live | 24.09.2025 |
| City intimation link live from | 19.11.2025 or earlier |
| Revised CBT schedule notice | 23.12.2025 |
| CBT conducted | 27.11.2025 to 10.02.2026 |
| Answer key / objection window | 17.02.2026 to 23.02.2026 |
Similar Jobs / Related Recruitment Comparison
| Recruitment | Official Vacancy Count | Qualification Snapshot | Current / Recent Official Stage |
|---|---|---|---|
| RRB Group D / Level 1 (CEN 08/2024) | 32,438 | 10th / ITI / equivalent / NAC for many posts | CBT completed, answer key window closed in Feb 2026 |
| RRB ALP (CEN 01/2025) | 9,970 | Matriculation/SSLC + ITI or apprenticeship, or diploma/degree in specified engineering streams | CBT-1 revised schedule issued in Jan 2026 |
| RRB Technician (CEN 02/2025) | 6,238 | Technician Grade I Signal and Technician Grade III categories | Revised CBT schedule issued in Feb 2026 (RRB Chennai) |
| RRB NTPC Graduate (CEN 06/2025) | 5,810 | Graduate-level NTPC posts | CBT-I notices and e-call letter updates were issued in 2026 (RRB Chennai) |
Admit Card / Exam Date / Result Update
The official notice said city intimation and travel authority links would go live from 19 November 2025 or earlier, and e-call letters would start 4 days before the exam date shown in the city slip.
A later official notice revised the January 2026 part of the schedule. It said the exams earlier planned from 01 to 16 January 2026 would instead be held on 08, 09 January 2026 and 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 09 and 10 February 2026.
After the CBT, official RRB notices allowed candidates to view questions, responses and answer keys from 17 February 2026 to 23 February 2026. Based on the official sources reviewed here, the final result / panel notice is still awaited.
Required Documents
At document verification, shortlisted candidates must produce original documents plus two sets of self-attested photocopies.
Candidates should generally keep these ready:
- Matriculation / 10th certificate for name and date of birth.
- Educational qualification certificates such as ITI / equivalent / NAC where applicable.
- Caste certificate if claiming SC/ST/OBC benefits.
- EWS Income and Asset Certificate, if applicable.
- Minority Community Declaration for fee waiver, if applicable.
- EBC certificate if claiming EBC fee concession.
- PwBD certificate and related documents, if applicable.
- NOC from employer for serving employees.
- Recent photographs matching the application record.
How to Prepare
Start with the CBT pattern, not random study. Group D is broad but manageable when preparation stays practical.
Focus on these areas first:
- Finish basic maths topics that repeat often: percentage, ratio, time and work, profit and loss, mensuration, algebra basics.
- Practice reasoning daily because it improves with repetition.
- Revise 10th-level science in short notes.
- Prepare a compact current affairs revision file for the last few months.
- Solve mock tests in 90-minute format and build speed with negative marking in mind.
- Do not ignore PET readiness if you are not in an exempt category.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Very large vacancy base at 32,438 posts.
- Entry route is open to many 10th pass / ITI / NAC candidates.
- Railway jobs offer stable central government employment under a structured pay matrix.
Cons
- Recruitment cycle is long and moves through multiple official notices.
- PET is mandatory for most candidates.
- Railway/zone allocation matters, so vacancy competition can differ sharply across regions.
Who Should Apply?
This recruitment suits candidates who want a large-volume railway opportunity and meet Level 1 eligibility, especially those with 10th pass, ITI, equivalent trade qualification or NAC, depending on the post.
It is especially relevant for candidates who:
- prefer central government recruitment over state-level uncertainty,
- are comfortable with CBT plus PET,
- want entry-level railway service roles,
- can follow official RRB updates patiently through a long recruitment cycle.
Final Verdict
RRB Group D Recruitment 2026 is best understood as the latest status of the ongoing CEN 08/2024 cycle, not a newly opened 2026 application form. The biggest facts are clear: 32,438 vacancies, ₹18,000 initial pay, 10th/ITI/NAC-based eligibility for many posts, and a recruitment process that has already moved through application status, CBT and answer key stages.
Candidates should now treat this as a result-wait and next-notice phase. The safest approach is to rely only on official RRB websites and ignore unofficial “result out” claims until a formal result or shortlist notice appears.
5 SEO FAQs
1. Is RRB Group D Recruitment 2026 form out?
No fresh standalone 2026 Group D form was found in the official notices reviewed here. The active Group D cycle is still CEN 08/2024, with the process already advanced to CBT and answer key stages.
2. How many vacancies are there in RRB Group D Recruitment 2026?
The official CEN 08/2024 notification shows 32,438 vacancies for Level 1 posts.
3. What is the qualification for RRB Group D Recruitment 2026?
For many notified Level 1 posts, the qualification is 10th pass or ITI or equivalent or NAC granted by NCVT, though candidates should check the exact post in Annexure A.
4. What is the salary of RRB Group D in 2026?
The official pay shown for this recruitment is Level 1 of 7th CPC with initial pay ₹18,000.
5. What is the latest update on RRB Group D exam and result?
The CBT was conducted up to 10 February 2026, and the official answer key objection window closed on 23 February 2026. In the official sources checked here, a final result notice was not found yet.
Final Summary for Quick Readers
RRB Group D Recruitment 2026 currently means the latest update on CEN 08/2024. Total vacancies are 32,438. Initial pay is ₹18,000. Many posts accept 10th / ITI / NAC qualifications. The recruitment process includes CBT, PET, DV and medical exam. CBT is over, answer key objections have closed, and candidates now need to watch official RRB websites for the next result-related notice.
