The Railway Recruitment Control Board (RRCB) in coordination with 16 Railway Recruitment Cells (RRCs) across Indian Railways has released the mega recruitment notification for 32,450 Level-1 (Group D) positions under the Centralized Employment Notice (CEN RRC 01/2026). This recruitment encompasses high-demand technical and operational roles including Track Maintainer Grade-IV, Assistant Pointsman, Assistant Bridge, Helper (Electrical/Mechanical/S&T), and Hospital Attendant across all railway zones.
This comprehensive guide details the zonal vacancy breakdown, educational eligibility norms, Computer Based Test (CBT) structure, Physical Efficiency Test (PET) weight-lifting parameters, and step-by-step application walkthrough.
RRB Group D 2026: Recruitment Overview
| Recruitment Detail | Official Specifications |
|---|---|
| Recruitment Authority | Railway Recruitment Boards (RRB / RRC CEN 01/2026) |
| Cadre / Posts | Track Maintainer Gr IV, Assistant Pointsman, Helper, Attendant |
| Total Openings | 32,450 Level-1 Vacancies Across 16 Railway Zones |
| Pay Matrix | 7th CPC Level-1 (Basic ₹18,000/- + DA, HRA, Transport Allowance, Night Duty Allowance) |
| Minimum Educational Qualification | 10th Pass (Matriculation) from recognized Board OR ITI (NCVT/SCVT) OR NAC |
| Selection Stages | Single-Stage CBT ➔ Physical Efficiency Test (PET) ➔ Document Verification & Medical |
| Official Portals | indianrailways.gov.in / Regional RRB Websites |
Zone-Wise Vacancy Allocations (Major Railway Zones)
| Railway Zone | Headquarters | Approximate Vacancies |
|---|---|---|
| Northern Railway (NR) | New Delhi | 4,250 |
| Western Railway (WR) | Mumbai (Churchgate) | 3,850 |
| Central Railway (CR) | Mumbai (CSMT) | 3,120 |
| Eastern Railway (ER) | Kolkata | 3,400 |
| Southern Railway (SR) | Chennai | 2,950 |
| South Central Railway (SCR) | Secunderabad | 2,800 |
| North Western Railway (NWR) | Jaipur | 2,150 |
| Other Zonal RRCs & Production Units | All India | 9,930 |
| Total Combined Vacancies | Indian Railways | 32,450 |
Eligibility Criteria & Age Parameters
- Educational Qualification: 10th pass from a recognized board, or National Apprenticeship Certificate (NAC) granted by NCVT, or ITI from institutions recognized by NCVT/SCVT.
- Age Limit: 18 to 33 years as of the cutoff date.
- OBC (Non-Creamy Layer): 3 Years relaxation (up to 36 years).
- SC / ST: 5 Years relaxation (up to 38 years).
- PwBD: 10 Years relaxation.
- Ex-Servicemen: Service period + 3 years.
RRB Group D Single-Stage CBT Examination Scheme
The Computer Based Test comprises 100 multiple choice questions with a total duration of 90 minutes (120 minutes for eligible PwBD scribe candidates):
| Subject / Section | Number of Questions | Maximum Marks |
|---|---|---|
| General Science (10th Standard Physics, Chemistry, Biology) | 25 | 25 |
| Mathematics (Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry, Mensuration) | 25 | 25 |
| General Intelligence and Reasoning (Analogies, Coding, Syllogism) | 30 | 30 |
| General Awareness and Current Affairs | 20 | 20 |
| Total | 100 Questions | 100 Marks |
Negative Marking: 1/3rd mark is deducted for each incorrect answer. Score normalization/percentile score formula applies across multi-session shifts.
Physical Efficiency Test (PET) Standards
Candidates shortlisted on the basis of CBT merit (at a 1:3 ratio) must pass the mandatory qualifying PET:
Male Candidates
- Must be able to lift and carry 35 kg of weight for a distance of 100 metres in 2 minutes in one chance without putting the weight down.
- Must be able to run for a distance of 1000 metres in 4 minutes and 15 seconds in one single chance.
Female Candidates
- Must be able to lift and carry 20 kg of weight for a distance of 100 metres in 2 minutes in one chance without putting the weight down.
- Must be able to run for a distance of 1000 metres in 5 minutes and 40 seconds in one single chance.
How to Apply Online for RRB Group D
- Visit the official portal of your chosen regional Railway Recruitment Board.
- Click on CEN RRC 01/2026 – Online Registration for Level-1 Posts.
- Select your target Railway Zone carefully (applications cannot be transferred between zones once submitted).
- Enter registration details, Aadhaar number, matriculation roll number, and contact information.
- Upload required scanned documents (photograph, signature, SC/ST certificate for free rail travel pass).
- Pay the application fee of ₹500 (₹250 for SC/ST/Ex-SM/Female/EBC; ₹400/₹250 refunded upon attending CBT) and save the final printable confirmation.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1: Is ITI qualification compulsory for RRB Group D 2026?
For technical department positions (Civil, Mechanical, S&T), ITI or NAC is preferred; however, general 10th pass candidates are fully eligible for non-technical Level-1 cadres including Pointsman and Hospital Attendant.
Q2: Is the Physical Efficiency Test (PET) qualifying or does it have marks?
PET is strictly qualifying in nature. Final merit for appointment is compiled purely on the basis of marks obtained in the CBT, subject to qualifying the PET and Medical Fitness standards (A2/A3/B1/B2/C1).
Q3: Can a candidate apply to multiple RRB zones?
No. Candidates can apply to only ONE Railway Zone. Submitting multiple applications across different RRBs leads to rejection of all candidatures.
Q4: What is the medical standard for Track Maintainer and Pointsman?
Track Maintainers require A-2 or B-1 medical standard (Visual Acuity 6/9, 6/9 with or without glasses, plus Color Vision and Binocular Vision clearance).
Ram Avtar is the Founder and Lead Career Analyst at Govt Results Alert. With over 6 years of experience analyzing Government Recruitment Notifications, SSC, Banking, and Railway examination patterns, he leads our fact-checking team to deliver authentic, timely, and verified job alerts directly from official government gazettes.
