Ministry of Railways · Railway Recruitment Boards (RRB / RRC)
Railway Group D (Level-1) Recruitment 2026
Centralized Employment Notice: CEN 09/2025 · 22,195 Total Vacancies · 7th CPC Level 1
Current Status
- Notice No.: CEN 09/2025
- Vacancies: 22,195 Posts
- Selection stage: Computer Based Test (CBT) & Answer Key
- Next stage: Physical Efficiency Test (PET)
Post Overview
- Pay Scale: Pay Level 1 (7th CPC Matrix)
- Basic Pay: ₹18,000/- per month + Allowances
- Min. Qualification: 10th Pass or ITI / NAC
- Official Portal: rrbapply.gov.in
RRB Group D (CEN 09/2025) Recruitment Overview
| Feature | Official Detail |
|---|---|
| Recruitment Body | Railway Recruitment Boards (RRB) / Railway Recruitment Cells (RRC) |
| Centralized Employment Notice | CEN 09/2025 (Level-1 Posts in 7th CPC) |
| Designation Titles | Track Maintainer Grade IV, Pointsman B, Assistant (Track Machine, Bridge, C&W, S&T, Electrical, Mechanical, TRD, etc.) |
| Total Vacancy Count | 22,195 Positions across 16 Railway Zones |
| Basic Emoluments | ₹18,000/- Basic Pay (Level-1 of 7th CPC) plus DA, HRA, Transport Allowance & Medical Facilities |
| Mode of Examination | Computer Based Test (CBT) in 15 Languages |
| Official Central Portal | rrbapply.gov.in / regional RRB portals |
Important Dates & Examination Schedule
| Milestone Event | Official Timeline |
|---|---|
| Official Detailed Notification (CEN 09/2025) | January 30, 2026 |
| Online Application Opening Date | January 31, 2026 |
| Extended Last Date for Online Registration | March 09, 2026 (11:59 PM) |
| Last Date for Online Fee Payment | March 11, 2026 (11:59 PM) |
| Application Modification / Correction Window | March 12 to March 21, 2026 |
| Scribe Verification Window | March 22 to March 26, 2026 |
| Application Status & City Intimation | July 2026 |
| Computer Based Test (CBT) Window | August 03 to August 25, 2026 |
| Provisional Answer Key & Objections Window | September 2026 |
| Physical Efficiency Test (PET) & DV Schedule | To be announced by respective RRC zones |
Application Fee & Refund Policy
| Candidate Category | Fee Amount | Refund upon CBT Appearance |
|---|---|---|
| General / OBC / EWS Candidates | ₹500/- | ₹400/- refunded (deducting bank transaction charges) |
| SC / ST / PwBD / Ex-Servicemen | ₹250/- | ₹250/- refunded (full fee refund minus bank charges) |
| Female, Transgender & EBC Candidates | ₹250/- | ₹250/- refunded (full fee refund minus bank charges) |
Zone-Wise Vacancy Distribution (22,195 Posts)
| Railway Zone & Headquarters | UR | SC | ST | OBC | EWS | Total Vacancies |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northern Railway (NR – New Delhi) | 1437 | 530 | 266 | 956 | 348 | 3,537 |
| Western Railway (WR – Mumbai) | 1160 | 407 | 178 | 698 | 288 | 3,148 |
| Central Railway (CR – Mumbai) | 894 | 295 | 177 | 411 | 202 | 1,979 |
| Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR – Guwahati) | 718 | 266 | 133 | 480 | 179 | 1,776 |
| South East Central Railway (SECR – Bilaspur) | 516 | 184 | 76 | 281 | 142 | 1,199 |
| North Eastern Railway (NER – Gorakhpur) | 537 | 178 | 109 | 271 | 101 | 1,196 |
| North Central Railway (NCR – Prayagraj) | 570 | 156 | 89 | 271 | 97 | 1,183 |
| Eastern Railway (ER – Kolkata / Metro) | 471 | 155 | 114 | 296 | 137 | 1,173 |
| West Central Railway (WCR – Jabalpur) | 581 | 174 | 89 | 157 | 145 | 1,147 |
| Southern Railway (SR – Chennai) | 430 | 155 | 96 | 247 | 108 | 1,036 |
| South Central Railway (SCR – Secunderabad) | 376 | 148 | 129 | 258 | 101 | 1,012 |
| East Central Railway (ECR – Hajipur) | 405 | 148 | 76 | 266 | 98 | 993 |
| North Western Railway (NWR – Jaipur) | 483 | 152 | 48 | 188 | 104 | 974 |
| South Eastern Railway (SER – Kolkata) | 364 | 158 | 84 | 240 | 103 | 949 |
| East Coast Railway (ECoR – Bhubaneswar) | 329 | 120 | 57 | 206 | 91 | 803 |
| South Western Railway (SWR – Hubli) | 51 | 14 | 05 | 14 | 06 | 90 |
| Total Across All Zones | 9,322 | 3,240 | 1,726 | 5,240 | 2,250 | 22,195 |
Eligibility Norms & Age Criteria
Educational Qualifications
- Minimum Academic Standard: 10th Class pass (Matriculation) from a recognized Board or Council, OR
- Technical Alternative: ITI from institutions recognized by NCVT / SCVT, OR
- Apprenticeship: National Apprenticeship Certificate (NAC) granted by NCVT.
- Note: Engineering Degree or Diploma credentials are not accepted in lieu of ITI/NAC for Level-1 technical positions unless specified in post parameters. Candidates awaiting results on the application closing date are not eligible.
Age Bracket (as on 01/01/2026)
- Minimum Age: 18 Years
- Maximum Age: 33 Years (UR / EWS)
- Age Relaxation: +3 Years for OBC-NCL (up to 36 years), +5 Years for SC/ST (up to 38 years), up to 10–15 years for PwBD candidates, and standard concessions for Ex-Servicemen and Course Completed Act Apprentices (CCAA).
Computer Based Test (CBT) Exam Pattern
| Subject / Discipline | Number of Questions | Maximum Marks |
|---|---|---|
| General Science (Physics, Chemistry, Life Sciences 10th Standard) | 25 | 25 |
| Mathematics (Number System, Algebra, Geometry, Arithmetic) | 25 | 25 |
| General Intelligence & Reasoning | 30 | 30 |
| General Awareness & Current Affairs | 20 | 20 |
| Total Examination Benchmark | 100 Questions | 100 Marks |
The CBT duration is 90 minutes (120 minutes for eligible PwBD candidates with scribes). A negative marking of 1/3rd mark applies for every incorrect answer. Score normalization or percentile scoring is applied across multi-session shifts.
Physical Efficiency Test (PET) Standards
| Candidate Gender | Weight Carrying Task | Running Benchmark |
|---|---|---|
| Male Candidates | Lift and carry 35 kg of weight for a distance of 100 metres in 2 minutes in one attempt without dropping the sandbag. | Run a distance of 1000 metres (1 km) in 4 minutes and 15 seconds in one single attempt. |
| Female Candidates | Lift and carry 20 kg of weight for a distance of 100 metres in 2 minutes in one attempt without dropping the weight. | Run a distance of 1000 metres (1 km) in 5 minutes and 40 seconds in one single attempt. |
How to Check RRB Group D Status & Download Answer Key
- Visit the official central application portal at rrbapply.gov.in or your regional RRB website.
- Locate the notification link titled “CEN 09/2025 Level-1: Candidate Login & Response Sheet / Result”.
- Log in using your Registration Number / User ID and Date of Birth (DDMMYYYY).
- Access your candidate dashboard to view the CBT scorecard, question paper response sheet, and recorded responses.
- Verify the questions and submit objections through the designated portal window within the stipulated timeframe if any discrepancy is found.
- Save and print your scorecard and application receipt for document verification proceedings.
Important Official Links
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How many vacancies are announced under RRB Group D CEN 09/2025?
A total of 22,195 vacancies are notified across 16 Railway Zones for Level-1 posts including Track Maintainer Grade IV, Pointsman, and departmental Assistants.
What is the minimum educational eligibility for RRB Group D?
Candidates must possess a minimum of Class 10th (Matriculation) pass certificate from a recognized board, OR an ITI certificate from NCVT/SCVT, OR a National Apprenticeship Certificate (NAC).
What is the salary scale for RRB Level-1 posts?
Appointed candidates receive a starting basic pay of ₹18,000/- per month under Level 1 of the 7th CPC Pay Matrix, plus Dearness Allowance (DA), House Rent Allowance (HRA), Transport Allowance, and rail concessions.
Is there negative marking in the RRB Group D CBT examination?
Yes. A deduction of 1/3rd (0.33) marks is made for every incorrect answer marked in the computer-based test.
What is the running standard in the Physical Efficiency Test (PET) for males and females?
Male candidates must run 1000 metres in 4 minutes 15 seconds (carrying 35 kg for 100 metres in 2 minutes). Female candidates must run 1000 metres in 5 minutes 40 seconds (carrying 20 kg for 100 metres in 2 minutes).
Disclaimer
UP Govt Jobs Portal is an independent educational employment news resource and is not affiliated with the Railway Recruitment Boards (RRB), Railway Recruitment Cells (RRC), or the Ministry of Railways. The information published above is compiled from official notifications released under CEN 09/2025. Candidates are advised to verify all notifications, zone-wise cutoff figures, and result gazettes directly on rrbapply.gov.in and respective regional RRB websites.