The Railway Recruitment Board (RRB) has officially released the RRB Group D Notification 2026 under CEN No. 09/2025, bringing much-awaited clarity for lakhs of aspirants competing for 22,195 Level-1 posts across Indian Railways. After months of anticipation, RRB has confirmed the Computer-Based Test (CBT) schedule, and candidates can now plan their final preparation strategy with a concrete timeline in hand.
This is one of the largest railway recruitment drives in recent years, covering posts such as Pointsman, Assistant, Track Maintainer, Assistant Loco Shed, Assistant Operations, and Assistant TL & AC. With crores of applicants expected to compete for these Level-1 vacancies, understanding every detail of the notification — from exam dates to eligibility and selection stages — is critical for candidates hoping to secure a coveted railway job.
RRB Group D Schedule & Requirements
Event / Category
Details
Exam Name
RRB Group D Exam (CEN 09/2025)
Total Vacancies
22,195 Level-1 posts
Exam Date
August 3 – August 21, 2026
City Intimation Slips
Releasing around late July
Admit Card Release
Approximately 4 days prior to your specific exam date
Application Status
Currently viewable on the candidate portal
Selection Stages
Computer-Based Test (CBT) → Physical Efficiency Test (PET) → Document Verification → Medical Test
Age Limit
18 to 33 years (Calculated as on January 1, 2026, with usual relaxations for reserved categories)
Qualification
Passed Class 10th (Matriculation) OR hold an ITI from NCVT/SCVT OR possess a National Apprenticeship Certificate (NAC)
RRB Group D Notification 2026
RRB Group D Exam Date 2026: Key Highlights
According to the official notice, the RRB Group D CBT for CEN 09/2025 will be conducted from August 3 to August 21, 2026, across multiple shifts and exam centres nationwide. The exam is expected to be held in three shifts per day at centres spread across 21 RRB regions, including Ahmedabad, Bhopal, Chennai, Kolkata, Mumbai, Patna, Bhubaneswar, Guwahati, and several others.
Given that close to 87 lakh candidates are expected to appear for this recruitment cycle, RRB has planned an extensive, multi-week examination schedule to accommodate the massive candidate pool. This scale makes RRB Group D one of the most keenly watched government recruitment exams of the year, particularly among candidates from rural and semi-urban backgrounds who see Level-1 railway jobs as a stable career entry point.
Application Status and City Intimation Slip
The application status window opened on July 9, 2026, allowing candidates to verify whether their applications have been Provisionally Accepted, Conditionally Accepted, or Rejected, along with reasons in case of rejection. Candidates are strongly advised to check this status well in advance so that any discrepancy in their application can be addressed through the appropriate channel before the exam.
Following the application status update, RRB will release the Exam City & Date Intimation Slip around 10 days before each candidate’s respective exam date, meaning the first batch of slips is expected around July 25, 2026. This slip informs candidates of their allotted exam city, shift, and date and also allows SC/ST candidates to download their Travel Authority for reimbursement purposes.
Admit Card (e-Call Letter) Release.
The RRB Group D Admit Card, also referred to as the e-Call Letter, will be released approximately four days before each exam date. For candidates scheduled to appear on August 3, 2026, the admit card is expected around July 31, 2026. Candidates must download the admit card from their regional RRB’s official website or the unified portal using their registration number and date of birth or password.
It’s important to note that, unlike the city intimation slip, the admit card is mandatory for entry into the exam hall. Candidates must carry it along with a valid original photo ID. Aadhaar-based biometric authentication will also be conducted at the exam centre, so candidates are advised to ensure their Aadhaar details are verified and unlocked in the UIDAI system well before their exam date.
RRB Group D Selection Process 2026
Unlike some other RRB recruitment cycles that involve a two-stage CBT, the RRB Group D 2026 recruitment remains a single-stage CBT process. The complete selection process comprises the following stages:
Computer-Based Test (CBT): A single-stage online exam of 100 questions carrying 100 marks, to be completed within 90 minutes (120 minutes for candidates eligible for scribe/compensatory time). The paper includes sections on General Science, Mathematics, General Intelligence & Reasoning, and General Awareness & Current Affairs, with a negative marking of 1/3 mark for every incorrect answer.
Physical Efficiency Test (PET): Candidates who clear the CBT and meet the minimum qualifying marks will be shortlisted for PET, which tests physical stamina relevant to the nature of Level-1 railway jobs. Course Completed Act Apprentices (CCAA), Ex-Servicemen, and PwBD candidates are generally exempted from this stage.
Document Verification (DV): Shortlisted candidates from the PET stage undergo document verification, where original certificates related to age, educational qualification, category, and identity are checked.
Medical Examination: The final stage involves a medical fitness test conducted by Railway Administration doctors to confirm candidates meet the visual and physical standards required for their specific post.
It’s worth remembering that clearing the qualifying marks in CBT does not guarantee selection — the final merit and cut-off depend on the number of vacancies, normalisation of scores across shifts, and overall candidate performance nationwide.
RRB Group D Eligibility Criteria 2026
Aspirants must satisfy the following eligibility conditions to be considered for the RRB Group D CEN 09/2025 recruitment:
Educational Qualification
Candidates must have passed Class 10th (Matriculation) from a recognised board, or hold an ITI certificate from NCVT/SCVT, or possess a National Apprenticeship Certificate (NAC) granted by NCVT. Additionally, Course Completed Act Apprentices (CCAA) from any trade are also eligible to apply. Candidates who are still awaiting their final qualifying exam results at the time of application are not eligible.
Age Limit
The prescribed age limit for RRB Group D 2026 is 18 to 33 years, calculated as of January 1, 2026. Standard age relaxation is applicable for candidates belonging to SC/ST, OBC (Non-Creamy Layer), PwBD, and Ex-Servicemen categories, as per government norms.
Nationality
Applicants must be citizens of India or fall under specific categories such as subjects of Nepal or Bhutan, Tibetan refugees who settled in India before January 1, 1962, or persons of Indian origin who migrated from countries like Pakistan, Myanmar (Burma), Sri Lanka, and select East African nations with the intention of permanently settling in India.
RRB Group D Salary and Pay Scale
Selected candidates will be placed at Level-1 of the 7th CPC Pay Matrix, with a starting basic pay of approximately Rs. 18,000 per month. In addition to the basic pay, employees are entitled to Dearness Allowance (DA), House Rent Allowance (HRA), Travel Allowance, and other railway employee benefits, along with pension and medical facilities applicable to central government employees.
Beyond the starting salary, RRB Group D also offers a structured career progression path. Employees are generally eligible for promotion to Group C positions after completing three years of regular service, based on seniority and departmental examinations, without the need for a fresh external recruitment advertisement.
How to Check RRB Group D Application Status and Download Admit Card
Candidates can follow these simple steps to track their application status, exam city intimation, and admit card:
Visit the official website of your respective regional RRB — for example, RRB Bhopal, RRB Ahmedabad, RRB Chennai, or the main RRB CDG portal, depending on the zone from which you applied.
Look for the link related to CEN 09/2025 Application Status or Exam City & Date Intimation.
Log in using your registration number and date of birth or password as required.
Once logged in, check your application status, allotted exam city, shift timing, and exam date.
Closer to the exam date, return to the same portal to download your e-Call Letter (Admit Card).
Candidates are strongly advised to rely only on official RRB websites for all updates and to be cautious of unofficial sources or agents claiming to guarantee selection, since RRB Group D selection is based purely on CBT merit.
RRB Group D Notification 2026 See Full CBT Schedule (August 3 to 21) & Application Status Link!
Preparation Tips for RRB Group D CBT 2026
With the exam schedule now confirmed, candidates have a limited but sufficient window to sharpen their preparation. Some practical tips include:
Revise core topics thoroughly across Mathematics, General Science, Reasoning, and General Awareness rather than starting new, unfamiliar topics at this late stage.
Practice previous years’ papers and full-length mock tests regularly to build speed and accuracy under exam-like time constraints.
Focus on weak areas identified through mock test analysis, while maintaining revision of stronger sections to retain accuracy.
Prepare short notes with important formulas, facts, and current affairs points for quick last-minute revision.
Maintain physical fitness in parallel, since candidates will also need to prepare for the Physical Efficiency Test after clearing the CBT.
Prioritise health and rest, ensuring adequate sleep and a balanced diet during the final weeks of preparation to avoid burnout.
Why RRB Group D 2026 Matters for Job Seekers
For many candidates, particularly those from rural and semi-urban India, RRB Group D represents one of the most accessible entry points into a stable, pensionable central government job. The relatively modest educational qualification requirement — a Class 10th pass or ITI certificate — combined with the scale of vacancies (22,195 posts) makes this recruitment cycle especially significant for young job seekers across the country.
With nearly 87 lakh applicants competing for these positions, the competition remains intense, underscoring the importance of thorough preparation and staying updated through official channels. Candidates should regularly check their respective regional RRB websites for the latest updates on city intimation slips, admit cards, and any official communication regarding the exam schedule.
Conclusion
The release of the RRB Group D Notification 2026 exam schedule marks a crucial milestone for this year’s recruitment cycle under CEN 09/2025. With the CBT scheduled from August 3 to August 21, 2026, candidates now have a clear roadmap to plan their final revision, track their application status, and prepare to download their exam city intimation slip and admit card in the coming weeks. Staying alert to official RRB communications and maintaining a disciplined preparation schedule in the remaining weeks will be key to performing well in this highly competitive examination.
Candidates are advised to regularly visit their regional RRB portal or the unified RRB Apply platform for the most accurate and timely updates regarding this recruitment.
