The Railway Recruitment Boards (RRBs), under the Ministry of Railways, Government of India, have officially released the Centralised Employment Notification (CEN) No. 09/2025 for Level-1 (Group D) posts in Indian Railways. This is a major recruitment drive targeting entry-level positions in various railway zones, offering stable government jobs with excellent benefits.
The notification was released on January 30, 2026, and the online application process is currently active. This recruitment is purely merit-based through a Computer-Based Test (CBT) followed by Physical Efficiency Test (PET), Document Verification, and Medical Examination.
Key Highlights
- Posts: Various Level-1 posts including Track Maintainer Grade-IV, Pointsman-B, Assistant (Track Machine), Assistant (Bridge), Assistant (P-Way), Assistant (TRD), Assistant Loco Shed (Electrical), Assistant Operations (Electrical), Assistant (TL & AC), Assistant (C&W), Assistant (S&T), and others.
- Total Vacancies: 22,195 (exact figure as per official notification; some sources round to 21,995–22,195).
- Advertisement No.: CEN 09/2025
- Official Websites:
- Regional RRBs (e.g., www.rrbcdg.gov.in, www.rrbapply.gov.in, or specific RRB sites like rrbchennai.gov.in).
- Centralized application portal: https://www.rrbapply.gov.in
- Application Mode: Online only
- No Negative Marking in CBT (as per standard RRB Group D pattern).
Important Dates
- Notification Release Date: January 30, 2026
- Online Registration/Apply Start Date: January 31, 2026 (00:00 hrs)
- Last Date to Apply Online: March 2, 2026 (23:59 hrs)
- Last Date for Fee Payment: March 4, 2026 (in some updates; confirm on portal)
- Application Correction Window: March 5–14, 2026 (tentative)
- CBT Exam Date: To be notified later (likely mid-2026; previous cycles had exams in phases over months)
- Admit Card Release: 4–7 days before CBT (via regional RRB websites)
- PET, DV, Medical: After CBT results
Also Read India Post Gramin Dak Sevak (GDS) Recruitment 2026: Detailed News and Complete Guide
Eligibility Criteria
This is an accessible opportunity for 10th/ITI-pass candidates.
- Educational Qualification:
- Minimum Class 10th (Matric/High School) pass from a recognized board OR
- ITI/NAC certificate in relevant trades.
- Age Limit (as on cutoff date, typically January 1, 2026):
- Minimum: 18 years
- Maximum: 33 years (relaxations: SC/ST – 5 years, OBC – 3 years, PwBD – 10 years, Ex-Servicemen – as per rules).
- Nationality: Indian citizen
- Medical Standard: A-2/A-3/B-1 (depending on post; includes physical fitness for track/maintenance roles).
- Physical Efficiency Test (PET): Mandatory for shortlisted candidates (e.g., lifting weights, running distances).
Vacancy Distribution
Vacancies are distributed across 21 RRBs and various railway zones (e.g., Northern, Southern, Western, Central, etc.). Category-wise breakup includes reservations for UR, SC, ST, OBC, EWS, Ex-Servicemen, and PwBD.
Approximate zone-wise highlights (detailed in official PDF):
- Western Railway (Mumbai): High share (~3,000+)
- North Western Railway (Jaipur): ~974
- Other zones: Southern, Eastern, Central, South Central, etc.
Full zone-wise, post-wise, and category-wise details are in the official CEN 09/2025 PDF on RRB websites.
Salary and Benefits
- Pay Level: Level-1 of 7th CPC Pay Matrix
- Initial Basic Pay: ₹18,000 per month
- In-Hand Salary: Approximately ₹25,000–₹35,000+ (including DA, HRA, Transport Allowance, etc., depending on posting location).
- Other Perks: Pension under NPS, medical facilities (Railway Hospitals), leave travel concession, promotions, job security, and allowances for difficult postings.
Selection Process
- Computer-Based Test (CBT) — Objective type (100 questions, 90 minutes).
- Sections: Mathematics, General Intelligence & Reasoning, General Science, General Awareness & Current Affairs.
- Minimum qualifying marks: UR – 40%, OBC/SC/ST – 30% (relaxed for PwBD).
- Physical Efficiency Test (PET) — Qualifying (for shortlisted candidates).
- Document Verification & Medical Examination — Final stage.
Application Process & Fee
- Visit https://www.rrbapply.gov.in or regional RRB site.
- Register with basic details (Aadhaar, mobile, email).
- Fill the form, choose preferred RRB (only one allowed).
- Upload scanned photo, signature, and documents.
- Pay fee online.
- Submit and print application.
Application Fee:
- General/OBC: ₹500 (₹400 refunded after appearing in CBT)
- SC/ST/PwBD/Ex-Servicemen/Female/Transgender/EBC/Minorities: ₹250 (fully refunded after CBT)
- Payment via online modes or SBI challan.
How to Prepare & Tips
- Focus on 10th-level syllabus: NCERT books for Maths, Science, GK.
- Practice previous years’ papers and mock tests.
- Stay updated via official RRB sites (avoid fake news on social media).
- For Jamshedpur/Jharkhand candidates: Check RRB Ranchi or relevant zone vacancies.
- Apply early—server issues common near deadlines.
This is one of the largest entry-level railway recruitments in recent years, ideal for 10th/ITI-pass youth seeking government jobs with job security and growth. Hurry—last date is March 2, 2026! Always refer to the official CEN 09/2025 PDF on rrbapply.gov.in or regional RRB sites for accurate vacancy tables, syllabus, and guidelines.
Good luck with your application! If you need help with specific zone vacancies (e.g., Jharkhand-related) or syllabus breakdown, provide more details.
