Railway Group D 2026 - Notification, Dates & How to Apply Online

What is Railway Group D?

Railway Group D is one of the largest government job recruitments in India. Conducted by the Railway Recruitment Boards (RRBs) across the country, it fills positions like Track Maintainer Grade-IV, Helper/Assistant in various technical departments (Electrical, Mechanical, Signal & Telecom), and other Level-1 posts under the 7th Central Pay Commission.

What makes Railway Group D special is its accessibility — you only need to be 10th pass or have an ITI certificate to apply. This opens the door for millions of candidates who may not have higher education but are looking for a stable government job with good benefits. If you are one of them, this guide walks you through everything from eligibility to the application process.

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Who is Eligible?

Educational Qualification

The minimum qualification is straightforward:

• 10th pass (Matriculation) from a recognised board, OR
• ITI certificate from a recognised institution under NCVT or SCVT

You do not need 12th pass or graduation for Group D posts. This is one of the lowest qualification requirements among central government jobs, making it accessible to a huge number of candidates.

Age Limit

Category	Minimum Age	Maximum Age
General (UR)	18 years	33 years
OBC (Non-Creamy Layer)	18 years	36 years
SC / ST	18 years	38 years
PwBD (General)	18 years	43 years
Ex-Servicemen	18 years	As per rules

Age is calculated as on the date mentioned in the official notification (usually 1st January or 1st July of the recruitment year).

Medical Standards

Railway Group D has specific medical fitness requirements since these are physically demanding jobs:

• Vision: Distant vision 6/9 in each eye without glasses for some categories. Colour vision must be normal
• Hearing: Normal hearing ability in both ears
• Physical fitness: Must be free from any condition that could interfere with efficient performance of duties

A medical examination is conducted after the Physical Efficiency Test, and candidates who do not meet the medical standards are rejected.

Important Dates

Here are the expected important dates for Railway Group D 2026:

Event	Expected Date
Official Notification	April-May 2026
Online Application Starts	May 2026
Last Date to Apply	June 2026
Last Date for Fee Payment	June 2026
CBT Exam Date	August-October 2026
PET Date	To be announced
Document Verification	To be announced

Important: These dates are approximate and based on the expected RRB calendar. The exact dates will be confirmed in the official notification. Check the RRB website regularly.

Step-by-Step Application Process

The application process for Railway Group D involves multiple steps. Follow each one carefully.

Step 1: Choose Your RRB Zone

India has 21 Railway Recruitment Boards spread across the country. Before you start the application, decide which RRB zone you want to apply under. Here are some major ones:

• RRB Ahmedabad, RRB Ajmer, RRB Allahabad, RRB Bangalore
• RRB Bhopal, RRB Bhubaneswar, RRB Bilaspur, RRB Chandigarh
• RRB Chennai, RRB Gorakhpur, RRB Guwahati, RRB Jammu
• RRB Kolkata, RRB Malda, RRB Mumbai, RRB Muzaffarpur
• RRB Patna, RRB Ranchi, RRB Secunderabad, RRB Siliguri, RRB Thiruvananthapuram

Choose the RRB closest to your current location. This determines where your exam centre will be. You can only apply to one RRB — multiple applications will be rejected.

Step 2: Visit the Official Website and Register

1. Go to the official website of your chosen RRB (for example, rrbcdg.gov.in for RRB Chandigarh)
2. Look for the RRB Group D CEN (Centralised Employment Notice) notification
3. Click on "New Registration"
4. Enter your name (as on your 10th certificate), date of birth, email address, and mobile number
5. Create a password and complete the registration
6. Note down your Registration Number — this is your login ID for the entire process

Step 3: Fill the Application Form

Log in and fill the complete application form:

Personal Information: Name, father's name, mother's name, date of birth, gender, marital status, religion, category, Aadhaar number, and complete address.

Educational Qualification: Enter your 10th pass details or ITI certificate details including board/institution name, year of passing, and percentage/grade.

Post Preferences: Select the posts you are interested in (Track Maintainer, Helper, Assistant Pointsman, etc.). Select all that you are eligible for.

Language Preference: Choose the language for your Computer Based Test — English, Hindi, or one of the regional languages offered.

Exam Centre Preference: Choose your preferred exam cities within the RRB zone.

Step 4: Upload Photo and Signature

Photo requirements:

• Recent colour photograph with white background
• JPEG format, 20 KB to 50 KB
• Face clearly visible, no sunglasses

Signature requirements:

• Black ink on white paper
• JPEG format, 10 KB to 20 KB
• Clear and readable

Step 5: Pay the Application Fee

Application Fee and Payment

Category	Fee Amount
General / OBC / EWS Male	Rs. 500
SC / ST / Ex-Servicemen / PwBD / Female / Transgender / Minorities / EBC	Rs. 250

Note: Rs. 400 is refunded for General/OBC candidates and Rs. 250 is refunded for others after they appear for the CBT exam. So the effective cost of applying is very low if you actually take the exam.

Payment can be made through:

• Net Banking
• Debit Card / Credit Card
• UPI (Google Pay, PhonePe, etc.)
• SBI Challan (offline at SBI branch)

After payment, download the receipt and save it.

Step 6: Final Submission

Review all details, verify your photo and signature, and click Final Submit. Take a printout of the completed application form. You will need the registration number to download your admit card later.

Documents Required

Keep these ready before you start:

• 10th class certificate and mark sheet (for date of birth and qualification proof)
• ITI certificate (if applying with ITI qualification)
• Aadhaar Card
• Category certificate (SC/ST/OBC/EWS) from the competent authority
• PwBD certificate (if applicable)
• Passport-size photographs (keep 15-20 copies)
• Bank account details (for fee refund after appearing for exam)

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Applying to multiple RRBs — You can only apply to ONE RRB. If you submit multiple applications, all of them will be rejected. Choose wisely.

2. Wrong date of birth — Your date of birth must match your 10th certificate exactly. Even one day's difference can cause rejection during document verification.

3. Not choosing enough post preferences — Select all posts you are eligible for. This maximises your chances of selection. You can always decline a post later.

4. Uploading poor quality photos — A blurry or dark photo will be printed on your admit card and used for identification. Use a proper passport-size photo.

5. Waiting for the last date — The RRB website gets extremely slow in the final days because crores of candidates apply. Submit your application at least a week before the deadline.

6. Not saving registration details — Your registration number is essential for admit card download, result checking, and any future correspondence. Save it in multiple places.

7. Incorrect category certificate — OBC candidates must have a certificate valid for central government purposes. State OBC certificates may not be accepted. SC/ST certificates must be from the District Magistrate or equivalent authority.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the minimum qualification for Railway Group D?

The minimum educational qualification for Railway Group D is 10th pass (Matriculation) from a recognised board OR an ITI certificate from a recognised institution. Either of these qualifications makes you eligible. You do not need 12th or graduation for Group D posts. This makes it one of the most accessible government job opportunities for candidates who have not pursued higher education.

What is the physical test for Railway Group D?

The Physical Efficiency Test (PET) for male candidates includes lifting and carrying 35 kg weight for 100 metres in 2 minutes and running 1000 metres in 4 minutes 15 seconds. For female candidates, the requirements are lifting and carrying 20 kg weight for 100 metres in 2 minutes and running 1000 metres in 5 minutes 40 seconds. Candidates who fail the PET are eliminated regardless of their CBT score.

How many vacancies are expected in Railway Group D 2026?

Based on previous recruitment cycles, Railway Group D 2026 is expected to have approximately 50,000 to 1,00,000 vacancies across all Railway Recruitment Boards. The exact number will be confirmed in the official notification. The 2019 cycle had over 1,03,000 vacancies, making it one of the largest single recruitment drives in India. Keep checking for official updates.

Can I apply for Railway Group D from any state?

Yes, you can apply from any state in India regardless of where you live. Railway recruitment is a central government process and there is no state-level domicile requirement. However, you need to choose a specific Railway Recruitment Board zone for your application. Choose the RRB zone closest to your location for the exam centre convenience. Your posting after selection could be anywhere in India.

What is the salary for Railway Group D posts?

Railway Group D posts are in Level 1 of the 7th Pay Commission pay matrix. The basic pay starts at Rs. 18,000 per month. With Dearness Allowance, House Rent Allowance, and other benefits, the gross salary comes to approximately Rs. 25,000 to Rs. 30,000 per month depending on the city of posting. Additional benefits include free railway passes, medical facilities, pension, and other allowances. The salary increases with experience and promotions.