RRB Group D (CEN 09/2025) recruitment is one of the largest hiring drives for 2026. Since the short notice was released on December 23, 2025, here is the comprehensive breakdown of everything you need to know before the application link opens on January 21, 2026.
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for the 22,000+ Level-1 posts, you must meet three primary standards:
1. Educational Qualification
You must have completed one of the following:
- 10th Pass (Matriculation) from a recognized Board.
- ITI certificate from institutions recognized by NCVT/SCVT.
- National Apprenticeship Certificate (NAC) granted by NCVT.
2. Age Limit (as of January 1, 2026)
- Minimum: 18 Years
- Maximum (General/EWS): 33–36 Years (Note: Recent notifications have seen a 3-year extension for COVID-related delays; verify on Jan 20th).
- Age Relaxations:
- OBC (Non-Creamy Layer): 3 Years
- SC/ST: 5 Years
- PwBD (General): 10 Years
📅 Recruitment Timeline
| Event | Date |
| Detailed Notification Release | January 20, 2026 |
| Online Application Starts | January 21, 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply | February 20, 2026 (11:59 PM) |
| Exam Date (CBT) | Expected Mid-2026 |
📝 Exam Pattern & Syllabus
The selection starts with a Computer Based Test (CBT) of 90 minutes.
| Subject | No. of Questions | Marks |
| General Science (10th Standard Physics, Chemistry, Life Science) | 25 | 25 |
| Mathematics (Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry, Mensuration) | 25 | 25 |
| General Intelligence & Reasoning (Analogies, Coding, Syllogism) | 30 | 30 |
| General Awareness & Current Affairs (Sports, Tech, Politics) | 20 | 20 |
| Total | 100 | 100 |
- Negative Marking: $1/3$rd mark will be deducted for every wrong answer.
🏃 Physical Efficiency Test (PET)
If you pass the CBT, you must clear the PET, which is qualifying in nature.
- Male Candidates: * Lift and carry 35 kg for 100 meters in 2 minutes (one chance).
- Run 1000 meters in 4 minutes 15 seconds (one chance).
- Female Candidates: * Lift and carry 20 kg for 100 meters in 2 minutes (one chance).
- Run 1000 meters in 5 minutes 40 seconds (one chance).
💰 Application Fee & Salary
- Fee: ₹500 for General/OBC (₹400 is refunded after appearing in CBT). ₹250 for SC/ST/Female/Ex-SM/Minorities (Fully refunded after CBT).
- Salary: Basic pay is ₹18,000 (Level-1). With HRA, DA, and Transport allowances, the in-hand salary typically ranges from ₹22,500 to ₹25,500 depending on the city.
🔍 Medical Standards (Vision)
Railways are very strict about eyesight. Most posts require:
- A-2/A-3 Standard: Distant vision of 6/9, 6/9 without glasses (or with low-power lenses).
- Tests: You must pass tests for Color Vision, Binocular Vision, and Night Vision.
Official Registration Link: www.rrbapply.gov.in
