The Railway Recruitment Boards (RRBs), Ministry of Railways, have released Detailed Centralised Employment Notification (CEN) No. 05/2026 for the recruitment of 590 paramedical posts across 20 RRBs all over India. Nine categories are on offer — Nursing Superintendent, Dialysis Technician, Health & Malaria Inspector Grade II, Audiologist & Speech Therapist, Pharmacist (Entry Grade), Radiographer X-Ray Technician, ECG Technician, Optometrist and Lab Assistant Grade II. Online applications open on 15.09.2026 and close on 14.10.2026 at 23:59 hours.
Nursing Superintendent, Dialysis Technician, Health & Malaria Inspector Grade II, Audiologist & Speech Therapist, Pharmacist (Entry Grade), Radiographer X-Ray Technician, ECG Technician, Optometrist, Lab Assistant Grade II
Organization
Railway Recruitment Boards (RRBs), Ministry of Railways, Government of India
Notification / Advertisement No.
CEN No. 05/2026 (Paramedical Categories)
Location
All India / Central Govt — 20 RRBs covering all Railway Zones and Production Units
Total Vacancies
590 (UR 255, OBC 113, SC 106, ST 69, EWS 46; Ex-Servicemen 49 and PwBD 40 horizontal)
Qualification
Varies by post — 12th (10+2) in Science with a diploma for the technician posts, and a B.Sc. or professional degree/diploma for the rest. See the qualification table below.
Note: Fee can be paid online only, through net banking, debit/credit card or UPI. The refund is credited to the Aadhaar-seeded bank account, so candidates must validate their Aadhaar during the application. Only candidates who actually attend the CBT get a refund. EBC is not the same as OBC or EWS — an EBC certificate, BPL card or Izzat MST issued after 14.10.2026 will not be accepted.
The full RRB-wise, Railway/Production-Unit-wise and post-wise breakup, including the category split for every RRB, is given in Annexure B of the official notification.
Eligibility Criteria
Criterion
Detail
Educational Qualification
Differs by post — from 12th (10+2) in Science plus a diploma, up to a B.Sc. or professional degree. Full post-wise requirement is in the qualification table below.
Age Limit
18 to 40 years as on 01.01.2027, with the exact lower and upper limit fixed separately for each post (see the post-wise table above) Check your age eligibility →
Qualification Cut-off Date
Candidates must already hold the prescribed qualification as on 14.10.2026. Those awaiting the final result of the qualifying examination are not eligible.
Nationality
Citizen of India, or a citizen of Nepal, or a subject of Bhutan, or a person of Indian origin who migrated from specified countries with the intention of settling permanently in India (with a certificate of eligibility from the Government of India).
Medical Fitness
Must meet the medical standard prescribed for the post — B-1, C-1 or C-2 as per the Indian Railway Medical Manual, including the vision standards laid down for each.
Application Restriction
Only ONE online application, to ONE RRB. Multiple applications to the same or different RRBs lead to rejection of all applications and debarment from all future RRB and RRC examinations.
Other Restrictions
Candidates currently debarred by any RRB/RRC, and candidates dismissed from service by any government organisation, are not eligible. Serving government employees must produce an NOC from their employer at Document Verification.
Post-wise Educational Qualification
Post
Minimum Educational Qualification
Nursing Superintendent
Certificate as Registered Nurse and Midwife having passed a 3-year course in General Nursing and Midwifery from a school of Nursing or other institution recognised by the Indian Nursing Council, OR B.Sc. Nursing.
Dialysis Technician
B.Sc. plus (a) Diploma in Haemodialysis, or (b) two years of satisfactory in-house training/experience in Haemodialysis at a reputed institution (proof required). B.Sc. in Dialysis Techniques / Dialysis Technology / Renal Dialysis Technology are also accepted.
Health & Malaria Inspector Grade II
B.Sc. with Chemistry as a main/optional subject, plus (a) a one-year Diploma in Health/Sanitary Inspector, or (b) a one-year National Trade Certificate in Health Sanitary Inspector awarded by the NCVT.
Audiologist & Speech Therapist
Bachelor in Audiology, Speech Language Pathology (BASLP) from a recognised University, with registration with the Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI).
Pharmacist (Entry Grade)
Bachelor Degree in Pharmacy (Allopathic), or Doctor of Pharmacy, from a Central/State Government recognised University or Institute, and registration as a Pharmacist under the Pharmacy Act, 1948.
Radiographer X-Ray Technician
10+2 with Physics and Chemistry plus a 2-year Diploma in Radiography / X-Ray Technician / Radiodiagnosis Technology. Science graduates with the diploma are preferred. Several B.Sc. radiography/imaging degrees are accepted as equivalent.
ECG Technician
10+2 or graduation in Science with a Certificate/Diploma/Degree in ECG Laboratory Technology / Cardiology / Cardiology Technician / Cardiology Techniques of at least one year’s duration from a reputed institution.
Optometrist
B.Sc. in Optometry, or a Diploma in Ophthalmic Technician of 3 to 4 years’ duration, with registration with the concerned Council/Licensing body.
Lab Assistant Grade II
12th (10+2) in Science plus (a) Diploma in Medical Laboratory Technology (DMLT), or (b) a Certificate Course in Medical Lab Technology at par with DMLT of at least one year’s full-time duration. B.Sc. Medical Lab Technology with 12th Science is also accepted.
Age Relaxation
Category
Relaxation in Upper Age Limit / Maximum Age
SC & ST
5 years
OBC (Non-Creamy Layer)
3 years
Ex-Servicemen (UR & EWS) with at least six months’ continuous service after attestation
3 years, after deducting length of service from age
Ex-Servicemen (OBC-NCL)
6 years, after deducting length of service from age
Ex-Servicemen (SC & ST)
8 years, after deducting length of service from age
PwBD (UR & EWS)
10 years
PwBD (OBC-NCL)
13 years
PwBD (SC & ST)
15 years
Serving Group C / erstwhile Group D Railway staff with 3+ years’ service, and substitutes with 3+ years’ service (UR & EWS)
Up to 40 years of age
Same as above (OBC-NCL)
Up to 43 years of age
Same as above (SC & ST)
Up to 45 years of age
Candidates working in quasi-administrative offices of the Railways — canteens, co-operative societies and institutes
Up to the length of service rendered, or 5 years, whichever is less
Female candidates who are widowed, divorced or judicially separated but not remarried (UR & EWS)
Up to 35 years of age
Same as above (OBC-NCL)
Up to 38 years of age
Same as above (SC & ST)
Up to 40 years of age
Note: Relaxations are not cumulative — a candidate eligible on more than one ground gets the single largest relaxation. SC, ST and OBC-NCL candidates applying against UR vacancies get no age relaxation at all.
Not sure whether you are within the age limit?
The age band changes from post to post in this CEN — 18 to 33 for Lab Assistant Grade II, 20 to 40 for Nursing Superintendent, 21 to 30 for Audiologist and Speech Therapist. Enter your date of birth, the 01.01.2027 cut-off date and your category relaxation to see instantly which of these posts you actually fall inside.
100 objective multiple-choice questions carrying 100 marks in 90 minutes (120 minutes for PwBD candidates eligible for a scribe). Section-wise split: Professional Ability 70 questions/70 marks, General Awareness 10/10, General Arithmetic and General Intelligence & Reasoning 10/10, General Science 10/10 — the distribution is indicative and may vary. Negative marking of 1/3 mark for every wrong answer. Minimum qualifying marks: UR and EWS 40%, OBC-NCL 30%, SC 30%, ST 25% (relaxable by 2% for PwBD where there is a shortage of PwBD candidates against reserved vacancies). Marks are normalised when the CBT is held in multiple shifts. The paper is available in English, Hindi and 13 regional languages.
Stage 2 — Document Verification (DV)
Candidates are shortlisted strictly on CBT merit at the ratio of 1:1 of the vacancies of that RRB. Originals of all certificates must be produced on the date of verification — no extra time is given, and candidature is forfeited if originals are not produced. Serving government employees must bring an NOC from their present employer. Shortlisting is intimated through the RRB website plus SMS and email.
Stage 3 — Medical Examination
Conducted by the Railway Administration against the medical standard prescribed for the post — B-1, C-1 or C-2 — including the vision standards laid down in the Indian Railway Medical Manual. Candidates who fail may be offered one final Medical Appeal on payment of the prescribed charges; the appeal result is final and binding.
Stage 4 — Empanelment and Zone Allotment
Empanelment is on CBT merit, subject to successful document verification and passing the medical examination. RRBs allot the post and Railway zone/Production Unit based on merit, the candidate’s stated preference, reservation and the vacancy position. Once empanelled, a candidate forfeits the right to be considered for any other post or category in the same pay level. Ties are broken first by older age, then alphabetically by given name.
Salary and Benefits
Component
Detail
Pay Matrix Level
Level 3 to Level 7 of the 7th CPC pay matrix, depending on the post
Initial Pay — Level 7
₹44,900 per month — Nursing Superintendent
Initial Pay — Level 6
₹35,400 per month — Dialysis Technician, Health & Malaria Inspector Grade II, Audiologist & Speech Therapist
Initial Pay — Level 5
₹29,200 per month — Pharmacist (Entry Grade), Radiographer X-Ray Technician
Initial Pay — Level 4
₹25,500 per month — ECG Technician, Optometrist
Initial Pay — Level 3
₹21,700 per month — Lab Assistant Grade II
Allowances
Not itemised in this notification — the CEN states the pay level and initial pay only. Allowances are as admissible to Railway employees in the corresponding pay level.
Free travel during recruitment
SC and ST candidates who opt for it in the application get a free Sleeper Class railway pass with their e-call letter for the CBT, DV and Medical Examination stages
Posting and transfer
Ordinarily posted throughout service on the Railway or establishment of first appointment; no transfer request is entertained until at least 5 to 10 years of service is completed
Other service conditions
Selected candidates are liable for active service in the Railway Medical Unit of the Territorial Army, and must execute a security and/or indemnity bond at joining wherever necessary
How to Apply
Go to the official application portal rrbapply.gov.in between 15.09.2026 and 14.10.2026 and click “Create An Account”. Candidates who already created an account for an earlier RRB CEN (2024, 2025 or 2026) must log in with those same credentials instead of creating a new one.
Fill the “Create an Account” form with extreme care and authenticate your identity using DigiLocker or Aadhaar. Nothing entered here — including your mobile number and email ID — can be changed later, and the chosen RRB can never be changed either.
Select ONE RRB, then set your order of preference for the posts/categories and the Railway Zones you are eligible and interested in within that RRB. Categories you leave unselected are treated as your unwillingness to be considered for them.
Complete the application form, let the portal capture your live photograph through the webcam or your phone’s front camera, and upload your scanned signature. SC/ST candidates who want the free travel pass must also upload their caste certificate as a PDF.
Pay the examination fee online by net banking, debit/credit card or UPI. The fee must be paid by 16.10.2026 — the application is accepted only after payment is confirmed, and you will get a confirmation by email and SMS.
Note: Offline and postal applications are not accepted. Candidates without internet access can use a Common Services Centre (CSC) to apply. After submission, details other than the “Create an Account” form and the chosen RRB can be modified between 17.10.2026 and 26.10.2026 on payment of a non-refundable ₹250 modification fee per occasion.
Signature rejected by the upload form?
This CEN accepts a signature only as a JPG or JPEG between 30 KB and 49 KB, scanned at 100 DPI or better, and at least 140 pixels wide by 60 pixels high. A signature outside those limits is an explicit ground for rejection, so resize yours to the exact size the form will accept before you upload it.
Captured inside the application module by webcam or phone front camera — no pre-existing photo may be uploaded. Wear non-white, preferably dark clothing; no cap, mask or spectacles; face centred and clearly visible. Photographing a printed or digital photo leads to summary rejection.
Scanned signature
JPG/JPEG only, file size between 30 KB and 49 KB, minimum 140 × 60 pixels, scanned at minimum 100 DPI. Must be signed by the candidate in black ink on white paper in running handwriting — not in block or capital letters. Resize your photo and signature →
SC/ST certificate
PDF only, under 400 KB — required only if you want the free railway travel pass. Must be the latest valid certificate as on the closing date.
Annexure-VII (Gazetted Officer certificate)
Required only if the live photograph fails the portal’s validation and matching checks — downloaded from the portal, signed by a Gazetted Officer, then uploaded
Educational and technical certificates
Originals at Document Verification — provisional or regular certificates must carry the date of issue; if issued after 14.10.2026, the consolidated marks sheet showing the date of declaration of result is also required
Caste / category certificates
Originals at Document Verification, in the CEN’s prescribed formats — SC/ST (Annexure I), OBC-NCL (Annexure II) issued on or after 01.04.2026 plus self-declaration (Annexure IIA), EWS Income and Asset certificate (Annexure III)
EBC / fee concession proof
EBC income certificate (Annexure IIIA), BPL card, or Izzat MST — must be issued on or before 14.10.2026. Minority candidates need an affidavit on non-judicial stamp paper (Annexure IV) at DV.
PwBD and Ex-Servicemen documents
Disability certificate in Form V or VI (Annexure V-A / V-B) with UDID; Ex-Servicemen declaration (Annexure VI) and employment certificate (Annexure VI-A)
NOC from present employer
Required at Document Verification for candidates serving in any Central/State Government department, Railways or PSU
Photo ID and passport photo
Original photo ID (Aadhaar, Voter ID, PAN, driving licence, passport or employer/college ID) at every stage, plus a colour passport photograph not older than two months at CBT, DV and Medical Examination
Submitting more than one application, or applying to two different RRBs — every application is rejected and the candidate is debarred from all future RRB and RRC examinations.
Rushing the “Create an Account” form: the mobile number, email ID and chosen RRB entered there can never be changed, not even by paying the ₹250 modification fee.
Uploading a signature in block or capital letters, in any ink other than black, on a coloured background, or outside the 30–49 KB range — each of these is listed in the CEN as a ground for rejection.
Applying while the final result of your qualifying course is still awaited — candidates waiting for results are not eligible, and the qualification must be held on or before 14.10.2026.
Photographing a printed or existing photograph instead of letting the portal capture a live one, or wearing a cap, mask or spectacles during capture.
Claiming the ₹250 EBC concession with a certificate, BPL card or Izzat MST issued after 14.10.2026 — it will not be accepted, and EBC is a different category from OBC and EWS.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the last date to apply for RRB Paramedical Recruitment 2026? Online applications close on 14.10.2026 at 23:59 hours, and the application fee can be paid up to 16.10.2026.
2. How many vacancies are there in CEN 05/2026? There are 590 vacancies across all 20 RRBs, of which Nursing Superintendent alone accounts for 365 and Pharmacist (Entry Grade) for 118.
3. What qualification is required for these paramedical posts? It varies by post — 12th (10+2) in Science with a diploma for Lab Assistant Grade II, Radiographer and ECG Technician, and a B.Sc. or professional degree such as B.Sc. Nursing, B.Pharm or BASLP for the higher posts.
4. What is the age limit and the cut-off date? Age is reckoned as on 01.01.2027 and the band differs by post, ranging from 18–33 years for Lab Assistant Grade II up to 20–40 years for Nursing Superintendent.
5. What is the application fee and is any part of it refunded? The fee is ₹500 for all candidates and ₹250 for SC, ST, Ex-Servicemen, PwBD, female, transgender, minority and EBC candidates; ₹400 and the full ₹250 respectively are refunded, less bank charges, to candidates who actually appear in the CBT.
6. How will candidates be selected? Selection is through a single-stage computer-based test, followed by document verification for candidates shortlisted at 1:1 of the vacancies, and then a medical examination before empanelment.
7. Is there negative marking in the CBT? Yes — one-third of a mark is deducted for every wrong answer, and candidates must also score the minimum qualifying percentage for their community (40% for UR/EWS, 30% for OBC-NCL and SC, 25% for ST).
8. Can I apply to more than one RRB to improve my chances? No — only one application to one RRB is permitted, and submitting more than one leads to rejection of all applications plus debarment from every future RRB and RRC examination.
Disclaimer: The information above has been compiled from the official notification for the convenience of job seekers. Candidates are advised to verify all details from the official website before applying.
