RRB Paramedical Recruitment 2026: CEN 05/2026 Notified for 590 Posts

Quick Highlights

• Organisation: Railway Recruitment Boards, Ministry of Railways
• Notification: CEN No. 05/2026 (Paramedical Categories)
• Posts: Nursing Superintendent, Dialysis Technician, Health and Malaria Inspector Grade II, Audiologist and Speech Therapist, Pharmacist Entry Grade, Radiographer X-Ray Technician, ECG Technician, Optometrist, Lab Assistant Grade II
• Total Vacancies: 590
• Application Mode: Online only
• Application Window: 15 September 2026 to 14 October 2026

Important Dates

Dates for the CBT and subsequent stages will be announced separately on the official RRB website, and candidates are advised not to wait until the closing date to submit their application given the possibility of heavy internet traffic in the final days.

Post-Wise Vacancy Details

Vacancies are distributed across all zonal RRBs, and the detailed RRB-wise and zone-wise breakup is available in Annexure B of the official notification. The post-wise total, pay level, applicable medical standard and age band are as follows.

Nursing Superintendent alone accounts for close to two-thirds of the total vacancies, followed by Pharmacist Entry Grade. The notification states that these figures are provisional and may increase, decrease or become nil for any Railway administration depending on actual requirement.

Eligibility: Educational Qualifications

Qualification requirements differ by post, so candidates should check the specific requirement for the post they intend to apply for. Some posts also require registration with the relevant professional council.

All qualifications must already be held on the closing date for submission of the online application, 14 October 2026. Candidates awaiting their final results are not eligible and should not apply. Applicants must also be citizens of India, or citizens of Nepal, or subjects of Bhutan, or persons of Indian origin who migrated from certain specified countries with the intention of permanently settling in India.

Age Limit and Relaxation

Age is reckoned as on 1 January 2027 and the applicable band depends on the post chosen. The upper age limit shown below is for unreserved and EWS candidates; OBC non creamy layer and SC/ST candidates get the relaxation described further below.

Age relaxation in the upper limit is available as follows: 5 years for SC and ST candidates, 3 years for OBC non creamy layer candidates, 10 to 15 years for Persons with Benchmark Disabilities depending on community, and separate relaxation for Ex-servicemen, serving Group C railway staff with at least 3 years of service, and widowed, divorced or judicially separated women who have not remarried. A candidate eligible for relaxation on more than one ground receives only the maximum single relaxation applicable, not a cumulative benefit.

Application Fee

Fee must be paid online through internet banking, debit or credit card, or UPI; no other mode is accepted. Only candidates who actually appear in the CBT get the applicable refund, and the fee is not refunded for incomplete, unsubmitted or rejected applications.

Medical Standards

Visual acuity is an important medical fitness requirement for these posts, and each post in the vacancy table above is tagged with one of three medical standards.

Candidates who do not meet the prescribed medical standard for their opted post at Document Verification stage will not be considered for empanelment, and no alternative post is offered in such cases.

Selection Process and Exam Pattern

Selection is through a single-stage Computer Based Test followed by Document Verification and a Medical Examination. There is no separate Physical Efficiency Test for these paramedical posts.

The CBT duration is 90 minutes, extended to 120 minutes for PwBD candidates who are eligible for and opt to use a scribe. One third of a mark is deducted for every wrong answer. Minimum qualifying marks are 40 percent for UR and EWS candidates, 30 percent for OBC non creamy layer and SC candidates, and 25 percent for ST candidates, with a further relaxation of up to 2 marks for PwBD candidates where a full panel cannot otherwise be formed. Candidates equal to the number of vacancies, based on CBT merit, are called for Document Verification at a ratio of 1:1 for each RRB. The question paper is available in English, Hindi and 13 regional languages.

How to Apply

1. Visit the official RRB website and create an account for this CEN using a valid personal mobile number and an active email ID, since these details cannot be changed once the account is created.
2. Authenticate your identity using DigiLocker or Aadhaar at the account creation stage, as this leads to smoother and faster verification at later stages of recruitment.
3. Log in and fill the online application with personal, educational and category details, choosing one RRB along with your order of preference for posts and railway zones.
4. Capture a live photograph through a webcam or the front camera of a mobile phone when prompted by the application, since pre-existing or printed photographs are not accepted.
5. Upload a scanned signature in JPG or JPEG format between 30 KB and 49 KB, and a scanned SC or ST certificate in PDF format if applying for the free train travel facility.
6. Pay the examination fee online through internet banking, debit or credit card, or UPI, since fee payment through any other mode is not accepted.
7. Review every entry carefully and submit the application before the closing date of 14 October 2026, since most details cannot be changed after final submission except during the modification window.

A candidate can choose only one RRB for this CEN. Submitting more than one application, whether to different RRBs or the same RRB, leads to rejection of all such applications and debarment from future RRB and Railway Recruitment Cell examinations.

Documents Required

• Scanned signature in running handwriting, JPG or JPEG format, 30 to 49 KB, on a white background with black ink
• SC or ST certificate in PDF format, under 400 KB, if claiming the free railway travel facility
• Category certificate at Document Verification: SC or ST, OBC non creamy layer, or EWS Income and Asset Certificate, in the prescribed annexure format
• Disability certificate in the prescribed form for PwBD candidates claiming reservation or relaxation
• Employment certificate with probable date of discharge for serving defence personnel claiming Ex-servicemen benefits
• Original educational qualification certificates along with two sets of self-attested photocopies at Document Verification
• A valid original photo ID, such as Aadhaar card, voter ID, driving licence, PAN card or passport, at every stage of the recruitment process

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. What is CEN No. 05/2026?

CEN No. 05/2026 is the Detailed Centralised Employment Notification issued by the Railway Recruitment Boards for recruitment to various Paramedical categories across Indian Railways. It covers nine posts with a combined total of 590 vacancies.

Q2. What is the last date to apply for RRB Paramedical Recruitment 2026?

The online application window opens on 15 September 2026 and closes on 14 October 2026 at 23:59 hours. The last date for payment of the examination fee for submitted applications is 16 October 2026.

Q3. How many vacancies are notified and for which posts?

A total of 590 vacancies are notified across nine posts: Nursing Superintendent (365), Pharmacist Entry Grade (118), Health and Malaria Inspector Grade II (43), Radiographer X-Ray Technician (25), Lab Assistant Grade II (31), ECG Technician (4), Optometrist (2), Dialysis Technician (1) and Audiologist and Speech Therapist (1).

Q4. What is the age limit for RRB Paramedical posts?

Age is reckoned as on 1 January 2027 and varies by post, ranging from 18 to 33 years up to 20 to 40 years depending on the category. Age relaxation is available for SC, ST, OBC non creamy layer, PwBD and Ex-servicemen candidates as per the standard government norms.

Q5. What is the application fee for CEN 05/2026?

General, OBC and EWS candidates pay 500 rupees, of which 400 rupees is refunded on appearing in the CBT. SC, ST, Ex-servicemen, PwBD, female, transgender, minority and Economically Backward Class candidates pay 250 rupees, of which the full amount is refunded on appearing in the CBT.

Q6. What is the selection process for RRB Paramedical Recruitment 2026?

Selection involves a single-stage Computer Based Test followed by Document Verification and a Medical Examination. There is no separate physical efficiency test for these paramedical posts. Final empanelment is based on merit in the CBT, subject to meeting the medical standard prescribed for the chosen post.

Q7. Is there negative marking in the CBT?

Yes. One third of a mark is deducted for every wrong answer in the Computer Based Test, which has 100 questions worth 100 marks to be attempted in 90 minutes, or 120 minutes for PwBD candidates who are eligible for scribe assistance.

Q8. Can a candidate apply to more than one RRB under this CEN?

No. Each candidate can choose only one RRB and indicate post and zone preferences within that board. Submitting multiple applications to different RRBs, or more than one application to the same RRB, leads to rejection of all such applications and debarment from future RRB examinations.

Official Links and Source

This article is based entirely on the Detailed Centralised Employment Notification CEN No. 05/2026 (Paramedical Categories) issued by the Railway Recruitment Boards, Ministry of Railways, Government of India. For the complete notification, annexures and the application link when it goes live, visit the unified RRB website at rrb.indianrailways.gov.in.

Disclaimer: This article is for general informational purposes and summarises the official CEN No. 05/2026 notification issued by the Railway Recruitment Boards. Candidates are advised to read the full notification on the official RRB website before applying, and to rely only on that website for updates, corrigenda and the application link, since RRBs do not authorise any agent or coaching centre to assist with recruitment.