The Railway Recruitment Board (RRBs) under the Ministry of Railways has officially announced the RRB Level 1 recruitment 2026, notification number (CEN No. 09/2025), with 22,195 vacancies for various posts in Indian Railways.

Eligible Indian citizens can apply online through the official portal from January 31, 2026, with the last date for application being March 2, 2026.

1. Overview of RRB Level 1 Recruitment

2. Important Dates to Remember

3. Eligibility Criteria: Age and Education

4. Selection Process and Exam Pattern

5. Application Fee and Refund Policy

6. Step-by-Step Application Guide

7. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Overview of RRB Level 1 Recruitment 2026

The Railway Recruitment Boards (RRBs) are looking to fill thousands of positions in the 7th CPC Pay Matrix. This recruitment drive is a significant opportunity for 10th-pass candidates and ITI holders seeking stable government employment.

Organization: Railway Recruitment Boards (RRBs), Ministry of Railways.
Notification Number: CEN No. 09/2025.
Total Vacancies: 22,195 Posts.
Initial Pay: ₹18,000/- (Level 1) plus applicable allowances.

Important Dates to Remember

Mark your calendars to ensure you don't miss any critical deadlines for the application process:

Event	Date & Time
Online registration starts.	January 31, 2026 (00:00 hrs)
Last Date to Apply Online	March 02, 2026 (23:59 hrs)
Last Date for Fee Payment	March 04, 2026 (23:59 hrs)
Application Modification Window	March 05 - 14, 2026
Scribe Details Submission	March 15 - 19, 2026

Eligibility Criteria: Age and Education

Candidates must meet the following requirements as of January 1, 2026:

Age Limit: 18 to 33 Years.
Educational Qualification: Candidates must be a 10th pass (matriculation), hold an ITI or equivalent, or possess a National Apprenticeship Certificate (NAC) granted by NCVT.

Age Relaxation

Standard government relaxations apply to reserved categories:

OBC (NCL): 3 years relaxation.
SC/ST: 5 years relaxation.
PwBD (UR/EWS): 10 years relaxation.
PwBD (SC/ST/OBC): Additional relaxations apply based on category.

Selection Process and Exam Pattern

The recruitment process is thorough, involving four distinct stages to ensure the best candidates are selected.

Selection Stages

1. Single-Stage Computer-Based Test (CBT)

2. Physical Efficiency Test (PET)

3. Document Verification (DV)

4. Medical Examination (ME)

CBT Exam Pattern

The exam lasts 90 minutes (120 minutes for eligible PwD candidates) and consists of 100 questions:

Subject	No. of Questions
General Science	25
Mathematics	25
General Intelligence & Reasoning	30
General Awareness & Current Affairs	20
Total	100

Each question carries 1 mark.

Application Fee and Refund Policy

Fees must be paid online only via net banking, debit/credit card, or UPI.

General Candidates: ₹500/- (₹400/- is refundable after appearing in the CBT).
SC / ST / Ex-Servicemen / PwBD / Female / Transgender / Minorities / EBC: ₹250/- (The full ₹250/- is refundable after appearing in the CBT).