Railway Recruitment Boards, Ministry of Railways
Last Date: 29 July 2026

Online applications for RRB CEN 02/2026 opened on 30 June 2026 and close on 29 July 2026. Railway Recruitment Boards (RRBs) are hiring across two pay levels i.e., 323 posts of Technician Grade I Signal at Level 5 and 6234 posts across 24 categories of Technician Grade III at Level 2, for a grand total of 6557 vacancies spread across all Railway Zones and Production Units in India.

RRB CEN 02/2026 Technician Recruitment: Quick Overview

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RRB CEN 02/2026 Technician Recruitment: Quick Introduction

Railway Recruitment Boards have released CEN 02/2026 calling for applications across 25 post categories in departments ranging from Signal and Telecom to Mechanical Workshop, Electrical, Engineering, and Carriage and Wagon. The total count of 6557 vacancies is distributed across every Railway Zone and Production Unit in the country.

RRB Technician recruitments at this level usually attracts applications in the range of 8 to 12 lakh candidates for similar vacancy counts. Therefore, with 6234 Grade III seats open in this recruitment to anyone holding a relevant ITI certificate, the competition per vacancy will be meaningful. Candidates who have already been preparing since the last major RRB Technician recruitment will have an edge over others, because particularly for subjects like General Science and Mathematics where repeat practice compounds over time.

This CEN also introduces the Merged Post Category (MPC) system where eight of the 25 post categories group multiple sub-designations under a single application entry. The actual department assignment happens only when the candidate reports to the allotted Railway and not at the time of selection. 

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Vacancy Details

The total of 6557 posts are divided into 323 at Level 5 and 6234 at Level 2. Also the total vacancies are distributed among 25 major categories. The category wise breakdown of of total vacancies are shown below:

Among the Level 2 posts, Fitter (PU & WS) alone accounts for 1109 vacancies, which is nearly one in five of all Grade III seats. Welder (PU & WS) at 584 and Carriage and Wagon at 501 are the next largest single categories. Crane Driver has just 13 posts nationally, making it the most limited category in the entire CEN.

Note: The RRB-wise, Zone-wise and category-wise breakdown of vacancies are shown in Annexure B of the official notification (Available in the Important Links section toward end of the page). Candidates who have a preference for a specific region or state should study that table before filling their post and zone preference order. 

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Application Fee

Payment is accepted online only, via internet banking, debit or credit card, or UPI. The refund is credited exclusively to the bank account linked with the candidate's Aadhaar number, therefore, Candidates must link it through the NPCI portal before or during the application process. The RRB does not entertain any follow-up for failed refunds caused by incorrect or non-operational Aadhaar-linked bank accounts.

EBC (Economically Backward Class) candidates with annual family income below Rs. 50,000 qualify for the concessional Rs. 250 fee. But note that EBC is entirely separate from EWS (income below Rs. 8 lakh) and from OBC and this EBC status gives only fee concession, not any reservation in posts. The EBC certificate must be valid on or before the closing date of 29 July 2026 because certificates issued after that date will not be accepted at DV.

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Age Limit

The age reference date is 01 July 2026. Grade I Signal requires candidates to be between 18 and 33 years and Grade III requires 18 to 30 years. Catergory wise Age Relaxation are detailed below:

> For Technician Grade I Signal (Age Group= 18 to 33)

> For Technician Grade III (Age Group= 18 to 30)

> Candidates Birth Date should be between below mentioned range:

Note: Where a candidate qualifies for more than one relaxation, the maximum applicable (not cumulative) is granted. SC, ST, and OBC candidates applying against unreserved vacancies do not get age relaxation. Candidates should also note that, if you are a Course Completed Act Apprentice who began your apprenticeship before age 25, the upper age limit extends to 35 years for UR/EWS, 38 for OBC, and 40 for SC/ST.

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Educational Qualification

For the Technician Grade I Signal post, the minimum qualification is a Bachelor of Science degree in Physics, Electronics, Computer Science, Information Technology, or Instrumentation from a recognised university, including combinations of these sub-streams. Alternatively, a three-year engineering diploma or a full engineering degree in any of these fields is also accepted.

And for all 24 categories of Technician Grade III (Level 2), the minimum qualification is Matriculation or SSLC plus an ITI certificate from an NCVT or SCVT recognised institution in the relevant trade, or Matriculation plus a Course Completed Act Apprenticeship (CCAA). The specific eligible trades vary by post and are listed in detail in Annexure A of the CEN.

An important point to note is that engineering diplomas and degrees are not accepted in place of ITI or CCAA for Level 2 posts. A three-year diploma engineer cannot use that diploma to apply for Grade III unless a specific post additionally lists diploma holders as eligible. The one trade-level post that is slightly unique in this regard is Technician Grade III (S&T), which accepts 10+2 with Physics and Mathematics alongside the standard ITI. That makes it the only Grade III post in this entire CEN accessible to a 12th pass candidate without any ITI.

Candidates must have already completed their qualifying qualification on or before the closing date of 29 July 2026. Those waiting for their final exam results cannot apply.
Note: For detailed post-wise Education Qualification, see Annexure A in page no. 29 of the official Notification (Available in the Important Links section toward end of the page)

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Selection Process

Selection happens in three stages: Computer Based Test (CBT), Document Verification (DV), and Medical Examination (ME). There is a separate CBT for each pay level, so candidates applying for both Grade I Signal and Grade III must appear in two separate exams.

For Technician Grade III (Level 2), the CBT covers 100 questions in 90 minutes:

Technician Grade III (Level 2) - Complete Syllabus:

For Technician Grade III, syllabus is smaller and limited if we compare it with Technician Grade I Signal, details of which are also included below. 

For Technician Grade I Signal (Level 5) also, the CBT has 100 questions in 90 minutes: 

Technician Grade I Signal (Level 5) - Complete Syllabus:

The Basic Science and Engineering section for Technician Grade I is considerably deeper than Grade III, as it includes electromagnetic induction, microcontrollers, microprocessors, electronic measurement systems, cathode ray oscilloscopes, transducers, and more. Therefore, it is a technically demanding paper that needs preparation at the diploma or degree level.

Negative marking applies in both CBTs at one-third of a mark per wrong answer. Normalization is applied when exams run across multiple shifts. Minimum qualifying percentages are 40% for UR and EWS, 30% for OBC-NCL and SC, and 25% for ST. PwBD candidates get a 2-mark relaxation in minimum qualifying marks in case of vacancy shortfall.
Shortlisting for DV will be done at a 1:1 ratio against vacancies, which is purely on CBT merit.

Tie breaking rule: If two candidates scores are identically, then the older candidate gets higher merit, but if age is also the same, then alphabetical order of the first name (not surname) will be used.

Note: The DV and medical stages are verification and fitness rounds. The CBT is where selection is effectively decided.

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Salary, Job Location, and Service Conditions

Technician Grade I Signal posts starts at Level 5 with an initial basic pay of Rs. 29,200 per month, whereas, Technician Grade III starts at Level 2 with an initial basic pay of Rs. 19,900 per month. Allowances such as HRA, DA, and transport allowances are paid as per Railway rules based on the posting city and will vary accordingly.

> Posting is pan-India across all Railway Zones and Production Units. A Railway employee is ordinarily employed throughout service on the Railway where they are first posted. Transfer to another Railway is not available as a matter of right, and no inter-Railway transfer request will be accepted until the newly appointed candidate completes at least 5 to 10 years of service. RRB selection determines which zone or Production Unit a candidate goes to, making the candidates choice of preferred RRB and zone during the application highly consequential.

> Selected candidates for Technician posts will undergo training wherever prescribed by the Railway, with only stipend paid during the training period. Also candidates may be required to execute a security or indemnity bond where applicable. Technicians who are finally appointed are also liable for active service in the Railway Engineers Unit of the Territorial Army.

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How to Apply

1. Visit the official unified RRB website at rrb.indianrailways.gov.in or any individual RRB website listed in Para 19.0 of the official notification. The application link for CEN 02/2026 will be active from 30 June 2026.
2. If you already created an account for a previous RRB CEN in 2024, 2025, or 2026, log in with the same credentials. Do not create a new account.
3. If applying to an RRB website for the first time, create an account first by entering your name, father's name, mother's name, and date of birth exactly as they appear in your Matriculation certificate, along with a valid personal mobile number and email ID.
4. Authenticate your identity using Aadhaar or DigiLocker at the account creation stage, because candidates who skip this step and use alternate photo IDs will face significantly stricter scrutiny at every subsequent stage of the recruitment.
5. Once logged in, find the CEN 02/2026 application link and begin filling the form.
6. Submit one application per pay level. Choose one RRB per pay level and provide your preferred order of post categories and Railway Zones under that RRB. These preferences are final once submitted.
7. When the application module prompts you for a photograph, capture a live photo using your webcam or mobile front camera. Do not photograph a printed or saved picture. Wear non-white clothing, and do not wear glasses, caps, or masks during the photo capture.
8. Upload your signature, written in black ink on white paper in cursive or running handwriting (not block or capital letters), scanned at a minimum of 100 DPI, in JPG or JPEG format, file size between 30 KB and 49 KB.
9. SC and ST candidates who want a free railway travel pass must also upload a PDF copy of their community certificate (under 400 KB).
10. Complete the fee payment through internet banking, debit or credit card, or UPI. The fee payment last date is 31 July 2026 at 23:59 hours.
11. After payment is confirmed, download and save the application confirmation and note your registration number carefully.
12. If you wish to correct any details (except account details and chosen RRB), the modification window is open from 01 to 10 August 2026 at Rs. 250 per modification. After 10 August 2026, no changes will be accepted.

Candidates in areas with poor internet access can use the nearest Common Services Centre (CSC) to submit the application and pay the fee through e-wallet.

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Required Documents and Important Instructions

Keep the following ready before starting the application: Matriculation or SSLC certificate matching the name and date of birth you will enter, ITI or CCAA certificate for Grade III applicants, BSc or engineering diploma/degree certificate for Grade I Signal applicants, Aadhaar card for authentication and refund bank account linkage, and category certificates in the prescribed formats given in the Annexure sections of the official notification.

> The OBC-NCL certificate must have been issued on or after 01 April 2026. Because, older OBC certificates, even if valid for state-level purposes, will not be accepted at DV for this CEN and EWS candidates must carry an Income and Asset Certificate covering the financial year 2025-26.

Important points to Note: uploading a signature in block or capital letters and signing with non-black ink, or placing the signature on a non-white background may cause your application be rejected. Therefore, signature uploaded at the time of application must match exactly with what is produced at the CBT, DV, and medical stages. The mobile number and email ID entered during account creation cannot be changed at any stage. Therefore, fill them correctly the first time, as all further communication from RRBs happens only through SMS and email to these registered details.

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Read these Important Practical Points for better understand of this RRB CEN:

Understanding The Strict & Moderate sides Medical Standard Requirements 

Four medical standards apply across the 25 categories in this CEN, in which Track Machine (A3) is the strictest: both-eye distance vision of 6/9 with power not exceeding 2D, and mandatory colour, binocular, night, and mesopic vision tests. Candidates who have had LASIK or any refractive correction surgery are not eligible for A3 posts. Most open-line and operational posts require B1 standard, which also includes colour and night vision testing. I a candidate having Colour vision deficiency then he/she can be disqualified at B1, even if their eyesight is otherwise strong. on ther otherhand Workshop posts under C1 standard only need distance vision of 6/12 and 6/18, with no colour or night vision requirements. Those candidates who are unsure of their colour vision should get a clinical check before deciding which posts to rank highest. Because it can be the reason of your disqualification at later stages. 

A clear Assessment of Technician Grade I Signal posts 

Grade I Signal is the only post in this CEN that places a fresh appointee directly at Level 5 (Rs. 29,200 initial pay), which is the same level a Grade III technician typically reaches only after years of service and a departmental promotion exam. For BSc and engineering graduates in Physics, Electronics, CS, IT, or Instrumentation who have not cleared GATE or other higher-level competitive exams, this can be the better options for them which will put them into a permanent Central Government technical post above entry level. But it is also important to understand that available seats are 323 distributed across the country and open to a large number of eligible graduates and diploma holders. The CBT syllabus covers electronics depth, digital circuits, computer architecture, oscilloscope concepts, and measurement systems, which overlaps substantially with SSC JE and ISRO Technician preparation, therefore, if any candidates already in that preparation cycle then they are the best positioned for Grade I Signal.

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❓Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How many total vacancies are there in RRB CEN 02/2026?

6557 vacancies in total. Of these, 323 are for Technician Grade I Signal at Pay Level 5, and 6234 posts cover 24 categories of Technician Grade III at Pay Level 2. Zone-wise and RRB-wise distribution is in Annexure B of the official notification.

What is the last date to submit the application?

The online application must be submitted by 29 July 2026 at 23:59 hours. The fee payment deadline is a separate date: 31 July 2026 at 23:59 hours. Missing the fee payment deadline after submitting the form means the application is not accepted.

Who is eligible to apply?

For Grade III (Level 2): Matriculation or SSLC plus ITI or Course Completed Act Apprenticeship in the relevant trade. For Grade I Signal (Level 5): BSc or engineering diploma or degree in Physics, Electronics, Computer Science, IT, or Instrumentation. Candidates waiting for their final exam results are not eligible and should not apply.

What is the age limit for Grade III posts?

18 to 30 years as on 01 July 2026. SC/ST candidates get 5 years of relaxation. OBC-NCL candidates get 3 years. PwBD candidates get 10 to 15 years depending on whether they are in UR, OBC, SC, or ST category. Serving Railway employees with at least three years of service can apply up to 40 to 45 years of age depending on category.

Can an engineering diploma holder apply for Technician Grade III posts?

Generally no. For Level 2 posts, only ITI or CCAA in the specified trade is accepted. Engineering diplomas and degrees are not accepted as substitutes unless specifically stated otherwise for a particular post. Only Grade I Signal (Level 5) accepts engineering qualifications.

What does the selection process involve?

Three stages: Computer Based Test, Document Verification, and Medical Examination. There is no separate skill test or interview for any of the 25 post categories. The CBT score determines shortlisting for DV, which is done at 1:1 against vacancies. The DV and medical stages are verification and fitness rounds, not scoring stages.

What is the salary for these posts?

Technician Grade III starts at Rs. 19,900 per month basic pay at Level 2. Technician Grade I Signal starts at Rs. 29,200 per month basic pay at Level 5. DA, HRA, and transport allowances are added based on the city of posting.

What is the examination fee, and will it be refunded?

General, OBC, and EWS candidates pay Rs. 500. Of this, Rs. 400 is refunded after the candidate appears for the CBT. SC, ST, ExSM, PwBD, Female, Transgender, Minority, and EBC candidates pay Rs. 250, which is fully refunded after appearing for the CBT. The refund goes to the Aadhaar-seeded bank account.

How do I apply online?

Through the official unified website rrb.indianrailways.gov.in or any individual RRB website, from 30 June 2026. No postal or offline applications are accepted. Submit one application per pay level and choose one RRB per pay level.

What is the official website for CEN 02/2026?

The unified RRB website is rrb.indianrailways.gov.in. All 21 individual RRB websites are also listed in Para 19.0 of the notification. Exam schedules, admit cards, and results will be published on the specific RRB website the candidate applies through.

Can I apply to more than one RRB under this notification?

No. For each pay level, one RRB must be chosen and only one application submitted. Applying to more than one RRB for the same pay level results in rejection of all applications for that pay level and debarment from all future RRB and RRC examinations. This is a hard rule.

What exactly is a Merged Post Category, and how does it affect me?

Eight of the 25 post categories are Merged Post Categories, where multiple sub-designations that share identical eligibility are grouped under one category name. If you are selected under an MPC such as Fitter (OL), Fitter (PU & WS), Welder (OL), Welder (PU & WS), S&T, Electrical GS, Electrical TRD, or Electrical (PU & WS), you may be assigned to any sub-designation within that merged group when you report to your allotted Railway. You do not get to choose the specific sub-designation.

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Conclusion 

We hope the detailed information provided above may help you understand this RRB recruitment, therefore as we are heading towards conclusion some important things a candidate should remember & understand is that, modification window for this application closes on 10 August 2026. After that date, no further changes are accepted, and neither the chosen RRB nor the account details can be changed at any point at all. Therefore most important decision for a candidate in this application are the RRB choice and the post preference order, because both are essentially final once the modification window closes.

Your post preferences order also interact directly with medical fitness in ways that matter practically, because if you rank a B1 medical standard post at the top but fail the colour vision test at the medical stage, and you have a C1 post lower in the list, the C1 post may still be available based on merit and vacancy position. Therefore, ranking the posts only by salary or post name, without considering your medical fitness probability for each standard, may not be a good decision. 

Watch the official RRB websites for CBT dates, admit card release, and any corrigendums. Updates will also come via SMS and email to your registered contact details. Keep that mobile number active throughout the entire recruitment duration. (you can also bookmark this page and follow our social media handles such as telegram and WhatsApp for quick updates)

This article is based on the official notification and simplified for easy understanding. For the most accurate and updated information, always refer to the official website.