Railway Recruitment Boards, Ministry of Railways
Last Date: 14.10.2026


RRB Paramedical Recruitment 2026: Quick Overview

Feature

Details

OrganizationRailway Recruitment Boards, Ministry of Railways
Advertisement No.CEN 05/2026
Post NameNursing Superintendent, Pharmacist, Radiographer and 6 other paramedical posts
Total Vacancies590
Job TypeCentral Government, Regular
Application ModeOnline only
Application Start Date15.09.2026
Last Date to Apply14.10.2026 (23:59 hrs)
Minimum QualificationVaries by post; degree/diploma in the relevant paramedical field
Age Limit18 to 40 years depending on post (as on 01.01.2027)
Selection ProcessComputer Based Test followed by Document Verification and Medical Examination
Salary / Pay ScaleRs. 21,700 to Rs. 44,900 (7th CPC Level 3 to Level 7)
Job LocationAcross Indian Railway zones, as per RRB and zone chosen
Official Websiterrb.indianrailways.gov.in
Topic/Subject-wise Practice Quizzes For All Types of Examsapnaupdates.com/apna-quiz


RRB Paramedical Recruitment 2026: Quick Intro

The Railway Recruitment Boards (RRBs) have released CEN No. 05/2026 for 590 paramedical vacancies across nine categories, including Nursing Superintendent and Lab Assistant Grade II. The online application process will begin on September 15, 2026, and continue until October 14, 2026.

Indian Railways operates a large healthcare network of hospitals, health units and mobile medical services for its employees and their families. This recruitment is aimed at strengthening that system across nine paramedical categories, covering roles in nursing, laboratories, pharmacy, radiology and other healthcare services.

As these are central government healthcare posts with defined pay levels, the recruitment is likely to attract applicants from across the country, not just from the locations where vacancies are available.


Vacancy Details

Out of the 590 vacancies, Nursing Superintendent has the highest number of posts with 365 vacancies, followed by Pharmacist (Entry Grade) with 118 and Health & Malaria Inspector Grade II with 43.
The remaining vacancies are divided among Radiographer/X-Ray Technician, Lab Assistant Grade II, ECG Technician, Optometrist, Dialysis Technician, and Audiologist & Speech Therapist. Some of these categories have only one or two vacancies across the country.

Note: For the complete RRB-wise and category-wise vacancy details, refer to Annexure-B from page 28 onwards of the official notification PDF available in the Important Links section below.


Application Fee

The category-wise application fee details are given below:

The application fee can be paid through online banking, debit card, credit card or UPI.

Note: The applicable fee refund is linked to appearing in the CBT, not merely submitting the application. Candidates who submit the form and pay the fee but do not appear for the CBT will not receive the refund. The refund is also subject to the candidate's bank account being Aadhaar-seeded, so this should be checked in advance.


Age Limit

The age limit varies by post, from 18 to 33 years for most technician-level posts to 20 to 40 years for Nursing Superintendent. The age will be calculated as on January 1, 2027. The post-wise age requirements are given above in the "Vacancy Details' section.
 
The category-wise upper age relaxation is as follows:


Educational Qualification

The complete post-wise educational qualification requirements are given below:

Note: Candidates must have the prescribed educational, technical or professional qualification from a recognized institute or university by October 14, 2026, the last date for submitting the online application. Candidates whose final examination results are still awaited on this date should not apply.


Selection Process

The selection process includes a Single Stage Computer Based Test (CBT), followed by Document Verification and a Medical Examination.

The CBT will have 100 objective multiple-choice questions carrying 100 marks in total. The questions will be divided into four sections:
Professional Ability: 70 marks
General Awareness: 10 marks
General Arithmetic, Reasoning and Intelligence: 10 marks
General Science: 10 marks
There will be negative marking of one-third mark for each wrong answer. The exam duration is 90 minutes for most candidates and 120 minutes for PwBD/PWD candidates eligible for the scribe facility.

Shortlisting for Document Verification and final empanelment will be based on CBT merit, subject to the minimum qualifying marks prescribed for each category:
UR/EWS: 40%
OBC (NCL)/SC: 30%
ST: 25%
The same category-wise qualifying marks apply to Ex-Servicemen and PwBD candidates. For PwBD candidates, the qualifying requirement may be relaxed by 2 marks if there is a shortage of eligible PwBD candidates against the reserved vacancies.

Based on CBT performance, candidates up to the number of available vacancies will be called for document verification. If two or more candidates secure the same marks, the older candidate will get the higher merit position. If their age is also the same, the alphabetical order of their given name will be used to break the tie.

Final empanelment will be based on CBT marks, subject to successful document verification and the prescribed medical examination. Appointment will also depend on verification of educational and community certificates and antecedents or character.

After completing all recruitment stages, the RRB will allot a Railway Zone or Production Unit based on the candidate's preference, merit, medical standard and available vacancies. Once allotted and empanelled according to merit and choice, a candidate will not be considered for a preferred Zone or Unit in the next priority. However, the RRB may allot a Zone or Unit not selected by the candidate if required in the administrative interest, provided the candidate meets the eligibility conditions.

Note: The complete post-wise syllabus is available in Annexure-C, starting from page 33 of the official notification PDF in the Important Links section below.


Salary, Job Location, and Service Conditions

The pay scale ranges from Rs.21,700 (Level 3) for Lab Assistant Grade II to Rs.44,900 (Level 7) for Nursing Superintendent under the 7th CPC, along with applicable railway allowances.
Posting will depend on the Railway Zone and RRB preference selected during the application. Vacancies are distributed across different zones, including Central Railway, Southern Railway, Northern Railway and others, as detailed in Annexure-B of the official notification.

The RRB and Railway Zone preference selected during the application is final and cannot be changed later. Newly appointed candidates generally cannot request a transfer to another Railway Zone until completing 5 to 10 years of service, as per the applicable rules.


How to Apply

  1. Go to the official RRB website at rrb.indianrailways.gov.in
  2. Create an account using a valid personal mobile number and active email ID, since these details cannot be changed later
  3. Log in and select your preferred RRB and post/zone preferences for the posts you are eligible for
  4. Fill in personal, educational and category details in the online application form
  5. Capture a live photograph through the webcam or mobile camera as instructed, since pre-existing photos are not accepted
  6. Upload your scanned signature in JPG format as per the specified size and dimension requirements
  7. Pay the examination fee online through net banking, debit/credit card or UPI
  8. Review the complete form carefully before final submission
  9. Note your registration number for future reference and correspondence with the RRB.


Required Documents and Important Instructions

Keep your educational certificates, category certificates (SC/ST/OBC-NCL/EWS), and age proof ready before starting the application, as certificate numbers and issue dates are required in the form. SC/ST candidates who want to use the free train travel facility for the exam must upload a PDF copy of their caste certificate, with the file size limited to 400 KB.
 
Important Application Instructions:
> Candidates should pay close attention to the photograph and signature requirements. The photograph must be captured live through the application camera and should not be uploaded as an existing photo.
> The signature must be in running handwriting, not block or capital letters, and must meet the prescribed quality and background requirements.

> Only one application should be submitted under this CEN. Applying through multiple RRBs can lead to rejection of all applications and further action as per the recruitment rules.


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❓Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How many vacancies are available in this recruitment?

There are 590 vacancies in total across nine paramedical categories, with Nursing Superintendent alone accounting for 365 of them.

What is the last date to apply for CEN 05/2026?

The online application closes on 14 October 2026 at 23:59 hours, with fee payment accepted till 16 October 2026.

Who is eligible to apply for these posts?

Eligibility depends on the specific post; each of the nine categories has its own qualification requirement ranging from B.Sc Nursing to diploma-level paramedical courses.

What is the age limit for these posts?

Age limits vary by post, generally between 18 and 40 years as on 1 January 2027, with standard relaxations for reserved categories.

What qualification is required for Nursing Superintendent?

A Registered Nurse and Midwife certificate from a recognised nursing school, or a B.Sc Nursing degree.

What does the selection process involve?

A single Computer Based Test followed by Document Verification and a Medical Examination; there is no separate interview.

What is the salary for these posts?

Pay ranges from Rs. 21,700 for Lab Assistant Grade II up to Rs. 44,900 for Nursing Superintendent, under the 7th CPC pay matrix.

What is the application fee?

Rs. 500 for general candidates and Rs. 250 for SC, ST, Ex-Servicemen, PwBD, female, transgender, minority and EBC candidates, largely refundable on appearing for the CBT.

How can candidates apply online?

By creating an account on the official RRB website, filling the form with a live photo capture, uploading the signature, and paying the fee online.

What is the official website for this recruitment?

rrb.indianrailways.gov.in is the unified website from where candidates can navigate to their chosen RRB's page.

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

No. Multiple applications to different RRBs or the same RRB will lead to rejection of all applications and can result in debarment from future railway exams.

Is there an interview round in this selection process?

No, this recruitment has no interview. Selection is based purely on CBT performance, followed by document and medical checks.


Conclusion

We hope the information above has made the recruitment process easier to understand and covers the key details you need before applying. Read the requirements carefully and use the application links given below.
The most important decision is your RRB and Railway Zone preference, as it cannot be changed after submission. Also, check the educational qualification for your chosen post carefully before paying the fee. Eligibility may be verified later during document verification, so any mismatch at that stage can lead to rejection.

Keep checking the official RRB website regularly for the CBT city intimation slip, corrigenda and other recruitment updates. Official communication will be made through the RRB websites and the registered mobile number or email address, rather than by post. (You can also bookmark this page for quick reference and follow our Telegram and WhatsApp channels to receive important recruitment updates and notifications without missing any major announcement)
 

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.

Tags: RRB Recruitment, Railway Jobs 2026, Paramedical Vacancy, Nursing Superintendent, Pharmacist Jobs, Government Jobs, Railway Recruitment Board, CEN 05/2026