Railway Group D 2026

Overview

Railway Recruitment Boards (RRBs) conduct the Group D examination for recruitment to various posts including Track Maintainer, Helper, and other Level 1 positions across Indian Railways. The 2026 recruitment drive offers 32,048 vacancies across all Railway zones.

This is one of the largest recruitment drives in India, providing employment opportunities for candidates with basic educational qualifications.

Important Dates

Event	Date
Notification Release	May 25, 2026
Application Start	June 1, 2026
Application End	July 1, 2026
Exam Date	September 10, 2026
Admit Card	August 25, 2026
Result Date	November 15, 2026

Eligibility Criteria

Educational Qualification

• 10th Pass from a recognized Board
• AND ITI Certificate from a recognized institution
• OR National Apprenticeship Certificate (NAC) granted by NCVT

Age Limit

• Minimum: 18 years
• Maximum: 33 years
• OBC: 3 years relaxation
• SC/ST: 5 years relaxation

Application Fee

Category	Fee
General / OBC	₹500
SC / ST / Ex-Servicemen / PwD / Women	₹250

₹400 refunded for General/OBC and ₹250 for reserved categories upon appearing for the CBT.

Selection Process

Stage 1 — Computer Based Test (CBT)

• Duration: 90 minutes (120 for PwD)
• Total Questions: 100
• Maximum Marks: 100
• Sections: Mathematics, General Intelligence & Reasoning, General Science, General Awareness & Current Affairs
• Negative Marking: 1/3rd of marks for each wrong answer

Stage 2 — Physical Efficiency Test (PET)

• Male candidates: Lift and carry 35 kg for 100 metres in 2 minutes; Run 1000 metres in 4 minutes 15 seconds
• Female candidates: Lift and carry 20 kg for 100 metres in 2 minutes; Run 1000 metres in 5 minutes 40 seconds

Stage 3 — Document Verification

• Original documents and certificates verified.

Stage 4 — Medical Examination

• Candidates must meet the medical standards prescribed for the post.

Salary Structure

• Pay Level 1: ₹18,000 – ₹56,900 per month
• Plus allowances: DA, HRA, Transport Allowance
• Approximate in-hand salary: ₹22,000 – ₹28,000 per month (varies by city)

Railway employees also get additional benefits like free railway passes, medical facilities, housing, and pension.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the minimum qualification for Railway Group D? 10th Pass with ITI certificate or National Apprenticeship Certificate (NAC) from NCVT.

Q: Is there negative marking in Railway Group D exam? Yes, 1/3rd of the marks allotted to a question are deducted for each wrong answer.

Q: How is the final merit list prepared? The final merit is based on the normalized score of CBT, followed by PET, document verification, and medical examination.