The Railway Recruitment Board (RRB) under the Ministry of Railways, Government of India, has officially published the detailed Centralised Employment Notice CEN No. 05/2026 for the recruitment of 590 Paramedical Staff vacancies across various Zonal Railways and Railway Production Units.

Online applications open on 15 September 2026 and will remain active until 14 October 2026 (11:59 PM). Eligible candidates holding qualifications in Nursing, Pharmacy, Radiology, Medical Lab Technology, and allied healthcare streams can submit their applications through the official portal at rrbapply.gov.in.

Recruitment Overview Snapshot

Below is a summary of key details for the RRB Paramedical Staff 2026 recruitment drive:

Important Dates & Exam Timelines

Candidates must keep track of these key deadlines to prevent last-minute technical glitches or payment failures:

Post-Wise Vacancy Breakdown & Pay Matrix Levels

The 590 vacancies are distributed across multiple technical healthcare specializations within Indian Railway Hospitals. The largest allocation is dedicated to Nursing Officers and Pharmacists.

Educational Qualifications & Professional Eligibility

To qualify for these posts, applicants must possess recognized professional degrees, diplomas, or registrations from recognized boards, universities, or statutory councils (e.g., Indian Nursing Council, Pharmacy Council of India).

• Nursing Superintendent:

  • B.Sc. (Nursing) from a recognized institute OR 3-year General Nursing and Midwifery (GNM) diploma from a school of Nursing registered with the Indian Nursing Council.
  • Registration as a Nurse and Midwife with the Central or State Nursing Council is mandatory.

• Pharmacist (Entry Grade):

  • 10+2 in Science stream, plus a 2-year Diploma in Pharmacy (D.Pharm) or Bachelor’s Degree in Pharmacy (B.Pharm).
  • Valid registration as a Pharmacist under the Pharmacy Act, 1948.

• Health & Malaria Inspector Grade-II:

  • B.Sc. degree with Chemistry as a main or combination subject.
  • Plus 1-year Diploma in Health / Sanitary Inspector from a recognized institution.

• Lab Assistant Grade-II:

  • Class 12th (10+2) in Science stream, along with a 2-year Diploma in Medical Laboratory Technology (DMLT).

• Radiographer / X-Ray Technician:

  • 10+2 with Science stream, plus a 2-year Diploma in Radiography / X-Ray Technician / Radiodiagnosis Technology.

• Dialysis Technician:

  • B.Sc. degree plus a Diploma in Hemodialysis or 2 years' satisfactory work experience in Dialysis setup.

• ECG Technician:

  • Degree / Diploma in ECG Laboratory Technology / Cardiology / Cardiology Technician / Cardiology Techniques from a recognized university or institute.

Age Limit Criteria & Relaxation Guidelines

The crucial date for age calculation across all posts under CEN 05/2026 is 01 January 2027.

Standard Age Range

• Minimum Age: 18 to 20 Years (varies post-wise).
• Maximum Age: 33 to 40 Years (varies post-wise).

Permissible Age Relaxation (Upper Age Limit)

Upper age limits are relaxed for reserved categories according to Central Government norms:

Application Fee & Fee Refund Policy

Railway Recruitment Boards follow a partial fee refund model for candidates appearing in the Computer-Based Test (CBT).

Payment Modes Accepted

Online payments can be made via Debit Cards (Visa/Mastercard/Rupay), Credit Cards, Net Banking, UPI, and IMPS through the payment gateway on rrbapply.gov.in.

Note on Refund: Bank account details provided during form submission must be accurate and registered in the candidate's name to ensure seamless processing of the post-examination refund.

Selection Process & Computer-Based Test (CBT) Pattern

The recruitment consists of a Single-Stage Computer-Based Test (CBT) followed by Document Verification and Medical Examination.

[Computer-Based Test (100 Marks)] ──► [Document Verification (DV)] ──► [Medical Fitness Test] ──► [Final Merit Allocation]

Written Exam Structure

• Total Duration: 90 Minutes (120 Minutes for eligible PwBD candidates with scribes)
• Total Questions: 100 Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
• Total Marks: 100 Marks
• Negative Marking: $1/3^{\text{rd}}$ mark deducted for every incorrect response.

Subject-Wise Question Weightage

Minimum Qualifying Marks Percentage

To clear the written test and be considered for the merit list, candidates must secure the following minimum percentages:

• Unreserved (UR) / EWS: 40%
• OBC (Non-Creamy Layer): 30%
• Scheduled Caste (SC): 30%
• Scheduled Tribe (ST): 25%

Step-by-Step Guide: How to Apply Online for RRB Paramedical 2026

Follow these instructions to complete your registration without errors:

1. Visit Official Portal: Go to rrbapply.gov.in.
2. Create an Account:
   • Click on Create an Account if you are a new user.
   • Enter your Mobile Number, Email ID, Aadhaar Number (or alternative Govt Photo ID), Date of Birth, and basic profile details.
   • Verify using the OTPs sent to your registered mobile number and email address.
3. Log in & Fill Profile: Log in using your registered credentials. Fill in personal details, educational qualifications, caste details, and postal address.
4. Select RRB Zone & Post Preferences:
   • Select your preferred regional RRB (e.g., RRB Allahabad, RRB Mumbai, RRB Chandigarh, RRB Kolkata, etc.).
   • Rank your post preferences according to your technical qualifications.
5. Upload Required Documents:
   • Scanned color passport photo (35mm x 45mm, plain white background, JPEG format, 30–70 KB).
   • Scanned signature (running hand, JPEG format, 30–70 KB).
   • SC/ST Certificate (if requesting free travel pass, PDF format up to 500 KB).
6. Pay Application Fee: Select the online payment gateway and pay the required fee (₹500 or ₹250).
7. Preview & Final Submit: Verify every detail in the draft view. Submit the application and download the generated PDF application form for future reference.

Important Links & Official Portals

Participating Regional Railway Recruitment Boards (RRBs)

Candidates can apply to only one RRB board. Applying to multiple RRB boards will result in the rejection of all applications.

• RRB Ahmedabad: rrbahmedabad.gov.in
• RRB Ajmer: rrbajmer.gov.in
• RRB Bengaluru: rrbbnc.gov.in
• RRB Bhopal: rrbbhopal.gov.in
• RRB Bhubaneswar: rrbbbs.gov.in
• RRB Chandigarh: rrbcdg.gov.in
• RRB Chennai: rrbchennai.gov.in
• RRB Gorakhpur: rrbgkp.gov.in
• RRB Guwahati: rrbguwahati.gov.in
• RRB Jammu-Srinagar: rrbjammu.nic.in
• RRB Kolkata: rrbkolkata.gov.in
• RRB Malda: rrbmalda.gov.in
• RRB Mumbai: rrbmumbai.gov.in
• RRB Muzaffarpur: rrbmuzaffarpur.gov.in
• RRB Patna: rrbpatna.gov.in
• RRB Prayagraj (Allahabad): rrbald.gov.in
• RRB Ranchi: rrbranchi.gov.in
• RRB Secunderabad: rrbsecunderabad.gov.in
• RRB Siliguri: rrbsiliguri.gov.in
• RRB Thiruvananthapuram: rrbthiruvananthapuram.gov.in