
The Railway Recruitment Board has officially extended the application deadline for the RRB Group D recruitment drive. Candidates who were unable to meet the earlier cutoff now have a valuable opportunity to secure one of 21,997 vacancies across India’s railway zones.
The online application window, which was originally set to close on March 2, 2026, will now remain active until March 9, 2026. This one-week extension allows aspirants additional time to complete their registration and form submission on the official portal at www.rrbapply.gov.in. Alongside this, the deadline for fee payment has also been moved from March 4 to March 11, 2026.
To ensure a smooth application process, candidates should take note of the updated schedule. The last date to submit online applications is now March 9, 2026, until 11:59 PM. Following this, the fee payment window will close on March 11, 2026. For those who need to make corrections to their submitted forms, a modification window will be available from March 12 to March 21, 2026. However, it is important to remember that once a railway zone is selected, it cannot be changed, so candidates must choose carefully.
Vacancies
This recruitment cycle is one of the largest in recent years, with the Northern Railway zone, headquartered in New Delhi, leading the way with the highest number of posts at 3,537. Other major zones such as Western Railway in Mumbai and Central Railway also offer thousands of opportunities, with 3,148 and 2,012 vacancies respectively. From Guwahati to Chennai, Bilaspur to Kolkata, the vacancies are spread across the length and breadth of the country, making this a truly national recruitment drive.
Steps to apply for RRB Group D Recruitment 2026
Step 1. Visit the official website: www.rrbapply.gov.in
Step 2. Click on ‘New Registration’ and fill in basic details (Name, DOB, Aadhaar, Mobile No, Email).
Step 3. Verify your email and mobile number via OTP.
Step 4. Log in with your registration number and password.
Part I: Fill in educational qualifications, community, gender, and other personal details.
Part II: Mention your priority/preference for the posts within the same railway zone.
Step 5. Pay the application fee online (Net Banking/Credit Card/Debit Card/UPI) or via offline Challan.
Step 6. Upload scanned images of the photo, signature, and category certificate (if required).
Step 7. Submit the form.
Eligibility and Selection Criteria
The age limit for applicants is calculated as of January 1, 2026. Candidates from the Unreserved and EWS categories must be born after January 1, 2008, and not before January 2, 1993, placing them between 18 and 33 years of age. Relaxation is provided as per government norms, with OBC candidates receiving a three-year extension and SC or ST candidates receiving five years.
The selection process will consist of a single-stage Computer-Based Test, followed by a Physical Efficiency Test, document verification, and medical examination. The CBT will last 90 minutes and include 100 questions covering mathematics, general intelligence and reasoning, general science, and general awareness. There is a negative marking of one-third marks for each incorrect answer.
The Physical Efficiency Test has distinct requirements for male and female candidates. Male candidates must lift and carry a 35 kg weight for 100 meters in two minutes and complete a 1000-meter race in four minutes and 15 seconds. Female candidates need to carry a 20 kg weight for the same distance within two minutes and finish the 1000-meter race in five minutes and 40 seconds.
Fee Structure and Salary
The application fee is set at Rs 500 for General, OBC, and EWS candidates, with Rs 400 refundable upon appearing in the CBT. For SC, ST, EBC, and women candidates, the fee is Rs 250, which is fully refundable when they appear for the exam. Selected candidates will receive a salary in the pay scale of Rs 18,000 under Level-1 of the pay matrix.
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