RRB Exam Calendar: The Railway Recruitment Board (RRB) has released its tentative exam calendar for 2026, offering candidates an early view of when major recruitment notifications are expected. The calendar covers key posts such as Assistant Loco Pilot (ALP), Technician, Junior Engineer (JE), Non-Technical Popular Categories (NTPC), Group D and others.
While exact exam dates have not been announced, the schedule clearly mentions the expected months for notifications and outlines the internal administrative process behind each recruitment. With several large recruitments planned between February and October 2026, aspirants now have a clearer timeline to plan their preparation.
Major RRB Notifications Expected in 2026
As per the calendar, the recruitment cycle is likely to begin with the Assistant Loco Pilot notification in February 2026. This will be followed by Technician posts in March. The Section Controller recruitment is expected in April, concluding the first phase of the year.
Mid year recruitment activity is expected to increase. Notifications for Paramedical categories and Junior Engineer posts are tentatively scheduled for July 2026. The much-awaited NTPC recruitment, covering both graduate and undergraduate posts, is expected in August 2026.
Ministerial and Isolated Categories are likely to be notified in September 2026. The Group D Level-1 recruitment, which usually sees the highest number of applicants, is expected in October 2026.
RRB Exam Calendar 2026 (Tentative Schedule)
| Recruitment Category | Expected Notification Month (2026) | Remarks / Administrative Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Assistant Loco Pilot (ALP) | February | Vacancy assessment by mid-2027; OIRMS posting late 2025; draft CEN early 2026 |
| Technician | March | Internal approvals and draft CEN process before notification |
| Section Controller | April | Part of first-quarter recruitment cycle |
| Paramedical Categories | July | Vacancy assessment during May–June 2026; CEN draft in July |
| Junior Engineer (JE) & related technical posts | July | Mid-year recruitment aligned with Paramedical categories |
| NTPC (Graduate & Undergraduate) | August | Large-scale recruitment; application window to be announced |
| Ministerial & Isolated Categories | September | CEN drafting and notification expected in the same month |
| Group D Level-1 | October | One of the largest recruitments; planned for the final quarter of 2026 |
Ongoing and Upcoming Exams
Apart from the 2026 roadmap, RRB has already confirmed some exam schedules from earlier cycles. The RRB Level-1 CEN-08/2024 CBT is scheduled to be held between January 4 and March 17, 2026, making it one of the first major railway exams next year.
Candidates are advised to regularly check official RRB websites for updates, as the calendar is indicative and subject to change.
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