RRB Paramedical Recruitment 2026: 590 Vacancies, Eligibility, Exam Pattern & Apply Online

The Railway Recruitment Boards (RRBs) has announced RRB Paramedical Recruitment 2026 and inviting online applications for 590 vacancies across 9 paramedical posts including Nursing Superintendent, Pharmacist (Entry Grade), Radiographer X-Ray Technician, Health & Malaria Inspector Grade II, Dialysis Technician, Audiologist & Speech Therapist, ECG Technician, Optometrist and Lab Assistant Grade II. Online applications for RRB Paramedical Recruitment 2026 open on 15.09.2026 and close on 14.10.2026.

This article covers the complete RRB CEN 05/2026 notification details — eligibility, age limit, salary, selection process, exam pattern, application fee, important dates and the step-by-step online application process.

The selection process includes a Computer Based Test (CBT) followed by Document Verification and the prescribed Medical Examination. The CBT will contain 100 questions for 100 marks and will have negative marking of one-third mark for every wrong answer.

RRB Paramedical Recruitment 2026: Key Highlights at a Glance

Particular	Details
Organisation	Railway Recruitment Boards (RRBs), Ministry of Railways
Recruitment	Recruitment of Various Categories of Para-Medical
CEN Number	CEN No. 05/2026
Total Vacancies	590
Number of Posts	9
Application Mode	Online
Online Application Start Date	15 September 2026
Last Date to Apply	14 October 2026, up to 23:59 hours
Last Date for Fee Payment	16 October 2026
Modification Window	17 October 2026 to 26 October 2026
CBT Date	Not specified in the official notification
Selection Process	CBT, Document Verification and Medical Examination
Official Website	Click Here

The notification states that the vacancies are provisional and may increase or decrease according to the requirements of the Railway Administrations concerned.

RRB Paramedical Vacancy 2026

RRB CEN 05/2026 has announced a total of 590 vacancies across nine paramedical categories. The post-wise vacancy, pay level, initial pay, medical standard and age range are given below.

Cat. No.	Post Name	Pay Level	Initial Pay (₹)	Medical Standard	Age Limit	Total Vacancies
1	Nursing Superintendent	7	44,900	C1	20–40 years	365
2	Dialysis Technician	6	35,400	B1	20–33 years	1
3	Health & Malaria Inspector Grade II	6	35,400	C1	18–33 years	43
4	Audiologist & Speech Therapist	6	35,400	B1	21–30 years	1
5	Pharmacist (Entry Grade)	5	29,200	C2	20–35 years	118
6	Radiographer X-Ray Technician	5	29,200	B1	19–33 years	25
7	ECG Technician	4	25,500	C1	18–33 years	4
8	Optometrist	4	25,500	B1	18–33 years	2
9	Lab Assistant Grade II	3	21,700	B1	18–33 years	31
Total	All Posts	—	—	—	—	590

 

RRB-Wise Vacancy Details

The notification provides RRB-wise, Railway/Production Unit-wise and post-wise vacancy details in Annexure B. The total vacancies across the participating RRBs are distributed as follows:

RRB	UR	SC	ST	OBC	EWS	Net Vacancies
Ahmedabad	6	0	1	0	0	7
Ajmer	6	1	2	2	0	11
Bengaluru	7	4	1	5	1	18
Bhopal	11	5	0	3	2	21
Bhubaneswar	3	0	1	1	0	5
Bilaspur	12	2	0	2	2	18
Chandigarh	3	2	1	0	0	6
Chennai	19	13	9	19	5	65
Gorakhpur	15	6	5	4	3	33
Guwahati	12	4	4	7	2	29
Jammu-Srinagar	1	2	2	1	0	6
Kolkata	40	20	16	12	10	98
Malda	13	7	2	4	2	28
Mumbai	29	13	4	12	3	61
Muzaffarpur	9	1	3	4	2	19
Patna	5	7	4	4	1	21
Prayagraj	17	6	2	5	3	33
Ranchi	10	3	2	5	0	21
Secunderabad	28	8	9	18	8	71
Siliguri	9	2	1	5	2	19
Grand Total	255	106	69	113	46	590

The detailed Annexure B also provides the Railway/Production Unit and post-wise distribution, including Ex-Serviceman and PwBD vacancies.

RRB Paramedical Recruitment 2026: Eligibility Criteria

Candidates must fulfil the educational, technical and professional qualification prescribed for the particular post. The qualification must have been obtained from a recognized institution, university or institute by the closing date of the application.

Candidates who are waiting for the final result of the prescribed qualification are not eligible to apply.

Educational Qualification

Post	Educational Qualification
Nursing Superintendent	Certificate as Registered Nurse and Midwife after passing a 3-year course in General Nursing and Midwifery from a school of Nursing or other institution recognized by the Indian Nursing Council OR B.Sc Nursing. Special concessions prescribed by the Indian Nursing Council for Auxiliary Nurse Midwives, Midwives and B Grade Nurses are also covered.
Dialysis Technician	B.Sc. plus Diploma in Haemodialysis OR two years’ satisfactory in-house Training/Experience in Haemodialysis work in a reputed institution, with proof. B.Sc. in Dialysis Techniques, Dialysis Technology or Renal Dialysis Technology is also eligible.
Health & Malaria Inspector Grade II	B.Sc. with Chemistry as a Main or Optional subject in any branch of Chemistry during the course, plus either a one-year Diploma in Health/Sanitary Inspector OR a one-year National Trade Certificate in Health Sanitary Inspector awarded by NCVT, Ministry of Labour and Employment, Government of India.
Audiologist & Speech Therapist	Bachelor in Audiology, Speech Language Pathology (BASLP) from a recognized University and registration with the Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI).
Pharmacist (Entry Grade)	Bachelor Degree in Pharmacy (Allopathic) from a Central or State Government recognized University/Institute and registration as Pharmacist under the Pharmacy Act, 1948 OR Doctor of Pharmacy from a Central or State Government recognized University/Institute and registration as Pharmacist under the Pharmacy Act, 1948.
Radiographer X-Ray Technician	10+2 with Physics and Chemistry and a 2-year Diploma in Radiography/X-Ray Technician/Radiodiagnosis Technology from a recognized Institute. Science graduates with the specified diploma are preferred. The notification also lists specified equivalent B.Sc./Bachelor qualifications.
ECG Technician	10+2 or Graduation in Science with Certificate/Diploma/Degree in ECG Laboratory Technology, Cardiology, Cardiology Technician or Cardiology Techniques from a reputed institution. The certificate should have a minimum duration of one year.
Optometrist	B.Sc. in Optometry OR Diploma in Ophthalmic Technician of 3 to 4 years’ duration. Registration with the concerned Council/Licensing body is required.
Lab Assistant Grade II	12th (10+2) in Science plus Diploma in Medical Laboratory Technology (DMLT) OR a Certificate Course in Medical Lab Technology at par with DMLT, subject to the prescribed recognition, duration, full-time training and examination conditions. 12th Science plus B.Sc. Medical Lab Technology is also eligible.

The detailed post-wise qualifications and additional notes are specified in Annexure A of the notification.

Work Experience

Work experience is specifically prescribed as an alternative qualification for the Dialysis Technician post, where candidates may have two years of satisfactory in-house Training/Experience in Haemodialysis work in a reputed institution, with proof attached.

For the remaining posts, the notification specifies the relevant educational, professional or registration requirements rather than a separate general work-experience requirement.

Nationality / Citizenship

A candidate must be a citizen of India, a citizen of Nepal, a subject of Bhutan, or a person of Indian origin who has migrated from the specified countries with the intention of permanently settling in India, subject to the conditions and Government of India eligibility certificate requirements mentioned in the notification.

RRB Paramedical Age Limit and Relaxation 2026

The age limit is calculated as on 1 January 2027. The age range differs according to the post.

Post	Minimum Age	Maximum Age
Nursing Superintendent	20 years	40 years
Dialysis Technician	20 years	33 years
Health & Malaria Inspector Grade II	18 years	33 years
Audiologist & Speech Therapist	21 years	30 years
Pharmacist (Entry Grade)	20 years	35 years
Radiographer X-Ray Technician	19 years	33 years
ECG Technician	18 years	33 years
Optometrist	18 years	33 years
Lab Assistant Grade II	18 years	33 years

Age Relaxation

Category	Age Relaxation / Maximum Age
SC/ST	5 years
OBC (Non-Creamy Layer)	3 years
Ex-Servicemen – UR/EWS	3 years after deduction of length of service from age
Ex-Servicemen – OBC-NCL	6 years after deduction of length of service from age
Ex-Servicemen – SC/ST	8 years after deduction of length of service from age
PwBD – UR/EWS	10 years
PwBD – OBC-NCL	13 years
PwBD – SC/ST	15 years
Eligible Railway Staff – UR/EWS	40 years of age
Eligible Railway Staff – OBC-NCL	43 years of age
Eligible Railway Staff – SC/ST	45 years of age
Eligible candidates working in Quasi-Administrative Railway offices	Up to length of service rendered or 5 years, whichever is less
Widowed/divorced/judicially separated women – UR/EWS	35 years of age
Widowed/divorced/judicially separated women – OBC-NCL	38 years of age
Widowed/divorced/judicially separated women – SC/ST	40 years of age

If a candidate is eligible for age relaxation on more than one ground, only the maximum applicable relaxation is allowed and relaxations are not cumulative. The notification also specifies conditions concerning candidates from reserved categories applying against UR vacancies.

RRB Paramedical Salary / Pay Scale 2026

The initial pay and 7th CPC Pay Level vary by post. The notification provides the following initial pay figures:

Post	7th CPC Pay Level	Initial Pay
Nursing Superintendent	Level 7	₹44,900
Dialysis Technician	Level 6	₹35,400
Health & Malaria Inspector Grade II	Level 6	₹35,400
Audiologist & Speech Therapist	Level 6	₹35,400
Pharmacist (Entry Grade)	Level 5	₹29,200
Radiographer X-Ray Technician	Level 5	₹29,200
ECG Technician	Level 4	₹25,500
Optometrist	Level 4	₹25,500
Lab Assistant Grade II	Level 3	₹21,700

The notification specifies initial pay but does not provide an approximate CTC figure. Therefore, no separate CTC estimate is included here.

RRB Paramedical Selection Process 2026

The recruitment process consists of a Single Stage Computer Based Test (CBT) followed by Document Verification. Candidates must also pass the prescribed Medical Examination for appointment.

1. Computer Based Test (CBT) – A single-stage CBT will be conducted for all notified categories.
2. Document Verification (DV) – Candidates shortlisted on the basis of CBT merit will be called for verification of original documents.
3. Medical Examination – Candidates must pass the prescribed medical fitness requirements for the post.
4. Empanelment and Appointment – Empanelment is based on merit, successful document verification and medical fitness. Appointment offers are issued by the respective Railway Administrations.

RRB may conduct additional CBTs if considered necessary. Candidates equal to the number of vacancies will be called for Document Verification based on CBT performance and the applicable qualifying requirements.

RRB Paramedical Exam Pattern 2026

Subject / Section	Number of Questions	Marks
Professional Ability	70	70
General Awareness	10	10
General Arithmetic, General Intelligence & Reasoning	10	10
General Science	10	10
Total	100	100

The CBT duration is 90 minutes for 100 questions. PwBD/PWD candidates who are eligible for the scribe facility will receive 120 minutes. Questions are objective multiple-choice questions with four options, of which one option is correct.

There is negative marking of one-third of the marks allotted to the question for every wrong answer. The section-wise distribution is indicative and may vary in the actual question paper.

Minimum Qualifying Marks

Category	Minimum Qualifying Marks
UR / EWS	40%
OBC (NCL) / SC	30%
ST	25%
PwBD	Applicable community qualifying percentage; may be relaxed by 2 marks in case of shortage against PwBD reserved vacancies

These minimum qualifying requirements are used for shortlisting along with merit in the CBT.

RRB Paramedical Syllabus 2026

The CBT includes Professional Ability, General Awareness, General Arithmetic, General Intelligence & Reasoning and General Science. The professional syllabus differs according to the post.

Professional Ability Syllabus

Post	Main Topics
Nursing Superintendent	Anatomy, Physiology, Nutrition, Biochemistry, Nursing Foundations, Psychology, Microbiology, Sociology, Pharmacology, Pathology, Genetics, Medical-Surgical Nursing, Community Health Nursing, Child Health Nursing, Mental Health Nursing, Midwifery and Obstetrical Nursing, Nursing Research & Statistics, Management of Nursing Services and Education.
Dialysis Technician	Anatomy, Biochemistry & Pharmacology, Physiology, Introduction to Kidney Diseases, Principles and Practice of Dialysis.
Health & Malaria Inspector Grade II	Food & Nutrition, Environmental Sanitation and Sanitary Engineering, Communicable and Non-Communicable Diseases (Prevention and Control), Health and Death Statistics.
Audiologist & Speech Therapist	Speech and Language Development & Disorders, Anatomy & Physiology related to Speech & Hearing, Diagnostic & Rehabilitation Audiology, Psychology, Acoustic, Pathology of Hearing, Phonetics and Phonology, Speech Language Diagnostics and Therapeutics, Paediatric Audiology, Hearing Conservation, Aural Rehabilitation and related topics.
Pharmacist (Entry Grade)	Human Anatomy and Physiology, Pharmaceutical Analysis, Pharmaceutics, Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Biochemistry, Pathophysiology, Pharmacology, Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry, Pharmacy Practice, Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Quality Assurance, Pharmacovigilance, Regulatory Science and other pharmacy-related subjects listed in Annexure C.
Radiographer X-Ray Technician	Human Anatomy & Physiology, Radiology Physics, General Physics, Radiation Physics, X-Ray Machines & Accessories, Image Processing, Clinical Radiography, Medical Ethics and Patient Care, Imaging Modalities, Contrast & Special Radiography, Quality Control and Radiation Safety.
ECG Technician	Anatomy, Physiology, Biochemistry, Pharmacology, Introduction to Cardiovascular Diseases, Basic Cardiovascular Investigations and Advanced Cardiovascular Investigations.
Optometrist	Physical and Geometrical Optics, Anatomy and Physiology, Ocular Anatomy and Physiology, Biochemistry, Nutrition, Optometric Optics, Ocular Diseases, Visual Optics, Pharmacology, Pathology, Optometric Instruments, Clinical Examination, Binocular Vision, Glaucoma, Low Vision Aids, Contact Lens and related topics.
Laboratory Assistant Grade II	Anatomy, Physiology, Biochemistry, Fundamentals of Medical Laboratory Technology, Microbiology, Clinical Biochemistry, Pathology & Histopathology, Haematology and Blood Banking.

The complete professional syllabus is provided in Annexure C of CEN 05/2026.

Common Syllabus for All Posts

General Arithmetic: Number Systems, BODMAS, Decimals, Fractions, LCM and HCF, Ratio and Proportion, Percentages, Mensuration, Time and Work, Time and Distance, Simple and Compound Interest, Profit and Loss, Algebra, Geometry, Trigonometry, Elementary Statistics, Square Root, Age Calculations, Calendar & Clock and Pipes & Cistern.

General Intelligence & Reasoning: Analogies, Alphabetical and Number Series, Coding and Decoding, Mathematical Operations, Relationships, Syllogism, Jumbling, Venn Diagram, Data Interpretation and Sufficiency, Conclusions and Decision Making, Similarities and Differences, Analytical Reasoning, Classification, Directions, Statement-Arguments and Assumptions.

General Awareness: Current Affairs, Indian Geography, Culture and History of India including the Freedom Struggle, Indian Polity and Constitution, Indian Economy, Environmental Issues, Sports and General Scientific and Technological Developments.

General Science: Physics, Chemistry and Life Sciences up to the 10th Standard CBSE syllabus.

RRB Paramedical Application Fee 2026

Category / Community	Application Fee	Refund on Appearing in CBT
All candidates	₹500	₹400, after deduction of applicable bank charges
SC, ST, Ex-Servicemen, PwBD, Female, Transgender, Minorities and EBC	₹250	₹250, after deduction of applicable bank charges

The examination fee must be paid online through internet banking, debit/credit card or UPI. Candidates belonging to the concessional categories should carefully check the documentary requirements applicable to their category.

Important: EBC, EWS and OBC are three distinct categories. Under this notification, EBC status provides fee concession and does not provide job reservation on that ground.

Fee Refund

Only candidates who appear in the CBT are eligible for the applicable examination-fee refund. The refund is credited to an Aadhaar-seeded bank account as per the procedure in the notification. No refund is admissible for rejected applications or applications that are incomplete or not submitted.

RRB Paramedical Important Dates 2026

Event	Date
Indicative Notice in Employment News	12 September 2026
Online Application Starts	15 September 2026
Last Date for Online Application	14 October 2026, 23:59 hours
Last Date for Application Fee Payment	16 October 2026
Application Modification Window	17 October 2026 to 26 October 2026
Scribe Details Submission Window	27 October 2026 to 31 October 2026
CBT Date	Not specified in the official notification
Result Date	Not specified in the official notification

The notification states that CBT and other recruitment notices will be communicated from time to time through the official RRB website.

How to Apply for RRB Paramedical Recruitment 2026

1. Visit the official RRB website.
2. Read CEN 05/2026 and the relevant post parameters carefully.
3. Create an account using the facility provided for the CEN. Candidates who already created an account during earlier RRB CENs should use the same credentials.
4. Use an active personal mobile number and email ID because OTPs and recruitment communications will be sent through these channels.
5. Authenticate identity through DigiLocker or Aadhaar as advised in the notification.
6. Select one RRB and provide preferences for the eligible posts and Railway Zones/Units.
7. Fill in the application form with accurate personal, educational and other required information.
8. Choose the examination language from the available options.
9. Complete the live photograph capture as instructed by the application module.
10. Upload the required signature and, where applicable, the SC/ST certificate for free train travel.
11. Submit the application and pay the applicable examination fee online.
12. Save the application details, registration number and payment confirmation for future use.

Candidates should use only the application link provided through the official RRB website. The notification specifically warns candidates against unauthorized websites.

Important Instructions for Candidates

• A candidate can submit only one online application against CEN 05/2026.
• Multiple applications to the same or different RRBs can lead to rejection and debarment.
• Candidates can choose only one RRB.
• Post and Railway Zone preferences should be entered carefully because options once exercised are final, subject to the conditions in the notification.
• Details entered in the Create an Account form, including mobile number and email ID, cannot be changed later.
• The chosen RRB cannot be changed during the modification window.
• The application modification window is from 17 October 2026 to 26 October 2026.
• A modification fee of ₹250 is payable for each modification occasion.
• All candidates must ensure that their educational/technical/professional qualification is available by 14 October 2026.
• Candidates awaiting final results of the prescribed qualification should not apply.
• The CBT centre, date and shift allotted to a candidate cannot be changed on request.
• Mobile phones, calculators and other prohibited electronic gadgets are not permitted inside the examination premises.
• Candidates must keep their registered mobile number and email ID active throughout the recruitment process.
• Original documents must be produced during Document Verification.
• Medical fitness is mandatory for appointment.

The notification also states that the candidature remains provisional until the prescribed eligibility and documents are verified.

Reservation and Category Certificates

The notification provides vertical reservation for EWS, SC, ST and OBC-NCL, wherever applicable and admissible. Candidates claiming reservation must produce the relevant certificates in the prescribed format during Document Verification.

OBC candidates claiming reservation must possess an OBC-NCL certificate issued on or after 1 April 2026 and not later than the closing date of the online application. The candidate’s caste must be included in the current Central List of OBCs.

EWS eligibility is based on the conditions specified in the notification, including the prescribed family-income and asset criteria for the relevant financial year.

RRB Paramedical Recruitment 2026: Important Links

Purpose	Link
RRB Apply Online	Apply Link
RRB Official Notification PDF	Download Notification PDF
Official RRB Website	Click Here

Note: The notification directs candidates to the unified RRB website for the application link and recruitment updates. The official RRB website is https://rrb.indianrailways.gov.in/. The notification also refers to the RRB application portal at rrbapply.gov.in.

FAQs – RRB Paramedical Recruitment 2026

How many vacancies are available in RRB Paramedical Recruitment 2026?

A total of 590 vacancies are notified under CEN 05/2026 for nine paramedical categories.

What is the last date to apply for RRB Paramedical Recruitment 2026?

The last date for submitting the online application is 14 October 2026 up to 23:59 hours.

When does the online application process start?

The online application process starts on 15 September 2026.

What is the last date for payment of the application fee?

The last date for payment of the application fee for submitted applications is 16 October 2026.

What is the age limit for RRB Paramedical posts?

The age limit depends on the post. The prescribed minimum ages range from 18 to 21 years and the upper age limits range from 30 to 40 years, calculated as on 1 January 2027.

What is the application fee?

The fee is ₹500 for all candidates, with ₹400 refundable after appearing in CBT, subject to applicable bank charges. The fee is ₹250 for SC, ST, Ex-Servicemen, PwBD, Female, Transgender, Minority and EBC candidates, with ₹250 refundable after appearing in CBT, subject to applicable bank charges.

What is the selection process?

The recruitment process consists of a Computer Based Test, Document Verification and the prescribed Medical Examination.

Is there negative marking in the RRB Paramedical CBT?

Yes. One-third of the marks allotted to a question will be deducted for each wrong answer.

How many questions are asked in the CBT?

The Single Stage CBT contains 100 objective questions carrying 100 marks. The examination duration is 90 minutes, while eligible PwBD/PWD candidates using the scribe facility receive 120 minutes.

What educational qualification is required?

The qualification differs according to the post and includes nursing, pharmacy, radiography, laboratory technology, optometry, audiology, dialysis and other specified paramedical qualifications. Candidates must check the post-specific qualification in Annexure A before applying.

Can candidates awaiting their final result apply?

No. Candidates must already possess the prescribed educational, technical or professional qualification by the closing date of the online application. Candidates awaiting final results are not eligible.

Can a candidate apply for more than one RRB?

No. Candidates can choose only one RRB. Multiple applications to different RRBs or multiple applications to the same RRB can lead to rejection and debarment.

When will the RRB Paramedical CBT be conducted?

The CBT date has not been specified in the notification. The RRB will communicate the CBT schedule and other notices through the official RRB website.

Conclusion

RRB CEN 05/2026 provides recruitment for 590 paramedical vacancies across nine posts. Candidates should check their post-specific educational qualification, age limit and medical standard before submitting the application. Since the application details, chosen RRB and eligibility information are important throughout the recruitment process, applicants should enter all information carefully and keep their registered contact details active.

Candidates should rely on the official RRB website for subsequent notices, CBT schedules, e-call letters, amendments and other recruitment updates. The RRB notification also cautions candidates against fake websites, agents and job racketeers claiming to provide railway appointments.