Recruitment at a glance

Railway Recruitment Boards across India have released Centralised Employment Notification CEN No. 05/2026 to fill paramedical positions in railway hospitals and health units. Applications are accepted online only; offline forms will not be considered.

Most of the openings are for Nursing Superintendent (365 posts) and Pharmacist (118 posts), which makes this a strong opportunity for GNM, B.Sc Nursing and B.Pharm candidates.

Important dates

Age and eligibility are counted as on 1 January 2027.

Post-wise vacancies, pay, age and qualification

Minimum qualification (summary)

• Nursing Superintendent: 3-year GNM (Registered Nurse & Midwife) or B.Sc Nursing.
• Pharmacist: B.Pharm or Pharm.D, registered under the Pharmacy Act, 1948.
• Health & Malaria Inspector Grade II: B.Sc (Chemistry) plus a 1-year Health/Sanitary Inspector diploma or NTC.
• Lab Assistant Grade II: 12th (Science) with at least a 1-year diploma or certificate in Medical Laboratory Technology, or B.Sc MLT.
• Radiographer X-Ray Technician: 12th (PCM/PCB) with a 2-year diploma in Radiography/X-Ray Technology, or an equivalent B.Sc.
• ECG Technician: 12th or a science degree, plus a certificate or diploma in ECG/Cardiology Technology.
• Optometrist: B.Sc Optometry or a 3–4 year Ophthalmic Technician diploma, registered with the relevant council.
• Dialysis Technician: B.Sc with a diploma in Haemodialysis, or 2 years of experience/in-house training.
• Audiologist & Speech Therapist: BASLP, registered with the Rehabilitation Council of India.

RRB-wise vacancies

You can apply to only one RRB. The largest numbers are at Kolkata (98), Secunderabad (71), Chennai (65) and Mumbai (61).

The category-wise split (UR/SC/ST/OBC/EWS/PwBD) for each RRB is available in the annexure of the official notification.

Age limit and relaxation

Age is calculated as on 1 January 2027, and the limit ranges from 18 to 40 years depending on the post (see the table above). Relaxation follows central government rules:

Exam fee and refund

The fee can be paid online only, through net banking, debit/credit card or UPI. Refunds go only to candidates who actually sit the CBT, and are credited to an Aadhaar-linked bank account. A correction in the application costs a further ₹250.

Reservation, ex-servicemen and PwBD candidates

• Vertical reservation: posts are reserved for SC, ST, OBC-NCL and EWS candidates as per government rules. A valid certificate in the prescribed format is required to claim the benefit.
• Ex-servicemen: age relaxation and reservation apply as per the rules. A discharge or employment certificate must be produced at document verification.
• Persons with Benchmark Disabilities: apply only for posts identified as suitable for your type of disability. A disability certificate and UDID may be needed.
• Scribe facility: eligible candidates can take a scribe and get 120 minutes. Scribe details must be filled between 27 and 31 October 2026.
• NOC: candidates already working in government or a public-sector undertaking must provide a No Objection Certificate from their employer.

Selection process and exam pattern

Selection has four stages: a Computer Based Test (CBT), document verification (DV), a medical examination and finally empanelment. The CBT is a single-stage exam.

• Duration is 90 minutes (120 minutes for PwBD candidates eligible for a scribe).
• Questions are multiple choice, and every wrong answer costs 1/3 mark.
• Minimum qualifying marks: 40% for UR/EWS, 30% for OBC-NCL and SC, 25% for ST. PwBD candidates may get a 2-mark relaxation if vacancies remain unfilled.
• Within each RRB, as many candidates as there are vacancies (1:1) are called for DV based on CBT merit.
• A candidate declared medically unfit is not offered any alternative post.
• The CBT can be taken in English, Hindi or one of 13 regional languages.

How to apply online

1. Open the railway application portal rrbapply.gov.in and choose the CEN 05/2026 link.
2. Complete "Create an Account", or sign in with the ID you made for an earlier RRB recruitment. Use your own mobile number and email, since these cannot be changed later.
3. Verify your identity through DigiLocker or Aadhaar. It is optional but makes later stages smoother.
4. Select one RRB only and enter your preferred order of posts or railway zones within it.
5. Take a live photograph using a webcam or phone camera. Existing photos cannot be uploaded.
6. Upload your signature as JPG/JPEG (30 to 49 KB). If you need the SC/ST free travel pass, upload the certificate as a PDF under 400 KB.
7. Choose the language for the CBT.
8. Pay the fee online and submit the application. Save a copy of the confirmation page.

Documents needed at verification

• 10th certificate or marksheet, as proof of name and date of birth.
• Educational, technical and registration certificates for the post you applied for.
• SC/ST/OBC-NCL/EWS certificate in the prescribed format, if you claim reservation.
• EBC or minority certificate, if you claim the fee concession.
• Disability certificate and UDID, where applicable.
• Discharge certificate for ex-servicemen.
• Aadhaar card, for identity and refund linkage.
• NOC from your present employer if you work in a government department or PSU.
• Two sets of self-attested photocopies of all original documents.

Key rules and cautions

• Vacancies are provisional and may go up, down or become nil depending on railway requirements.
• Only SC/ST candidates (if they opt for it) get a free sleeper-class travel pass for the CBT, DV and medical stages.
• E-call letter details will appear on the RRB website. Mobile phones, calculators, watches and similar items are not allowed at the exam centre.
• False information, impersonation or unfair means can lead to lifetime debarment and legal action.
• The RRB only recommends candidates. The appointment letter comes from the zonal railway, so selection alone is not a right to a job.
• Transfer requests after the first posting are normally not entertained for 5 to 10 years.