RRB Paramedical Recruitment 2026 (CEN 05/2026): 590 Railway Posts, Apply Online by 14 October
RRB has opened CEN 05/2026 for 590 paramedical posts including 365 Nursing Superintendent and 118 Pharmacist vacancies. Apply online at rrbapply.gov.in by 14 October 2026. Post-wise vacancies, eligibility, fee, CBT pattern and salary.
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RRB Paramedical Recruitment 2026: Overview
Railway Recruitment Boards (RRBs) have opened applications for Paramedical Categories under CEN 05/2026, with 590 vacancies in Indian Railways health services. Online applications started on 15 September 2026 and close on 14 October 2026.
This is a good opportunity for nursing, pharmacy, laboratory and allied health candidates who want a central government job in the Railways.
| Point | Details |
|---|---|
| Recruitment | Paramedical Categories, CEN 05/2026 |
| Conducting body | Railway Recruitment Boards, Ministry of Railways |
| Total vacancies | 590 |
| Application dates | 15 September to 14 October 2026 |
| Fee last date | 16 October 2026 |
| Correction window | 17 to 26 October 2026 |
| Selection | Single CBT, then document verification and medical |
| Pay level | Level 3 to Level 7 |
| Official website | rrbapply.gov.in |
Post-Wise Vacancies
| Post | Vacancies |
|---|---|
| Nursing Superintendent | 365 |
| Pharmacist (Entry Grade) | 118 |
| Health & Malaria Inspector Grade II | 43 |
| Lab Assistant Grade II | 31 |
| Radiographer / X-Ray Technician | 25 |
| ECG Technician | 4 |
| Optometrist | 2 |
| Dialysis Technician | 1 |
| Audiologist & Speech Therapist | 1 |
| Total | 590 |
Note: a few websites are reporting the total as 560. The post-wise figures above add up to 590. Confirm the final number in the official CEN 05/2026 notification on rrbapply.gov.in.
Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Application starts | 15 September 2026 |
| Last date to apply | 14 October 2026 (23:59 hrs) |
| Last date for fee payment | 16 October 2026 |
| Correction / modification window | 17 to 26 October 2026 |
| CBT exam date | Not announced yet |
The correction window is chargeable at ₹250 per modification, so fill the form carefully the first time.
Eligibility
Qualifications are post-specific. In brief:
- Nursing Superintendent: B.Sc Nursing, or a GNM certificate from a recognised institution with registration as per rules.
- Pharmacist (Entry Grade): 12th with Science and a diploma or degree in Pharmacy, with registration under the Pharmacy Act.
- Health & Malaria Inspector Grade II: graduation with the prescribed science subjects plus the required certificate in sanitation or malaria work.
- Lab Assistant Grade II: 12th with Science plus the prescribed laboratory diploma or certificate.
- Radiographer, ECG Technician, Dialysis Technician, Optometrist, Audiologist: diploma or degree in the relevant discipline.
Read the exact qualification wording for your post in the official CEN before applying, since paramedical eligibility clauses are strict about recognised institutions and council registration.
Age Limit
- Age is calculated as on 1 January 2027.
- The age band varies by post, ranging from 18 to 33 years up to 20 to 40 years.
- Relaxation: SC/ST 5 years, OBC (non-creamy layer) 3 years, PwBD 10 to 15 years, and ex-servicemen as per rules.
Application Fee
| Category | Fee | Refund |
|---|---|---|
| General / OBC | ₹500 | ₹400 refunded on appearing in the CBT |
| SC, ST, Ex-servicemen, PwBD, women, transgender, minority, EBC | ₹250 | Fully refunded on appearing in the CBT |
This refund system is standard in RRB recruitments, the fee is largely returned to candidates who actually sit the exam.
Selection Process
- Computer Based Test (CBT), single stage
- Document Verification
- Medical Examination as per Railway medical standards
CBT Pattern
- 100 questions, 100 marks
- Duration 90 minutes (120 minutes for PwBD candidates eligible for a scribe)
- Negative marking: 1/3 mark for each wrong answer
- Professional Ability carries the largest weight, around 70 marks, with the remaining marks from General Awareness, General Arithmetic, General Intelligence and Reasoning, and General Science
Since professional ability dominates, your subject knowledge matters far more than general studies in this recruitment.
Salary
Posts fall between Level 3 and Level 7 of the 7th CPC pay matrix:
- Lab Assistant Grade II, Level 3, entry basic ₹21,700
- Nursing Superintendent, Level 7, entry basic ₹44,900
- Other posts fall between these two levels depending on the category
Allowances such as DA, HRA and transport allowance are added to the basic pay.
How to Apply
- Go to rrbapply.gov.in and create an account if you do not already have one.
- Complete the registration with your Aadhaar-linked details and a valid mobile number and email.
- Select CEN 05/2026 Paramedical Categories and choose your post preferences and RRB.
- Fill in educational and personal details exactly as in your certificates.
- Upload the photograph and signature in the prescribed format.
- Pay the fee online before 16 October 2026.
- Save the final submitted application PDF.
Points to Remember
- One application per candidate. Multiple applications can lead to rejection.
- Choose your RRB carefully, the exam centre and the vacancy pool depend on it.
- Council registration certificates (Nursing Council, Pharmacy Council) must be valid at the time of document verification.
- Modification during the correction window costs ₹250 each time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. What is the last date for RRB Paramedical 2026? 14 October 2026 up to 23:59 hrs. The fee can be paid until 16 October 2026.
Q2. How many vacancies are there? 590 across nine paramedical posts, with Nursing Superintendent holding the most at 365.
Q3. Is there an interview? No. Selection is through a single CBT, followed by document verification and a medical examination.
Q4. How much of the fee comes back? General and OBC candidates get ₹400 of the ₹500 back after appearing in the CBT. Other categories get the full ₹250 back.
Q5. When is the exam? The CBT date has not been announced. RRBs usually announce it a few weeks in advance, with the city slip about 10 days before and the e-call letter about 4 days before.
Q6. Is there negative marking? Yes, 1/3 mark is deducted for each wrong answer.
Q7. What is the age limit? It varies by post, from 18-33 years up to 20-40 years, calculated as on 1 January 2027, with the usual category relaxations.
Conclusion
RRB Paramedical CEN 05/2026 is one of the few railway recruitments open specifically to nursing and allied health qualifications this year. With a single CBT and no interview, preparation should focus on your professional subject. Applications close on 14 October 2026, apply well before the last day.
Disclaimer: Details are based on CEN 05/2026 information published as of 20 September 2026 and cross-checked across reliable sources. The official notification on rrbapply.gov.in is final, read it before applying.