RRB Group D Eligibility Criteria 2026: The Railway Recruitment Boards (RRBs) released the official notification for RRB Group D 2026 (CEN 09/2025) on 30th January 2026, announcing 22,195 Level-1 vacancies across various railway zones. The posts include Track Maintainer Grade IV, Pointsman, Assistant (Works), and other technical roles in the Engineering, Electrical, Mechanical, and S&T departments.
As per the eligibility criteria, candidates must have passed Class 10 or possess an ITI certificate (where applicable) and be between 18 and 33 years of age. The online application process started on 31st January 2026, and the last date to apply online is today on 9th March 2026 (11:59 PM).
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RRB Group D Eligibility Overview
For those aspiring to join the Indian Railways, it is crucial to understand the key requirements. Below, we present the essential highlights of the eligibility criteria to help you navigate through the application process with clarity and confidence.
| RRB Group D Eligibility Overview |
| Particulars |
Eligibility Criteria |
| Name of the Exam |
RRB Group D |
| Conducting Body |
Railway Recruitment Board (RRB) |
| Age Limit |
18 to 36 years |
| Nationality |
Indian |
| Exam Level |
National |
| Minimum Required Qualification |
Class 10 or ITI or National Apprenticeship Certificate (NAC) granted by NCVT |
| Experience |
Not mandatory |
| Number of Attempts |
Not Fixed |
RRB Group D Trade Notice
The Railway Recruitment Board has outlined key eligibility criteria for trade certificate holders in the recent notification:
- CCAAs trained in any trade at Railway establishments are eligible.
- Only candidates with a National Apprenticeship Certificate (NAC) issued by NCVT can apply.
- Certificates from other institutions will not be accepted.
- Eligible CCAAs must accurately enter their training duration, certificate details, and marks in the online application.
- Candidates who have taken the NCVT exam but haven't received results should enter their last exam date in the application.
This ensures that only properly trained apprentices with valid NCVT certification can apply.
RRB Group D Age Limit 2026
RRB Group D Eligibility Criteria include the important factor of RRB Group D age limit. Prospective candidates must meet this age requirement to be eligible for the examination. As per the RRB Group D notification , applicants need to fall within a specified age range determined by the RRB. Below are the details of the age limit prescribed for the RRB Group D exam:
| RRB Group D Age Limit 2026 |
| Age Group |
Upper limit of Date of Birth (Not Earlier Than) |
Lower Limit of Date of Birth |
| 18 to 36 years |
UR/EWS |
OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) |
SC/ST |
For all communities/ categories |
| 02.01.1989 |
02.01.1986 |
02.01.1984 |
01.01.2007 |
RRB Group D Age Relaxation
Read below to gain knowledge on age relaxation for the RRB Group D exam with respect to the RRB Group D age limit. RRB provides age relaxation for candidates belonging to reserved categories in the Group D recruitment. Below is the table displaying the age relaxation criteria for reserved categories in the RRB Group D 2026 examination:
| RRB Group D Age Relaxation |
| Category |
Upper Age Limit |
| SC/ST candidates |
5 Years |
| OBC Non-Creamy Layer candidates |
3 Years |
| Ex-Servicemen candidates who have put in more than 6 months of service after attestation |
Up to the extent of service rendered in Defence plus 3 years |
| Persons with Disabilities (PWD) UR |
10 Years |
| PWD OBC Non-Creamy Layer |
13 Years |
| PWD SC/ST |
15 Years |
| Candidates have ordinarily been domiciled in the State of Jammu & Kashmir during the period from 01.01.1980 to 31.12.1989 |
5 Years |
| Candidates who are serving Group 'C' and Erstwhile Group 'D' Railway Staff, Casual Labour and Substitutes in Railways who have put in a minimum of 3 years’ service (continuous or in broken spells) of UR Category |
40 years of Age |
| Candidates who are serving Group 'C' and Erstwhile Group 'D' Railway Staff, Casual Labour and Substitutes in Railways who have put in a minimum of 3 years’ service (continuous or in broken spells) of OBC-NCL (Non-Creamy Layer) Category |
43 years of Age |
| Candidates who are serving Group 'C' and Erstwhile Group 'D' Railway Staff, Casual Labour and Substitutes in Railways who have put in a minimum of 3 years’ service (continuous or in broken spells) of SC/ST Category |
45 years of age |
| Candidates who are working in Quasi-Administrative offices of the Railway organization such as Railway Canteens, Co-operative Societies and Institutes |
Up to the length of service rendered (or) 5 Years, whichever is lower. |
| Women candidates, who are widowed, divorced or judicially separated from their husband but not remarried of UR Category |
35 years of age |
| Women candidates, who are widowed, divorced or judicially separated from husband but not remarried of OBC-NCL (Non-Creamy Layer) Category |
38 years of age |
| Women candidates, who are widowed, divorced or judicially separated from husband but not remarried of SC/ST Category |
40 years of age |
| Course Completed Act Apprentices applying for the posts for which minimum qualification is ITI/Course Completed Act Apprenticeship. |
Shall be relaxed to the extent of Apprentice Training undergone by them under the Apprentice Act 1961. |
| Candidates who are Course Completed Act Apprentice under the Apprenticeship Act before attaining the age of 25 years of UR Category |
35 years of age |
| Candidates who are Course Completed Act Apprentice under the Apprenticeship Act before attaining the age of 25 years of OBC-NCL (Non-Creamy Layer) Category |
38 years of age |
| Candidates who are Course Completed Act Apprentice under the Apprenticeship Act before attaining the age of 25 years of SC/ST Category |
40 years of age |
RRB Group D Educational Qualification
RRB Group D Educational Qualification to apply for RRB Group D Recruitment 2026 is as follows:
- 10th pass or
- ITI or equivalent or
- National Apprenticeship Certificate (NAC) granted by NCVT
RRB Group D Nationality Criteria
The RRB Group D exam eligibility criteria comprises various essential aspects that candidates must meet to be considered for this national-level examination. One of the key factors is the candidate's nationality, which holds utmost significance in this selection process. To be eligible for the RRB Group D exam, the candidates must fall under one of the following categories with respect to nationality:
- Indian Citizens
- Subjects of Nepal/Bhutan
- Tibetan Refugees
- Migrants from Specific Countries: Individuals who have permanently migrated to India from countries such as Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Burma, and East African Countries are permitted to appear for the RRB Group D exam.
RRB Group D Experience Required
Unlike other competitive examinations, the RRB Group D exam does not impose any requirements regarding previous work experience. This means that candidates are not obligated to possess any specific work background to be eligible for the examination. As long as candidates fulfill these requirements and successfully clear the written test, as well as the physical and medical standards, they stand a chance to be recruited under RRB for the Group D positions.
RRB Group D Attempts Allowed
In regards to the RRB Group D eligibility criteria, there are no explicit restrictions mentioned regarding the number of attempts a candidate can make. As per the guidelines set by the RRB, candidates are required to meet certain eligibility criteria and fall within the prescribed age limit to be considered eligible for the examination.
RRB Group D Physical Eligibility
In order to be eligible for the RRB Group D examination, candidates must participate in the Physical Efficiency Test (PET). To progress in the subsequent stages of the selection process, candidates need to meet the specified physical standards set by the authorities. It's worth noting that these physical standards vary based on the gender of the candidates, with separate criteria for males and females. Therefore, meeting the RRB Group D physical eligibility requirements is important for candidates aiming to qualify for the examination.
| RRB Group D Physical Eligibility |
| Male candidates |
Female candidates should |
| Should be able to lift and carry 35 Kg of weight for a distance of 100 metres in 2 minutes in one chance without putting the weight down ; Should be able to run for a distance of 1000 metres in 4 minutes and 15 seconds in one chance. |
Should be able to lift and carry 20 Kg of weight for a distance of 100 metres in 2 minutes in one chance without putting the weight down; Should be able to run for a distance of 1000 metres in 5 minutes and 40 seconds in one chance. |
|
PWD
|
|
Persons with Disabilities are exempted from appearing in PET.
After qualifying in the CBT, such candidates will have to pass the medical examination prescribed for Persons with Disabilities.
|
RRB Group D Medical Eligibility
The RRB Group D examination mandates certain medical requirements for candidates. These include assessing their Vision Acuity and providing a relevant certificate. Below is the table presenting the necessary medical standards for RRB Group D aspirants.
| RRB Group D Medical Standards |
| Medical Standard |
General Fitness |
Visual Acuity |
| A-2 |
Physically fit in all respects |
Distant Vision: 6/9, 6/9 without glasses(No fogging test) Near Vision: Sn. 0.6, 0.6 without glasses and Must pass tests for Colour Vision, Binocular Vision, Night Vision, Mesopic vision etc. |
| A-3 |
Physically fit in all respects |
Distant Vision: 6/9, 6/9 with or without glasses (power of lenses not to exceed 2D). Near Vision: Sn: 0.6, 0.6 with or without glasses and Must pass the test for Colour Vision, Binocular Vision, Night Vision, Myopic vision etc. |
| B-1 |
Physically fit in all respects |
Distant Vision: 6/9, 6/12 with or without glasses (power of lenses not to exceed 4D), Near Vision: Sn. 0.6, 0.6 with or without glasses when reading or close work is required and Must pass tests for Colour Vision, Binocular Vision, Night Vision, Mesopic vision etc. |
| B-2 |
Physically fit in all respects |
Distant Vision: 6/9, 6/12 with or without glasses (power of lenses not to exceed 4D). Near Vision: Sn. 0.6, 0.6 with or without glasses when reading or close work is required and must pass tests for Binocular Vision etc. |
| C -1 |
Physically fit in all respects |
Distant Vision: 6/12, 6/18 with or without glasses. Near Vision: Sn. 0.6, 0.6 with or without glasses when reading or close work is required. |
| C-2 |
Physically fit in all respects |
Distant Vision: 6/12, Nil with or without glasses. Near Vision: Sn. 0.6 combined with or without glasses where reading or close work is required. |
RRB Group D Documents Required 2026
Candidates appearing for the RRB Group D exam must provide specific documents for eligibility verification. The following documents are required for verification purposes for the RRB Group D 2026 exam: 1. SCVT/NCVT Certificates 2. Photocopy of Aadhar Card 3. Income Certificate (of the family) 4. OBC-NCL Certificate 5. Certification by Transgender Candidates 6. Decree of divorce/Judicial Separation 7. Class 10th Certificate 8. Non-Creamy Layer declaration 9. Medical Certificate for PwD 10. J & K domicile Certificate (if applicable), etc.
RRB Group D Post Parameters
Candidates must meet the following post-specific requirements in addition to the RRB Group eligibility requirements listed above to be considered for the Group D positions:
| RRB Group D Post Parameters |
| Designation |
Dept |
Medical Standard |
Suitability for persons with Benchmark Disability |
| VI |
HI |
LD |
MD |
| Assistant (workshop) |
Mechanical |
C1 |
B,LV |
D,HH |
OL,LC,DW,AAV |
YES |
| Assistant bridge |
Engineering |
B1 |
NO |
NO |
NO |
NO |
| Assistant c & w |
Mechanical |
B1 |
NO |
D,HH |
OL,LC,DW,AAV |
YES |
| Assistant depot (store) |
Stores |
C1 |
LV |
HH |
OL,OA |
YES |
| Assistant loco shed (diesel) |
Mechanical |
B1 |
LV |
D,HH |
OL,LC,DW,AAV |
YES |
| Assistant loco shed (electrical) |
Electrical |
B1 |
LV |
D,HH |
OL,LC,DW,AAV |
YES |
| Assistant operations (electrical) |
Electrical |
B1 |
LV |
D,HH |
OL,LC,DW,AAV |
YES |
| Pointsman |
Traffic |
A2 |
NO |
NO |
NO |
NO |
| Assistant signal and telecom |
S and T |
B1 |
LV |
D,HH |
OL,LC,DW,AAV |
YES |
| Assistant track machine |
Engineering |
A3 |
NO |
D,HH |
OL,LC,DW,AAV |
YES |
| Assistant tl and ac |
Electrical |
B1 |
LV |
D,HH |
OL,LC,DW,AAV |
YES |
| Assistant tl and ac (workshop) |
Electrical |
C1 |
B,LV |
D,HH |
OL,LC,DW,AAV |
YES |
| Assistant TRD |
Electrical |
B1 |
NO |
D,HH |
OL,LC,DW,AAV |
YES |
| Assistant Works |
Engineering |
C1 |
B,LV |
D,HH |
OL,LC,DW,AAV |
YES |
| Assistant Works (workshop) |
Engineering |
C1 |
B,LV |
D,HH |
OL,LC,DW,AAV |
YES |
| Hospital Assistant |
Medical |
C1 |
B,LV |
D,HH |
OL,LC,DW,AAV |
YES |
| Track Maintainer Grade IV |
Engineering |
B1 |
NO |
NO |
NO |
NO |
RRB Group D- Reasons for Disqualification or Debarment
The following criteria may lead to disqualification of the online RRB Group D application form 2026:
- Submission of invalid pictures (e.g., black and white photo, wearing a cap, goggles, or having a covered head, disfigured image, etc.).
- Signature in Capital/Disjointed Letters/Block Letters.
- Not possessing the prescribed qualification.
- Submitting multiple applications to various Railways or the same Railway, which will result in the cancellation of all applications and disbarment from all future RRB/RRC exams.
- Failure to provide the correct Date of Birth (DOB).
- Incorrectly filling out the application form.