The Railway Recruitment Board (RRB) on Friday released the official notification for the RRB Group D Recruitment 2026, offering 21,997 vacancies for Level-1 posts across Indian Railways. Eligible candidates can start applying online from January 31 to March 2, 2026, marking one of the year’s biggest government job drives for youth with basic educational qualifications.
Opportunity for 10th Pass and ITI Candidates
The recruitment drive is open to applicants who have passed Class 10 from a recognised board. For certain technical roles, candidates holding ITI certificates will also be eligible, depending on post requirements. The age eligibility is typically between 18 and 33 years, with relaxations as per government norms for reserved categories.
This notification provides a rare and significant opportunity for young Indians seeking stable employment in one of the country’s largest public sector employers. Railways jobs have long been considered respected and secure career options, particularly for students from non-metropolitan areas and aspirants looking to enter public services early in life.
How to Apply Online
Interested candidates must visit the official RRB recruitment portal — rrbapply.gov.in — to register and complete the application form. The process includes entering personal and educational details, uploading required documents and paying the application fee within the deadline. After submission, candidates should download and save a copy of the confirmation for future reference. ([The Times of India][1])
The online application window opens on January 31, 2026, and closes on March 2, 2026, at 11:59 pm. The last date for fee payment is March 4, 2026, while the correction window for application updates is open from March 5 to March 14, 2026.
Selection Process and Exam Details
Candidates will be selected through a multi-stage process, beginning with a Computer Based Test (CBT), followed by Physical Efficiency Test (PET), document verification and a medical examination. The detailed exam pattern, syllabus and city-wise vacancy breakup are expected to be released soon on the official RRB websites.
Impact and Anticipation
With thousands of vacancies on offer, the RRB Group D recruitment drive is expected to attract millions of applications nationwide. Job seekers and coaching institutes have welcomed the announcement, noting that such large-scale opportunities can provide a boost to employment among young graduates and skilled technicians alike.
Railways’ proactive release of the notification and clear timelines reflects the government’s focus on expanding public sector recruitment and continuing stable job creation in 2026.
