RRB JE (Junior Engineer, DMS, CMA), CEN 04/2026
What does the RRB Junior Engineer recruitment cover, who can apply, how do CBT-1 and CBT-2 work, which exam group will I write, and when is the exam?
The Railway Recruitment Boards fill Junior Engineer (JE), Depot Material Superintendent (DMS) and Chemical & Metallurgical Assistant (CMA) posts through one centralised notice. CEN 04/2026 notified 3,993 posts, and Corrigendum 1 of 18 August 2026 added the CMA posts and one more JE post, which takes the total to 4,029. A JE post needs a three-year engineering diploma in a matching branch (a B.E. or B.Tech in the same branch also counts), DMS takes a diploma in any engineering branch, and CMA needs a B.Sc with Physics and Chemistry. Selection runs through two computer-based tests, document verification and a medical exam. Applications closed on 13 September 2026, and CBT-1 was held on 27 and 28 October 2026.
This page may be out of date. It was due for a re-check on 30 June 2027. Confirm every rule with the official source before acting on it.
Applications closed on 13 September 2026. CBT-1 was held on 27 and 28 October 2026, with the postponed Andhra Pradesh centres on 2 November 2026; CBT-2 and document verification dates will follow on the RRB websites.
Exam at a glance
- Conducted by
- Railway Recruitment Boards (RRBs), Ministry of Railways; you apply to one RRB only[1]
- Posts
- 4,029 posts across all RRBs: 3,993 in the CEN plus 35 CMA posts and 1 JE (Electrical/TRS) post added by Corrigendum 1. The zone-wise numbers may still go up or down.[2]
- Pay
- Level 6 of the 7th CPC pay matrix, initial pay Rs 35,400, for JE, DMS and CMA alike[1]
- Education
- JE: three-year diploma in engineering in the branch mapped to the post (B.E./B.Tech in the same branch accepted instead). DMS: three-year diploma in any engineering branch. CMA: B.Sc with Physics and Chemistry, at least 45% marks.[1]
- Age limit
- 18 to 33 years on 1 January 2027, so UR and EWS candidates born from 2 January 1994 to 1 January 2009; OBC (NCL) from 2 January 1991, SC and ST from 2 January 1989[1]
- Selection
- CBT-1 (screening only), CBT-2 (decides merit), document verification and medical exam[1]
- CBT-1 dates
- 27 and 28 October 2026. Candidates from the four postponed Andhra Pradesh centres sit on 2 November 2026.[3]
CBT-1: 100 questions by section
| Community | Born on or after | Born on or before |
|---|---|---|
| UR and EWS | 2 January 1994 | 1 January 2009 |
| OBC (NCL) | 2 January 1991 | 1 January 2009 |
| SC and ST | 2 January 1989 | 1 January 2009 |
The base band is 18 to 33 on 1 January 2027. If you qualify for relaxation on more than one ground, you get the largest one, not the total. SC, ST and OBC (NCL) candidates applying against UR vacancies get no age relaxation. Ex-servicemen, PwBD candidates, serving railway staff and widowed or divorced women have their own limits in para 5.2.[1]
| Stage | What it is | What you need |
|---|---|---|
| CBT-1 | 90 minutes, 100 questions: mathematics 30, general intelligence and reasoning 25, general awareness 15, general science 30. One third of a mark off for each wrong answer. | UR and EWS 40%, OBC (NCL) and SC 30%, ST 25%. Marks only shortlist you for CBT-2. |
| CBT-2 | 120 minutes, 150 questions: 100 on the technical side of your exam group, plus general awareness, physics and chemistry, computers, and environment and pollution control. Same negative marking; a calculator appears on screen. | Same pass marks as CBT-1. These marks decide who goes to document verification. |
| Document verification | Original certificates checked against your application | Candidates equal to the number of vacancies are called, by CBT-2 merit and your choices |
| Medical exam | The medical standard of the post you opted for (A-3, B-1, B-2 or C-1) | If you fail it, no other post is offered |
About 15 times the community-wise vacancies of each RRB go from CBT-1 to CBT-2. The question split in each CBT is indicative and may vary in the actual paper.[1]
CEN 04/2026 lists Junior Engineer posts in the electrical, engineering (bridge, track, P. Way, works) and mechanical (carriage and wagon, diesel shed, workshop) departments, including design and research posts. Depot Material Superintendent posts are part of the same notice, and Corrigendum 1 added Chemical & Metallurgical Assistant posts in the mechanical department. All three are at Level 6 with an initial pay of Rs 35,400.
You choose one RRB when you apply and rank the zones and posts under it. If you leave a post out, the RRB treats that as a no. Once you are empanelled for one choice, you lose the claim to your next preference.[1]
Most of CBT-2 is a technical paper, and your qualification decides which one you get. Mechanical, production, automobile, manufacturing, mechatronics, industrial and tool-making branches write Mechanical and Allied. Electrical writes Electrical and Allied. Electronics, instrumentation, communication, computer engineering, computer science and IT write Electronics and Allied. Civil, and the three-year B.Sc in Civil Engineering, write Civil and Allied. CMA candidates write a separate physics and chemistry paper.
Because people from different groups compete for the same posts, the RRBs convert CBT-2 marks into a Merit Index before ranking. It places your score between the general qualifying mark and the average of the top scorers in your own paper, so a hard paper in one group does not pull you down against another group.
If you hold qualifications from two groups, you can pick either, as long as the posts you opt for match the group you pick. DMS candidates whose diploma is not in the mapping table choose any group other than CMA.[1]
CBT-1 is common to every post. Mathematics runs from number systems, percentages and ratio to mensuration, trigonometry and elementary statistics. Reasoning covers analogies, series, coding, syllogism, Venn diagrams and data sufficiency. General science is physics, chemistry and life sciences up to CBSE Class 10.
In CBT-2, the common part is general awareness, Class 10 physics and chemistry, computer basics (hardware, operating systems, MS Office, internet) and environment and pollution control. The remaining 100 questions follow the syllabus for your exam group in Annexures VIII (A) to (D) of the CEN, with the CMA syllabus in Annexure VIII (E) of Corrigendum 1.[1]
Tips and tricks
- Start on your exam-group syllabus early. The technical paper is 100 of the 150 questions in CBT-2, and CBT-2 is what decides the merit list.[1]
- CBT-2 puts a virtual calculator on the screen. Practise your calculations on an on-screen calculator beforehand, so you are not learning its layout during the paper.[1]
- Keep your diploma or degree certificate with its date of issue ready for document verification. If it was issued after 13 September 2026, bring the mark sheets showing the result date.[1]
- Leave a question blank when you are guessing blind. A wrong answer costs a third of a mark; a blank costs nothing.[1]
Questions people ask
What is the age limit for RRB JE 2026?
18 to 33 years on 1 January 2027, so UR and EWS candidates born from 2 January 1994 to 1 January 2009 could apply. OBC (NCL) gets 3 more years and SC and ST 5 more years.[1]
Can a B.Tech graduate apply for RRB JE?
Yes. The CEN accepts a B.E. or B.Tech in place of the three-year diploma, as long as it is in the same branch the post asks for.[1]
How many vacancies are there in RRB JE 2026?
4,029 across all RRBs. The CEN listed 3,993, and Corrigendum 1 of 18 August 2026 added 35 Chemical & Metallurgical Assistant posts and one JE (Electrical/TRS) post at RRB Secunderabad.[2]
Do CBT-1 marks count in the final RRB JE merit?
No. CBT-1 only shortlists candidates for CBT-2, at about 15 times the vacancies. Document verification calls go by CBT-2 marks, converted to a Merit Index.[1]
Is there negative marking in RRB JE?
Yes, in both CBTs: one third of a mark is cut for each wrong answer.[1]
When was the RRB JE CBT-1 held?
On 27 and 28 October 2026. The 28 October exam at four Andhra Pradesh centres was postponed because of a cyclone and moved to 2 November 2026 for those candidates.[3]
Connected pages
- Related · PathwayPolytechnic diploma after Class 10AICTE's rules for a 3-year engineering diploma straight after Class 10, the exit certificates along the way, and lateral entry into the second year of B.Tech.
- Related · DegreeB.Tech / B.E.How long a B.Tech takes, the Class 12 subjects and marks NITs ask for, which entrance exam gets you in, and where the degree leads. Sourced from NTA and AICTE.
- Related · ExamRRB ALP (Assistant Loco Pilot), CEN 01/2026RRB ALP (CEN 01/2026): 11,127 Level 2 posts for ITI or diploma holders aged 18 to 30, two CBTs, the aptitude test (CBAT) and the A-1 eyesight rule.
- Related · ExamRRB Section Controller 2026RRB Section Controller (CEN 03/2026): 119 Level 6 posts for graduates aged 20 to 33, the CBT, the aptitude test (CBAT), the A-2 eyesight rule and seats by RRB.
- Related · ExamSSC JE 2026 (Junior Engineer Examination)SSC Junior Engineer 2026: 1,699 tentative posts, the 30 or 32 age limit, Paper-I on 2-6 Nov and 30 Nov-1 Dec, and why only Paper-II sets your rank.
- Related · ExamRRB Paramedical Categories, CEN 05/2026RRB Paramedical (CEN 05/2026): 590 posts in 9 categories, from Nursing Superintendent to Lab Assistant, the age band and qualification for each, and the CBT.
- Related · ExamRRB Technician (Grade I Signal and Grade III), CEN 02/2026RRB Technician (CEN 02/2026): 7,325 posts, Grade I Signal for B.Sc or diploma holders and Grade III for ITI holders, ages, the CBT and selection.
Official and partner links
- Official bodyRailway Recruitment Boards (official website)
Sources
- Detailed Centralised Employment Notice CEN No. 04/2026, Recruitment for various posts of Junior Engineer and Depot Material Superintendent, Railway Recruitment Boards, Ministry of Railways. important dates and post table (p4), paras 3.0, 5.0-7.0 (pp8-10), 13.1-13.4 (pp18-22), Annexure A (Higher Qualifications note). Accessed 1 November 2026.
- Corrigendum No. 1 of CEN No. 04/2026 (18.08.2026), Railway Recruitment Boards. Part A items 1-3 (pp1-6), Part B (pp6-7). Accessed 1 November 2026.
- Revised tentative schedule of CBT-I (02.10.2026), notice on postponement of CBT-I at four Andhra Pradesh centres (27.10.2026) and notice on rescheduling of CBT-I (28.10.2026), CEN 04/2026, Railway Recruitment Boards. single page each. Accessed 1 November 2026.
Found an error or a newer rule? Tell us through the corrections page. Updated 1 November 2026.