RRB Paramedical Categories, CEN 05/2026
Which paramedical posts do the RRBs recruit for, what qualification and age does each one need, how does the CBT work, and when is the exam?
The Railway Recruitment Boards fill the railways' paramedical posts through one centralised notice. CEN 05/2026 notified 590 posts in nine categories. The big ones are Nursing Superintendent (365 posts) and Pharmacist (118). The rest are Health & Malaria Inspector, Lab Assistant, Radiographer, ECG Technician, Optometrist, Dialysis Technician and Audiologist & Speech Therapist. Pay runs from Level 3 to Level 7 and the age band changes by post, all counted on 1 January 2027. Each post needs its own professional qualification, such as GNM or B.Sc Nursing for nurses and B.Pharm or Pharm.D for pharmacists. Selection is a single computer-based test, then document verification and a medical exam. Applications closed on 14 October 2026, and the RRBs have set the CBT for 23 and 25 November 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This page may be out of date.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 14 October 2026. The RRBs have set the CBT for 23 and 25 November 2026; document verification dates will follow on the RRB website.
Exam at a glance
- Conducted by
- Railway Recruitment Boards (RRBs), Ministry of Railways; you apply to one RRB only[1]
- Posts
- 590 posts across all RRBs in 9 categories; Nursing Superintendent 365 and Pharmacist 118 are the largest. The zone-wise numbers may go up or down.[1]
- Pay
- Level 3 (Rs 21,700) to Level 7 (Rs 44,900) of the 7th CPC pay matrix, depending on the post[1]
- Age limit
- Set per post, on 1 January 2027: from 18-33 for most technician posts to 20-40 for Nursing Superintendent. SC and ST get 5 more years, OBC (NCL) 3.[1]
- Selection
- One CBT (100 questions, 70 of them on your professional subject), then document verification and a medical exam[1]
- CBT dates
- 23 and 25 November 2026 (tentative, RRB notice of 18 October 2026)[2]
The CBT: 100 questions by section
| Post | Pay level (initial pay) | Age on 1 Jan 2027 | Posts | Qualification in short |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nursing Superintendent | Level 7 (Rs 44,900) | 20-40 | 365 | Registered Nurse and Midwife with the 3-year GNM course, or B.Sc Nursing |
| Dialysis Technician | Level 6 (Rs 35,400) | 20-33 | 1 | B.Sc plus a diploma in haemodialysis or 2 years of haemodialysis training or experience |
| Health & Malaria Inspector Gr II | Level 6 (Rs 35,400) | 18-33 | 43 | B.Sc with Chemistry plus a 1-year Health/Sanitary Inspector diploma or NTC |
| Audiologist & Speech Therapist | Level 6 (Rs 35,400) | 21-30 | 1 | BASLP and registration with the Rehabilitation Council of India |
| Pharmacist (Entry Grade) | Level 5 (Rs 29,200) | 20-35 | 118 | B.Pharm or Pharm.D, registered under the Pharmacy Act, 1948 |
| Radiographer X-Ray Technician | Level 5 (Rs 29,200) | 19-33 | 25 | 10+2 with Physics and Chemistry plus a 2-year radiography diploma |
| ECG Technician | Level 4 (Rs 25,500) | 18-33 | 4 | 10+2 or science degree plus an ECG or cardiology certificate, diploma or degree (at least 1 year) |
| Optometrist | Level 4 (Rs 25,500) | 18-33 | 2 | B.Sc Optometry or a 3-4 year ophthalmic technician diploma, with council registration |
| Lab Assistant Gr II | Level 3 (Rs 21,700) | 18-33 | 31 | 10+2 science plus DMLT, or an equivalent full-time certificate course of at least 1 year |
Upper age limits are relaxed by 5 years for SC and ST and 3 years for OBC (NCL); you get the largest relaxation you qualify for, not the total. Read the full wording of each qualification, including the equivalent courses, in Annexure A of the CEN.[1]
Nursing Superintendent is the only post in this CEN at Level 7, so it has the highest starting pay here, and with 365 posts it is also the largest. Pharmacist (Entry Grade) is next with 118. The technician posts cover radiography, ECG, dialysis, optometry and lab work, and the Health & Malaria Inspector post asks for a health or sanitary inspector qualification on top of a B.Sc with Chemistry.
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]
There is one CBT for every post: 100 questions in 90 minutes (120 minutes for candidates who get a scribe). Seventy questions test professional ability in your own field, set from the post's syllabus in Annexure C of the CEN. The other 30 are general awareness, general arithmetic with reasoning, and general science, 10 each.
One third of a mark is cut for each wrong answer. To be considered you need 40% if you are UR or EWS, 30% for OBC (NCL) and SC, and 25% for ST. The RRBs then call candidates equal to the number of vacancies for document verification, in order of CBT marks. If two candidates tie, the older one ranks higher.[1]
Tips and tricks
- Spend most of your time on your own professional subject. It is 70 of the 100 questions, and the CBT alone decides who is called for document verification.[1]
- Keep your council or board registration certificate ready for document verification if your post asks for one: nursing, pharmacy, audiology and optometry all do.[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 Nursing Superintendent 2026?
20 to 40 years on 1 January 2027. SC and ST candidates get 5 more years and OBC (NCL) candidates 3 more.[1]
Can a D.Pharm holder apply for the RRB Pharmacist post?
No, not under CEN 05/2026. It asks for a B.Pharm (Allopathic) or a Pharm.D from a recognised institution, plus registration as a pharmacist under the Pharmacy Act, 1948.[1]
How many vacancies are there in RRB Paramedical 2026?
590 across all RRBs: 365 Nursing Superintendent, 118 Pharmacist, 43 Health & Malaria Inspector, 31 Lab Assistant, 25 Radiographer, 4 ECG Technician, 2 Optometrist, 1 Dialysis Technician and 1 Audiologist & Speech Therapist.[1]
Is there negative marking in the RRB Paramedical CBT?
Yes. One third of a mark is cut for each wrong answer.[1]
When is the RRB Paramedical exam in 2026?
The RRBs have set the CBT for 23 and 25 November 2026. Your own date and city come through the city intimation link about 10 days before.[2]
Connected pages
- Related · DegreeB.Sc. (Nursing)B.Sc Nursing needs Class 12 with 45% in PCB (40% SC/ST/OBC), a pass in English and age 17 by 31 December. Check your marks and age here.
- Related · PathwayAfter Class 12 Science (PCB)What Physics, Chemistry and Biology in Class 12 open up: MBBS, BDS and AYUSH via NEET (UG), nursing and veterinary seats that use NEET, and B.Sc via CUET (UG).
- Related · ExamRRB Group D (Level 1) 2026RRB Group D (CEN 09/2025): 22,195 Level 1 railway posts for 10th, ITI or NAC holders aged 18 to 33, the 100-question CBT, the PET and the medical standards.
- Related · ExamRRB JE (Junior Engineer, DMS, CMA), CEN 04/2026RRB JE (CEN 04/2026): 4,029 Level 6 posts of JE, DMS and CMA for diploma, B.E./B.Tech and B.Sc holders aged 18 to 33, two CBTs and the exam groups.
Official and partner links
- Official bodyRailway Recruitment Boards (official website)
Sources
- Centralised Employment Notice CEN No. 05/2026, Recruitment of various categories of Para-Medical, Railway Recruitment Boards, Ministry of Railways. important dates and post table (p1), paras 5.0-7.0 (pp5-7), 13.0 (pp15-16), Annexure A (pp25-26). Accessed 1 November 2026.
- Notice regarding tentative schedule of Computer Based Test (CBT) for Paramedical Categories under CEN 05/2026 (18.10.2026), Railway Recruitment Boards. single page: paras 1-6. Accessed 1 November 2026.
Found an error or a newer rule? Tell us through the corrections page. Updated 1 November 2026.