The Railway Recruitment Boards (RRBs) have released Centralised Employment Notice (CEN) No. 05/2026 for the recruitment of candidates to various Paramedical Categories in Indian Railways. A total of 590 vacancies have been notified across different Railway Recruitment Boards and Railway Zones.
The online application process has started on 15 September 2026, and eligible candidates can submit their applications online until 14 October 2026, 11:59 PM.
RRB Paramedical Recruitment 2026 – Overview
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Recruitment Authority | Railway Recruitment Boards (RRBs) |
| Notification | CEN No. 05/2026 |
| Recruitment | Paramedical Categories |
| Total Vacancies | 590 |
| Application Mode | Online |
| Application Start Date | 15 September 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply | 14 October 2026 |
| Last Date for Fee Payment | 16 October 2026 |
| Modification Window | 17 October to 26 October 2026 |
| Age Calculation Date | 1 January 2027 |
| Selection Process | CBT, Document Verification and Medical Examination |
RRB Paramedical Vacancy 2026
The notification includes nine different paramedical posts. Nursing Superintendent accounts for 365 vacancies, while Pharmacist (Entry Grade) has 118 vacancies. The total number of vacancies across all posts is 590.
| Post | Pay Level | Initial Pay | Age Limit | Vacancies |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nursing Superintendent | Level 7 | ₹44,900 | 20–40 years | 365 |
| Dialysis Technician | Level 6 | ₹35,400 | 20–33 years | 1 |
| Health & Malaria Inspector Grade II | Level 6 | ₹35,400 | 18–33 years | 43 |
| Audiologist & Speech Therapist | Level 6 | ₹35,400 | 21–30 years | 1 |
| Pharmacist (Entry Grade) | Level 5 | ₹29,200 | 20–35 years | 118 |
| Radiographer X-Ray Technician | Level 5 | ₹29,200 | 19–33 years | 25 |
| ECG Technician | Level 4 | ₹25,500 | 18–33 years | 4 |
| Optometrist | Level 4 | ₹25,500 | 18–33 years | 2 |
| Lab Assistant Grade II | Level 3 | ₹21,700 | 18–33 years | 31 |
| Total | — | — | — | 590 |
The vacancy distribution among individual RRBs and Railway Zones is provided in Annexure B of the notification. The Railway Board also states that the vacancies are provisional and may increase or decrease according to Railway requirements.
Educational Qualification
The required qualification differs according to the post.
Nursing Superintendent
Candidates should have a Certificate as Registered Nurse and Midwife after completing a three-year General Nursing and Midwifery course from a school of nursing or institution recognized by the Indian Nursing Council, or B.Sc Nursing.
Dialysis Technician
A B.Sc qualification along with either a Diploma in Haemodialysis or two years of satisfactory in-house training/experience in haemodialysis work is required. Certain B.Sc degrees in dialysis technology are also specified as eligible.
Health & Malaria Inspector Grade II
Candidates require B.Sc with Chemistry as a main or optional subject, along with either a one-year Diploma in Health/Sanitary Inspector or the specified one-year NTC in Health Sanitary Inspector.
Audiologist & Speech Therapist
A Bachelor in Audiology, Speech Language Pathology (BASLP) from a recognized university and registration with the Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI) are required.
Pharmacist (Entry Grade)
Candidates should have a Bachelor Degree in Pharmacy (Allopathic) from a Central or State Government-recognized university/institute and be registered as a Pharmacist under the Pharmacy Act, 1948. A Doctor of Pharmacy qualification with the required registration is also accepted.
Radiographer X-Ray Technician
The qualification includes 10+2 with Physics and Chemistry plus a two-year Diploma in Radiography/X-Ray Technician/Radiodiagnosis Technology from a recognized institute. The notification also lists several equivalent B.Sc and degree qualifications.
ECG Technician
Candidates require 10+2 or Graduation in Science along with a certificate, diploma or degree in ECG Laboratory Technology, Cardiology, Cardiology Technician or Cardiology Techniques from a reputed institution. The certificate must generally be of at least one-year duration.
Optometrist
Candidates should possess B.Sc in Optometry or Diploma in Ophthalmic Technician of three to four years duration, along with registration with the concerned council/licensing body.
Lab Assistant Grade II
Candidates require 12th/10+2 in Science plus either a Diploma in Medical Laboratory Technology (DMLT) or an eligible Medical Lab Technology certificate course of at least one-year duration meeting the specified conditions. B.Sc Medical Lab Technology with 10+2 Science is also listed as eligible.
Age Limit
The age will be calculated as on 1 January 2027. The basic age limits vary from post to post, ranging from 18 to 33 years, 20 to 35 years, 20 to 40 years, and 21 to 30 years, depending on the post.
Age relaxation is available to eligible categories, including:
- SC/ST – 5 years
- OBC-NCL – 3 years
- PwBD – up to 10/13/15 years depending on category
- Ex-Servicemen – as per the rules specified in the notification
- Certain serving Railway employees and other specified categories – as per the prescribed conditions.
Application Fee
The examination fee is:
- ₹500 for general candidates. Out of this, ₹400 will be refunded after appearing in CBT, after applicable bank charges.
- ₹250 for SC, ST, Ex-Servicemen, PwBD, Female, Transgender, Minority and EBC candidates. The ₹250 fee will be refunded after appearing in CBT, subject to applicable bank charges.
The fee must be paid online through internet banking, debit/credit card or UPI.
Selection Process
The recruitment process includes a Computer Based Test (CBT), Document Verification (DV) and Medical Examination (ME). Candidates shortlisted for DV and medical examination will be selected RRB-wise based on CBT merit.
The Single Stage CBT will contain 100 objective multiple-choice questions and will have a duration of 90 minutes. PwBD/PWD candidates eligible for the scribe facility will get 120 minutes.
There will be negative marking of one-third mark for every wrong answer.
The examination can be taken in English, Hindi and 13 regional Indian languages, including Malayalam.
RRB Paramedical Exam Syllabus
The syllabus is based on the concerned paramedical discipline. For example, the Nursing Superintendent syllabus includes Anatomy, Physiology, Nutrition, Biochemistry, Nursing Foundations, Pharmacology, Pathology, Community Health Nursing, Child Health Nursing, Mental Health Nursing, Midwifery and Obstetrical Nursing, Nursing Research and Statistics and other nursing subjects.
The Pharmacist syllabus includes subjects such as Pharmaceutical Analysis, Pharmaceutics, Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Pharmacology, Pharmacognosy, Pharmacy Practice, Pharmacovigilance, Quality Assurance and other pharmacy-related subjects.
Important Dates
- Indicative Notification: 12 September 2026
- Online Application Starts: 15 September 2026
- Last Date to Apply: 14 October 2026, 11:59 PM
- Last Date for Fee Payment: 16 October 2026
- Application Modification: 17 October to 26 October 2026
- Scribe Details Submission: 27 October to 31 October 2026
The dates for CBT and subsequent stages will be announced separately through the official RRB website.
How to Apply for RRB Paramedical Recruitment 2026
- Visit the official Railway Recruitment Board website.
- Create an RRB account or use the account created for an earlier RRB CEN, where applicable.
- Enter personal and educational details carefully.
- Select one RRB and provide post/Railway Zone preferences for posts for which you are eligible.
- Upload the required photograph/signature and other documents.
- Complete the online fee payment.
- Submit the application and save/print the confirmation for future reference.
Candidates should be particularly careful while creating the account because the mobile number, email ID and other details entered in the Create an Account form cannot subsequently be modified.
Candidates can access the official RRB portal here:
Official Railway Recruitment Boards website
Important Instructions for Candidates
Candidates should apply for only one RRB. Multiple applications to the same or different RRBs will lead to rejection and may result in debarment from future RRB/RRC examinations.
Candidates must already possess the required educational or technical qualification by the closing date of application, 14 October 2026. Those awaiting final examination results for the prescribed qualification are not eligible to apply.
Candidates should also ensure that they meet the prescribed medical standards for the post selected. Candidates found medically unsuitable for the opted post will not be provided an alternative appointment.
RRB Paramedical Recruitment 2026 – FAQs
How many vacancies are available in RRB Paramedical Recruitment 2026?
A total of 590 vacancies have been notified.
What is the last date to apply?
The last date to submit the online application is 14 October 2026 at 11:59 PM.
Which post has the highest number of vacancies?
Nursing Superintendent has 365 vacancies.
What is the salary of Nursing Superintendent?
The initial pay for Nursing Superintendent is ₹44,900 under Pay Level 7.
How many vacancies are available for Pharmacist?
There are 118 Pharmacist (Entry Grade) vacancies, with an initial pay of ₹29,200 under Pay Level 5.
Is Malayalam available as an examination medium?
Yes. Malayalam is included among the regional languages available for the CBT.
What is the CBT duration?
The CBT is 90 minutes for 100 questions. Eligible PwBD/PWD candidates using the scribe facility get 120 minutes.
Is there negative marking?
Yes. One-third mark is deducted for each wrong answer.
Conclusion
RRB CEN 05/2026 offers 590 paramedical vacancies across nine categories, including Nursing Superintendent, Pharmacist, Health & Malaria Inspector, Radiographer, ECG Technician, Optometrist and Lab Assistant. Candidates should check the post-wise educational qualification, age, medical requirements and RRB-wise vacancy details before submitting the application. The application deadline is 14 October 2026.