The Railway Recruitment Boards have released CEN No. 05/2026 for 590 Paramedical posts across Indian Railways, including 365 Nursing Superintendent and 118 Pharmacist vacancies. Online applications close on 14 October 2026 (11:59 pm), and fees can be paid until 16 October 2026.
Quick Overview
- Recruiting body: Railway Recruitment Boards (RRBs), Ministry of Railways
- Notice: Centralised Employment Notice (CEN) No. 05/2026 — Paramedical Categories
- Total posts: 590 across 9 posts
- Pay: 7th CPC Level 3 to Level 7 (₹21,700 to ₹44,900 initial pay)
- Last date to apply: 14 October 2026 · fee payment till 16 October 2026
- Typing test: Not required — single-stage Computer Based Test
- Official notice: RRB CEN 05/2026 (PDF)
Job Overview & Vacancy Details
| Post | Pay Level | Initial Pay | Age (on 01-01-2027) | Vacancies |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nursing Superintendent | Level 7 | ₹44,900 | 20–40 | 365 |
| Pharmacist (Entry Grade) | Level 5 | ₹29,200 | 20–35 | 118 |
| Health & Malaria Inspector Gr II | Level 6 | ₹35,400 | 18–33 | 43 |
| Lab Assistant Gr II | Level 3 | ₹21,700 | 18–33 | 31 |
| Radiographer X-Ray Technician | Level 5 | ₹29,200 | 19–33 | 25 |
| ECG Technician | Level 4 | ₹25,500 | 18–33 | 4 |
| Optometrist | Level 4 | ₹25,500 | 18–33 | 2 |
| Dialysis Technician | Level 6 | ₹35,400 | 20–33 | 1 |
| Audiologist & Speech Therapist | Level 6 | ₹35,400 | 21–30 | 1 |
| Total (all RRBs) | 590 |
RRB-wise and zone-wise vacancies are in Annexure-B of the notice. RRB says these are provisional and may increase or decrease.
Eligibility Criteria
- Nursing Superintendent: Registered Nurse and Midwife with a 3-year GNM course recognised by the Indian Nursing Council, or B.Sc Nursing.
- Pharmacist (Entry Grade): B.Pharm (Allopathic) or Pharm.D, and registered as a Pharmacist under the Pharmacy Act, 1948.
- Health & Malaria Inspector Gr II: B.Sc with Chemistry, plus a one-year Health/Sanitary Inspector diploma or NTC.
- Lab Assistant Gr II: 12th in Science plus DMLT (or an equivalent certificate course of at least one year).
- Radiographer X-Ray Technician: 10+2 with Physics and Chemistry plus a 2-year Diploma in Radiography / X-Ray Technician / Radiodiagnosis Technology.
- ECG Technician: 10+2 or Science graduation with a certificate/diploma/degree in ECG or Cardiology technology (minimum one year).
- Optometrist: B.Sc Optometry or a 3–4 year Ophthalmic Technician diploma, with council registration.
- Dialysis Technician: B.Sc plus a Diploma in Haemodialysis or two years' in-house haemodialysis training/experience.
- Audiologist & Speech Therapist: BASLP, with RCI registration.
Qualifications must be complete by 14 October 2026. Candidates awaiting results cannot apply.
Age relaxation: SC/ST 5 years, OBC (NCL) 3 years, PwBD 10 years (UR/EWS), 13 years (OBC) or 15 years (SC/ST). Ex-servicemen and serving Railway staff get the relaxations listed in para 5.2 of the notice.
Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Indicative notice in Employment News | 12 September 2026 |
| Online application opens | 15 September 2026 |
| Last date to apply | 14 October 2026 (11:59 pm) |
| Last date for fee payment | 16 October 2026 |
| Correction window (with fee) | 17 – 26 October 2026 |
| Scribe details (eligible candidates) | 27 – 31 October 2026 |
| CBT date | Not announced yet — check the official notification |
Salary & Pay Scale
Initial pay under the 7th CPC ranges from ₹21,700 (Level 3, Lab Assistant) to ₹44,900 (Level 7, Nursing Superintendent). See the vacancy table above for each post.
How to Apply — Step by Step
- Open the unified RRB website rrb.indianrailways.gov.in and choose one RRB.
- Click "Create an Account" (authenticating with Aadhaar or DigiLocker is advised).
- Fill the application, capture your live photo and upload the required scanned documents.
- Pay the fee and submit by 14 October 2026. Submit only one application.
| Category | Fee | Refund after appearing in CBT |
|---|---|---|
| General / OBC / EWS | ₹500 | ₹400 |
| SC, ST, Ex-servicemen, PwBD, Female, Transgender, Minorities, EBC | ₹250 | ₹250 |
Refunds are made after deducting bank charges.
Selection Process
- Single-stage CBT: 100 questions in 90 minutes (120 minutes for eligible scribe candidates) — Professional Ability 70, General Awareness 10, Arithmetic & Reasoning 10, General Science 10.
- Negative marking: 1/3 mark deducted per wrong answer.
- Minimum qualifying marks: 40% UR/EWS, 30% OBC (NCL) and SC, 25% ST.
- Document verification and medical examination, then empanelment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How many posts are in RRB CEN 05/2026?
590 Paramedical posts in total, including 365 Nursing Superintendent and 118 Pharmacist.
Q: What is the last date to apply?
14 October 2026 (11:59 pm). Fee payment is allowed until 16 October 2026.
Q: Is there negative marking?
Yes — 1/3 mark is deducted for each wrong answer in the CBT.
Q: What is the application fee?
₹500 for most candidates (₹400 refunded after appearing in the CBT) and ₹250 for SC, ST, ex-servicemen, PwBD, female, transgender, minority and EBC candidates (fully refunded after the CBT, minus bank charges).
Q: Is there a typing test?
No. Selection is by a single-stage CBT, then document verification and medical examination.
Q: Can I apply to more than one RRB?
No. Only one online application is allowed.
Details compiled from RRB CEN No. 05/2026 (Paramedical Categories). Always verify at rrb.indianrailways.gov.in before applying.
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