Railway Group D Exam Date 2026-27 Out: The Railway Recruitment Board (RRB) has officially released the much-awaited Railway Group D Exam Date 2026-27 for candidates who applied under CEN No. 09/2025. Through an official notice issued on its unified portal on 3 July 2026, RRB has confirmed the tentative schedule for the Computer-Based Test (CBT), bringing clarity to lakhs of aspirants who have been preparing for Level-1 posts across Indian Railways.
Here is a complete, updated breakdown of the Railway Group D Exam Date 2026-27, admit card timeline, exam pattern, and everything candidates need to know.
Railway Group D Exam Date 2026-27 Out
As per the official notice dated 3 July 2026, the RRB Group D CBT under CEN 09/2025 will be conducted from 3 August 2026 to 21 August 2026 across multiple examination centres in the country. This recruitment drive aims to fill 22,195 Level-1 vacancies for posts including Pointsman, Assistant, Track Maintainer, Assistant Loco Shed, Assistant Operations, and Assistant TL & AC across various departments of Indian Railways.
Given the sheer scale of this recruitment — with an estimated 87 lakh candidates expected to appear — the examination will be spread across nearly three weeks and conducted in multiple shifts per day, generally three shifts, to accommodate the enormous volume of applicants across 200+ examination centres nationwide.
The official notice covers key details such as the CBT exam dates, exam shift structure, reporting time guidelines, the release schedule for the City Intimation Slip, the Admit Card timeline, and general examination-day guidelines. Candidates are strongly advised to download and refer to the official RRB Group D Exam Date Notice PDF available on the regional RRB websites for the most accurate and complete information.
Recruitment Background: CEN 09/2025
The RRB Group D Notification 2026 (CEN 09/2025) was originally released on 30 January 2026 on the official website rrbcdg.gov.in and other regional RRB portals. Applications were accepted online from 31 January 2026 to 9 March 2026, followed by a correction window from 12 March to 21 March 2026 during which candidates could rectify errors in their submitted forms.
This recruitment drive covers 22,195 vacancies for Level-1 posts spread across 21 RRB regions, including Ahmedabad, Ajmer, Allahabad (Prayagraj), Bangalore, Bhopal, Bhubaneswar, Bilaspur, Chandigarh, Chennai, Gorakhpur, Guwahati, Jammu-Srinagar, Kolkata, Malda, Mumbai, Muzaffarpur, Patna, Ranchi, Secunderabad, Siliguri, and Thiruvananthapuram.
Notably, on 9 July 2026, RRB also released the RRB Group D Application Status 2026, allowing candidates to check whether their application has been marked “Accepted” or “Provisionally Accepted.” Only candidates with an accepted application status will be eligible to receive the City Intimation Slip, Admit Card, and subsequently appear for the CBT.
Application Status, City Slip, and Admit Card Timeline
Candidates should keep track of the following key milestones as the exam approaches:
| Events | Dates |
|---|---|
| Application Status Release | 9 July 2026 |
| Exam City Intimation Slip | From 25 July 2026 onwards (approx. 9–10 days before exam) |
| Admit Card (E-Call Letter) Release | From 31 July 2026 onwards (approx. 4 days before each candidate’s exam) |
| CBT Examination | 3 August 2026 to 21 August 2026 |
The Railway Group D Exam City Intimation Slip will notify candidates of their allotted exam city, tentative exam date, and shift timing, helping them plan travel and accommodation in advance. It is important to note that the city slip is not a substitute for the admit card and cannot be used for entry into the examination hall. The actual Admit Card will be released separately, closer to each candidate’s specific exam date, and must be downloaded from the candidate’s regional RRB website using their Registration Number and Password.
For candidates whose CBT is scheduled on 3 August, the admit card download link is expected to go live from 31 July 2026 at the official portal, rrb.digialm.com.
Possibility of Postponement — Official Clarification
Given the history of delays in previous Railway recruitment cycles, many candidates have been anxious about whether the RRB Group D 2026 exam could be postponed. As of now, there is no official notification regarding any postponement, and candidates are advised to continue their preparation strictly according to the announced schedule.
It is worth noting that the previous cycle, under CEN 08/2024, did see the exam rescheduled multiple times owing to court cases, normalisation disputes, and administrative reasons — however, such repeated delays are not a yearly occurrence, and candidates should avoid unnecessary anxiety and focus on preparation.
Mandatory Aadhaar-Linked Biometric Authentication
A notable update for this recruitment cycle is the requirement for Aadhaar-linked biometric authentication at the examination centre before entry is permitted. Candidates must carry their original Aadhaar card, or a printout of an e-verified Aadhaar, and ensure their Aadhaar is unlocked in the UIDAI system ahead of exam day. Candidates who have not yet completed Aadhaar authentication are advised to do so by logging in with their credentials at www.rrbapply.gov.in well before their scheduled exam date, in order to avoid last-minute entry issues at the centre.
Railway Group D Exam Pattern 2026
Candidates preparing for the Railway Group D Exam should be thoroughly familiar with the following pattern:
- Mode: Online Computer-Based Test (CBT)
- Total questions: 100 objective-type (multiple-choice) questions
- Total marks: 100
- Duration: 90 minutes
- Sections: General Science, Mathematics, General Intelligence & Reasoning, and General Awareness & Current Affairs
- Negative marking: 1/3rd mark deducted for every incorrect answer
- Minimum qualifying marks: UR – 40%, EWS – 40%, OBC (Non-Creamy Layer)/SC/ST – 30%
- Languages: The question paper will be available in English, Hindi, Urdu, and several regional Indian languages, including Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Kannada, Konkani, Malayalam, and others, as notified by RRB
The RRB Group D selection process for CEN 09/2025 will be conducted in a single stage — there is no CBT-2 for Group D recruitment. However, candidates should note that the Railway Administration reserves the right to conduct the CBT in either single or multi-stage mode if required.
Selection Process After Railway Group D Exam
Candidates who clear the Computer-Based Test will proceed through the following stages:
- Physical Efficiency Test (PET): Qualifying in nature; candidates must meet the prescribed physical standards for their chosen post.
- Document Verification (DV): Shortlisted candidates must present original documents for verification.
- Medical Examination: Candidates must pass the Railway Administration’s medical fitness test to confirm their suitability for the assigned post.
Transgender candidates are given relaxation in the PET, and CCAAs (Certified Craftsmen Trained Apprentices) trained in railway establishments are given due weightage based on marks obtained in their NCVT examination while preparing the final merit list.
Railway Group D Exam Day Guidelines
Candidates appearing for the Railway Group D Exam should keep the following in mind:
- Carry a printed copy of the admit card along with a valid original government photo ID proof (Aadhaar preferred for biometric verification).
- Reach the exam centre at least 30–45 minutes before the reporting time to complete security and verification formalities.
- Watches, metallic articles, and jewellery are not permitted, as security scanning will be conducted.
- Mobile phones, Bluetooth devices, calculators, and all other electronic gadgets are strictly prohibited inside the exam centre.
- Report any discrepancy on the admit card to the RRB helpdesk immediately for correction before the exam date.
Key Takeaways
- CBT exam dates: 3 August to 21 August 2026 under CEN 09/2025, for 22,195 Level-1 vacancies.
- Official exam schedule notice released on 3 July 2026.
- City Intimation Slip from 25 July 2026; Admit Card from 31 July 2026.
- Exam pattern: 100 questions, 100 marks, 90 minutes, with 1/3rd negative marking.
- Aadhaar-linked biometric authentication is mandatory for entry into the exam centre.
- No official word on postponement — candidates should prepare as per the announced schedule.
With the Railway Group D Exam schedule now confirmed, candidates should use the remaining weeks to focus on revision, timed mock tests, and strengthening weaker sections, while regularly checking their respective regional RRB website for the City Intimation Slip, Admit Card, and any further official updates.
Most Searched Question’s :-
When will the Railway Group D Exam be held?
The CBT for CEN 09/2025 will be conducted in multiple shifts from August 3 to August 21, 2026.
When will the Railway Group D Exam city slip be released?
The Railway Group D Exam city intimation slip is expected to be available approximately 10 days before the exam date.
When can I download the Group D admit card?
The e-call letter (admit card) will be released approximately 4 days before the candidate’s scheduled exam date.
Where can I download the Official Railway Group D Exam schedule PDF?
Once the official exam schedule PDF becomes available, candidates can check and download it from their respective regional RRB websites.