The Railway Recruitment Board (RRB) has initiated the recruitment drive for various Parameter, Technical, and Non-Technical Officer posts, commonly searched as RRB PO / Officer Cadre.
RRB PO Recruitment 2026: Key Highlights
| Parameter | Details |
| Recruiting Body | Railway Recruitment Boards (RRB) |
| Post Name | Parameter / Gazetted / Non-Technical Officer Posts (RRB PO) |
| Selection Process | CBT-1, CBT-2, Document Verification (DV) & Medical Examination |
| Mode of Application | Online |
| Official Website | indianrailways.gov.in / Regional RRB Portals |
Important Dates & Schedule
| Event | Tentative Date |
| Official Notification Release | September 2026 |
| Online Application Starts | 2nd Week of September 2026 |
| Last Date to Submit Application | October 2026 |
| CBT 1 Exam Date | November / December 2026 |
| Admit Card Release | 4 Days prior to Exam Date |
Eligibility Criteria
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Educational Qualification: Graduation degree in any discipline from a recognized University/Institute. Technical posts require specialized degrees (B.E/B.Tech/B.Sc).
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Age Limit: Generally 18 to 33/36 years (varies by specific post level).
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Age Relaxation:
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OBC: 3 Years
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SC/ST: 5 Years
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PwBD: 10 Years
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Selection Process
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Computer Based Test 1 (CBT-1): Screening round testing general awareness, reasoning, and numerical ability.
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Computer Based Test 2 (CBT-2): Subject-specific and advanced aptitude test for qualified CBT-1 candidates.
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Document Verification (DV): Verification of educational, age, and caste certificates.
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Medical Examination: Strict fitness test as per Railway standards.
CBT-1 Exam Pattern
| Section | No. of Questions | Marks | Duration |
| Mathematics | 30 | 30 | 90 Minutes |
| General Intelligence & Reasoning | 30 | 30 | |
| General Science | 25 | 25 | |
| General Awareness & Current Affairs | 15 | 15 | |
| Total | 100 | 100 |
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Negative Marking: 1/3rd mark deducted for each wrong answer.
Application Fee
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General / OBC / EWS: ₹500 (₹400 refunded after appearing in CBT-1)
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SC / ST / Ex-Servicemen / Female / PwBD / Transgender: ₹250 (Full fee refunded after appearing in CBT-1)
How to Apply Online
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Visit your regional RRB portal (e.g., RRB Secunderabad, RRB Chennai, RRB Mumbai).
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Click on the New Registration link for the Officer Cadre / RRB PO Recruitment notification.
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Fill in basic personal, contact, and educational details to generate login credentials.
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Upload required documents (Photograph, Signature, Caste Certificate).
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Pay the online application fee and submit the form.
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Download and print the confirmation page for reference.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1: Is there an interview stage for the RRB Officer Scale-I (PO) post? Yes. The selection process for RRB Officer Scale-I includes three stages: Preliminary Examination, Main Examination, and an Interview. The final merit list is calculated with an 80:20 weightage ratio between the Mains score and the Interview score.
Q2: Can I attempt the exam in regional languages? Yes. Apart from English and Hindi, the question paper for Prelims and Mains (except the specific Language section) is available in state-specific regional languages, such as Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Marathi, Bengali, and Gujarati, depending on the state opted for.
Q3: Is there a negative marking in RRB PO Prelims and Mains exams? Yes. There is a penalty of 1/4th (0.25) of the marks assigned to a question for every incorrect answer in both the Preliminary and Main examinations.
Q4: Can final-year graduation students apply for RRB PO 2026? Yes, final-year students can apply provided their final graduation results are officially declared and certified on or before the specified eligibility cutoff date mentioned in the official notification.
Q5: What is the age limit for RRB Officer Scale-I (Assistant Manager)? Candidates must be between 18 and 30 years of age. Category-wise age relaxations apply: 3 years for OBC, 5 years for SC/ST, and 10 years for PwBD candidates.
Q6: What is the fee refund policy for the examination fee? For SC/ST/Female/Ex-Servicemen/PwBD candidates, the entire fee of ₹250 is refunded after appearing in the CBT-1 (Prelims) exam. For General/OBC/EWS candidates, ₹400 is refunded out of the total ₹500 fee upon appearing in CBT-1.
Conclusion
The RRB PO (Officer Scale-I) recruitment offers an exceptional entry point into professional banking and administrative roles within Regional Rural Banks across India. Candidates targeting the 2026 recruitment drive should focus on building speed and accuracy for the preliminary exam, followed by a well-rounded preparation strategy covering General Awareness and Computer Knowledge for the Mains. Applicants are advised to keep their educational, age, and caste/category credentials updated and regularly check the official IBPS portal (ibps.in) and regional RRB websites for the latest online application links, admit cards, and schedule updates.