The RRB Group D Exam Date 2026 is officially confirmed, and the country’s single largest recruitment exam is already underway. The Railway Recruitment Board is conducting the Computer-Based Test (CBT) for 22,195 Level-1 vacancies under CEN 09/2025 across 16 days, from 3 August to 25 August 2026. With roughly 58 lakh candidates registered, this is the most competitive railway exam of the year — and if your slot is coming up, the only things that matter now are your exam date, city intimation slip, admit card and shift timing.
This guide pulls together every exam-phase detail you actually need today, cross-checked against the official RRB portals. No outdated application dates, no filler — just what gets you into the exam hall prepared.
Quick Summary
- Exam: RRB Group D CBT 2026 (CEN 09/2025)
- Exam Dates: 3, 4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21 & 25 August 2026
- Vacancies: 22,195 (Level 1)
- City Intimation Slip: live ~10 days before your exam date
- Admit Card: live ~4 days before your exam date
- Login at: rrbcdg.gov.in / rrb.digialm.com / your regional RRB site
- Carry: Admit card + original photo ID (city slip is NOT needed at the centre)
RRB Group D 2026 — At a Glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Recruiting Body | Railway Recruitment Board (RRB) |
| Exam Name | RRB Group D CBT 2026 |
| Advertisement No. | CEN 09/2025 |
| Post Level | Level 1 (7th CPC Pay Matrix) |
| Total Vacancies | 22,195 |
| Exam Mode | Computer-Based Test (single stage) |
| Exam Dates | 3 August – 25 August 2026 |
| Registered Candidates | ~58 lakh |
| Shifts Per Day | 3 |
| Basic Pay | ₹18,000 per month |
| Official Websites | rrbapply.gov.in, rrbcdg.gov.in, rrb.indianrailways.gov.in |
RRB Group D Exam Date 2026 — Full Schedule
After a revision to the original calendar, the RRB Group D CBT is being held across 16 exam days. Your personal exam date, city and shift are printed on your city intimation slip and admit card — the dates below are the overall window in which the CBT is being conducted.
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| City Intimation Slip release | ~10 days before each exam date (phased) |
| Admit Card (e-call letter) release | ~4 days before each exam date (phased) |
| CBT Exam Days | 3, 4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21 & 25 August 2026 |
| Travel Authority (SC/ST) | Live alongside the city intimation link |
| Answer Key | After CBT completion (date to be notified) |
| Result | After answer-key objection window |
Because slips and admit cards are released in phases, a candidate sitting the exam on 25 August will see their links go live much later than someone whose exam was on 3 August. If your link isn’t active yet, it simply means your phase hasn’t opened — check back closer to your date. For more upcoming railway openings once this cycle wraps up, keep an eye on our latest Railway Jobs updates.
How to Download RRB Group D Admit Card 2026
Your admit card (e-call letter) is the one mandatory document for entry. Here’s the step-by-step process:
- Visit your regional RRB website (for example, rrbcdg.gov.in) or the exam portal rrb.digialm.com.
- On the homepage, click the link that reads “CEN 09/2025 (RRB Group D) – Exam Hall Ticket / e-Call Letter.”
- Enter your Registration Number and Password / Date of Birth (use DD-MM-YYYY format for the date).
- Your admit card appears on screen. Check every detail — name, photo, exam date, reporting time and centre address.
- Download the PDF and take a clear printout. Carry it with a valid original photo ID.
If any detail on the hall ticket is wrong, report it to the exam authority immediately for correction rather than travelling with an error on your card.
City Intimation Slip vs Admit Card — Don’t Confuse Them
Many candidates panic because they see a “city slip” but no admit card yet. These are two different documents released at two different times:
- City Intimation Slip — released about 10 days before your exam. It tells you your allotted city, exam date and shift so you can arrange travel and stay. It is not an entry pass and is not required at the centre.
- Admit Card (e-Call Letter) — released about 4 days before your exam. This is your actual entry document with the full centre address, reporting time and exam-day instructions. This is the one you must carry.
Think of the city slip as your “book your train” signal and the admit card as your “gate pass.”
RRB Group D Vacancy 2026 — Post-Wise Overview
The 22,195 vacancies span several Level-1 posts across engineering, mechanical, electrical, traffic and S&T departments. The headline posts include:
- Track Maintainer Grade-IV (Engineering)
- Pointsman-B (Traffic)
- Assistant (S&T) — Signal & Telecommunication
- Assistant (C&W), Assistant TRD, Assistant TL & AC (Electrical/Mechanical)
- Assistant Loco Shed (Diesel / Electrical)
- Assistant (Track Machine / Bridge / P-Way) (Engineering)
Vacancies are distributed zone-wise and category-wise, so the number of posts in your RRB region depends on the Annexure in the official notification. Candidates from Andhra Pradesh and Telangana appear under the Secunderabad (SCR) region — worth checking your regional RRB site for the exact zonal breakup.
If you’re a railway aspirant weighing your options, it’s worth tracking parallel RRB drives too — such as the RRB Technician Recruitment 2026 for Grade 1 and Grade 3 posts, and the RRB ALP Recruitment 2026 for Assistant Loco Pilot roles, both of which target similar candidates.
RRB Group D Exam Pattern 2026
The CBT is a single 90-minute paper of 100 questions. Understanding the mark split helps you plan which sections to attempt first.
| Subject | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| General Science | 25 | 25 |
| Mathematics | 25 | 25 |
| General Intelligence & Reasoning | 30 | 30 |
| General Awareness & Current Affairs | 20 | 20 |
| Total | 100 | 100 |
Key rules to remember:
- Negative marking: 1/3 mark deducted for each wrong answer.
- Duration: 90 minutes (120 minutes for eligible PwBD candidates with a scribe).
- Qualifying marks: UR/EWS 40%, OBC-NCL/SC/ST 30%.
- Languages: English, Hindi and 13 regional languages including Telugu and Tamil.
RRB Group D Selection Process 2026
Clearing the CBT is only the first stage. The full journey to appointment runs through four steps:
- Computer-Based Test (CBT) — the exam you’re sitting now.
- Physical Efficiency Test (PET) — qualifying in nature; shortlisting is done at roughly 3× the vacancies.
- Document Verification (DV) — original certificates checked against your application.
- Medical Examination — you must meet the medical fitness standard (A-2, A-3, B-1, etc.) for your post.
Because PET is qualifying and medical standards vary by post, it’s smart to start light physical preparation now rather than waiting for CBT results.
RRB Group D Salary 2026
Selected candidates are placed in Level 1 of the 7th CPC pay matrix with a basic pay of ₹18,000 per month. On top of basic pay, employees receive Dearness Allowance (DA), House Rent Allowance (HRA), Transport Allowance, night-duty allowance and medical benefits. The approximate in-hand salary works out to around ₹22,500–₹25,380 per month, depending on posting city and applicable allowances — plus the long-term security and pension benefits that make railway jobs so sought-after.
Official Links
| Resource | Where to Find It |
|---|---|
| Admit Card / e-Call Letter | Your regional RRB site + rrb.digialm.com |
| City Intimation Slip | Regional RRB website (candidate login) |
| Central RRB Portal | rrbcdg.gov.in |
| Application Portal | rrbapply.gov.in |
| Indian Railways RRB Hub | rrb.indianrailways.gov.in |
Always log in through your own regional RRB website — the same one you used while applying — as documents are hosted region-wise.
Human Tips — From One Aspirant to Another
A few honest, practical pointers that go beyond the official notice:
- Do a dry run of your route. With three shifts a day and lakhs of candidates, centres fill up fast and traffic near exam venues is brutal. Visit the location a day earlier if it’s a new city.
- Reach at reporting time, not exam time. Once the gate closes, no one is allowed in — even five minutes late means you lose the whole attempt.
- Carry two printouts of the admit card and the exact original ID whose number you entered while applying. A photocopy or DigiLocker version can be refused.
- Respect the negative marking. With 1/3 deducted per wrong answer, blind guessing hurts. In General Science and Reasoning, attempt what you’re confident about first.
- SC/ST candidates: don’t skip the free second-class travel pass (Travel Authority) available with your city intimation link — it’s a genuine benefit many forget to download.
Not sitting Group D, or lining up a backup? Browse every live central and state opening on our latest Government Jobs page, and if banking is your Plan B, the SBI Clerk Notification 2026 for 9,124 Junior Associate posts is still open for applications.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the RRB Group D Exam Date 2026? The RRB Group D CBT 2026 is being held from 3 August to 25 August 2026 across 16 exam days for CEN 09/2025. Your individual date is on your city intimation slip and admit card.
When will my RRB Group D admit card be released? The admit card (e-call letter) goes live in phases, roughly 4 days before your specific exam date, on your regional RRB website and rrb.digialm.com.
What is the difference between the city intimation slip and the admit card? The city slip (released ~10 days early) tells you the city, date and shift for travel planning. The admit card (released ~4 days early) is your actual entry pass with the full centre address. Only the admit card is required at the centre.
How many vacancies are there in RRB Group D 2026? There are 22,195 Level-1 vacancies under CEN 09/2025 across posts like Track Maintainer, Pointsman-B and various Assistant roles.
Is there negative marking in RRB Group D 2026? Yes. One-third (1/3) of a mark is deducted for every incorrect answer in the CBT.
What documents should I carry to the RRB Group D exam? Carry a printed admit card and the original valid photo ID (Aadhaar, PAN, Passport, Voter ID or Driving Licence) matching your application. The city intimation slip is not needed at the centre.
What is the salary for RRB Group D posts? The basic pay is ₹18,000 per month (Level 1, 7th CPC), with an approximate in-hand of ₹22,500–₹25,380 including allowances.
Which login details do I need to download my documents? Your Registration Number and your Password / Date of Birth (entered in DD-MM-YYYY format) on your regional RRB portal.
Disclaimer
The information above is compiled from official RRB notifications and verified public sources as of 14 August 2026. Exam dates, admit-card timings and vacancy figures can change through official corrigenda. Candidates must always confirm details on their own regional Railway Recruitment Board website before acting. TheJobHunters.in is an independent job-information portal and is not affiliated with the Railway Recruitment Board or Indian Railways.
I’m Chandu, the Admin of this website. I manage and publish helpful content covering jobs, recruitment, education, and career opportunities. My goal is to provide readers with accurate, useful, and easy-to-understand information to help them stay informed and make better career decisions.