When it comes to Indian Railways medical fields, the question on the mind of every nursing, pharmacy and allied health graduate is RRB Paramedical Recruitment Exam Date 2026 and to their credit, they are right to think so because this is one of the more sought after entries into Indian Railways.
The detailed notification for the Paramedical Staff Recruitment under CEN No. 05/2026 for 590 Posts under the Railway Recruitment Boards (RRBs) was released on 14th September 2026 for nine different categories of paramedical staff including Nursing Superintendent, Pharmacist, Radiographer/X-ray Technician, etc. Applications are already available on rrbapply.gov.in and will be accepted till 14 October 2026 but the highlight is: The Computer Based Test (CBT) date is yet to be announced.
As per RRB, the exam is likely to be held sometime in December 2026 or January 2027 and will be notified separately via the official website. Now that you are reading this article you must know about RRB Paramedical Recruitment Exam Date 2026, Details about available Vacancies, Eligibility, RRB Paramedical Exam Pattern, Selection Process, and RRB Paramedical Salary.
As ever, only trust the official RRB websites for an accurate examination date, and put a pinch of salt into any ‘leaked’ exam date that’s being passed around on social media.
Also Read More: RRB Paramedical Recruitment Syllabus 2026: Post-wise Professional Ability and General Subjects at rrbapply.gov.in
RRB Paramedical Recruitment Exam Date 2026: Quick Overview
| Particulars | Details |
| Conducting body | Railway Recruitment Boards (RRBs) |
| Exam name | RRB Paramedical Staff Recruitment 2026 |
| Advertisement number | CEN No. 05/2026 |
| Posts covered | Nursing Superintendent, Pharmacist, Dialysis Technician, ECG Technician, Lab Assistant Grade II, Radiographer/X-Ray Technician, Health & Malaria Inspector Grade II, Optometrist, Audiologist & Speech Therapist |
| Total vacancies | 590 |
| Notification release date | 14 September 2026 |
| Application window | 15 September to 14 October 2026 (11:59 PM) |
| CBT exam date | Not yet announced; expected December 2026/January 2027 |
| Exam mode | Online (Computer-Based Test) |
| Selection process | CBT, Document Verification, Medical Examination |
| Official website | rrbapply.gov.in |
Important Dates for RRB Paramedical Recruitment 2026
Here is the full timeline of the recruitment cycle, as released by RRB so far:
| Event | Date |
| Notification release | 14 September 2026 |
| Online application begins | 15 September 2026 |
| Last date to apply online | 14 October 2026 (11:59 PM) |
| Fee payment last date | 16 October 2026 |
| Application modification window | 17 to 26 October 2026 |
| Application status | November 2026 |
| Exam city intimation slip | 10 days before the exam date |
| Admit card release | 4 days before the exam date |
| CBT exam date | Expected December 2026/January 2027 |
It is worth noting here that there was an earlier Paramedical cycle under CEN 03/2025 with 434 vacancies, whose CBT was held in March 2026 earlier. It is a different, previous recruitment. This article gives details of the RRB Paramedical Recruitment Exam Date 2026 for the fresh CEN 05/2026 cycle which is currently open for recruitment.
Also Read More: Bank of Baroda LBO Admit Card 2026: Direct Download Link and Complete Details
RRB Paramedical Vacancy 2026 (Post-wise)
A total of 590 vacancies have been notified under CEN 05/2026, distributed across nine paramedical posts as follows:
| Post | Vacancies |
| Nursing Superintendent | 365 |
| Pharmacist (Entry Grade) | 118 |
| Health & Malaria Inspector Grade II | 43 |
| Laboratory Assistant Grade II | 31 |
| Radiographer/X-Ray Technician | 25 |
| ECG Technician | 4 |
| Optometrist | 2 |
| Dialysis Technician | 1 |
| Audiologist & Speech Therapist | 1 |
| Total | 590 |
Category-wise, the 590 vacancies break down as follows:
| Category | Vacancies |
| UR (Unreserved) | 255 |
| OBC | 113 |
| SC | 106 |
| ST | 69 |
| EWS | 46 |
| Total | 590 |
Eligibility Criteria for RRB Paramedical Recruitment 2026
Eligibility varies quite a bit by post, since each role calls for a specific clinical qualification. Here is a quick snapshot of the educational requirements for the major posts:
| Post | Educational Qualification |
| Nursing Superintendent | 3-year General Nursing & Midwifery course with Registered Nurse/Midwife certification, or B.Sc. Nursing |
| Pharmacist (Entry Grade) | Bachelor’s Degree in Pharmacy (or D.Pharm) with registration as a Pharmacist under the Pharmacy Act, 1948 |
| Radiographer/X-Ray Technician | 10+2 with Physics and Chemistry, plus a 2-year Diploma in Radiography/X-Ray Technician, or an equivalent degree |
| Laboratory Assistant Grade II | 10+2 in Science with a Diploma in Medical Laboratory Technology (DMLT) or equivalent, or B.Sc. MLT |
| Health & Malaria Inspector Grade II | B.Sc. with Chemistry, plus a 1-year Diploma/NCVT Certificate in Health/Sanitary Inspector |
| ECG Technician | 10+2/Graduation in Science with a Certificate/Diploma/Degree in ECG Laboratory Technology or Cardiology Techniques |
| Optometrist | B.Sc. in Optometry, or a 3–4 year Diploma in Ophthalmic Technician, with registration from the relevant Council |
| Dialysis Technician | B.Sc. with a Diploma in Haemodialysis, or B.Sc. with 2 years of hands-on Haemodialysis experience |
| Audiologist & Speech Therapist | Bachelor’s Degree in Audiology, Speech Language Pathology (BASLP), registered with the Rehabilitation Council of India |
Also Read More: IBPS PO Mains Exam Date 2026: Announcement, Admit Card and Complete Details at ibps.in
The age limit also varies by post, and is reckoned as on 1 January 2027:
| Post | Age Limit |
| Nursing Superintendent | 20 to 40 years |
| Pharmacist (Entry Grade) | 20 to 35 years |
| Radiographer/X-Ray Technician | 19 to 33 years |
| Dialysis Technician | 20 to 33 years |
| ECG Technician | 18 to 33 years |
| Optometrist | 18 to 33 years |
| Laboratory Assistant Grade II | 18 to 33 years |
| Health & Malaria Inspector Grade II | 18 to 33 years |
| Audiologist & Speech Therapist | 21 to 30 years |
The usual RRB age relaxation rules apply on top of this — for SC/ST, OBC-NCL, PwBD and Ex-Servicemen candidates — so do check the detailed notification for the exact relaxation applicable to your category.
RRB Paramedical Application Fee 2026
| Category | Application Fee |
| UR/OBC | ₹500 (₹400 refunded after appearing in the CBT, minus bank charges) |
| SC/ST/Ex-Servicemen/PwBD/Transgender/Women/Minorities/EBC | ₹250 (fully refunded after appearing in the CBT, minus bank charges) |
RRB Paramedical Exam Pattern 2026
The CBT which will ultimately determine the result of RRB Paramedical Recruitment Exam Date 2026 will be an objective type, 100 Mark, 100 Questions test of one hour duration (120 minutes duration for eligible PwBD candidates with scribe)
| Section | Questions | Marks |
| Professional Ability | 70 | 70 |
| General Awareness | 10 | 10 |
| General Arithmetic, General Intelligence & Reasoning | 10 | 10 |
| General Science | 10 | 10 |
| Total | 100 | 100 |
- The question types are objective, multiple choice and in English and Hindi languages. One-third of a mark is deducted for each incorrect answer.
- No marks are deducted for questions that are not attempted. Pay attention to the weightage of Professional Ability (70 marks) which is a more of a clinical/technical test and less of a general subject.
The minimum qualifying marks for the CBT are as follows:
| Category | Minimum Qualifying Marks |
| UR/EWS | 40% |
| OBC-NCL | 30% |
| SC | 30% |
| ST | 25% |
RRB Paramedical Selection Process 2026
Unlike some of the other RRB’s exams which have two or three stages of CBT, the Paramedical recruitment is kept simple:
- Computer Based Test (CBT): the one stage written test as described above.
- Document Verification (DV): candidates will be called for for verification of their Educational, Identity, Age, Category documents after the CBT merit list.
- Medical Examination (ME): medical fitness test conducted according to a standard set for the particular job applied for.
RRB Paramedical Salary 2026
Selected candidates are placed in the 7th CPC Pay Matrix, with the starting basic pay varying by post and pay level:
| Post | Pay Level | Initial Basic Pay |
| Nursing Superintendent | Level 7 | ₹44,900 |
| Dialysis Technician | Level 6 | ₹35,400 |
| Health & Malaria Inspector Grade II | Level 6 | ₹35,400 |
| Audiologist & Speech Therapist | Level 6 | ₹35,400 |
| Pharmacist (Entry Grade) | Level 5 | ₹29,200 |
| Radiographer/X-Ray Technician | Level 5 | ₹29,200 |
| ECG Technician | Level 4 | ₹25,500 |
| Optometrist | Level 4 | ₹25,500 |
| Laboratory Assistant Grade II | Level 3 | ₹21,700 |
On top of the basic pay, selected candidates also receive Dearness Allowance, House Rent Allowance, Transport Allowance, and other benefits applicable to Railway employees, along with the job security and career growth that comes with a central government post.
What Should You Do While the Exam Date Is Still Awaited?
- If you have not applied, then do not wait till the last day to apply, submit your application and fee well before 14 October 2026 to avoid the rush on the portal.
- Begin preparing before the exam date is announced. If the weightage of the Professional Ability is 70% then last minute cramming will be of less importance and a complete revision of your core subject will be of greater importance.
- Maintain your education papers, registration/counselor papers, and papers relating to category in order and prepared for the Document Verification stage.
- Ensure you are medically fit for your post, there’s no time like the present to test yourself against the standard that’s expected.
- Save rrbapply.gov.in on your browser and you regional RRB website and make sure to check them regularly instead of forwarded messages for the exam date.
In Short
The RRB Paramedical Recruitment Exam Date 2026 hasn’t been announced yet but the whole schedule is pretty obvious: Applications close on 14 October 2026, and the CBT is scheduled to take place in December 2026 or January 2027.
There are 590 job openings in nine paramedical categories in this post and it is a good opportunity for the healthcare professionals who want to join the Indian Railways. Plan for this week wisely, keep the papers and preparation in order and keep an eye on rrbapply.gov.in for the official exam date notice.
FAQs
Has RRB Paramedical Recruitment Exam Date 2026 released?
Not yet. RRB has also mentioned that the CBT will be released in December 2026 or January 2027, the exact date of which will be announced separately on the official website.
RRB Paramedical Recruitment 2026 Last Date of Application is?
The last date for the online application is 14 October 2026 at 11:59 PM and fee payment deadline is 16 October 2026.
What is the number of vacancies in RRB Paramedical CEN 05/2026?
There are 590 positions in total in nine paramedical categories such as Nursing Superintendent, Pharmacist, and Radiographer/X-ray Technician.
What is the RRB Paramedical exam pattern?
CBT: 100 questions for 100 marks in 90 minutes comprising 70 questions from Professional Ability, 10 questions from General Awareness, 10 questions from General Arithmetic/Reasoning and 10 questions from General Science.
Does the RRB Paramedical exam have negative markings?
Yes, 1/3 of the marks are deducted for every incorrect answer – no mark deducted for any unanswered questions.
How to select in the RRB Paramedical Recruitment 2026?
Selection is made on the basis of a single stage Computer Based Test, Document Verification and a Medical Examination.
What is the official place to find updates on exam date?
The candidates are advised to refer to the official Exam Date notice at rrbapply.gov.in or their respective regional RRB website for the official Exam Date.
My name is Santosh Rana, and I am the Founder and Content Writer at Taza News, where I actively cover Education, Board Exam Results, Admit Cards, Government Jobs, Technology, and Breaking News updates. As the founder of the platform, I am committed to building a trusted digital news source that delivers accurate, timely, and reader-friendly information to audiences across India.
