RRB Group D Recruitment 2026 Delayed: Application Dates Revised, Engineering Posts Dominate Vacancies

Overview

The Railway Recruitment Board (RRB) has officially postponed the start of the much-awaited RRB Group D Recruitment 2026, impacting over 22,000 aspirants across India. The application process, which was earlier scheduled to begin on January 21, will now commence from January 31, 2026, according to the latest update issued by the board.

This recruitment drive is considered one of the largest entry-level hiring initiatives by Indian Railways and is especially significant for candidates seeking technical and engineering-related roles.

Revised Application Schedule

As per the updated recruitment calendar released by RRB:

• Application Start Date: January 31, 2026

• Last Date to Apply: March 2, 2026 (11:59 PM)

• Mode of Application: Online

• Official Website: rrb.gov.in

Candidates are advised to apply only through the official portal to avoid misinformation and fraudulent websites.

Aadhaar Verification Mandatory: Important Advisory for Candidates

RRB has strongly advised all applicants to update and verify their Aadhaar details before submitting the online application form.

Key instructions include:

• Name and date of birth on Aadhaar must match the Class 10 certificate

• Recent, clear photograph should be uploaded

• Aadhaar-based verification is recommended to avoid delays during later recruitment stages

The board has clarified that applications not verified through Aadhaar may undergo additional scrutiny at every stage, which could slow down the selection process.

Educational Qualification Still Awaited

The short notification released so far does not clearly define the minimum educational qualification required for RRB Group D 2026.

There is ongoing speculation regarding:

• Whether ITI qualification will be mandatory, or

• Whether Class 10 pass candidates will be eligible without ITI

RRB is expected to release a detailed notification soon, which will clearly outline eligibility, age limits, reservation rules, and selection criteria.

Zone-Wise Vacancy Distribution

Preliminary data suggests that vacancies have been allocated across multiple railway zones. Some key highlights include:

• East Central Railway: 993 posts

• South Eastern Railway: 1,199 posts

Further zone-wise breakup will be released in the detailed notification.

Engineering Department Holds the Largest Share

One of the most notable aspects of the 2026 recruitment drive is the heavy concentration of vacancies in the engineering department.

Proposed distribution of major posts includes:

• Engineering Department (Total): ~12,500 posts

  • Track Maintainer Grade IV: ~11,000 posts

• Traffic Pointsman (Category B): ~5,000 posts

• Assistant (Signal & Telecommunication): ~1,500 posts

This makes the engineering stream the biggest employment generator under Group D this year.

Why This Recruitment Is Crucial

RRB Group D jobs are highly sought after due to:

• Job security under Indian Railways

• Stable salary with allowances

• Nationwide posting opportunities

• Promotion avenues through departmental exams

With unemployment remaining a concern among youth, this recruitment drive is expected to witness intense competition.

What Candidates Should Do Next

• Regularly monitor rrb.gov.in for updates

• Keep documents ready in digital format

• Avoid last-minute form submission

• Follow official notices only