Railway RRB Exam Calendar 2026 (Updated): Check CBT 1 & 2 Dates
Railway RRB Exam Calendar 2026: The Railway Recruitment Board (RRB) has officially released its updated and revised examination calendar for the year 2026. If you have applied—or are planning to apply—for major railway recruitments like RRB ALP, NTPC, Junior Engineer (JE), or Level-1 (Group D), staying tracked with this schedule is critical for your preparation.
By keeping a close eye on the latest RRB Exam Calendar 2026, candidates can align their study plans with the official timeline for CBT-1, CBT-2, Skill Tests, and Document Verification (DV) across all major railway
boards.
RRB Exam Calendar 2026: Comprehensive Exam Schedule & Timeline
According to the official notification, RRB aims to finalize the selection process (from exams to medical tests) within the next 6 months to 1 year for most categories. Candidates waiting for the new notification can also check our latest update on other upcoming jobs on our Home Page.
The detailed breakdown of the RRB Exam Calendar 2026 is given below:
| Exam Name | CEN No. | Vacancies Notified | 1st Stage CBT Dates | Second Stage CBT / PET | 3rd Stage (CBAT/TST) / DV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level-1 (Group D) | 08/2024 | 32,438 | 27.11.2025 to 10.02.2026 | NA | To be announced |
| Assistant Loco Pilots (ALPs) | 01/2025 | 10,970 | 13.02.2026 to 11.03.2026 | 28.07.2026 | 30.10.2026 (CBAT) / Nov 2026 (DV) |
| Section Controller | 04/2025 | 368 | 11.02.2026 & 12.02.2026 | NA | 06.06.2026 / Aug 2026 (DV) |
| Junior Engineer (JE)/DMS/CMA | 05/2025 | 2,585 | 19.02.2026 to 25.02.2026 | 02.07.2026 | NA / Sep 2026 (DV) |
| NTPC – Graduate Level | 06/2025 | 5,810 | 16.03.2026 to 27.03.2026 | 10.07.2026 | 30.09.2026 / Dec 2026 (DV) |
| NTPC – Under-Graduate Level | 07/2025 | 3,058 | 07.05.2026 to 20.06.2026 | 17.09.2026 | 04.12.2026 / Mar 2027 (DV) |
Important Note for NTPC UG: A massive pool of approximately 25 lakh candidates are scheduled to appear for their pending exams between June 13 and June 20, 2026. Make sure to download the complete RRB Exam Calendar 2026 PDF from the important links section below.
RRB Annual Recruitment Cycle 2026 (Upcoming Notifications)
To regularize recruitment, the Railway Board follows a structured annual cycle for assessing vacancies and issuing fresh Centralized Employment Notifications (CEN) as per the RRB Exam Calendar 2026:
RRB Tentative New Vacancy Annual Cycle 2026
| Period | Categories / Posts | Vacancies Assessment Upto | Assessment Month | Indent Month | Proposal for Draft CEN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January – March | Assistant Loco Pilot (ALP) | 30.06.2027 | December 2025 | January 2026 | February 2026 |
| April – June | Technicians | 30.06.2027 | January 2026 | February 2026 | March 2026 |
| April – June | Section Controller | 30.06.2027 | February 2026 | March 2026 | April 2026 |
| July – September | Junior Engineers / DMS / CMA | 30.09.2027 | May-June 2026 | June-July 2026 | July 2026 |
| July – September | Paramedical Categories | 30.09.2027 | May-June 2026 | June-July 2026 | July 2026 |
| July – September | NTPC Graduate (Level 4, 5, 6) & Under Graduate (Level 2, 3) | 30.09.2027 | June 2026 | July 2026 | August 2026 |
| October – December | Ministerial & Isolated Categories | 31.12.2027 | August 2026 | September 2026 | September 2026 |
| October – December | Level 1 (Group D) | 31.12.2027 | August 2026 | September 2026 | October 2026 |
Designated Nodal RRBs for 2026 Recruitment
To ensure seamless execution, specific regional boards have been assigned as the Nodal RRB managing authority for each major recruitment drive mentioned in the RRB Exam Calendar 2026:
- Assistant Loco Pilot (ALP): RRB Jammu
- Technicians: RRB Thiruvananthapuram
- Junior Engineer (JE/DMS/CMA): RRB Bhubaneswar
- NTPC Graduate: RRB Prayagraj
- NTPC Undergraduate: RRB Ahmedabad
- Section Controller: RRB Mumbai
- Level 1 (Group D): RRB Chandigarh
- Paramedical Categories: RRB Bilaspur
- Ministerial & Isolated Categories: RRB Guwahati
Important Links
| Content Type | Issued On | Official Link |
|---|---|---|
| Updated Exam Calendar 2026 | 13/06/2026 | Click Here |
| Tentative Exam Calendar 2026 | 12/12/2025 | Click Here |
| Official RRB Website Link | 12/12/2025 | Click Here |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1. When are the CBT-1 exams for RRB NTPC Under-Graduate posts scheduled?
Ans: As per the RRB Exam Calendar 2026, the CBT-1 exams for NTPC UG are split into two phases: May 7 to May 9, 2026, and June 13 to June 20, 2026.
Q2. What is the exam date for RRB Junior Engineer (JE) Stage 2 CBT?
Ans: The Second Stage CBT for Junior Engineer recruitment is scheduled to take place on July 2, 2026.
Q3. When can candidates expecting final selection look forward to Document Verification?
Ans: As per the updated RRB Exam Calendar 2026 timeline, the Document Verification (DV) and Medical Examination (ME) phase for ALP will commence in November 2026.
Disclaimer: This information serves as a quick reference guide for candidates. Always cross-verify dates and guidelines on the official regional RRB websites before making any travel or exam arrangements.