Railway Recruitment Boards Extend Application Deadline for Major Group D Recruitment Drive
The Railway Recruitment Boards (RRBs), operating under the Government of India's Ministry of Railways, have officially announced a significant extension to the application submission deadline for a major recruitment initiative. This extension pertains specifically to CEN No. 09/2025, which is focused on filling various posts classified under Level 1 of the 7th Central Pay Commission (CPC) Pay Matrix.
Revised Schedule for Application Process
According to the latest official notification, issued through Corrigendum No. 4, the closing date and time for the online submission of applications has been pushed forward. The new deadline is now set for March 9, 2026, at 23:59 hours. This represents a one-week extension from the previously announced deadline of March 2, 2026, at the same time.
Furthermore, the schedule for the payment of application fees has also been adjusted. Candidates who have successfully submitted their applications must now ensure that their fee payments are completed by March 11, 2026, at 23:59 hours. This replaces the earlier deadline of March 4, 2026.
Updated Modification and Scribe Submission Windows
The period during which candidates can make corrections to their submitted application forms, along with paying any prescribed modification fees, has been rescheduled. This crucial modification window will now be active from March 12, 2026, to March 21, 2026 (23:59 hrs). It was previously slated to run from March 5 to March 14, 2026.
Important Note: Candidates should be aware that certain details, specifically those entered in the 'Create an Account' form and the chosen Railway zone, cannot be altered under any circumstances during this modification period.
For eligible candidates requiring the assistance of a scribe during the examination, the timeline for submitting scribe details has also been revised. The new submission window is from March 22, 2026, to March 26, 2026, replacing the earlier period of March 15 to March 19, 2026.
Unchanged Eligibility and Fee Structure
It is crucial for applicants to note that the core eligibility criteria and the application fee structure detailed in the original CEN No. 09/2025 notification remain completely unchanged. The recruitment drive aims to fill a substantial 22,195 vacancies under the Group D category.
Educational Qualification: Applicants must possess the prescribed educational and technical qualifications from a recognized board, institute, or university. Crucially, these qualifications must have been obtained on or before the original cutoff date of March 2, 2026.
Age Limit: The minimum age for application is 18 years, while the maximum age limit is set at 33 years, as per the existing rules.
Application Fees:
- General Category: The application fee is Rs 500. Of this amount, Rs 400 will be refunded to the candidate (after deducting applicable bank charges) upon their appearance in the Computer-Based Test (CBT).
- Reserved Categories: Candidates belonging to SC, ST, Ex-Servicemen, Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD), Female, Transgender, Minority communities, and Economically Backward Class (EBC) categories are required to pay a reduced fee of Rs 250. This fee will also be refunded in full after the candidate appears for the CBT.
Official Advisory and Key Points
The Railway Recruitment Boards have clarified that all other terms, conditions, and provisions outlined in the original CEN No. 09/2025 notification, published on January 31, 2026, remain in full effect. This extension and the associated schedule changes are the only modifications being made at this time.
Prospective applicants are strongly advised to regularly visit the official RRB websites for the most current updates, official notices, and any further announcements regarding this recruitment process. Staying informed through official channels is essential to avoid missing critical deadlines or information.
This recruitment drive represents a significant opportunity for job seekers across India, offering thousands of stable positions within the Indian Railways. Candidates are encouraged to utilize the extended timeline to carefully prepare and submit their applications, ensuring all details are accurate and complete.
