How to apply for railway jobs (RRB and RRC)
Last reviewed 05 Oct 2026 · by the RingMyJob team
Indian Railways is one of the largest employers in the country, and it recruits through its own boards rather than through a single exam. Knowing who runs which recruitment makes it much easier to follow the right notices.
Who recruits
- Railway Recruitment Boards (RRBs) hold the large all-India recruitments for posts such as Non-Technical Popular Categories (clerical, commercial and station posts), Assistant Loco Pilot, Technician, Junior Engineer, paramedical staff and ministerial posts. The boards publish one combined notice, called a Centralised Employment Notice (CEN), and each board recruits for its own region.
- Railway Recruitment Cells (RRCs) of the railway zones handle other recruitments, including apprentices under the Apprentices Act and, in some years, entry-level posts.
- Some railway companies and units, such as production units and railway PSUs, run their own recruitments and publish them on their own websites.
How selection usually works
Most RRB recruitments start with a computer-based test (CBT). Depending on the post, it is followed by a second CBT, a skill or aptitude test, a physical efficiency test, document verification and a medical examination. Railway posts have medical standards that depend on the job, so check the standard for each post before you choose it.
Applying step by step
- Read the full CEN on the official RRB website. Note the last date, the age limit as on the cut-off date and the qualification for each post.
- For RRB recruitments you normally apply to only one board under a notice. Choose the board carefully; applying to more than one can get every application rejected.
- Register on the official application site linked from the notice, fill in the form, and upload your photo and signature in the size the notice asks for.
- Pay the fee online. For RRB exams, part or all of the fee has often been refunded to candidates who appear in the first test; the notice says exactly how much.
- Save the confirmation page and your registration number. You will need them for the admit card and the result.
Staying safe
Railway jobs are a favourite target for fraudsters. Nobody can get you a railway job for money, and genuine notices only come from official railway websites. Read our guide to spotting fake job notices, and see current openings on our railway jobs page, where every listing links to the official notice.
This guide gives general information. Rules, dates and fees differ between recruitments, so always read the official notification before you apply.