Indian Railways Opens 6,557 Technician Posts Under CEN 02/2026 — Grade-I Signal & Grade-III
The Railway Recruitment Boards (RRBs) have released the detailed notification (CEN 02/2026) for Technician posts, opening a massive 6,557 vacancies across all 21 RRBs. This is a wonderful chance for ITI holders, diploma students and science graduates who dream of a permanent job in Indian Railways. There are 323 posts for Technician Grade-I Signal (Pay Level 5) and 6,234 posts for Technician Grade-III (Pay Level 2), spread across 24 trades. After the earlier short notice, the full CEN now gives complete details on eligibility, fees, exam pattern and zone-wise vacancies for railway jobs seekers.
Online applications open on 30 June 2026 and the last date to apply is 29 July 2026 (11:59 PM). If you have passed Class 10th with an ITI, or hold an engineering diploma or a B.Sc degree, you should not miss this opportunity. In this guide on GovtJobsAlert.in, we explain the full vacancy split, salary, age limit, application fee, selection process and the step-by-step apply method in very simple language. Read till the end so you do not miss any important date or eligibility rule.
Key Highlights — RRB Technician CEN 02/2026
The Railway Recruitment Boards, under the Ministry of Railways, conduct centralised recruitment for technical posts in Indian Railways. CEN 02/2026 is one of the biggest technician hiring drives of the year, filling posts in all zonal railways, production units and workshops. This is a great chance for 10th pass and ITI candidates to enter Indian Railways. Here are the key highlights at a glance.
- Post Names: Technician Grade-I Signal & Technician Grade-III (24 trades)
- Total Vacancies: 6,557 (323 + 6,234)
- Pay Level: Level 5 (Grade-I Signal) & Level 2 (Grade-III)
- Job Location: All India (21 RRBs)
- Last Date to Apply: 29 July 2026
How Many Vacancies in RRB Technician 2026? (Grade-wise Breakdown)
The 6,557 posts are divided between two grades. Here is the grade-wise split.
| Post Name | Pay Level | Vacancies |
|---|---|---|
| Technician Grade-I Signal | Level 5 | 323 |
| Technician Grade-III (24 trades) | Level 2 | 6,234 |
| Total | — | 6,557 |
The 6,234 Grade-III posts are spread across 24 different trades. The largest ones are:
- Fitter (Production Unit & Workshop): 1,109
- Welder (Production Unit & Workshop): 584
- Carriage & Wagon: 501
- Fitter (Open Line): 469
- Diesel Mechanical: 346
- Electrical (General Services): 329
- Technician (S&T): 320
- Blacksmith: 306
- Electrical / TRS: 268
- Carpenter (Workshop): 229
- Diesel Electrical: 206
- Mechanical (Workshop): 193
There are 12 more trades, including Welder (Open Line), Refrigeration & AC, EMU, Electrical (TRD), Track Machine, Millwright, Machinist, Painter, Crane Driver, Bridge and Trimmer — see the full list in the official notification PDF (link in Essential Links below). Across all RRBs, the posts are reserved category-wise as UR 2,728; OBC-NCL 1,565; SC 1,009; EWS 658; and ST 597. Horizontal reservation includes 661 posts for Ex-Servicemen and 330 for Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD).
RRB-wise Vacancy Distribution for RRB Technician 2026
The vacancies are shared across all 21 Railway Recruitment Boards. Grade-I means Grade-I Signal and Grade-III covers all trades together.
| RRB | Grade-I | Grade-III |
|---|---|---|
| Ahmedabad | 37 | 243 |
| Ajmer | 10 | 219 |
| Bengaluru | 18 | 227 |
| Bhopal | 3 | 223 |
| Bhubaneswar | 2 | 134 |
| Bilaspur | 0 | 102 |
| Chandigarh | 2 | 510 |
| Chennai | 19 | 591 |
| Gorakhpur | 6 | 163 |
| Guwahati | 11 | 450 |
| Jammu-Srinagar | 0 | 26 |
| Kolkata | 29 | 552 |
| Malda | 23 | 119 |
| Mumbai | 59 | 1,037 |
| Muzaffarpur | 22 | 86 |
| Patna | 6 | 49 |
| Prayagraj | 20 | 262 |
| Ranchi | 17 | 230 |
| Secunderabad | 4 | 395 |
| Siliguri | 14 | 226 |
| Thiruvananthapuram | 21 | 390 |
The largest recruiters are Mumbai (1,096), Chennai (610) and Kolkata (581). Choose your RRB carefully, because you can apply to only one RRB for each pay level.
What is the Eligibility for RRB Technician 2026?
Read the qualification and age rules carefully before you apply, because the requirements are different for the two grades.
Educational Qualification
- Technician Grade-I Signal: B.Sc. in Physics, Electronics, Computer Science, IT or Instrumentation; OR a 3-year Diploma in Engineering; OR a Degree in Engineering in these streams.
- Technician Grade-III: Class 10th (Matriculation / SSLC) pass PLUS a National or State Trade Certificate (ITI) in the trade notified for the post; OR a Course Completed Act Apprenticeship (CCAA) in that trade. For Technician Grade-III (S&T), candidates with 10+2 (with Physics and Maths) are also eligible.
Each Grade-III post accepts its own list of ITI trades — common eligible trades include Fitter, Welder, Electrician, Wireman, Electronics Mechanic, Mechanic Diesel and Machinist. Always check the exact trade list for your chosen post in the notification PDF.
Age Limit
- Technician Grade-I Signal: 18 to 33 years
- Technician Grade-III: 18 to 30 years
- Age is calculated as on 1 July 2026.
- Age relaxation: OBC-NCL 3 years, SC/ST 5 years, and PwBD 10 years (for UR). Ex-Servicemen and other special categories get further relaxation as per railway rules.
What is the Salary for RRB Technician 2026?
Railway Technician jobs offer a stable government salary with regular increments. The starting pay depends on the grade you are selected for.
- Technician Grade-I Signal: 7th CPC Pay Level 5, initial basic pay ₹29,200 per month.
- Technician Grade-III: 7th CPC Pay Level 2, initial basic pay ₹19,900 per month.
Apart from the basic pay, you also get Dearness Allowance (DA), House Rent Allowance (HRA), Transport Allowance and other railway benefits, which make your total monthly salary much higher than the basic pay.
Indian Railways jobs also bring strong job security, free and concessional travel passes, medical facilities, pension benefits and good career growth through departmental promotions. This makes the Technician post a very attractive long-term career.
What is the Selection Process for RRB Technician 2026?
The selection is done in three simple stages, based mainly on your performance in the written exam.
- Computer Based Test (CBT) — a separate CBT is held for each pay level.
- Document Verification (DV) — candidates are shortlisted RRB-wise at 1:1 of the vacancies, based on CBT merit.
- Medical Examination — selected candidates must pass the medical standard fixed for their post.
Exam Pattern — Technician Grade-I Signal (Level 5)
| Subject | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| General Awareness | 10 | 10 |
| General Intelligence & Reasoning | 15 | 15 |
| Basics of Computers & Applications | 20 | 20 |
| Mathematics | 20 | 20 |
| Basic Science & Engineering | 35 | 35 |
The paper has 100 questions for 100 marks in 90 minutes, with 1/3rd negative marking for each wrong answer.
Exam Pattern — Technician Grade-III (Level 2)
| Subject | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Mathematics | 25 | 25 |
| General Intelligence & Reasoning | 25 | 25 |
| General Science | 40 | 40 |
| General Awareness | 10 | 10 |
This paper also has 100 questions for 100 marks in 90 minutes, with 1/3rd negative marking. The minimum qualifying marks are 40% for UR/EWS, 30% for OBC-NCL and SC, and 25% for ST. For full topic-wise preparation, check the RRB Technician syllabus and exam pattern on GovtJobsAlert.in.
How to Apply Online for RRB Technician 2026?
The application is fully online through the single-window RRB portal. Follow these steps carefully.
- Visit the official RRB application portal (link in Essential Links below) and create an account, or log in if you already registered for an earlier RRB exam.
- Verify your identity using DigiLocker or Aadhaar.
- Fill in your personal, educational and category details correctly.
- Apply separately for each pay level you are eligible for, and select only one RRB for each pay level.
- Set your preference order for the zonal railways and posts.
- Capture a live photograph and upload your signature as per the size rules.
- Pay the application fee online using net banking, debit/credit card or UPI.
- Submit the form and save the confirmation and registration number for future use.
What are the Important Dates for RRB Technician 2026?
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Notification (Employment News) | 23 May 2026 |
| Online Application Starts | 30 June 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply | 29 July 2026 (11:59 PM) |
| Last Date for Fee Payment | 31 July 2026 (11:59 PM) |
| Application Modification Window | 1–10 August 2026 |
| Age Reckoned As On | 1 July 2026 |
| CBT Exam Date | To be announced |
What is the Application Fee for RRB Technician 2026?
| Category | Fee |
|---|---|
| General, OBC & EWS | ₹500 (₹400 refunded on appearing in CBT) |
| Reserved categories | ₹250 (fully refunded on appearing in CBT) |
The concessional ₹250 fee applies to SC, ST, Ex-Servicemen, PwBD, women, transgender, minority and EBC candidates. The fee must be paid separately for each pay level. Payment is online only — through net banking, debit/credit card or UPI. The refund is credited to your Aadhaar-linked bank account after you appear in the CBT.
Essential Links — RRB Technician CEN 02/2026
- Download Official Notification PDF
- Apply Online for RRB Technician 2026
- Visit Official RRB Website
- Join WhatsApp Channel for Government Jobs
- Join Telegram Channel for Government Jobs
RRB Technician 2026 is one of the biggest railway recruitment chances this year, with 6,557 posts open across all 21 RRBs. Whether you are an ITI holder, a diploma student or a science graduate, there is a strong chance for you here. Start your preparation early, focus on Maths, Reasoning and General Science, and keep your documents ready. Apply before 29 July 2026 and do not wait for the last day. For the detailed CEN, exam updates and railway admit card alerts, keep visiting GovtJobsAlert.in. Beware of agents — the RRBs never charge money through middlemen.