RRB Group D CBT 1 Exam Date 2026 Out: Full Schedule, Admit Card and Key Details

The Railway Recruitment Board (RRB) has finally ended the long wait for lakhs of Group D aspirants. On 3rd July 2026, RRB released an official notice confirming the exam schedule for the CBT 1 exam under CEN 09/2025 — popularly known as the RRB Group D Recruitment 2026.

If you've applied for this recruitment drive, here's everything you need to know about the exam dates, admit card, vacancy details, and what to do next.

RRB Group D CBT 1 Exam Dates 2026

The Computer Based Test (CBT 1) will be conducted from 3rd August to 21st August 2026 across more than 200 exam centres in over 21 railway zones nationwide. Given the massive number of applicants — reportedly close to a crore — the exam has been spread across nearly three weeks and multiple daily shifts to accommodate everyone smoothly.

Each day's test will typically run in three shifts, though the exact shift-wise and date-wise allotment for individual candidates will be shared separately through the exam city intimation link, not in this general notice.

Recruitment Overview: CEN 09/2025

Here's a quick snapshot of the drive:

Detail	Information
Conducting Body	Railway Recruitment Board (RRB)
Notification Name	CEN 09/2025
Total Vacancies	22,195 (Level 1 posts)
Notification Released	30th January 2026
Application Window	31st January – 9th March 2026
Exam Schedule Released	3rd July 2026
CBT 1 Exam Dates	3rd August – 21st August 2026
Exam Mode	Computer Based Test (CBT)
Pay Level	Level 1, 7th CPC Pay Matrix

Posts on Offer

The recruitment covers several Level 1 technical and non-technical roles across Indian Railways, including:

• Track Maintainer
• Pointsman
• Assistant (various trades)
• Assistant Loco Shed
• Assistant Operations
• Assistant (TL & AC)

Eligibility Criteria

Before appearing for the exam, it's worth revisiting who qualifies:

• Educational Qualification: Class 10th pass from a recognised board, OR an ITI/National Apprenticeship Certificate (NAC) issued by NCVT/SCVT.
• Age Limit (as on 1st January 2026): Minimum 18 years, maximum 33 years, with standard age relaxations applicable for reserved categories.

Admit Card and City Intimation Slip

Here's the timeline candidates should track closely:

• Exam City Intimation Slip: Expected to be released around 10 days before each candidate's scheduled exam date. This will confirm your allotted exam city and tentative date.
• Admit Card / E-Call Letter: Likely to be available for download around 4 days before your actual exam date, from the official regional RRB login portal.
• Travel Authority (for SC/ST candidates): Will also be issued through the same city intimation link.

No separate requests for changing exam dates or centres will be entertained, so candidates should plan travel and revision accordingly once their slot is confirmed.

Important: Aadhaar-Based Biometric Authentication

Aadhaar-linked biometric verification is mandatory at the exam centre this year. Candidates must carry either their original Aadhaar card or a printout of their e-verified Aadhaar, and should make sure their Aadhaar is unlocked in the UIDAI system well before exam day to avoid last-minute issues at the centre.

Selection Process

The RRB Group D recruitment follows a multi-stage selection process:

1. Computer Based Test (CBT 1)
2. Physical Efficiency Test (PET)
3. Document Verification (DV)
4. Medical Examination

Only candidates who clear each stage will move to the next, with the final selection based on overall performance and category-wise cutoffs.

What Should Candidates Do Now?

With just about a month left before the exam window opens, candidates should:

• Begin focused revision of General Science, Mathematics, General Awareness, General Intelligence & Reasoning, and Current Affairs.
• Regularly check the official RRB website and regional portals for the city intimation slip and admit card release.
• Keep Aadhaar details updated and verified in advance.
• Avoid relying on unofficial sources — all updates are shared only via official RRB websites, SMS, and email.

Quick FAQs

Q1. When will the RRB Group D CBT 1 exam 2026 be held? The exam will be conducted from 3rd August to 21st August 2026.

Q2. How many vacancies are there in this recruitment? A total of 22,195 Level 1 vacancies under CEN 09/2025.

Q3. When will the admit card be released? The admit card/e-call letter is expected around 4 days before each candidate's individual exam date.

Q4. Is Aadhaar verification compulsory for the exam? Yes, Aadhaar-based biometric authentication is mandatory at all exam centres this year.

(This post is based on the official RRB notice dated 3rd July 2026 and details reported by leading education news portals. Candidates are advised to cross-check all information on the official RRB regional websites before the exam.)