**Executive Summary**
Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw reviewed the Railway Recruitment Board (RRB) process on June 12, 2026, emphasizing transparency and the acceleration of recruitment through technology. In FY 2025-26, Indian Railways recruited 43,781 candidates across six major categories, including Assistant Loco Pilots and Technicians. Key focus areas include the expansion of tablet-based testing and adherence to an annual recruitment calendar to ensure predictability for aspirants through 2026 and 2027.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Recruitment Performance (FY 2025-26)**
* A total of 43,781 candidates were empanelled against 47,084 notified vacancies.
* Major recruitment figures include 18,799 Assistant Loco Pilots, 14,298 Technicians, 7,951 Junior Engineers (JE/DMS/CMA), and 1,376 Paramedical staff.
* Other completed recruitments involved 4,208 Constables and 452 Sub-Inspectors.
**Technological Integration and Accessibility**
* All departmental examinations have been shifted to Computer Based Test (CBT) mode.
* The Ministry plans to expand tablet-based testing to make recruitment faster, more efficient, and user-friendly.
* Examinations are conducted in 15 languages to ensure fair participation for candidates from diverse linguistic backgrounds.
* A multi-city and multi-shift framework is utilized to manage the high volume of applicants.
**Recruitment Framework and Scheduling**
* The implementation of an annual recruitment calendar and quarterly notifications has been established to aid candidate preparation.
* NTPC Graduate level (CEN 05/2024) empanelment is expected from July 2026.
* NTPC Under-Graduate level (CEN 07/2025) 1st Stage CBT is scheduled for May–June 2026, catering to approximately 25 lakh candidates.
* Final selections for Level-1 (CEN 08/2024) and Assistant Loco Pilots (CEN 01/2025) are expected within the next 6 to 12 months.
**Communication and Integrity**
* RRBs have been directed to strengthen communication with stakeholders to maintain confidence in the process.
* A mandate has been issued to promptly counter misinformation with accurate, real-time updates.
**Impact Analysis**
**Candidates / Aspirants**
**Impact**
Aspirants benefit from a predictable preparation timeline due to the annual calendar and improved accessibility via multi-lingual exam support.
**Action Required**
Candidates should align their study schedules with the annual recruitment calendar and rely on official RRB channels to avoid misinformation.
**Railway Recruitment Boards (RRBs)**
**Impact**
RRBs are tasked with managing large-scale, complex logistics for multi-shift exams and transitioning to more advanced technology-driven testing platforms.
**Action Required**
Boards must implement tablet-based testing where feasible, ensure technological robustness for CBTs, and proactively manage public communication.
**Departmental Employees**
**Impact**
Internal staff seeking promotion or shifts are now required to undergo departmental examinations exclusively through CBT and potentially tablet-based formats.
**Action Required**
Employees must familiarize themselves with digital testing interfaces for departmental examinations.
Key Entities Referenced
Railway Recruitment Board (RRB): The primary administrative body responsible for managing the large-scale, multi-lingual recruitment examinations for various categories within Indian Railways.
Ministry of Railways: The central government ministry overseeing the Indian Railways' recruitment policies, technological modernization, and departmental examination reforms.
Ashwini Vaishnaw: The Union Minister for Railways who chaired the review of the recruitment process and directed the shift toward technology-driven, transparent systems.
Annual Recruitment Calendar: A strategic scheduling initiative designed to provide candidates with predictable vacancy notifications and a structured framework for exam preparation.
Ministry of Railways
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw Reviews RRB
Recruitment Process
More Transparency, Accuracy and Faster Completion of
Recruitment Processes Emphasized
All Departmental Examinations Now Conducted Through
CBT; Railways to Expand Tablet-Based Testing: Ashwini
Vaishnaw
43,781 Candidates Given Railway Employment in FY 2025-26
as Indian Railways Accelerates Recruitment Through
Structured and Technology-Driven Process
18,799 Assistant Loco Pilots, 14,298 Technicians and 1,376
Paramedical Staff Recruited by Railways in Last Fiscal
Vacancy Notifications Under Annual Recruitment Calendar
Well Received by Candidates: Ashwini Vaishnaw
प्रव तथ: 12 JUN 2026 7:30PM by PIB Delhi
Union Minister for Railways, Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw today held a high-level review meeting with senior
officials of Indian Railways on the Railway Recruitment Board (RRB) recruitment process. He
underlined the need for a more transparent, accurate and technology-driven system.
Indian Railways has recruited 43,781 candidates in FY 2025-26 through completed recruitment cycles
covering 47,084 vacancies across six major categories, reflecting the ongoing acceleration of its
recruitment process. These include 18,799 vacancies for Assistant Loco Pilots, 14,298 for Technicians,
452 for Sub-Inspectors, 4,208 for Constables, 7,951 for Junior Engineers (JE)/DMS/CMA, and 1,376 for
Paramedical categories.
Completed Recruitments
Posts CEN No. Vac notified Vac notified Empanelled
(Recruited) till dateAssistant Loco CEN 01/2024 18799 Dec'25 17193
Pilots (ALPs)
Technicians CEN 02/2024 14298 July'25 13416
Sub-Inspectors CEN RPF 01/2024 452 Jan'26 450
Constables CEN RPF 02/2024 4208 Mar'26 4205
Junior Engineer CEN 03/2024 7951 Oct'25 7333
(JE)/DMS/CMA
Paramedical CEN 04/2024 1376 Oct'25 1184
categories
Indian Railways remains firmly committed to strengthening its workforce through continuous and timely
recruitment initiatives. With a clear focus on enhancing transparency, efficiency, and the use of advanced
technology in the recruitment process, the organization aims to attract and onboard talented individuals
across various categories.
Exams Held & Results Declared
Name of CEN Vac 1st Stage Second 3rd Stage DV & Empan
Exam notified CBT Stage CBAT/ ME (onwar
No.
CBT/PET (onwards)
TST/CBTST
etc.
NTPC – CEN 8113 05.06.25 13.10.2025 28.12.2025 May'26 July'26
Graduate 05/2024 to & onwards* onward
level 24.06.25 11.02.2026
NTPC – CEN 3445 7.08.2025 20.12.2025 13.02.2026 June'26* Aug26
Under- 06/2024 to
Graduate 09.09.2025
level (19 days;
57 shifts)
Ministerial CEN 1036 10.09.2025 28.12.2025 NA June'26** July'26
&
07/2024 to
Isolated 13.09.2025
CategoriesTechnicians CEN 6238 06.03.2026 NA NA June'26 Aug26
02/2025 to
13.03.2026
Paramedical CEN 434 11.03.2026 NA NA June'26 Aug26
categories 03/2025 to
13.03.2026
NTPC: Non Technical Popular Categories
* DV for Non-Typing categories have commenced; Results of Typing categories is expected shortly
** DV for Non-Teaching categories have commenced; Results of Teaching categories is expected shortly
The recruitment process of the Railway Recruitment Boards is inherently complex and large-scale, with
examinations conducted across multiple cities and centres nationwide. These Computer Based Tests are
held in multiple shifts to accommodate the large volume of candidates and are conducted in as many as
15 languages to ensure accessibility for aspirants from diverse linguistic backgrounds. This multi-city,
multi-shift and multilingual framework requires extensive coordination and robust technological systems
to ensure fairness, standardisation and transparency across the entire recruitment process.
Examinations with Final Selection Expected in Next 6 months to 1 year
Name of Exam CEN Vac 1st Stage Second 3rd Stage DV &
No. CBT Stage CBAT/ ME (
CBT/PET (onwards)
notified TST/CBTST
etc.
Level-1 CEN 32438 27.11.2025 NA
to
08/2024
10.02.2026
Assistant Loco CEN 10970 13.02.26 to 28.07.2026 *30th Oct'26 Nov'26 D
01/2025
Pilots (ALPs) 11.03.26 (1,50,000) (90,000)
Section CEN 368 11.02.26 & NA 06.06.2026 Aug'26 S
Controller
04/2025 12.02.26 (3000)
Junior Engineer CEN 2585 19.02.26, 02.07.2026 NA Sep'26 O
(JE)/DMS/CMA
05/2025 20.02.26 & (38860)
25.02.26
NTPC – CEN 5810 16.03.26 to 10.07.2026 *30.09.2026 Dec'26 J
Graduate level 06/2025 27.03.26NTPC – CEN 3058 07.05.2026 *17.09.2026 *04.12.2026 Mar'27 A
to
Under-Graduate 07/2025
09.05.2026
level and
13.06.2026
to
20.06.2026
(exam due
for 25
lakhs
candidates)
* Tentative dates of Exams
The Railway Minister noted that the annual recruitment calendar, coupled with quarterly notifications of
vacancies, has been well received by candidates. He said the calendar-based recruitment framework has
enabled aspirants to plan their preparation more effectively. It brings greater predictability to the
recruitment process. Emphasizing the need for continuous improvement, Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw stated
that the Railway recruitment system must keep evolving through the use of technology, faster processes
and greater accountability.
Shri Vaishnaw further reviewed the progress made in shifting departmental examinations to Computer
Based Test (CBT) mode and stressed that more and more tablet-based examinations should be introduced
wherever feasible, so that recruitment becomes faster, more efficient and user-friendly.
Multi-language support in examinations was also highlighted, with the examinations already being
conducted in multiple languages across various cities and multiple shifts, ensuring wider accessibility for
candidates from diverse linguistic backgrounds across the country and enabling fair and equal
participation in the recruitment process without language becoming a barrier.
The Union Minister also directed Railway Recruitment Boards to strengthen communication with
candidates and stakeholders. He further underlined that misinformation must be countered promptly with
correct information, so that candidates receive accurate updates and confidence in the recruitment process
remains strong.
Indian Railways remains committed to a fair, transparent and merit-based recruitment system, supported
by technology, structured planning and continuous reforms for the benefit of young aspirants across the
country.
*****
Dharmendra Tewari/ Dr. Nayan Solanki/ Ritu Raj/ Manik Sharma
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