RRB CEN 09/2026 Isolated Categories: 191 vacancies, apply online till 4 December 2026
Exam update for RRB aspirants
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The Railway Recruitment Boards (RRBs) of the Ministry of Railways have published the detailed Centralised Employment Notification (CEN) No. 09/2026 for recruitment to various posts of Isolated Categories. The notice was uploaded on 5 November 2026 and announces 191 vacancies across seven posts.
The online application window opened on 5 November 2026 and closes on 4 December 2026 at 23:59 hours. Applications are accepted only online.
Important dates
| Indicative Notice in Employment News | 24 October 2026 |
|---|---|
| Online application opens | 5 November 2026 |
| Last date to submit online application | 4 December 2026, 23:59 hours |
| Last date for fee payment | 6 December 2026, 23:59 hours |
| Modification window (with fee) | 7 December 2026 to 16 December 2026 |
What happened?
CEN 09/2026 follows the Indicative Notice published in Employment News on 24 October 2026. The seven posts, their pay levels and vacancies are:
| Post | Department | Pay Level (Initial Pay) | Age (as on 01.01.2027) | Vacancies |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chief Law Assistant | Personnel | 7 (Rs 44,900) | 18-40 years | 17 |
| Public Prosecutor | Personnel | 7 (Rs 44,900) | 18-32 years | 21 |
| Senior Publicity Inspector | Commercial | 6 (Rs 35,400) | 18-33 years | 8 |
| Junior Translator/Hindi | Personnel | 6 (Rs 35,400) | 18-33 years | 79 |
| Staff and Welfare Inspector | Personnel | 6 (Rs 35,400) | 18-33 years | 27 |
| Scientific Assistant (Training) | RDSO | 6 (Rs 35,400) | 18-35 years | 3 |
| Lab Assistant Gr. III (Chemist and Metallurgist) | Mechanical (CMT) | 2 (Rs 19,900) | 18-30 years | 36 |
The RRB-wise and Railway Zone-wise distribution of vacancies is given in Annexure B of the notice. The CEN states that these vacancies are provisional and may increase or decrease.
Background and context
The detailed CEN is hosted on the unified official RRB website, https://rrb.indianrailways.gov.in, from where candidates can reach the pages of individual RRBs. The application link is live on https://www.rrbapply.gov.in. Candidates who created an account during earlier RRB CENs of 2024, 2025 or 2026 must use the same account credentials to apply.
Application fee
- Rs 500 for all candidates except those listed below; Rs 400 is refunded, after deducting bank charges, on appearing in the CBT.
- Rs 250 for SC, ST, Ex-Servicemen, PwBD, Female, Transgender, Minority and Economically Backward Class (EBC) candidates; the full Rs 250 is refunded, after deducting bank charges, on appearing in the CBT.
- Fee is payable online only, through internet banking, debit/credit cards or UPI.
Selection process and exam pattern
Selection involves a Single Stage Computer Based Test (CBT), a Translation Test (as applicable), and Document Verification and Medical Examination. The CBT has 100 questions in 90 minutes (120 minutes for candidates eligible for a scribe). For all posts except Junior Translator/Hindi, the indicative pattern is:
- Professional Ability: 50 questions
- General Awareness: 15
- General Intelligence and Reasoning: 15
- Mathematics: 10
- General Science: 10
There is negative marking of 1/3 mark for each wrong answer. Candidates for DV and Medical Examination will be shortlisted RRB-wise at a ratio of 1:1 to vacancies.
Key instructions
- A candidate may apply to only one RRB. Multiple applications lead to rejection of all applications and debarment.
- Educational qualifications must be held by the closing date; those awaiting final results should not apply.
- Details in the 'Create an Account' form and the chosen RRB cannot be modified.
- Other details can be corrected from 7 to 16 December 2026 on payment of a non-refundable modification fee of Rs 250 for each occasion.
- Candidates are advised to authenticate their identity using DigiLocker or Aadhaar.
Why is this important?
CEN 09/2026 offers Group C posts in specialised areas such as law, translation, publicity, staff welfare and laboratory work, with a single-stage CBT. Candidates with the specific qualifications listed in Annexure A have a short window, as the application closes on 4 December 2026 and no corrections are accepted after 16 December 2026.
Exam relevance
RRB relevance
RRB aspirants should note the post-wise age limits, the Rs 500/Rs 250 fee structure and the CBT pattern, where Professional Ability carries 50 of the 100 marks. The Professional Ability syllabus for each post is given in Annexures IX to XV of the CEN.
Key takeaways
- RRBs published detailed CEN 09/2026 for 191 Isolated Category posts on 5 November 2026.
- Online applications under CEN 09/2026 close on 4 December 2026 at 23:59 hours on rrbapply.gov.in.
- Junior Translator/Hindi has 79 of the 191 vacancies; Public Prosecutor has 21 and Chief Law Assistant 17.
- The CEN 09/2026 fee is Rs 500 (Rs 400 refundable) or Rs 250 (fully refundable) for SC, ST, ExSM, PwBD, women, transgender, minority and EBC candidates.
- Selection under CEN 09/2026 is through a single-stage CBT of 100 questions in 90 minutes, a Translation Test where applicable, and DV/Medical Examination.
- Application details can be modified from 7 to 16 December 2026 for a fee of Rs 250 per occasion.
