Latest verified update
CEN 02/2026 Technician CBT is scheduled for 6–9 October 2026. An official 4 October notice changes one Sikar centre for affected Grade III candidates on 6–7 October; read that notice and your candidate instructions. Grade I Signal and Grade III have different subject distributions.
At a glance
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| CEN | 02/2026 |
| Initial advertised vacancies | 6,557: Grade I Signal 323; Grade III 6,234 |
| Age on 1 July 2026 | Grade I Signal 18–33; Grade III 18–30 before prescribed relaxations |
| Initial basic pay | Grade I Signal Level 5: ₹29,200; Grade III Level 2: ₹19,900 |
| CBT | 100 questions; 90 minutes; separate CBT for each pay level |
| Selection | CBT, document verification and medical examination |
Latest notices and notification PDF
The September schedule places CBT on 6–9 October. The 27 September notice announced city/date access and described tentative call-letter availability four days before the individual test date. Check the date, grade, venue and reporting time on your own call letter.
The 4 October notice affects candidates assigned to Akhil Bharati Vidyapeeth College of Nursing, Sikar, for 6–7 October. It changes the centre while retaining those dates; other candidates’ schedules are unchanged. Read the official correction for the replacement venue and candidate-specific instructions.
Official reference: Sikar centre correction.
Official reference: City-intimation and helpdesk notice.
Official reference: Full notification.
Important dates
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Original applications | 30 June–29 July 2026 — closed |
| Fee deadline for submitted forms | 31 July 2026 — closed |
| Modification window | 1–10 August 2026 — closed |
| Eligible scribe details | 11–15 August 2026 — closed |
| CBT schedule | 6–9 October 2026 |
| Sikar centre notice | 4 October; applies to specified candidates on 6–7 October |
Salary, qualification and post conditions
Grade I Signal starts at Level 5 basic pay of ₹29,200; Grade III at Level 2 basic pay of ₹19,900. Basic pay is not take-home pay. Allowances, posting, applicable service rules and deductions change the amount received; no single guaranteed net salary is stated here.
Check Annexure A for the exact post qualification, permitted trade/discipline and medical standard. Medical categories vary even within Grade III, including A3, B1, B2 and C1 entries. Do not assume an ITI, diploma or degree qualifies its holder for every technician category. The notification also explains merged post categories and preferences.
Selection is based on CBT merit for the respective pay level, followed by document verification and medical requirements. The RRB recommends candidates; the Railway administration issues appointments after the applicable checks.
Official reference: Post table, Annexures A–C and paragraph 16.2.
Exam pattern and subject-wise marks
| Subject | Questions / marks |
|---|---|
| General Awareness | 10 |
| General Intelligence and Reasoning | 15 |
| Basics of Computers and Applications | 20 |
| Mathematics | 20 |
| Basic Science and Engineering | 35 |
| Total | 100 |
| Subject | Questions / marks |
|---|---|
| Mathematics | 25 |
| General Intelligence and Reasoning | 25 |
| General Science | 40 |
| General Awareness | 10 |
| Total | 100 |
Each CBT has 100 questions in 90 minutes. One-third of a mark is deducted for a wrong answer; multi-shift marks are normalised. The notice calls these distributions indicative, so an exact subject count is not guaranteed. Eligible candidates receive compensatory time under paragraph 14.7, including the prescribed 20 minutes per examination hour.
Qualifying minima are UR/EWS 40%, OBC-NCL/SC 30% and ST 25%, with a conditional two-mark relaxation where PwBD vacancies cannot be filled. These minima are not the final competitive cut-off.
Official reference: Paragraph 16.1.
Previous papers and preparation
Match every paper to Grade I Signal or Grade III, its original date, shift and source. Attempt timed sets, apply negative marking, then review errors by topic. Preparation recommendations are editorial and do not predict the next paper’s questions.
Related pages: Technician syllabus, previous-paper reference and salary guide.
Frequently asked questions
Are Grade I Signal and Grade III syllabuses identical?
No. Grade I includes computers and Basic Science and Engineering; Grade III has its own four-subject distribution.
Is there a separate CBT for each pay level?
Yes, under CEN 02/2026.
Is ₹29,200 the guaranteed take-home pay?
No. It is Grade I Signal initial basic pay; net salary depends on allowances and deductions.
Does the Sikar notice change every candidate’s exam?
No. It concerns the specified centre and candidates; read the official notice.
Official sources and review scope
- CEN 02/2026 detailed notification
- 10 September CBT schedule
- 27 September city-slip notice
- 4 October Sikar centre correction
Read subsequent official amendments and your candidate-specific instructions. A shortlist or provisional allotment does not by itself establish appointment. No unannounced 2027 recruitment facts are inferred.