RRB JE 2026: exam date, pattern, syllabus and how to apply
RRB JE is how the Railway Recruitment Boards recruit Junior Engineers, Depot Material Superintendents and, in this cycle, Chemical and Metallurgical Assistants, all at pay Level 6. The current notice is CEN 04/2026. As of 20 October 2026, the RRBs have fixed the first-stage CBT for 27 and 28 October 2026, and the link to see your exam city is already live. This guide covers the dates, the pattern of both CBTs, the syllabus and how to use the last week.
RRB JE at a glance
| Conducting body | Railway Recruitment Boards (RRBs), Ministry of Railways |
| What it is for | Junior Engineer, Depot Material Superintendent (DMS) and Chemical and Metallurgical Assistant (CMA), Level 6, initial pay ₹35,400 |
| Current notice | CEN 04/2026, 3,993 provisional vacancies for JE and DMS, plus 35 CMA posts added by Corrigendum 1 |
| Stages | CBT 1, CBT 2, document verification, medical |
| CBT 1 | 100 questions in 90 minutes, 1 mark each |
| Negative marking | One-third of a mark per wrong answer |
| Mode | Computer-based test at a centre |
| How often | Each cycle is a new CEN; the previous one was CEN 05/2025 |
| Official website | rrb.indianrailways.gov.in |
RRB JE 2026 exam date
Checked 20 October 2026 on the RRB website:
| Step | CEN 04/2026 |
|---|---|
| Detailed notice published | 13 August 2026 |
| Online applications | 14 August to 13 September 2026 (closed) |
| CBT 1 | 27 and 28 October 2026 |
| Exam city and date link | Live since the notice of 17 October 2026 |
| E-call letters | About 4 days before your exam date |
| CBT 2 | Not announced yet |
The dates are from the RRBs' revised schedule of 2 October 2026, which replaced the first schedule of 16 September, and the city intimation notice of 17 October 2026. Aadhaar-linked biometric checks are done at the centre, so carry your original Aadhaar card or a printout of the e-verified Aadhaar. Our RRB JE exam dates page follows the notices.
How to apply for RRB JE
Applications for CEN 04/2026 closed on 13 September 2026. For the next cycle:
- Read the detailed CEN on the RRB website: the post parameters in Annexure A and the discipline-mapping table that decides your exam group.
- Apply on rrbapply.gov.in. Create an account, choose one RRB (a candidate applies to only one), and give your post preferences.
- Upload your photograph and signature to the notice's specifications and pay the fee given in the notice.
Keep ready: your Class 10 certificate (for name and date of birth), your engineering diploma or degree (or the qualification listed for your post), a caste, EWS or PwBD certificate if you claim one, and your Aadhaar.
Eligibility in CEN 04/2026. Age 18 to 33 years on 1 January 2027, with relaxations. The qualification is post by post in Annexure A; your diploma or degree discipline decides which of the four engineering exam groups you take in CBT 2. For CMA, Corrigendum 1 asks for a B.Sc in Physics and Chemistry with at least 45% marks.
RRB JE exam pattern
CBT 1 is common to every post and is only a screening test.
| Subject | Questions (indicative) |
|---|---|
| Mathematics | 30 |
| General Intelligence and Reasoning | 25 |
| General Awareness | 15 |
| General Science | 30 |
| Total | 100 in 90 minutes |
Calculators are not allowed. To be eligible you need 40% (UR and EWS), 30% (OBC-NCL and SC) or 25% (ST). Candidates go to CBT 2 at 15 times the community-wise vacancies of each RRB, on normalised marks.
CBT 2 has 150 questions in 120 minutes, with a virtual calculator on screen:
| Part | Questions |
|---|---|
| General Awareness | 15 |
| Physics and Chemistry | 15 |
| Basics of Computers and Applications | 10 |
| Basics of Environment and Pollution Control | 10 |
| Technical Abilities (your exam group) | 100 |
The exam groups are Civil, Electrical, Electronics and Mechanical, each with allied disciplines. The final merit comes from CBT 2; CBT 1 marks do not count in it.
RRB JE syllabus
- Mathematics: number systems, BODMAS, fractions, LCM and HCF, square roots, ratio, percentages, profit and loss, interest, time and work, pipes and cisterns, time and distance, mensuration, algebra, geometry, trigonometry, statistics, ages, calendar and clock.
- General Intelligence and Reasoning: analogies, classification, series, coding-decoding, relationships, directions, syllogism, Venn diagrams, data sufficiency, conclusions and assumptions.
- General Awareness: current affairs, Indian geography, culture and history, polity and the Constitution, the economy, environment and sports.
- General Science: physics, chemistry and life sciences up to Class 10 (CBSE).
The full list, including the CBT 2 technical topics, is on our RRB JE syllabus page.
A plan for the last week
| Day | What to do |
|---|---|
| Today | Download your city intimation slip and plan the route. Take one full RRB JE CBT 1 mock test in 90 minutes. |
| Next 3 days | Fix the topics that mock exposed: one Mathematics topic and one General Science chapter a day, 20 reasoning questions a day. |
| 4 days before | Download the e-call letter as soon as it opens and read its instructions. Take a second full mock. |
| Last 2 days | Revise formulas, Class 10 science facts and your mistake notes only. Pack the e-call letter, Aadhaar and the photo ID you named in the application. |
You have 54 seconds a question on average. Leave lengthy calculations for a second round. With one-third negative marking, guess only after you can rule out at least one option; our negative marking article shows why. After CBT 1, move straight to the technical paper of your exam group, which carries 100 of the 150 CBT 2 marks.
Useful links
- RRB JE CBT 1 revised schedule (RRB)
- Detailed CEN 04/2026, JE and DMS (RRB)
- RRB online application portal
- Free RRB JE mock tests
- RRB JE syllabus
- RRB JE exam dates
- RRB ALP 2026: exam date, pattern and how to apply
- RRB NTPC 2026: exam date, pattern and how to apply
Frequently asked questions
What is the RRB JE 2026 exam date?
CBT 1 of CEN 04/2026 is on 27 and 28 October 2026, as set in the RRBs' revised schedule of 2 October 2026. Your own date and city are on the city intimation slip.
Is there negative marking in RRB JE?
Yes. One-third of a mark is deducted for each wrong answer in both CBT 1 and CBT 2. A question left blank scores zero.
What is the RRB JE CBT 1 pass mark?
The minimum to be eligible is 40% for UR and EWS, 30% for OBC-NCL and SC, and 25% for ST. CBT 1 only shortlists for CBT 2, so the merit that matters comes later.
Is a calculator allowed in RRB JE?
Not in CBT 1. In CBT 2 a virtual calculator is shown on the screen.
Can I still apply for RRB JE 2026?
No. Applications for CEN 04/2026 closed on 13 September 2026. Watch the RRB website for the next JE notice.
Are your RRB JE mock tests official?
No. They are our own practice tests built to the CBT 1 pattern in the notice. The RRBs post their own mock test link; for CEN 04/2026 it was listed on 17 October 2026.