Graduate job seekers aspiring to build a prestigious career in Indian Railways have less than two weeks remaining to submit their online applications for the Railway Recruitment Board (RRB) Station Master Recruitment 2026. Issued under Centralised Employment Notice (CEN) No. 08/2026, the nationwide recruitment drive aims to fill 1,265 Station Master vacancies across regional railway zones—including key northern recruitment boards serving Prayagraj, Gorakhpur, Lucknow, Kanpur, Unnao, Varanasi, New Delhi, Patna, Mumbai, Chennai, and Bengaluru. With the online registration window closing sharply on Wednesday, November 25, 2026 (at 11:59 PM) via the official portal rrbapply.gov.in, officials advise eligible candidates not to wait until the final hours when heavy server traffic often slows down form submissions.

In a significant structural change introduced for the 2026 recruitment cycle, Indian Railways has separated the Station Master recruitment from the combined NTPC exam into a dedicated notification featuring a streamlined single-stage Computer-Based Test (CBT) followed by a Computer-Based Aptitude Test (CBAT).

Category-Wise Vacancy Distribution and Key Dates (CEN 08/2026)

Out of the 1,265 total Station Master posts notified across 21 participating RRBs—led by RRB Mumbai (177 posts), RRB Jammu-Srinagar (122 posts), RRB Chennai (119 posts), RRB Thiruvananthapuram (114 posts), and RRB Prayagraj (112 posts across NCR & NR)—seats are distributed across categories as follows:

Candidates should mark every crucial milestone on the official recruitment calendar:

• Online Application Window: October 27, 2026 to November 25, 2026 (11:59 PM)

• Last Date for Online Fee Payment: November 27, 2026

• Application Form Correction Window: November 28 to December 7, 2026 (₹250 modification fee)

• Tentative CBT Exam Schedule: January 2027 (City intimation slips 9 days prior; admit cards 4 days prior)

Salary, Educational Qualification, and Age Limit

Selected candidates appointed as Station Masters will be placed in Level 6 of the 7th Central Pay Commission (CPC) Pay Matrix, carrying an attractive initial basic salary of ₹35,400 per month (within a pay scale of ₹35,400 to ₹1,12,400), alongside Dearness Allowance (DA), House Rent Allowance (HRA), Transport Allowance, Night Duty Allowance, and comprehensive railway medical and pass benefits.

To apply, candidates must hold a Bachelor’s degree (Graduation) in any discipline from a recognized university. The prescribed age limit is 20 to 33 years (reckoned as of January 1, 2027), with upper age relaxation extended to reserved categories as per Government of India and Railway Board norms—including 3 years for OBC-NCL, 5 years for SC/ST, and additional relaxation for Ex-Servicemen and Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD).

Three-Stage Selection Process and Qualifying Marks

Recruitment for the safety-critical Station Master post will be conducted through three structured stages followed by a strict A-2 medical fitness examination:

1. Stage 1 — Computer-Based Test (CBT): The written screening and merit exam features 100 objective questions carrying 100 marks across Mathematics, General Intelligence & Reasoning, and General Awareness, with a 2-hour exam duration (and one-third negative marking for incorrect responses). To qualify, candidates must achieve minimum qualifying marks of 40% for UR and EWS, 30% for OBC-NCL and SC, and 25% for ST.

2. Stage 2 — Computer-Based Aptitude Test (CBAT): Candidates equal to eight times (1:8) the number of vacancies are shortlisted from the CBT for the mandatory Psycho/Aptitude Test. Final merit is prepared by assigning 70% weightage to CBT marks and 30% weightage to CBAT scores.

3. Stage 3 — Document Verification & A-2 Medical Test: Shortlisted applicants undergo original certificate verification and an A-2 standard vision and medical checkup before final appointment.

How to Apply Online at rrbapply.gov.in

Eligible graduates can complete their application in a few straightforward steps: visit rrbapply.gov.in, complete one-time registration (or log in with existing credentials), select CEN 08/2026 (Station Master) and your preferred RRB zone, enter personal and academic details, upload a recent passport-size photograph, signature, and category documents, pay the application fee (₹500 for UR/OBC/EWS with ₹400 refunded after appearing in CBT; ₹250 for SC/ST/Women/PwBD/Ex-Servicemen/EBC with full ₹250 refund after CBT), and download the final confirmation receipt before November 25.