Railway Technician

Checking, repairing and servicing coaches, wagons, diesel and electric locomotives and EMUs. Welding, fitting, machining and electrical work in workshops and sheds. Signal and telecom upkeep (Grade I Signal). Keeping safety and repair records.

A day in the work
You reach the shed or workshop at the start of your shift and collect your job list. Say it is a coach due for repair: you check brakes, wiring or couplings, fix the fault with fitters or welders, and test it. A senior technician or supervisor signs off the work, and you note it in the register. The work is physical and has strict safety rules, and some days are on night or rotating shifts because trains run round the clock.

1. Step 1 · Class 9–10Pass Class 10. The exam syllabus for Technician Grade III covers Maths, reasoning, General Science (Physics, Chemistry, Life Science at Class 10 level) and general awareness. Good Class 9–10 basics help a lot.
2. Step 2 · After Class 10 (ITI, usually 1–2 years)Join an ITI recognised by NCVT/SCVT in a trade the railway lists for your target post (for example Fitter, Electrician, Welder or Machinist). Each post lists its own accepted trades. An engineering diploma or degree is not accepted instead of ITI for Grade III. Course Completed Act Apprentices are also eligible. (reported — check with the official body)
3. Step 3 · When a notice is outApply online to one RRB only. In CEN 02/2025, applications opened on 28 June 2025 (a corrigendum later changed the timelines). Age was 18–30 years for Grade III as on 1 July 2025, with relaxation for SC/ST, OBC (non-creamy layer), ex-servicemen and PwBD. You cannot change your chosen RRB, so pick carefully.
4. Step 4 · Computer Based TestOne CBT of 90 minutes and 100 questions, with 1/3 mark cut for each wrong answer. Minimum qualifying marks: UR and EWS 40%, OBC-NCL and SC 30%, ST 25%. For CEN 02/2025 the Grade III CBT was held in March 2026, and the result with cut-offs came out on 30 May 2026.
5. Step 5 · Document Verification and MedicalShortlisted candidates bring original certificates (ITI, caste, disability and so on) to the RRB. The medical exam is held at a railway hospital, usually the next day. RRB asks you to be ready for 3–4 days away from home. Each post has its own medical standard (A3, B1, C1 and so on).
6. Step 6 · Appointment and postingRRBs only recommend names. The railway zone or unit that has the vacancy issues the appointment offer. New staff are posted in that zone. Induction training and a probation period normally follow. (reported — check with the official body)

• Technician Grade III (Level 2) after Class 10 + ITIThe main route. About 6,055 of the 6,238 posts in CEN 02/2025 were Grade III, across about 29 trades, in open-line sheds and in workshops and production units. Needs Class 10 plus ITI or Act Apprenticeship in the matching trade.
• Technician Grade I Signal (Level 5) after B.Sc. or diploma/degreeA smaller, higher-paid post (183 vacancies in CEN 02/2025) in signal and telecom work. It asks for a B.Sc. in a related subject or an engineering diploma or degree. Age limit is 18–33 years.

Fees from: RRB Detailed CEN 02/2025. Fees change every year — check the college's own fee page before you pay.

Pay starts at a fixed government level and rises with promotions and yearly increments, and take-home also depends on the posting city, shift duty and allowances.

Women, SC, ST, ex-servicemen, PwBD, transgender, minority and EBC candidates pay the lower ₹250 fee. PwBD candidates get age relaxation and can apply only for posts marked suitable for their disability. Reserved PwBD vacancies can have 2% lower qualifying marks if candidates are short. Selected PwBD candidates must still meet the railway medical standard for that post.

• Class 7–9Revise Class 8–9 Maths and Science on DIKSHA. Also try a safe, supervised home project, like fixing a loose switch cover or building a simple battery circuit with an adult.Open link ↗
• Class 10–12Find government ITIs near you and read which trades they offer (Fitter, Electrician, Welder and so on). Then match them to the trade lists in the railway notice.Open link ↗
• College or afterRead the detailed CEN 02/2025 PDF: the trade list, syllabus, medical standards and age rules. Then check your own ITI trade and age against it.Open link ↗

• Dates, age limits, vacancies and fees change with every notice. Everything here is from CEN 02/2025 (June 2025). Read the latest notice on your RRB's website before you plan.
• A newer technician notice (CEN 02/2026) is reported on non-official sites. We could not confirm it on an official page, so check indianrailways.gov.in or your RRB website (reported).
• Apply separately for each pay level, because there is a separate CBT for each. Applying more than once for the same pay level can get you debarred.
• Do not trust anyone who promises a railway job for money. Selection is only through the CBT, document check and medical.