One-time registration, face recognition, and e-KYC technology have been implemented to bring transparency to railway recruitment. An annual exam calendar will be released, and cheating will be strictly prevented.
Railway Update: The Ministry of Railways has taken a significant step towards making the path to jobs easier for youth across the country. The new railway recruitment process will now be more transparent, technology-based, and time-bound than ever before. The objective of these changes is not only to streamline the process but also to curb fraud and provide timely opportunities to qualified candidates.
Now apply for all recruitments with just one registration
The Railways has implemented the "One Time Registration" (OTR) system. Now, candidates will not need to fill out separate forms every time. After registering once, they will be able to directly apply for all upcoming railway recruitments. This will save both time and effort, especially for those youths who were troubled by the process of filling out forms repeatedly.
Strict identification will be done with Aadhaar and Face Recognition
To make the recruitment process fraud-free, the Railways will use e-KYC and face recognition technology. At the time of the examination, the candidate's identity will be verified with their Aadhaar card, and their face will be matched with the system. This will ensure that the person taking the exam is the same person who applied.
An exam calendar will now be released every year
The Ministry of Railways has now decided to release an annual examination calendar for all Group C category recruitments. This includes major recruitments like NTPC, ALP, Technician, RPF, and Level-1. This will inform candidates in advance about when applications will start and when the exams will be held. This will lead to better and more time-bound preparation.
Large number of applications, yet a fast process
The Railways stated that in the year 2024, notifications were issued for recruitment to more than 1.08 lakh posts. More than 1.5 crore applications were received for major posts like NTPC, ALP, and RPF. Despite such a large number of applications, the Railways completed the process from conducting the exam to releasing the results in an average of 8 months. This will be made even faster in the future.
Exam center will be near home
Keeping in mind the convenience of the candidates, the Railways has limited the maximum distance of the examination center to 500 kilometers and the minimum to 250 kilometers. In addition, 100% mobile jammers have been installed at every examination center so that cheating cannot be done technically. The good effect of this system was seen in the June 2025 examination, and no cases of fraud came to light.
Improvements in promotion and waiting list
The Railways will now also use CBAT and tablet-based exams for internal promotions of its employees. This will ensure that qualified employees get timely promotions. At the same time, candidates who do not join after selection will be replaced by another eligible candidate from the waiting list. This system will make the recruitment process more efficient.
No ban on religious symbols, but security check is necessary
During the examination, there is no complete ban on religious symbols like bangles, bindis, turbans, etc. However, for security reasons, these will be checked before entry into the examination center, and permission will be granted only after inspection.
Clarity in qualifications as well
Candidates holding 10th, ITI, or National Apprenticeship Certificate will be considered eligible for Level-1 posts. This will enable candidates to get information about the right recruitments according to their qualification level.
