RRB Optometrist Recruitment 2026: 2 Vacancies, Eligibility, Salary, Syllabus & CBT Pattern

15 September 2026 min read

The RRB Optometrist Recruitment 2026 application process is now open under CEN No. 05/2026 – Paramedical Categories.

Railway Recruitment Boards have announced:

2 Optometrist Vacancies

for the current recruitment cycle.

Both vacancies are under:

RRB Patna – East Central Railway

with the category breakup:

UR – 1

SC – 1

The Optometrist post carries:

Pay Level 4

₹25,500 Initial Basic Pay

Age Limit: 18–33 Years

Medical Standard: B1

Online applications opened on 15 September 2026, and candidates can apply until 14 October 2026 at 11:59 PM.

RRB Chennai's official recruitment portal lists the CEN 05/2026 notification dated 14 September 2026, confirming that the detailed notification has now replaced the earlier indicative notice.

RRB Optometrist Recruitment 2026 – Overview

The two-vacancy Optometrist position, Level-4 pay, age 18–33 and B1 medical standard are reported from the detailed CEN parameters.

RRB Optometrist Vacancy 2026

A total of:

2 Optometrist Posts

have been notified nationwide.

The vacancy distribution is:

RRB| Railway| UR| SC| Total Patna| East Central Railway| 1| 1| 2

Therefore:

RRB Patna is the only RRB with an Optometrist vacancy in CEN 05/2026.

Is There an Optometrist Vacancy in RRB Kolkata?

No.

The current Optometrist-specific vacancy table contains only RRB Patna.

There is no Optometrist vacancy presently listed under:

RRB Kolkata
RRB Malda
RRB Siliguri

for CEN 05/2026.

West Bengal candidates who are eligible can still apply for the RRB Patna vacancy; RRB recruitment is not limited by home-state domicile in the ordinary sense, subject to the nationality and other eligibility provisions of the CEN.

RRB Optometrist Eligibility 2026

Candidates need either of the following professional qualifications:

Route 1 – B.Sc Optometry

B.Sc in Optometry

Route 2 – Ophthalmic Technician Diploma

Diploma in Ophthalmic Technician

with the diploma course being:

3 to 4 years in duration

AND candidates must have:

Registration with the concerned Council / Licensing Body

The registration requirement is an important part of the notified qualification.

Is B.Sc Optometry Eligible?

Yes.

Candidates possessing a recognised:

B.Sc in Optometry

along with the required professional registration can apply.

Is Diploma in Ophthalmic Technician Eligible?

Yes, but course duration matters.

The Diploma in Ophthalmic Technician should be:

3–4 years in duration

under the current qualification wording.

Therefore, candidates holding only a short-term:

6-month certificate
1-year certificate
2-year diploma

should not automatically assume eligibility unless their qualification is specifically accepted as equivalent under the notification.

Is Registration Mandatory?

Yes.

The qualification includes registration with the:

Concerned Council / Licensing Body

Candidates should have their professional registration documents ready for Document Verification.

Is Work Experience Required?

The CEN does not prescribe a separate minimum work-experience requirement for Optometrist candidates who already satisfy the notified educational qualification and registration requirements.

Therefore:

Freshers can apply

provided all other eligibility conditions are satisfied.

Can Final-Year Students Apply?

Candidates awaiting the final result of the prescribed qualification should not apply.

RRB recruitment rules require candidates to possess the required educational/technical/professional qualification by the closing date of the application.

For CEN 05/2026, that closing date is:

14 October 2026

So a candidate who has not yet completed the required qualification by the prescribed date should not assume eligibility.

RRB Optometrist Age Limit 2026

The official age range is:

18–33 Years

as on:

1 January 2027

For UR/EWS candidates, the reported normal DOB range corresponds to candidates not born earlier than 2 January 1994 and not born later than 1 January 2009, subject to the exact CEN rules.

Age Relaxation

Major upper-age relaxations include:

Additional provisions apply to eligible Ex-Servicemen and other categories according to CEN 05/2026.

RRB Optometrist Salary 2026

The Optometrist post comes under:

Pay Level 4

with initial basic pay of:

₹25,500 per month

under the 7th CPC Pay Matrix.

In addition to basic pay, eligible employees receive Railway/Central Government allowances according to rules.

These may include:

Dearness Allowance
House Rent Allowance
Transport Allowance
Medical facilities
Other admissible Railway benefits

Actual monthly in-hand salary will depend on posting location, applicable allowances and deductions.

RRB Optometrist Medical Standard

The required Railway medical standard is:

The B1 medical standard broadly includes:

Distant Vision

6/9 and 6/12, with or without glasses within prescribed limits.

Near Vision

Sn 0.6 and 0.6, with or without glasses where close work is required.

Candidates must also satisfy prescribed tests relating to:

Colour Vision
Binocular Vision
Night Vision
Mesopic Vision

Because Optometrist is itself an eye-care post, candidates should take the Railway medical standard seriously before applying.

Important Application Dates

RRB Optometrist Application Fee

The standard Railway fee structure is:

Candidates paying ₹500 can receive ₹400 back, after applicable bank charges, if they actually appear in CBT.

Candidates paying the ₹250 concessionary fee can receive the prescribed refund after appearing in CBT and deduction of applicable bank charges.

Important

EBC is not the same as EWS or OBC.

EWS candidates do not automatically fall under the EBC fee-concession category merely because they have an EWS certificate.

Can Candidates Select Any RRB?

Candidates may submit only one application and choose one RRB under the CEN.

Since the Optometrist vacancies are currently available only under:

RRB Patna

a candidate primarily applying for Optometrist needs to pay close attention to the chosen RRB.

Submitting multiple applications can lead to rejection/debarment under Railway recruitment rules.

RRB Optometrist Selection Process

The normal recruitment process is:

Computer Based Test

↓

Document Verification

↓

Railway Medical Examination

↓

Final Empanelment

There is:

No regular interview

in the standard notified selection process.

Candidates are shortlisted for Document Verification on merit, approximately at 1:1 of the vacancies.

With only 2 vacancies, CBT performance is therefore extremely important.

RRB Optometrist CBT Pattern 2026

The CBT contains:

Section| Questions| Marks Professional Ability – Optometry| 70| 70 General Awareness| 10| 10 General Arithmetic + Reasoning| 10| 10 General Science| 10| 10 Total| 100| 100

Duration

90 Minutes

For eligible candidates using the prescribed scribe facility:

120 Minutes

Negative Marking

1/3 mark per incorrect answer

RRB treats the section-wise distribution as indicative, so candidates should prepare the complete notified syllabus.

Minimum Qualifying Marks

Category| Minimum Qualifying Standard UR| 40% EWS| 40% OBC-NCL| 30% SC| 30% ST| 25%

RRB may provide the specified relaxation for eligible PwBD candidates in shortage situations.

These are only:

Minimum qualifying marks

not the actual selection cut-off.

With only two Optometrist vacancies, the actual merit requirement can be much higher.

Official RRB Optometrist Syllabus 2026

The Professional Ability syllabus includes:

Physical & Geometrical Optics
General Anatomy
General Physiology
Ocular Anatomy
Ocular Physiology
Basic Biochemistry
Nutrition
Principles of Lighting
Hospital Procedures
Optometric Optics
Ocular Diseases
Visual Optics
Pharmacology
Pathology & Microbiology
Optometric Instruments
Clinical Examination of Visual System
Clinical Psychology
Clinics
Binocular Vision
Glaucoma
Low Vision Aids
Dispensing Optics
Paediatric & Geriatric Optometry
Contact Lens
Law & Optometry
Occupational Optometry
Systemic Diseases
Epidemiology & Biostatistics
Public Health & Community Optometry

These areas form the core of the 70-mark Professional Ability section.

RRB does not publish an official fixed chapter-wise question distribution.

Physical & Geometrical Optics

This should be one of the fundamental preparation areas.

Revise:

Reflection
Refraction
Snell's Law
Refractive index
Prisms
Lenses
Mirrors
Vergence
Focal length
Optical power
Aberrations

Candidates should be comfortable solving basic optics-related calculations.

Ocular Anatomy

Important structures include:

Cornea
Sclera
Conjunctiva
Iris
Ciliary body
Lens
Aqueous humour
Vitreous
Retina
Macula
Optic nerve
Extraocular muscles
Lacrimal apparatus

Understand both structure and clinical relevance.

Ocular Physiology

Important topics include:

Accommodation
Pupillary reflex
Aqueous humour formation
Intraocular pressure
Phototransduction
Colour vision
Dark adaptation
Visual pathway
Tear-film physiology

Visual Optics & Refraction

This is another major area.

Candidates should prepare:

Emmetropia
Myopia
Hypermetropia
Astigmatism
Presbyopia
Cycloplegic refraction
Objective refraction
Subjective refraction
Retinoscopy
Visual acuity
Snellen chart

For competitive exams, understand the concept rather than memorising definitions alone.

Ocular Diseases

High-priority conditions include:

Cataract
Glaucoma
Conjunctivitis
Keratitis
Corneal ulcer
Uveitis
Diabetic retinopathy
Hypertensive retinopathy
Retinal detachment
Macular degeneration
Optic neuritis
Trachoma

For each disease, study:

Cause → Symptoms → Signs → Investigation → Management

Glaucoma

Glaucoma is separately named in the official syllabus and deserves focused preparation.

Revise:

Open-angle glaucoma
Angle-closure glaucoma
Intraocular pressure
Optic disc changes
Visual-field defects
Tonometry
Gonioscopy
Medical management
Surgical principles

Optometric Instruments

Important instruments include:

Retinoscope
Ophthalmoscope
Slit lamp
Tonometer
Keratometer
Lensometer
Autorefractometer
Perimeter
Synoptophore
Visual acuity charts

Know:

Instrument → Principle → Use

rather than the name alone.

Binocular Vision

Prepare:

Fusion
Stereopsis
Heterophoria
Heterotropia
Vergence
Accommodation-convergence relationship
Amblyopia
Squint assessment
Cover test

Contact Lens

Important areas include:

Soft lenses
RGP lenses
Indications
Contraindications
Fitting
Lens care
Complications
Patient counselling

Clinical scenarios may test improper lens use or corneal complications.

Dispensing Optics

Revise:

Spectacle lenses
Lens materials
Frames
Pupillary distance
Optical centre
Prism effects
Lens measurements
Bifocal/progressive lenses

Paediatric Optometry

Prepare:

Visual development
Amblyopia
Strabismus
Refractive errors in children
Paediatric visual assessment
Congenital eye disease
Vision screening

Geriatric Optometry

Focus on:

Presbyopia
Cataract
Glaucoma
Age-related macular degeneration
Diabetic eye disease
Low vision

Low Vision Aids

Important areas include:

Definition of low vision
Patient assessment
Magnifiers
Telescopes
Electronic aids
Rehabilitation principles

Occupational Optometry

Prepare:

Visual requirements at work
Occupational hazards
Eye protection
Computer vision syndrome
Workplace vision screening
Lighting

Systemic Diseases & the Eye

Important systemic conditions include:

Diabetes
Hypertension
Thyroid disease
Autoimmune disorders
Neurological disease

Candidates should understand common ocular manifestations.

Public Health & Community Optometry

Important areas include:

Blindness prevention
Community eye screening
School screening
Epidemiology
Vision impairment
Eye-health programmes
Health education

General Awareness

The common General Awareness syllabus covers:

Current Affairs
Indian History
Freedom Struggle
Geography
Indian Polity
Constitution
Indian Economy
Environment
Sports
Science & Technology

General Arithmetic & Reasoning

Important Maths topics include:

Number System
Percentage
Ratio
Average
Profit & Loss
Simple/Compound Interest
Time & Work
Time & Distance
Algebra
Geometry
Statistics

Reasoning includes:

Analogy
Series
Coding-Decoding
Syllogism
Venn Diagram
Directions
Classification
Data Interpretation
Decision Making

General Science

General Science contains:

Physics + Chemistry + Life Science

up to approximately:

Class 10 CBSE level

under the common paramedical CBT framework.

Best Preparation Priority

Since Professional Ability carries an indicative:

70 out of 100 marks

candidates should spend the majority of their preparation time on Optometry.

A useful priority is:

Ocular Diseases → Refraction/Visual Optics → Ocular Anatomy & Physiology → Optometric Instruments → Glaucoma → Binocular Vision → Contact Lens → Dispensing Optics → Public Health Optometry

This is a preparation recommendation, not official RRB topic-wise weightage.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many RRB Optometrist vacancies are there in 2026?

2 vacancies.

Which RRB has the vacancies?

RRB Patna.

Both are under East Central Railway.

What is the category breakup?

UR – 1

SC – 1

Is there a vacancy in RRB Kolkata?

No.

Is there a vacancy in Malda or Siliguri?

No.

What is the educational qualification?

B.Sc Optometry OR 3–4 year Diploma in Ophthalmic Technician + registration with the concerned Council/Licensing Body.

Can freshers apply?

Yes. No separate work-experience requirement is listed for the post.

What is the age limit?

18–33 years as on 1 January 2027.

What is the salary?

₹25,500 initial basic pay at Level 4.

What is the medical standard?

B1.

How many CBT questions are there?

100 questions for 100 marks.

How many Professional Ability questions?

The indicative pattern gives:

70 questions / 70 marks.

What is the exam duration?

90 minutes.

Is there negative marking?

Yes.

1/3 mark for each incorrect answer.

Is there an interview?

No regular interview.

The selection process is:

CBT → Document Verification → Railway Medical Examination.

Is the exam date announced?

No. The CBT date has not yet been announced as of 15 September 2026.

Conclusion

The RRB Optometrist Recruitment 2026 is a very small but specialised recruitment under CEN 05/2026.

The key details are:

2 Vacancies

RRB Patna Only

UR 1 + SC 1

B.Sc Optometry OR 3–4 Year Ophthalmic Technician Diploma

Professional Registration Required

Age 18–33

Pay Level 4

₹25,500 Initial Basic Pay

B1 Medical Standard

100-Mark CBT

70 Professional Ability Questions

1/3 Negative Marking

Because there are only two vacancies nationwide, candidates should confirm their qualification and professional registration carefully before applying and should give maximum preparation priority to Ocular Diseases, Refraction, Visual Optics, Ocular Anatomy & Physiology and Optometric Instruments.

Applications remain open until:

14 October 2026 at 11:59 PM

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