Overview
RRB Group D recruits candidates for Level 1 (entry-level, non-supervisory) posts across Indian Railways — Track Maintainer, Helper (various technical trades), Pointsman, Assistant in different departments, and similar roles essential to daily railway operations and maintenance. It's one of the largest-scale railway recruitment drives given the vast number of Level 1 posts nationwide, attracting applications in the crores. Selection runs through a single computer-based test, a Physical Efficiency Test, and finally document verification and a medical examination — with no second written stage, unlike RRB NTPC.
What's New in the 2026 Cycle
What changed in the 2026 cycle
- Single-stage CBT (unlike RRB NTPC's two-tier CBT 1/CBT 2 structure) — merit is based on this one normalised score.
- PET standards differ for male and female/third-gender candidates and are a hard qualifying gate after the CBT.
- Extremely high applicant-to-vacancy ratio historically, given the broad Class-10/ITI eligibility.
- Minimum educational qualification accepts ITI/NAC as an alternative to Class 10, widening eligibility for technically trained candidates.
Eligibility Criteria
| Criterion | Details |
|---|---|
| Age Limit | 18–36 years (relaxation per government norms for SC/ST/OBC/PwBD/ex-servicemen) |
| Educational Qualification | Class 10 pass, or ITI from a recognised institute, or National Apprenticeship Certificate (NAC) granted by NCVT |
| Nationality | Indian citizen (or as specified for other-origin candidates per Railway norms) |
| Application Fee | ₹500 (General/OBC/EWS) — ₹400 refunded on appearing in CBT. SC/ST/PwBD/women/ex-servicemen candidates pay ₹250, fully refunded on appearing. |
RRB Group D Exam Pattern
The RRB Group D selection process runs through cbt + pet + dv + medical. Each stage has its own timing, marking scheme and qualifying rules, detailed below.
Computer-Based Test (CBT)
| Section | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| General Science | 25 | 25 |
| Mathematics | 25 | 25 |
| General Intelligence & Reasoning | 30 | 30 |
| General Awareness & Current Affairs | 20 | 20 |
Physical Efficiency Test (PET)
| Section | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Running distance/time and/or weight-carrying task | — | Qualifying |
RRB Group D Detailed Subject-Wise Syllabus
Below is the complete topic-wise RRB Group D syllabus for every subject tested across all stages, with a short note on what each section actually rewards — use this to build a section-wise study plan rather than relying on generic topic summaries.
General Science
Unique to Group D among RRB exams — dedicate focused revision time to Class 10-level physics, chemistry and biology.
- Physics, chemistry and biology at a Class 10 level
- Everyday scientific phenomena
- Basic scientific principles relevant to daily life
Mathematics
Foundational-level questions — most candidates can master this fully with consistent practice.
- Number system
- BODMAS, decimals & fractions
- LCM/HCF
- Ratio & proportion
- Percentage
- Mensuration
- Time & work, time & distance
- SI/CI, profit & loss
- Elementary algebra & geometry
- Trigonometry basics
- Statistics
General Intelligence & Reasoning
Standard pattern-based reasoning — quick to improve with regular timed drills.
- Analogies
- Alphabetical & number series
- Coding-decoding
- Mathematical operations
- Relationships
- Syllogism
- Jumbling
- Data sufficiency
- Puzzle
- Statement-argument and assumption
General Awareness & Current Affairs
Broad and current-affairs-heavy — steady daily revision beats infrequent long sessions.
- Science & technology
- Sports
- Culture
- Personalities
- Economics
- Politics
- Current affairs — national & international
Selection Process
- Computer-Based Test (CBT) — normalised score.
- Physical Efficiency Test (PET) — qualifying, category/gender-specific standards.
- Document Verification.
- Medical Examination.
Salary & Job Profile
RRB Group D posts fall under Pay Level 1 (₹18,000 basic) of the 7th CPC matrix, plus Dearness Allowance, HRA, Transport Allowance and railway-specific perks including travel passes.
Best Books for RRB Group D Preparation
- Lucent's General Knowledge
- Fast Track Objective Arithmetic — Rajesh Verma (Arihant)
- A Modern Approach to Verbal & Non-Verbal Reasoning — R.S. Aggarwal
- General Science for Competitive Exams — Lucent Publications
Previous Cut-off Trends
Approximate — always verify officially
RRB Group D CBT cut-offs vary enormously by zone, category and gender given the huge applicant volume relative to vacancies — recent cycles have seen wide swings year to year. Always check the zone-wise and category-wise official cut-off list rather than a single national figure.
Preparation Tips
- Given the very high applicant volume, prioritise accuracy over attempting every question — negative marking punishes guesswork heavily at this scale of competition.
- General Science is unique to Group D among RRB exams — dedicate specific revision time to Class 10-level physics, chemistry and biology.
- Begin PET training in parallel with CBT preparation, not after the result, since training takes months to show real improvement.
- Practise previous years' papers to internalise the balance of General Science, Maths, Reasoning and GA in actual exams.
Exam Day Guidelines
- Carry the Document Checker and a valid original photo ID — no exceptions are made for missing documentation.
- Start PET training (timed runs and/or weight-carrying practice) well in advance — this is a hard elimination stage independent of CBT rank.
- No electronic devices are allowed inside the exam hall.
- Confirm your specific PET standard (distance/time/weight) for your category and gender well before the test date.
Frequently Asked Questions
Class 10 pass, or an ITI certificate from a recognised institute, or a National Apprenticeship Certificate (NAC) granted by the NCVT.
No, RRB Group D has a single CBT stage, unlike RRB NTPC's two-tier CBT 1/CBT 2 structure.
Candidates who qualify are shortlisted for a Physical Efficiency Test (PET), followed by document verification and a medical examination.
Yes, 1/3rd of the marks allotted to a question is deducted for every wrong answer.
Yes, running distance/time and weight-carrying requirements are specified separately for male and female/third-gender candidates in the official notification.
Related Exams
Back to Syllabus Hub — browse all government exam syllabus pagesSyllabus content on this page is compiled and reviewed against the official Railway Recruitment Board notification as of 8 Jun 2026. Exam patterns, vacancies, salary figures and cut-offs are subject to change — always cross-check with the official notification at rrbapply.gov.in before applying.