RRB Group D
Recruits for Level 1 posts in Indian Railways such as Track Maintainer Grade IV, Pointsman, Assistant (Workshop, Bridge, Track Machine, Signal and Telecom, Loco Shed, Carriage and Wagon) and similar posts at a basic pay of ₹18,000.
Eligibility
Class 10 pass, or ITI, or National Apprenticeship Certificate (NAC) from NCVT/SCVT. The ITI requirement has been relaxed, so Class 10 alone is enough for all Level 1 posts. The age limit was 18-33 years as on 1 January 2026 for CEN 09/2025, with relaxation of 5 years for SC/ST, 3 years for OBC-NCL and more for PwBD. There is no limit on attempts within the age bracket.
Age limit: 18-33 years (CEN 09/2025, as on 1 January 2026); category relaxations apply
Exam pattern
Single online CBT of 100 multiple-choice questions in 90 minutes (120 minutes for eligible PwBD scribes): Mathematics 25, General Intelligence and Reasoning 30, General Science 25, General Awareness and Current Affairs 20. Negative marking is 1/3 mark per wrong answer, and the minimum qualifying percentage is 40% for UR/EWS, 30% for OBC-NCL and SC, and 25% for ST. Shortlisted candidates take a qualifying Physical Efficiency Test (PET): men carry 35 kg over 100 m within 2 minutes and run 1,000 m in 4 min 15 s; women carry 20 kg over 100 m within 2 minutes and run 1,000 m in 5 min 40 s. Final selection is on CBT merit after PET, document verification and medical examination.
Syllabus at a glance
Mathematics covers number system, BODMAS, decimals and fractions, LCM/HCF, ratio, percentages, mensuration, time and work, time and distance, interest, profit and loss, algebra, geometry, trigonometry, statistics and square roots. Reasoning covers analogies, series, coding-decoding, mathematical operations, relationships, syllogism, Venn diagrams, data interpretation, directions and puzzles. General Science follows Class 10 (CBSE) Physics, Chemistry and Life Sciences; General Awareness covers current affairs, sports, culture, economy, polity and personalities.
Upcoming dates
| Event | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|
| CEN 09/2025 (22,195 posts) CBT result and PET shortlist (CBT held Aug 2026; provisional answer key out 7 Sep 2026) | Late Oct - Dec 2026 | expected |
| CEN 09/2025 Physical Efficiency Test (PET) | Early 2027 | expected |
| Next Level 1 notification (2027 vacancies) | Dec 2026 - Feb 2027 | expected |
| Online application window for next cycle | About 30 days from notification | tba |
| Next-cycle CBT | Second half of 2027 | tba |
Expected dates follow the usual calendar; confirm on the official notification before planning.
Free prep material
Standard books
- Lucent's General Science - Lucent Publications
- Lucent's General Knowledge - Lucent Publications (Dr Binay Karna et al.)
- Fast Track Objective Arithmetic - Rajesh Verma (Arihant)
- A Modern Approach to Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning - R.S. Aggarwal (S. Chand)
- RRB Group D Chapterwise Solved Papers - Kiran Prakashan
- NCERT Science Textbooks, Class 9 and 10 - NCERT
How toppers play it
- General Science (25 marks) is the highest-scoring section: master Class 9-10 NCERT Physics, Chemistry and Biology, especially units, laws of motion, electricity, periodic table, acids and bases, and human body systems.
- With 1/3 negative marking and very high cut-offs (often 70-80+ normalised for UR in popular zones), accuracy matters more than volume; skip questions you cannot narrow to two options.
- Reasoning carries 30 marks and is fast to solve, so attempt it first to bank marks, then Science, then Maths and GA.
- Start PET training at least 2-3 months before results: practise the 1,000 m run against the clock and the weighted 100 m carry, since PET is pass/fail and eliminates many CBT qualifiers.
- Choose the RRB zone strategically: cut-offs vary widely by region, and you can apply to only one RRB per CEN.