Last updated for the RRB 2026 recruitment cycle. RRB (Railway Recruitment Boards) conducts exams for various zonal railways.
What are RRB Exams?
Indian Railways employs over 12 lakh people, making it one of the world's largest employers. Recruitment is conducted by 21 Railway Recruitment Boards (RRBs) across the country. The two largest recruitment drives:
- RRB NTPC (Non-Technical Popular Categories): Graduate + Undergraduate posts like Junior Clerk cum Typist, Accounts Clerk cum Typist, Traffic Assistant, Goods Guard, Senior Commercial Clerk, Senior Time Keeper, Station Master, etc.
- RRB Group D: Level 1 posts like Trackman, Helper, Assistant Pointsman, Porter, Gateman, Cabin Man, Track Maintainer.
- RRB Group C ALP/Tech: Assistant Loco Pilot & Technician.
- RRB JE/SSE: Junior Engineer & Senior Section Engineer.
RRB NTPC Exam Structure
Stage 1 — CBT-1 (Screening)
| Section | Q | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| General Awareness | 40 | 40 |
| Mathematics | 30 | 30 |
| General Intelligence & Reasoning | 30 | 30 |
| Total | 100 | 100 |
Duration: 90 minutes · Negative marking: 1/3
Stage 2 — CBT-2 (Main)
| Section | Q | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| General Awareness | 50 | 50 |
| Mathematics | 35 | 35 |
| General Intelligence & Reasoning | 35 | 35 |
| Total | 120 | 120 |
Duration: 90 minutes · Negative marking: 1/3
Stage 3 — Skill Test / Typing Test
For specific posts like Junior Clerk cum Typist (30 wpm English / 25 wpm Hindi), Traffic Assistant (Computer-Based Aptitude Test).
RRB Group D Exam Structure
Stage 1 — CBT
| Section | Q | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| General Science | 25 | 25 |
| Mathematics | 25 | 25 |
| General Intelligence & Reasoning | 30 | 30 |
| General Awareness & Current Affairs | 20 | 20 |
| Total | 100 | 100 |
Duration: 90 minutes · Negative marking: 1/3
Stage 2 — Physical Efficiency Test (PET)
Male: Lift 35 kg & carry 100 m in 2 min · Run 1000 m in 4 min 15 sec.
Female: Lift 20 kg & carry 100 m in 2 min · Run 1000 m in 5 min 40 sec.
Detailed Syllabus
Mathematics
Number system, LCM/HCF, Simplification, Percentage, Profit & Loss, Simple/Compound Interest, Ratio & Proportion, Time-Speed-Distance, Time & Work, Mensuration (Area/Perimeter/Volume), Elementary Algebra, Geometry, Trigonometry (Group D excludes trig).
Reasoning & General Intelligence
Analogies, Series (Number/letter/alphanumeric), Coding-Decoding, Direction Sense, Blood Relations, Statement-Conclusion, Syllogism, Venn Diagrams, Data Sufficiency, Missing numbers, Odd one out, Classification.
General Awareness
Indian History (especially Freedom Struggle), Geography (India + World), Polity (Constitution, Government), Economy, Awards, Sports, Books & Authors, Current Affairs (last 12 months — heavy focus on Railways news).
General Science (Group D only)
Class 10 level Physics, Chemistry, Biology. Common topics: Newton's laws, Optics, Electricity, Chemical reactions, Human body systems, Diseases, Environment.
Eligibility
RRB NTPC
- Age: 18–30 (Undergraduate) or 18–33 (Graduate posts) — varies
- Education: 12th pass for Under-Grad posts, Bachelor's for Graduate posts
- Nationality: Indian citizen
RRB Group D
- Age: 18–33 years
- Education: 10th (SSC) pass or ITI
- Physical Fitness: Must clear PET
Recommended Books
- Maths: R.S. Aggarwal — Quantitative Aptitude
- Reasoning: R.S. Aggarwal — Verbal & Non-Verbal Reasoning
- GK: Manorama Yearbook; Lucent's General Knowledge
- Science (Group D): Lucent's General Science; NCERT Class 9-10
- Current Affairs: The Hindu; RRB-focused monthly magazines
Sample Questions
B) Hubli-Dharwad
C) Kharagpur
D) Kollam
B) 36
C) 40
D) 45
B) Thiamine
C) Ascorbic acid
D) Retinol
Preparation Strategy — 4-Month Plan
Month 1 — Foundation
- Basic maths (percentage, ratio, average, TSD)
- Reasoning basics (series, coding, analogies)
- Start current affairs from The Hindu daily
Month 2 — Depth
- Advanced maths (SI/CI, mensuration, time & work)
- Group D: Complete General Science from Class 9-10 NCERTs
- GK: Static topics — history, polity, geography
Month 3 — Practice
- Daily sectional tests (25 Q in 20 min each)
- Focus on Railway-specific GK (zones, first railway, Bhopal division etc.)
- Physical training for Group D aspirants (running, weight-lifting)
Month 4 — Full Mocks
- Daily full mock (100/120 Q in 90 min)
- Analyse mistakes, revise formulae
- Last 15 days: Current affairs revision + railway news
Frequently Asked Questions
🚀 Railway Practice — Coming Soon!
Meanwhile, sharpen your Quant & Reasoning with Math Marathon speed rounds. Great for RRB CBT-1 which is a 90-min speed test.
🧮 Enter Maths Corner 📝 Register FreeDisclaimer: Vacancies, cut-offs, and eligibility vary by notification. Verify from the official RRB portal at rrbcdg.gov.in or your regional RRB.