Massive recruitment for Indian Railways frontline technical, operational, and maintenance workforce.
Mandatory educational background, age limits, pay scale, and service designations
RRB Group D (RRC Level-1) is the world's largest public recruitment drive, appointing over 1,00,000 personnel in each cycle across Indian Railways. Appointees maintain railway tracks, signaling gear, workshop bogies, and station points, forming the operational backbone of Indian Railways.
10th pass (Matriculation) from a recognized Board OR National Apprenticeship Certificate (NAC) / ITI from NCVT/SCVT.
18 to 33 Years
OBC: 3 years (up to 36) | SC/ST: 5 years (up to 38) | PwBD: 10 years
General / UR: No limit (Subject to age criteria)
OBC: No limit
SC / ST: No limit
Pay Level 1 (₹18,000 basic + DA, HRA, Risk Allowance, Transport Allowance = ₹26,000 – ₹32,000 in-hand)
Annual Vacancies: Approx. 60,000 – 1,03,000+ vacancies per cycle
Stage-wise breakdown, paper timing, question distribution, and negative marking rules
Negative Marking Rule: 1/3rd (0.33 marks) deducted for each incorrect answer.
Mode: Online Computer Based Test (CBT) + Physical Ground Test (PET) | Medium: 15 regional languages including Hindi and English.
Single-stage written examination comprising 100 objective questions across General Science, Mathematics, Reasoning, and Current Affairs. Normalized marks decide merit for PET.
| Paper / Component | Format | Questions | Marks | Duration | Negative Marking & Nature |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
General Science 10th Standard CBSE Physics, Chemistry, and Life Sciences (Biology) | Objective (MCQ) | 25 | 25 | Composite 90 Mins | 0.33 Marks |
Mathematics Number System, BODMAS, Decimals, Fractions, LCM-HCF, Ratio, Percentages, Mensuration, Time & Work, Time & Distance, SI-CI, Profit & Loss, Algebra, Geometry | Objective (MCQ) | 25 | 25 | Composite 90 Mins | 0.33 Marks |
General Intelligence & Reasoning Analogies, Alphabetical & Number Series, Coding-Decoding, Mathematical Operations, Blood Relations, Syllogism, Jumbling, Venn Diagrams, Data Interpretation | Objective (MCQ) | 30 | 30 | Composite 90 Mins | 0.33 Marks |
General Awareness & Current Affairs Current Affairs in Science & Technology, Sports, Culture, Personalities, Economics, Politics and subjects of national importance | Objective (MCQ) | 20 | 20 | Composite 90 Mins | 0.33 Marks |
Mandatory physical stamina test conducted on railway grounds. Candidates must pass both weight-carrying and running tasks. Strictly qualifying in nature.
| Paper / Component | Format | Marks | Duration | Negative Marking & Nature |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Male Candidates Physical Task 1: Weight Lifting Lift and carry 35 kg weight for a distance of 100 meters in 2 minutes in one chance without putting the weight down. | Medical / Physical | Qualifying | 2 Minutes | Standard evaluation |
Male Candidates Physical Task 2: Running Run for a distance of 1000 meters in 4 minutes and 15 seconds in one chance. | Medical / Physical | Qualifying | 4 Minutes 15 Seconds | Standard evaluation |
Female Candidates Physical Task: Weight & Run Carry 20 kg weight for 100 meters in 2 minutes + Run 1000 meters in 5 minutes and 40 seconds. | Medical / Physical | Qualifying | 2 Mins (Weight) & 5 Mins 40 Sec (Run) | Standard evaluation |
Detailed curriculum modules categorized by standard foundations vs. high-yield scoring chapters
Phase-by-phase roadmap, daily study schedule, topper golden rules, and fatal pitfalls to avoid
RRB Group D is won on Science and Reasoning. Because 25 questions are direct 10th-grade General Science and 30 questions are Reasoning, these two sections alone account for 55% of the entire paper. Diligently studying NCERT science textbooks and solving past shift papers ensures a high score.
Class 9 & 10 NCERT Science lines & basic arithmetic formulas
YCT / Platform Youth Competition Times Railway PYQs
Full-length 90-minute simulations, Negative marking control, 1000m running
Topper-validated standard reference books and chapter-wise question banks
Author: NCERT / Speedy Publication | Pub: NCERT / Speedy
Directly covers 100% of the 25 General Science questions asked in the examination.
Author: YCT Expert Panel | Pub: Youth Competition Times
Contains all solved TCS Railway math questions with step-by-step explanations.
Author: YCT Expert Panel | Pub: Youth Competition Times
Covers all 30 reasoning question types asked in modern Group D exams.
Official past category-wise cutoffs to benchmark your target mock scores
| Cycle / Tier / Service | General (UR) | OBC | EWS | SC | ST | Scope & Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Group D 2019/22 CBT Normalized (UR) | 66.00 – 75.00 | 62.00 – 70.00 | 50.00 – 62.00 | 55.00 – 65.00 | 48.00 – 58.00 | Normalized marks out of 100 (Varies by Railway Zone e.g. Western Railway lower, Northern Railway higher) |
| Group D Final Merit (After PET & DV) | 70.00 – 78.00 | 66.00 – 74.00 | 56.00 – 66.00 | 60.00 – 69.00 | 53.00 – 62.00 | Final appointment cutoff |
From initial application to final cadre allocation and joining the training academy
Apply on the RRC portal and choose your designated Railway Zone (e.g. Northern Railway, Western Railway).
Appear for the single-stage 100-question online CBT exam across multi-shift national centers.
Shortlisted candidates (at 3x vacancy ratio) undergo the 35 kg weight carry and 1000m running test on railway grounds.
Candidates called in 1:1 ratio to verify 10th matriculation certificate, ITI diploma, and category proofs.
Medical classification test (B-1, B-2, or C-1 standard depending on post; distant and color vision tested).
Receive posting as Track Maintainer, Pointsman, or Workshop Assistant in respective railway divisions.
Authoritative SEO & GEO clarifications: Domicile rules, regional languages, exam centers, pay scale & cutoffs
Explore in-depth patterns, booklists, and preparation strategies for companion examinations:
Verified active circulars & notices from our real-time gazette database:
Free client-side tools to help you complete job forms and eligibility verification accurately:
