About RRB Group D
RRB Group D is the popular name for the recruitment to Level 1 posts of the 7th CPC Pay Matrix in Indian Railways. The Railway Recruitment Boards (RRBs) under the Ministry of Railways run it through one Centralised Employment Notification (CEN) for all railway zones and production units. The latest one was CEN No. 09/2025, "Recruitment for Various Posts in Level 1".
Level 1 staff work as helpers and assistants in track maintenance, bridges, signal and telecom, electrical, carriage and wagon, loco sheds, workshops and train operations. It is one of the largest recruitments in India, and the minimum qualification is only Class 10 or ITI.
You apply to one RRB only and give your preference of posts and railway units within it. The RRB runs the computer-based test; the Railway Recruitment Cell (RRC) of the zone handles the physical test, document verification and medical exam, and the railway gives the appointment.
RRB Group D at a glance
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Conducting body | Railway Recruitment Boards (RRBs) with zonal Railway Recruitment Cells (RRCs) |
| Level | National (all railway zones and production units) |
| Posts | Track Maintainer Grade IV, Pointsman-B, Assistant (Track Machine, Bridge, P-Way, Carriage and Wagon, Loco Shed, S and T, TRD, TL and AC, Operations) and similar Level 1 posts |
| Pay | Level 1, starting basic pay ₹18,000 |
| Qualification | 10th pass, or ITI, or National Apprenticeship Certificate (NAC) from NCVT |
| Age limit | 18 to 33 years in CEN 09/2025 (with category relaxation) |
| Stages | CBT → Physical Efficiency Test (PET) → Document Verification → Medical Examination |
| Mode | Online computer-based test (CBT) |
| Negative marking | 1/3 mark per wrong answer |
| Official website | rrb.indianrailways.gov.in and the regional RRB websites |
Eligibility
Educational qualification
For all Level 1 posts in CEN 09/2025, you need one of these:
- Class 10 pass, or
- ITI, or an equivalent, or
- National Apprenticeship Certificate (NAC) granted by NCVT.
You must already hold the qualification on the closing date of the online form. Candidates waiting for results cannot apply. A diploma or engineering degree is not accepted in place of ITI or Course Completed Act Apprenticeship unless the notice says so.
Age limit and relaxation
In CEN 09/2025 the age limit was 18 to 33 years, counted on 1 January of the notice year (01.01.2026). Main relaxations in the upper limit:
| Category | Relaxation |
|---|---|
| OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) | 3 years |
| SC / ST | 5 years |
| Ex-servicemen (at least 6 months' service) | 3 years (UR/EWS), 6 years (OBC), 8 years (SC/ST), after deducting service |
| PwBD | 10 years (UR/EWS), 13 years (OBC), 15 years (SC/ST) |
| Serving railway Group C / erstwhile Group D staff with 3 years' service | Up to 40 years (UR/EWS), 43 (OBC), 45 (SC/ST) |
| Widowed, divorced or judicially separated women (not remarried) | Up to 35 years (UR), 38 (OBC), 40 (SC/ST) |
| Course Completed Act Apprentices trained in railway units | Period of apprentice training (with limits given in the notice) |
Relaxations are not added together; you get the highest one you qualify for. SC, ST and OBC candidates applying against unreserved vacancies get no age relaxation.
Nationality
Indian citizens can apply. Citizens of Nepal and Bhutan, Tibetan refugees who came before 1 January 1962, and some persons of Indian origin who migrated to settle in India can also apply with a certificate of eligibility from the Government of India.
Medical standards
Each post has a medical standard, mainly about eyesight. Check it before you choose your posts, because a candidate found unfit for the opted post gets no other post.
| Standard | Eyesight needed (summary) | Example posts (CEN 09/2025) |
|---|---|---|
| A-2 | Distant vision 6/9, 6/9 without glasses; colour, night and binocular vision tests | Pointsman-B |
| A-3 | Distant vision 6/9, 6/9 with or without glasses (up to 2D) | Assistant Track Machine |
| B-1 | Distant vision 6/9, 6/12 with or without glasses (up to 4D); colour vision test | Most posts, such as Track Maintainer IV, Assistant Bridge, Assistant P-Way |
| C-1 | Distant vision 6/12, 6/18 with or without glasses | Workshop posts |
Candidates who had LASIK or any other eye surgery to correct vision are not eligible for A-2 and A-3 posts.
Selection process
- Computer Based Test (CBT): a single-stage objective test (Railways may hold it in more than one stage if needed). Marks are normalised when the exam runs in many shifts.
- Physical Efficiency Test (PET): about three times the vacancies, by community, are called on CBT merit. PET is qualifying only.
- Document Verification (DV): candidates equal to the number of vacancies (1:1), based on CBT merit and PET pass.
- Medical Examination: as per the medical standard of the post.
If two candidates have the same marks, the older one is placed higher. PwBD candidates, ex-servicemen and Course Completed Act Apprentices are exempt from PET.
Exam pattern
CBT
| Subject | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| General Science | 25 | 25 |
| Mathematics | 25 | 25 |
| General Intelligence and Reasoning | 30 | 30 |
| General Awareness and Current Affairs | 20 | 20 |
| Total | 100 | 100 |
- Time: 90 minutes (120 minutes for candidates eligible for a scribe).
- Negative marking: 1/3 mark is deducted for each wrong answer.
- Minimum marks to be considered: 40% for UR and EWS, 30% for OBC (NCL), SC and ST. PwBD candidates may get a relaxation of 2 marks if there is a shortage.
- The section-wise split is indicative and may vary slightly.
Physical Efficiency Test
| Test | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|
| Weight carrying | Lift and carry 35 kg for 100 metres in 2 minutes, without putting it down | Lift and carry 20 kg for 100 metres in 2 minutes, without putting it down |
| Running | 1,000 metres in 4 minutes 15 seconds | 1,000 metres in 5 minutes 40 seconds |
Each test is done in one chance. The weight test comes first; if you fail it, you are out. Transgender candidates have the same standard as women.
Syllabus
As per the latest notification, the CBT covers:
Mathematics
- Number system, BODMAS, decimals, fractions, LCM and HCF
- Ratio and proportion, percentages, profit and loss
- Simple and compound interest, time and work, time and distance, pipes and cisterns
- Mensuration, algebra, geometry and trigonometry, elementary statistics
- Square roots, age problems, calendar and clock
General Intelligence and Reasoning
- Analogies, alphabet and number series, coding and decoding
- Mathematical operations, relationships, syllogism, jumbling, Venn diagrams
- Data interpretation and sufficiency, conclusions and decision making
- Similarities and differences, classification, directions, analytical reasoning
- Statements with arguments and assumptions
General Science
- Physics, Chemistry and Life Sciences of Class 10 (CBSE) level
General Awareness and Current Affairs
- Current affairs in science and technology, sports, culture, personalities, economics and politics, and other important subjects
The notice says these topics are examples and not a complete list.
Salary and posts
All posts are at Level 1 of the 7th CPC Pay Matrix, with a starting basic pay of ₹18,000 a month. Dearness Allowance, House Rent Allowance, Transport Allowance and other allowances are added as per railway rules.
Posts in CEN 09/2025 included Track Maintainer Grade IV, Pointsman-B, Assistant Track Machine, Assistant Bridge, Assistant P-Way, Assistant Carriage and Wagon, Assistant Loco Shed (Electrical), Assistant Operations (Electrical), Assistant TRD, Assistant TL and AC, and Assistant (S and T), spread over the engineering, mechanical, electrical, signal and telecom, and traffic departments. The exact list and the vacancies change with each notice.
How to apply
- Open the apply link on any official RRB website when the CEN is out.
- Create an Account with your own mobile number and email ID. If you already have an account from an earlier RRB notice, use it. Details in this form cannot be changed later.
- Verify your identity with Aadhaar or DigiLocker (strongly advised by RRB).
- Fill the form, choose one RRB, and give your preference of posts and railway units within it.
- Capture a live photo and upload your signature and documents as instructed, then pay the fee online.
- Corrections (except account details and chosen RRB) can be made in the modification window for a fee of ₹250 each time.
Fee rule: ₹500 for general candidates, of which ₹400 is refunded after you appear in the CBT. ₹250 for SC, ST, ex-servicemen, PwBD, women, transgender, minority and Economically Backward Class (EBC) candidates, fully refunded after you appear in the CBT (bank charges are deducted). Only one application is allowed; multiple applications lead to rejection and a ban.
Exam calendar
RRB Group D does not have a fixed yearly month. In the last cycle (CEN 09/2025) the usual order was:
- Short notice in Employment News (December 2025)
- Online applications for about a month (January–March 2026)
- CBT several months later in many shifts (August 2026)
- CBT result, then PET, document verification and medical exam zone-wise
This is the usual order and may change.
Preparation tips
- Use Class 9 and 10 NCERT science books for General Science; the syllabus is fixed at that level.
- Practise arithmetic daily: percentages, ratio, time and work, and interest come up often.
- Read a daily current affairs summary and revise it every week.
- Start running and weight-carrying practice early; PET is pass or fail and many candidates fail it.
- Check your eyesight before choosing posts with A-2 or A-3 standards.
- Take full 90-minute online mock tests; the RRB also gives a mock test link before the exam.
- Do not guess blindly: each wrong answer costs 1/3 mark.
RRB Group D FAQs
What is the qualification for RRB Group D?
Class 10 pass, or ITI, or a National Apprenticeship Certificate from NCVT.
What is the age limit for RRB Group D?
18 to 33 years in CEN 09/2025, with 3 years' relaxation for OBC, 5 for SC/ST and more for PwBD and ex-servicemen.
Is there negative marking in RRB Group D?
Yes, 1/3 mark is deducted for each wrong answer in the CBT.
What is the salary of RRB Group D?
Level 1 of the 7th CPC Pay Matrix, starting basic pay ₹18,000, plus allowances.
How many stages are there in RRB Group D?
Four: CBT, Physical Efficiency Test, document verification and medical examination.
What are the passing marks in the CBT?
At least 40% for UR and EWS and 30% for OBC, SC and ST to be considered for the next stage.
Can I apply to more than one RRB?
No. You can apply to only one RRB. More than one application leads to rejection of all of them.
Always confirm the details in the official notification of the year you apply for.