railway exam in india

Indian Railways provide a potential line of handsome career opportunities and are one of the most coveted jobs across the country. Lakhs of candidates apply every year which substantially reflects on the competitive setting of railway exams. Job security, stress-free environment, reputation, and other provisions offered in the railway sector take its popularity into a different zone of achievement. Railway Recruitment Board is responsible for recruiting candidates for the available posts.

RRB NTPC

RRB or Railway Recruitment Board is responsible for conducting NTPC or Non-Technical Popular Categories exam for enlisting aspirants into supplementary posts available in Indian Railways. RRB NTPC recruits candidates for posts like Trains clerk, Junior clerk cum typist, Accounts clerk cum typist, Junior Timekeeper, Senior clerk cum typist, Goods guard, Traffic Assistant, Senior Timekeeper, Junior Account Assistant cum Typist, Station Master, Commercial Apprentice, etc. These posts serve the well-coordinated day-to-day functioning of Indian Railways.

Educational qualification and eligibility

Railway Recruitment Board sets the RRB NTPC eligibility criteria. Candidates have to mandatorily fulfill the RRB NTPC eligibility as prescribed in the official notification to appear for the RRB NTPC Exam. The candidates must be a citizen of India.

Age limit

The lower and upper age limit for the RRB NTPC exam is 18 years -30 years for Under graduate post and 18 years – 33 years for Graduate post providing age relaxation for reserved categories. Age relaxation of 3 years is offered for the OBC category, 5 years for SC, ST category, 10 years for PWD general, 13 years for PWD OBC, and 15 years for PWD SC, ST candidates.

Educational qualification

The minimum educational qualification for RRB NTPC is graduation in any discipline from GOI recognized board. Posts concerning Commercial Apprentice, Stationmaster, Senior Commercial cum Ticket clerk, Goods guard, Senior clerk cum typist, Traffic Assistant Junior Accounts Assistant Cum Typist requires graduation from a recognized university. Typing proficiency in Hindi and English languages is preferred for  Junior Accounts Assistant Cum Typist, Senior Time Keeper etc. Twelfth or its equivalent with an aggregate of 50 % is the minimum educational qualification for Accounts Clerk cum typist, commercial cum ticket clerk, Junior clerk cum typist, junior timekeeper posts. Furthermore, relaxation in the minimum aggregate is extended for reserved categories like SC, ST, ex-servicemen, and PWD candidates. Final results are announced only when the above criteria are met regarding the minimum educational qualification.

Physical fitness

Aspirants have to pass a certain fitness test before admitting to the Railway administration which also ensures medical fitness among candidates. For eg, Visual Acuity  Standard.

Exam pattern and syllabus

The first phase of RRB NTPC is the preliminary exam followed by the mains exam. Candidates have to appear for typing tests or skill tests furthering the procedures to document verification. The medical examination is the final phase after which the merit list shall be published. Aspirants have to score marks above the cut-off to procure their names in the final merit list. The skill test or the typing test is not mandatory for certain posts under RRB NTPC. Negative marking is 1/3rd of the total mark. The latest exam pattern for RRB NTPC CBT 1 holds 100 questions in total awarding 100 marks. The time duration for the same is 90 minutes covering sections like general awareness (40 marks), mathematics (30 marks) and general intelligence and reasoning (30 marks). NTPC CBT 2 holds 120 questions in total awarding 120 marks. The time duration for the same is 90 minutes covering sections like general awareness (50 marks), mathematics (35 marks), and general intelligence and reasoning (35 marks). Scores of the skill-based test are not considered in determining the final results as they are qualifying in nature. Candidates are supposed to type thirty words per minute in English and twenty-five words in Hindi with total restrictions of spell-checking tools and editing apps. Medical verification is a prerequisite for clearing the RRB NTPC that ensures every candidate is physically fit for the post. Visual Acuity Standard is one of the medical criteria conducted by the Railway administration.

RRB Group D

The responsibilities of Railway group D personnel include maintenance of railway properties and assets. RRB Group D posts are non-desk jobs working under various departments like electrical, engineering, medical, signal communication and mechanical. Furthermore, the mechanical department is categorized into Assistant workshop, Assistant Loco shed and Assistant C&W. The other job positions offered in RRB Group D are Assistant Operations, Assistant loco shed, Assistant workshop, Assistant C&W, Assistant Bridge, Assistant TL&AC, Assistant Track machine, Assistant Pointsman, Track maintainer, Assistant TRD and Assistant signal and Track officers under electrical and mechanical branches. The candidates don’t require an industrial training certificate for applying to RRB Group D exams.

Age limit

The age limit meeting the eligibility criteria for RRB Group D is given as follows. The lower age limit for the same is 18 years and the upper limit is 33 years which differs with category. Age relaxation for the OBC category is three years and five years for SC, ST Category. PWD candidates from the general category are eligible for age relaxation of 10 years, 13, and 15 years respectively for OBC, SC/ ST PWD candidates.

Educational Qualification

Candidates who have passed class 10th from any recognized board are eligible for the exam. Furthermore, candidates holding NCVY granted National Apprentice Certificate or ITI certificate are also considered in the eligibility criteria. All the certificates are to be submitted in the online application form. Aspirants awaiting results of the minimum educational qualification are ineligible for applying the same. Candidates should be an Indian citizen.

Exam pattern and Exam syllabus

RRB Group D exam is conducted in three tiers – Computer Based Test or CBT, PET (Physical Efficiency Test), and document verification. Candidates are empanelled after document verification. It is advised to be familiarised with the exam pattern and syllabus to design a proper preparation strategy to crack the examination. Exam duration is 90 minutes and extended to 120 minutes for PWD candidates. Objective-type multiple-choice questions will be available to candidates in fifteen different languages. The maximum number of marks awarded in the RRB Group D exam is 100, where each question carries one mark. Negative marking is 1/3rd of the total mark for each wrong answer. The exam appears in four sections – General Science (25 marks), Mathematics (25 marks), General Intelligence and Reasoning (30 marks), General Awareness and Current Affairs(20 marks). The first stage of CBT is conducted to shortlist a sufficient number of candidates for the second stage of CBT. The exam syllabus for the RRB Group D exam is as jotted below.

  • Mathematics – Number system, decimals, mensuration, time and work, time and distance, profit and loss, ratio and proportion, calendar and clock, HCF, Fractions, SI-CI, Algebra, elementary statistics, Age calculations etc. 
  • General Intelligence and reasoning – Reasoning, similarities and differences, stumbling, relationship, coding and decoding, directions, numerical series, DI and sufficiency, decision making, classification, mathematical operations, Alphabet series, Venn diagram, argument and assumptions etc. 
  • General Science – Physics, chemistry, life sciences etc. This section shall cover 10th ( CBSE) based science questions. 
  • General Awareness and current affairs – Culture, Economics, personalities, politics, general awareness in science and technology, current affairs and sports. 
  • Physical Efficiency Test or PET is the final step before document verification where candidates are notified of qualifying criteria. Three times the vacancies available in each category will be informed for PET which ensures sufficient strength in the test. PET is qualifying in nature and is mandatory to attend. Male candidates are required to run 1000 meters in 4 minutes and 15 seconds, 100 meters in 2 minutes and lift 35 kg of weight. Female candidates are required to cover a distance of 1000 meters in 5 minutes and 40 seconds, 100 meters in 2 minutes and lift 20 kg of weight in a single try. 
  • Document verification – Once the candidates clear CBT and physical eligibility test or PET, they are called for the document verification. The short-listed candidates are required to produce the NOC on their date of DV. All the signatures on the documents should be identical.

Railway Protection Force (RPF) SI Exam

The Ministry of Railways conducts RPF exam for the recruitment of Sub Inspector posts in Railway Protection Force .Candidates must be an Indian citizen. Candidates must have passed graduation from a recognised university. The minimum age limit required to attend the examination is 20 years and maximum of 27 years with age relaxation for reserved categories. The exam is conducted online. RPF SI exam is conducted in three tiers: Computer Based Test (CBT), Physical Efficiency Test (PET) and Physical Measurement Test (PEM), and Document Verification. CBT is divided into three sections: General Awareness, Arithmetic and General Intelligence & Reasoning. The total test duration is 90 minutes and the total marks is 120.Based on the merit of the candidates in the CBT, candidates will be called for PET & PMT.

Railway Protection Force (RPF) Constable Exam

RPF Constable exam is conducted by the ministry of railways for the recruitment of Constable posts in Railway Protection Force. Candidates should be in the age group of 18-25 years with age relaxation for reserved categories. The candidates must have passed matriculation or its equivalent. The exam is conducted in three stages: Computer Based Test (CBT), Physical Efficiency Test (PET) and Physical Measurement Test (PMT), and Document Verification. CBT is divided into three sections: General Awareness, Arithmetic and General Intelligence & Reasoning. The total test duration is 90 minutes and the total marks is 120.Based on the merit of the candidates in the CBT, candidates will be called for PET & PMT.

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FAQs

  • How many procedure tires are there in RRB Group D recruitment?

There are four tiers in the recruitment process of RRB Group D which include Computer Based Test (CBT), Physical Efficiency Test (PET), Document Verification followed by a medical examination.

  • What is the registration fee for RRB group D?

Rs 500 is the application fee for the general and OBC categories. SC, ST, PWD, females and transgender, ex-servicemen have a fee reduction of Rs 250. The fee shall be refunded once the candidate appears for CBT.

  • Will there be sectional cut-off in RRB NTPC exam?

No, there will no sectional cut-off in the exam.