The Railway Recruitment Board (RRB) and Railway Recruitment Cells (RRC) conduct the nationwide recruitment for Level-1 (Group D) posts in Indian Railways. Posts such as Track Maintainer Grade-IV, Helper/Assistant in Electrical, Mechanical, Signal & Telecom departments, and Pointsman fall under this category.
To secure selection in RRB Group D, aspirants must pass four distinct recruitment stages: Computer Based Test (CBT), Physical Efficiency Test (PET), Document Verification (DV), and Medical Examination (ME). In this comprehensive article, we break down each stage, including subject weightage, PET physical requirements, disqualification triggers, and vision standards.
| RRB Group D Recruitment Key Overview | |
|---|---|
| Recruiting Authority | Railway Recruitment Board (RRB) / Railway Recruitment Cell (RRC) |
| Post Level | Level-1 of 7th CPC Pay Matrix (Trackman, Pointsman, Helper) |
| Selection Stages | 1. CBT Exam | 2. PET Physical Test | 3. Document Verification | 4. Medical Exam |
| CBT Exam Mode | Online Computer Based Test (100 MCQs, 90 Minutes) |
| Negative Marking (CBT) | 1/3rd Mark deducted for every wrong answer |
| PET Nature | Qualifying Only (Pass/Fail) |
| Official Portal | indianrailways.gov.in / Zone-wise Official RRB Portals |
Candidates must clear each consecutive stage to remain eligible for the final merit list:
- Stage 1: Computer Based Test (CBT) – Merit-determining written exam consisting of 100 objective questions.
- Stage 2: Physical Efficiency Test (PET) – Mandatory endurance test checking weight lifting and running ability (Qualifying in nature).
- Stage 3: Document Verification (DV) – Verification of original educational, caste, and identity documents against the online application.
- Stage 4: Railway Medical Examination (ME) – Physical fitness and strict eyesight standard check conducted by the Railway Medical Board.
The Computer-Based Test evaluates 10th-standard mathematics, general science, reasoning, and current affairs:
| Subject / Niche | Number of Questions | Total Marks | Exam Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mathematics (10th Standard Level) | 25 | 25 | 90 Minutes (120 Mins for PwBD) |
| General Intelligence & Reasoning | 30 | 30 | |
| General Science (Physics, Chemistry, Life Sciences) | 25 | 25 | |
| General Awareness & Current Affairs | 20 | 20 | |
| TOTAL | 100 MCQs | 100 Marks | 90 Minutes |
- ● Marking Scheme: 1 mark is awarded for each correct response.
- ● Negative Marking: 1/3rd mark (0.33 mark) is deducted for every incorrect attempt. Unanswered questions carry zero penalty.
- ● Normalisation: Score normalization is applied across multiple test shifts.
Candidates equal to 3 times the vacancy count are shortlisted for PET based on CBT merit. PET consists of two mandatory tasks. Failing either task results in immediate disqualification on the spot (No second chance).
| Gender Category | Task 1: Weight Lifting & Carrying | Task 2: Running Test |
|---|---|---|
| Male Candidates | Lift & carry 35 kg weight for 100 meters in 2 minutes in a single attempt without dropping. | Run 1000 meters (1 km) in 4 minutes 15 seconds in a single attempt. |
| Female Candidates | Lift & carry 20 kg weight for 100 meters in 2 minutes in a single attempt without dropping. | Run 1000 meters (1 km) in 5 minutes 40 seconds in a single attempt. |
- Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD) are completely exempted from the PET.
- Ex-Servicemen (Ex-SM) are exempted from the PET as per official RRB norms.
After clearing PET, candidates undergo document scrutiny followed by a comprehensive medical examination conducted in Railway Hospitals.
- ● 10th Class / Matriculation / ITI Certificate (Proof of Date of Birth & Qualification).
- ● Community Certificate (SC / ST / OBC-NCL / EWS Certificate in prescribed format).
- ● Government Photo ID Proof (Aadhaar Card, PAN Card, Voter ID).
- ● NOC for serving employees & Discharge Certificate for Ex-Servicemen.
| Medical Standard | General Physical Fitness | Distant & Near Vision Criteria |
|---|---|---|
| A-2 | Physically fit in all respects | Distant: 6/9, 6/9 without glasses. Must pass Colour, Binocular & Night Vision tests. |
| A-3 | Physically fit in all respects | Distant: 6/9, 6/9 with/without glasses (max 2D lens power). Passes Colour & Night Vision. |
| B-1 | Physically fit in all respects | Distant: 6/9, 6/12 with/without glasses (max 4D lens power). Passes Colour Vision. |
| B-2 & C-1 | Standard physical fitness | Distant: 6/12, 6/18 with or without glasses. Moderate vision requirements. |
Practice 10th Level Maths, Science MCQs, Reasoning Quizzes, and Full 100-Question CBT Mock Tests strictly modeled on RRB's latest pattern on the ExamWise App and Portal.
