The Railway Recruitment Board (RRB) has announced the recruitment process for Group D posts for 2025. This is a golden opportunity for candidates aiming to secure a role in the Indian Railways. Understanding the syllabus and exam pattern is crucial for success. This guide provides a detailed overview of the RRB Group D syllabus, exam structure, and preparation strategies.
Table of Contents
Overview
| Stage | Description | Applicability |
| Computer-Based Test (CBT) | A written examination covering various subjects. | All candidates |
| Physical Efficiency Test (PET) | Physical performance evaluation. | Shortlisted candidates |
| Physical Standard Test (PST) | Measurement of height, chest, weight, etc. | PET-qualified candidates |
| Document Verification | Verification of academic and other credentials. | PST-qualified candidates |
| Medical Examination | Health and fitness check. | Final stage qualifiers |
RRB Selection Stages
- Online Test (CBT): A computer-based test evaluating General Science, Mathematics, General Intelligence, Reasoning, and Current Affairs.
- Physical Efficiency Test (PET): Candidates must demonstrate physical fitness post-CBT.
- Physical Standard Test (PST): Measurement of physical attributes such as height, chest, and weight to ensure compliance with standards.
- Document Verification (DV): Verification of personal, educational, and professional details.
- Medical Examination: Ensures fitness for railway duties.
Exam Pattern for RRB Group D 2025
| Section | No. of Questions | 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 (120 minutes for PwBD candidates using a scribe).
- Negative Marking: 1/3rd mark deducted for each incorrect answer.
Qualifying percentage for different categories:
| Category | Qualifying Percentage |
| UR (Unreserved) | 40% |
| EWS (Economically Weaker Sections) | 40% |
| OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) | 30% |
| SC (Scheduled Caste) | 30% |
| ST (Scheduled Tribe) | 30% |
| PwBD (Persons with Benchmark Disabilities) | Relaxed by 2% in case of shortage of PwBD candidates. |
Comprehensive Group D Syllabus
Post-Specific Syllabus
| Post | Department | Subtopics | Examples |
| Pointsman-B | Traffic | Signal handling, coordination with control offices, and operational safety procedures. | Identify railway signals and their meanings. |
| Assistant (Track Machine) | Engineering | Basics of track machine operations, maintenance, and troubleshooting. | Questions on parts of track machines and their uses. |
| Assistant (Bridge) | Engineering | Fundamentals of bridge maintenance, load calculations, and safety inspections. | Calculate the load-bearing capacity of a given bridge structure. |
| Track Maintainer Gr. IV | Engineering | Track laying, safety protocols, and tools used in track maintenance. | Identify tools used for track alignment. |
| Assistant P-Way | Engineering | Permanent way engineering basics, ballast selection, and rail joint types. | Questions on types of rail joints and their functions. |
| Assistant (C&W) | Mechanical | Basics of carriage and wagon maintenance, air brake systems, and coupling mechanisms. | Explain air brake components in a railway coach. |
| Assistant TRD | Electrical | Overhead equipment (OHE) maintenance, power supply systems, and circuit troubleshooting. | Identify OHE components and their purposes. |
| Assistant (S&T) | S&T | Signal and telecommunication systems, basics of block instruments, and interlocking principles. | Questions on signal interlocking mechanisms. |
| Assistant Loco Shed (Diesel) | Mechanical | Diesel engine parts, fuel injection systems, and loco maintenance procedures. | Identify major parts of a diesel locomotive engine. |
| Assistant Loco Shed (Electrical) | Electrical | Basics of electric locomotives, circuit diagrams, and troubleshooting electrical faults. | Explain the working of an electric traction motor. |
| Assistant Operations (Electrical) | Electrical | Power management, electrical safety measures, and operational troubleshooting. | Questions on power system failures and recovery methods. |
| Assistant TL & AC | Electrical | Train lighting, air conditioning systems, and electrical fault diagnosis in coaches. | Diagnose faults in a train air conditioning system. |
| Assistant TL & AC (Workshop) | Electrical | Workshop-level repair techniques for TL & AC systems, including wiring and compressor maintenance. | Identify wiring faults in a workshop setting. |
| Assistant (Workshop) (Mech) | Mechanical | Workshop safety practices, basic machining, and mechanical systems troubleshooting. | Questions on lathe operations and workshop tools. |
Each section includes a professional ability component that evaluates post-specific technical knowledge and practical applications. The CBT covers general topics such as Mathematics, Reasoning, and General Awareness separately.
RRB Group D Syllabus For Mathematics
| Topic | Subtopics | Marks | Example |
| Number System | Natural numbers, Integers, Fractions, Decimals | 25 | Convert 0.75 to a fraction. |
| BODMAS | Brackets, Order of operations | Solve 5 + 3 × (6 – 2). | |
| LCM and HCF | Prime factorization, Division method | Find the LCM and HCF of 12 and 15. | |
| Ratios and Proportions | Direct and inverse proportion | If 5 pens cost ₹25, how much will 12 pens cost? | |
| Percentages | Calculation, Profit and Loss, Discounts | Find 25% of ₹200. | |
| Mensuration | Area and perimeter (2D), Volume (3D) | Calculate the area of a circle with a radius 7 cm. | |
| Time and Work, Time and Distance | Speed, Work, and efficiency | If A can complete a work in 10 days and B in 20 days, how long will they take together? | |
| Simple and Compound Interest | SI and CI formulae and applications | Find CI on ₹1000 for 2 years at 5% annual interest. | |
| Algebra | Simplification, Linear equations | Solve 2x + 5 = 15. | |
| Geometry and Trigonometry | Angles, Triangles, Sine, Cosine, Tangent | Find the height of a triangle with a base of 10 cm and an area of 50 cm². | |
| Elementary Statistics | Mean, Median, Mode, Range | Find the mean of 4, 7, 9, 11. | |
| Square Root | Finding square roots of perfect squares | Find the square root of 144. | |
| Age Calculations | Age relations, Problems with ages | A father is 30 years older than his son. If the son is 20, what is the father’s age? | |
| Calendar & Clock | Day of the week, Time calculations | What day of the week was 15th August 1947? | |
| Pipes & Cisterns | Inflow and outflow problems | A pipe fills a tank in 10 hours, and another empties it in 20 hours. How long to fill the tank together? |
RRB Group D Syllabus For General Intelligence & Reasoning
| Topic | Subtopics | Marks | Example |
| Analogies | Number, Letter, and Figure Analogies | 25 | Find the odd one: Dog, Cat, Cow, Lion. |
| Alphabetical and Number Series | Series formation, Next term prediction | What comes next in 2, 4, 8, 16, ___? | |
| Coding and Decoding | Number codes, Letter codes | If CAT = 3120, what does DOG equal? | |
| Mathematical Operations | Logical puzzles, Applying operations | Solve: If 3 × 6 = 18, then 4 × 5 = ___? | |
| Relationships | Blood relations, Direction sense | A is the father of B; B is the father of C. How is A related to C? | |
| Syllogism | Logical Venn diagrams | All cats are animals. All animals are living beings. Are all cats living beings? | |
| Jumbling | Rearranging jumbled sentences | Rearrange the letters “TGRIEMAN” to form a meaningful word. | |
| Venn Diagrams | Representing logical relations | Represent the relationship between cats, animals, and pets. | |
| Data Interpretation and Sufficiency | Graphs, Tables | What is the average salary from a given table? | |
| Conclusions and Decision-Making | Drawing logical conclusions | If all men are mortal and Socrates is a man, what is true about Socrates? |
RRB Group D Syllabus For General Science
| Topic | Subtopics | Marks | Example |
| Physics | Motion, Gravitation, Energy, Electricity | 30 | What is the force on a 5 kg mass due to gravity? |
| Chemistry | Acids, Bases, Periodic table | What is the formula of water? | |
| Life Sciences | Plant/Animal Cells, Human Biology | What is photosynthesis? |
Syllabus For General Awareness (Current Affairs)
| Topic | Subtopics | Marks | Example |
| Science & Technology | New technologies, Space programs | 20 | Who invented the telephone? |
| Sports | Recent events, Awards | Who won the 2024 FIFA World Cup? | |
| Culture | Art, Festivals, Literature | Who wrote “To Kill a Mockingbird”? | |
| Economics and Politics | Schemes, Budget basics | What is the purpose of GST? | |
| Other Important Topics | Environmental issues, International events | What is the Paris Climate Agreement? |
Key Features of the Syllabus
- Focus on basic scientific concepts for General Science.
- Emphasis on accuracy and speed in solving reasoning problems.
- Awareness of recent events and initiatives is crucial for Current Affairs.
Physical Standard Test (PST), Document Verification, and Medical Examination
| Stage | Details |
| Physical Standard Test (PST) | Measures height, chest (for male candidates), and weight to ensure candidates meet the physical standards prescribed for the post. |
| Document Verification (DV) | Verification of educational, caste, and other supporting documents to confirm eligibility. |
| Medical Examination | Health assessment to ensure candidates meet fitness standards for railway duties, including vision and general physical health. |
Physical Standards
| Category | Height (in cm) | Chest (in cm) (only for male) | Weight |
| Male (General) | 165 | 80 (unexpanded), 85 (expanded) | Proportionate to height and age as per medical standards. |
| Female (General) | 157 | Not applicable | Proportionate to height and age as per medical standards. |
| Male (SC/ST) | 160 | 76 (unexpanded), 81 (expanded) | Proportionate to height and age as per medical standards. |
| Female (SC/ST) | 152 | Not applicable | Proportionate to height and age as per medical standards. |
Document Verification Details
| Document | Purpose |
| Educational Certificates | Verify qualification eligibility. |
| Identity Proof (Aadhaar, PAN) | Confirm identity and personal details. |
| Caste Certificate (if needed) | Validate claims for reserved categories. |
| PwBD Certificate (if needed) | Ensure proper categorization for PwBD. |
| Other Supporting Documents | Address proof, photographs, etc. |
Medical Examination Details
| Aspect | Assessment Criteria |
| Vision Test | Includes distance vision, color vision, and night vision. |
| General Physical Health | Evaluation of overall fitness for the role. |
| Specific Requirements | Compliance with job-specific physical demands. |
Candidates who pass Document Verification and Medical Examination are considered for final selection based on merit.
Recommended Books and Resources
| Topic | Recommended Book |
| General Science | NCERT Science textbooks (Class 6-10) |
| Mathematics | “Quantitative Aptitude” by R.S. Aggarwal |
| Reasoning | “A Modern Approach to Verbal & Non-Verbal Reasoning” by R.S. Aggarwal |
| General Awareness | Lucent’s General Knowledge |
| Current Affairs | Monthly magazines like Pratiyogita Darpan |
Preparation Strategy
| Time Slot | Activity | Focus Area |
| Morning (6-8 AM) | Study and revise topics | General Science |
| Afternoon (2-4 PM) | Practice mock tests | Exam Pattern Familiarity |
| Evening (6-8 PM) | Solve reasoning problems | Speed and accuracy improvement |
| Night (9-10 PM) | Read newspapers and magazines | Current Affairs |
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Ignoring Weak Areas: Allocate more time to topics where improvement is needed.
- Skipping Mock Tests: Practice mock tests regularly for time management.
- Overlooking Updates: Stay informed about exam-related notifications on RRB’s official website.
Important Links
| RRB Official Website | Click Here |
| Recruitment Notification | Download Here |
| Join Our WhatsApp Channel | Join Now |
Conclusion
RRB Group D Recruitment 2025 presents a great chance for aspirants to secure a position in Indian Railways. By understanding the syllabus and exam pattern and following a disciplined preparation approach, candidates can achieve their goals. Start your preparation now and aim for excellence!
FAQs
What are the eligibility criteria for RRB Group D posts?
Candidates must meet the educational, age, and physical fitness criteria as specified in the official notification.
Is there an application fee?
Yes, the application fee is Rs. 500 for general candidates, with refunds available for those who appear for the CBT.
How many vacancies are available?
There are 32,438 vacancies across various zones as per the 2025 notification.
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