RRB Group D

Overview

RRB Group D is the recruitment of Level 1 (Group D) posts in Indian Railways — support and maintenance roles such as Track Maintainer, Pointsman, and various Assistant categories (Workshop, Loco Shed, Track Machine, Bridge, P-Way, Operations) — conducted by the Railway Recruitment Boards (RRBs). The latest cycle is CEN-08/2024, notified across categories including Track Maintainer Grade IV, Pointsman-B and multiple Assistant posts, with the CBT held over several dates from January to February 2026, per secondary reporting on the CEN. Recruitment is run through 20 zonal RRBs. Because the official RRB and rrbapply.gov.in sites could not be reached directly for this review, cycle-specific facts should be confirmed against the live CEN document.

Who can apply

Age limits and educational qualification requirements for Group D posts are set out in the specific CEN for the recruitment cycle and can differ between cycles, so candidates should check the current CEN published by their zonal RRB or on rrbapply.gov.in rather than assume a fixed rule from an earlier cycle.

Exam pattern

RRB Group D now uses a single-stage CBT (the earlier CBT-2 stage was dropped after student feedback), followed by a Physical Efficiency Test (PET) and then document verification and a medical examination.

CBT

Duration: 90 minutes (120 minutes for eligible PwBD candidates with a scribe). Marking: 1/3 mark deducted per wrong answer. Category-wise qualifying percentage reported for a recent cycle: UR and EWS 40%, OBC (non-creamy layer), SC and ST 30%, relaxed by a further 2% for PwBD candidates. Scores across shifts are normalised to a percentile before the merit list is drawn, using a "base shift" method rather than raw marks.

Physical Efficiency Test (PET)

PET is qualifying in nature and is conducted for candidates shortlisted from the CBT, typically about three times the number of vacancies. Reported standards:

Selection process

1. CEN notification published by the zonal RRBs.

2. Online application during the notified window on rrbapply.gov.in.

3. Single-stage CBT.

4. Physical Efficiency Test (PET) for candidates shortlisted from the CBT — qualifying only, does not add to the merit score.

5. Document verification, for candidates qualifying PET, called up to a small multiple of vacancies by merit and post preference.

6. Medical examination and final empanelment.

How to apply

Applications for RRB Group D are submitted online through rrbapply.gov.in during the window specified in the current CEN. Admit cards (e-call letters) are issued only through the official RRB website for the zone the candidate applied under.

Preparation tips

Since RRB releases a fresh CEN with its own pattern, vacancies and PET standards for each Group D cycle, always confirm the current cycle's requirements — including the PET lift-and-carry and running standards, which can differ by category — from the live CEN document before preparing. Because the CBT score alone (not PET performance) decides the merit list among PET-qualified candidates, treat PET as a fitness bar to clear rather than something to optimise beyond the minimum.