Railway Exams Syllabus 2026: RRB NTPC, Group D, ALP & Technician

Railway Exams Syllabus and Exam Scheme 2026 — Original Acadvik Guide

Railway recruitment is conducted through separate notifications for different job families. RRB NTPC, Level-1/Group D, Assistant Loco Pilot (ALP), Technician, Junior Engineer (JE) and RPF Constable/Sub-Inspector do not share one identical exam scheme. This guide explains their common subjects and important differences so you can choose the right preparation track.

Important: Treat the live Railway Recruitment Board (RRB) or Railway Protection Force notification as the final authority for the recruitment cycle, qualification, post-wise eligibility, exam stages, negative marking, medical standards and dates. Topic descriptions below are an original study guide, not a substitute for the official CEN.

1. Main Railway recruitment examinations

Recruitment	Common post examples	Typical selection stages	Extra preparation
RRB NTPC Graduate	Station Master, Goods Train Manager, Junior Account Assistant-cum-Typist, Senior Clerk-cum-Typist and other notified posts	CBT-1 → CBT-2 → CBAT and/or typing test for specified posts → document verification and medical	Typing for specified clerical posts; aptitude test for Station Master.
RRB NTPC Undergraduate	Commercial-cum-Ticket Clerk, Accounts Clerk-cum-Typist, Junior Clerk-cum-Typist and other notified posts	CBT-1 → CBT-2 → typing test for specified posts → document verification and medical	Typing proficiency for posts where notified.
RRB Level-1 (often called Group D)	Track Maintainer and other Level-1 categories listed in the notice	CBT → Physical Efficiency Test (PET) where prescribed → document verification → medical	Physical readiness and railway medical standards.
RRB ALP	Assistant Loco Pilot	CBT-1 → CBT-2 (Part A and qualifying Part B) → CBAT → document verification and medical, as prescribed	Trade/technical syllabus and strict A-1 medical standards.
RRB Technician	Technician Grade I Signal and Grade III or other notified categories	CBT → document verification and medical; stages differ by post/notice	Technical subjects and qualification-specific trade knowledge.
RRB JE	Junior Engineer, Depot Material Superintendent and other notified technical posts	CBT-1 → CBT-2 → document verification and medical	Engineering discipline-specific syllabus in CBT-2.
RPF Constable / SI	Railway Protection Force and Railway Protection Special Force	CBT → PET/PMT → document verification and medical, according to post and notice	General awareness, reasoning, arithmetic and physical tests.

2. Exam scheme: understand the stages before studying

The scheme below is a planning summary of commonly used patterns. Recruitment boards can revise it, and a CEN may have different rules by post.

RRB NTPC

CBT-1: generally 100 questions for 100 marks in 90 minutes, covering General Awareness, Mathematics and General Intelligence & Reasoning. It is a screening stage; shortlisting is based on the applicable rules and cut-offs.
CBT-2: generally 120 questions for 120 marks in 90 minutes across the same three broad areas, with post-wise shortlisting as specified.
Typing Skill Test: qualifying for specified typist posts. The language, typing speed and exemptions are determined by the notice.
Computer-Based Aptitude Test (CBAT): required for Station Master and any other post specifically identified in the notice; candidates must meet the prescribed qualifying standard.
Penalty: RRB CBTs commonly deduct one-third of the marks allotted to a question for a wrong answer. Confirm the relevant CEN.

RRB Level-1 / Group D

CBT: commonly 100 objective questions in 90 minutes across Mathematics, General Intelligence & Reasoning, General Science and General Awareness/Current Affairs.
Negative marking: generally one-third mark for each wrong answer, subject to the current notice.
PET: qualifying physical tasks, with task details and standards defined by the CEN and applicable gender/category provisions.
Final checks: document verification and medical fitness for the notified post.

RRB ALP, Technician and JE

ALP: CBT-1 screens candidates; CBT-2 includes a common Part A and a trade-related Part B that is qualifying as prescribed; shortlisted candidates take CBAT. The official notice determines question distribution, timings, qualifying marks and medical standard.
Technician: question pattern and technical content depend on the Technician grade/category. Grade I Signal and Grade III should not be assumed to have identical syllabus.
JE: CBT-1 generally tests mathematics, reasoning, general awareness and general science; CBT-2 adds technical knowledge related to the engineering discipline and other notified areas.

RPF

RPF recruitment has its own CEN and selection rules. The written CBT is generally followed by physical measurement and efficiency tests and subsequent document/medical checks. Do not copy NTPC or Group D timings into an RPF study plan without checking the current notice.

3. Mathematics / Arithmetic

Number system, integers, fractions, decimals, LCM and HCF.
BODMAS, simplification, square roots, approximation and basic algebra.
Ratio and proportion, percentages, averages and ages.
Profit and loss, discount, simple and compound interest.
Time and work, pipes and cisterns, time-speed-distance, trains and boats/streams where included.
Mensuration: perimeter, area, surface area and volume of common plane and solid figures.
Geometry, basic trigonometry and elementary identities at the level specified by the exam.
Elementary statistics, data interpretation, tables, charts and graphs.
Calendar/clock or other arithmetic applications where reflected in the relevant notice or past papers.

Study method: master fractions, ratios, percentages and calculation speed first. Then practise mixed sets under the target exam’s time limit. Keep a formula notebook with a solved example for each formula.

4. General Intelligence and Reasoning

Analogies, similarities/differences, classification and number/alphabet series.
Coding-decoding, mathematical operations and relationships.
Syllogism, Venn diagrams, statement–conclusion and basic logical inference.
Blood relations, directions, order/ranking and arrangement-based questions.
Jumbling, puzzle-type questions, decision-making and analytical reasoning.
Non-verbal reasoning: mirror/water images, paper folding/cutting, embedded figures, completion of patterns and spatial visualisation.
Data sufficiency and other logical question types if included in the current notice.

For each error, note the underlying rule. Do not memorise the answer to a series or figure question; practise identifying the pattern independently.

5. General Science

General Science is especially relevant to Level-1/Group D and some technical recruitment schemes. Build school-level understanding rather than treating the subject as a list of isolated facts.

Physics: units and measurements, motion, force, work and energy, heat, sound, light, electricity, magnetism, simple machines and everyday applications.
Chemistry: matter, atoms and molecules, elements/compounds/mixtures, acids/bases/salts, metals and non-metals, chemical reactions, fuels, carbon compounds and everyday chemistry.
Biology: cells, tissues, human body systems, nutrition, respiration, circulation, diseases and prevention, reproduction, heredity, plants, ecology and environment.
Science in daily life: common devices, energy sources, health, sanitation, pollution and scientific developments relevant to the notified level.

6. General Awareness and Current Affairs

Indian history, freedom movement and major historical developments.
Indian and world geography: physical features, rivers, climate, resources, agriculture, transport and locations.
Indian Constitution, polity, government institutions and basic civic concepts.
Economy: basic economic terms, banking, inflation, budget, public-sector institutions and important national economic developments.
Culture, literature, awards, sports, important days, books/authors and notable personalities.
Current national and international events, science/technology, environment and government programmes.
Railway-related awareness: railway zones and headquarters, important railway developments and transport infrastructure may be useful, but prioritise the official syllabus over unofficial “sure-shot” lists.

Use a daily current-affairs summary and weekly revision. Keep static notes separate from current updates and revisit both in monthly cycles.

7. Technical and trade-specific syllabus

ALP and Technician

Technical content depends on the trade and qualification specified in the notification. Relevant preparation areas may include electrical circuits and machines, electronics, measurement/instruments, mechanics, workshop practices, ITI trade theory, safety, tools and basic engineering science. Use the official trade list and syllabus for your post rather than one generic technical PDF.

Junior Engineer

CBT-2 professional knowledge is discipline-specific. Depending on the advertised post, prepare the prescribed areas of Civil, Mechanical, Electrical, Electronics/Communication or another named discipline. Core study normally includes fundamentals, formulas, systems/components, measurements, materials, design/maintenance principles and applied numerical questions within the notified syllabus.

8. Skill, aptitude, physical and medical stages

Typing Skill Test: practise in the language and speed specified by the notification. Accuracy, punctuation and regular timed practice matter as much as raw speed.
CBAT: follow official instructions for aptitude-test batteries and qualifying requirements; ordinary MCQ practice is not a complete substitute.
PET/PMT: check the exact distance, time, weight, height and measurement rules in the relevant notice. Build fitness gradually and avoid unsafe last-minute training.
Medical fitness: railway posts can have distinct medical categories, eyesight requirements and fitness standards. Check eligibility before choosing post preferences.
Document verification: keep education, identity, category and other required certificates consistent with the notice.

9. Eight-week preparation framework

Weeks	Focus	Checkpoint
1–2	Arithmetic basics, reasoning fundamentals, science basics and diagnostic test.	Topic checklist and error log created.
3–4	Finish core topics, begin mixed sets and revise current affairs.	Timed sectional practice started.
5–6	Previous-year questions, full CBT-style practice and weak-topic repair.	Every mock reviewed, not just scored.
7	Exam-timed mocks; technical or post-specific sections; typing/aptitude practice where applicable.	Attempt strategy and weak areas documented.
8	Revision of formulas, science facts, awareness notes and error log; physical practice if required.	Final checklist and documents ready.

10. Official resources and Acadvik links

RRB Chandigarh official recruitment notices — a useful official example; candidates should use their own RRB’s website too.
RRB Bhubaneswar CEN notices — official centralised employment notice listings.
Acadvik Exam Preparation Hub
Practice Centers
Previous Year Papers
Daily Current Affairs
Free Study Resources

FAQs

Is Railway Group D the same as NTPC?

No. Group D/Level-1 and NTPC recruit for different post families and have different stages. Group D includes a physical efficiency stage under the relevant scheme; NTPC may include typing or aptitude tests for selected posts.

Does every railway post require a technical paper?

No. Technical knowledge is central to ALP, Technician and JE posts, while NTPC and Level-1 have their own general aptitude and awareness pattern.

Does the same negative marking apply to every railway recruitment?

Do not assume so. Many RRB CBTs use a one-third penalty for a wrong answer, but the relevant CEN is the final authority.

How should I begin?

Choose a target post first, download its current notice, mark the exact subjects and stages, then follow a cycle of concept study, topic practice, previous-year questions, timed mocks and error analysis.

Final note: this page provides an original overview across major railway recruitment families. Use the current official notification for exact eligibility, question distribution, timings, technical topics, physical standards and medical categories.