RRB Group D Railways and Physical Efficiency Test (PET) Syllabus

Railways and Physical Efficiency Test (PET) syllabus — full chapter and topic list

Expand any chapter to see its topics and sub-topics. This is the whole examinable outline for Railways and Physical Efficiency Test (PET) in RRB Group D, not a summary of it.

1. 1

   Indian Railways Overview

   3 topics

   • History and Organization
     • First railway in India and milestones
     • Railway Board and zonal structure
   • Railway Zones and Divisions
     • Indian Railway zones and headquarters
     • Production units and workshops
   • Important Trains and Services
     • Premium and special trains
     • Railway passenger services
2. 2

   Level-1 Posts and Job Profile

   3 topics

   • Track Maintainer Grade-IV
     • Track maintenance duties
     • Safety responsibilities on track
   • Helper and Assistant Posts
     • Helper roles in various departments
     • Pointsman duties
   • Departments and Working Conditions
     • Engineering, mechanical and electrical departments
     • Shift work and outdoor duties
3. 3

   Physical Efficiency Test (PET) Standards

   3 topics

   • Male Candidate Standards
     • Lifting and carrying 35 kg for 100 metres without setting down
     • Running 1000 metres in 4 minutes 15 seconds
   • Female Candidate Standards
     • Lifting and carrying 20 kg for 100 metres without setting down
     • Running 1000 metres in 5 minutes 40 seconds
   • PET Guidelines and Preparation
     • Single chance rule and qualifying nature
     • Fitness and stamina preparation
4. 4

   Selection Process and Eligibility

   3 topics

   • Recruitment Stages
     • Single-stage Computer Based Test (CBT)
     • PET, document verification and medical examination
   • Exam Pattern and Marking
     • Sectional distribution of 100 questions
     • Negative marking and normalization
   • Eligibility Criteria
     • Educational qualification and age limits
     • Medical fitness categories

Railways and Physical Efficiency Test (PET) flashcards for RRB Group D

22 of 50 cards from the Railways and Physical Efficiency Test (PET) deck — real questions with worked answers.

1. When and under whose ownership did Indian Railways begin operations with its first passenger train?

   16 April 1853 — the first passenger train ran between Bori Bunder (Mumbai) and Thane, a distance of about 34 km. Indian Railways is owned and operated by the Government of India through the Ministry of Railways.

2. What is the organizational structure that controls Indian Railways at the national policy level?

   Indian Railways is managed by the Railway Board, which functions under the Ministry of Railways, Government of India. The Railway Board is headed by the Chairman & CEO (CRB).

3. How is Indian Railways geographically organized below the national level?

   Indian Railways is divided into Zones, each Zone is split into Divisions, and Divisions are further divided into sections/depots. Each Zone is headed by a General Manager (GM) and each Division by a Divisional Railway Manager (DRM).

4. How many railway zones does Indian Railways currently have?

   Indian Railways has 19 zones (18 operational + the newest, South Coast Railway, headquartered at Visakhapatnam) plus the Kolkata Metro, which is treated as a 19th zone for administrative purposes.

5. Which is the oldest railway zone in India and where is it headquartered?

   The Central Railway (CR) is among the oldest zones; however, the oldest functioning zone in continuous operation is generally cited as Central Railway, headquartered in Mumbai (CSMT). Note: the very first line evolved into what is today's Central Railway.

6. Name the headquarters of the Northern Railway, Western Railway, and Southern Railway zones.

   Northern Railway — New Delhi; Western Railway — Mumbai (Churchgate); Southern Railway — Chennai.

7. What is the difference between a Railway Zone and a Railway Division?

   A Zone is the largest administrative unit of Indian Railways headed by a General Manager; a Division is a sub-unit within a zone headed by a Divisional Railway Manager (DRM). One zone contains several divisions.

8. Which railway zone is the largest by route length and where is it headquartered?

   Northern Railway is the largest zone by route length, headquartered at New Delhi.

9. Which is the newest railway zone of Indian Railways and its headquarters?

   South Coast Railway (SCoR) is the newest zone, with its headquarters at Visakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh).

10. What is the Konkan Railway and how is it administratively distinct?

    The Konkan Railway connects Maharashtra, Goa, and Karnataka along the western coast. It is run by the Konkan Railway Corporation Limited (KRCL), a separate PSU, rather than as a standard zone.

11. What is the Vande Bharat Express?

    Vande Bharat Express (Train 18) is India's indigenously built semi-high-speed self-propelled train set, designed to run up to about 160 km/h, manufactured at the Integral Coach Factory, Chennai.

12. Which train is known as the fastest train in India and what is its operating speed?

    The Gatimaan Express is among India's fastest conventional trains, running between Hazrat Nizamuddin (Delhi) and Jhansi at a maximum speed of about 160 km/h.

13. What is the Rajdhani Express and what does it connect?

    The Rajdhani Express is a series of fully air-conditioned superfast trains that connect the national capital New Delhi with the capitals of various states; the first ran in 1969 between New Delhi and Howrah.

14. What is the Shatabdi Express and how does it differ from the Rajdhani?

    The Shatabdi Express is a series of air-conditioned superfast day-trains for short-to-medium distances that return to origin the same day, whereas Rajdhani trains are long-distance overnight trains connecting state capitals to Delhi.

15. What is the Duronto Express known for?

    The Duronto Express is a series of long-distance, point-to-point non-stop (or minimal-stop) superfast trains connecting metros and state capitals, introduced in 2009.

16. What is the role/post of a Track Maintainer Grade-IV in Indian Railways?

    A Track Maintainer Grade-IV (Trackman) is a Level-1 worker in the Engineering (Permanent Way) Department responsible for inspecting, maintaining, and repairing railway tracks to ensure safe train movement.

17. Under which pay level and department does the Track Maintainer Grade-IV post fall?

    Track Maintainer Grade-IV falls under Pay Level 1 of the 7th CPC pay matrix and works in the Engineering (Civil/Permanent Way) Department of Indian Railways.

18. Name three common Level-1 posts recruited through RRB Group D besides Track Maintainer Grade-IV.

    Common Level-1 posts include Helper/Assistant (in various departments), Pointsman, and Assistant (in Workshops/S&T/Electrical/Mechanical/Engineering departments).

19. What does a Pointsman do in Indian Railways?

    A Pointsman operates and sets railway points/switches in yards and stations to route trains onto the correct track and assists in shunting operations under the Operating/Traffic Department.

20. What is the work of a Helper/Assistant in the Electrical Department of Indian Railways?

    A Helper/Assistant in the Electrical Department assists in the maintenance and repair of electrical equipment, overhead equipment (OHE), train lighting, and power supply systems under supervision.

21. Which departments commonly recruit Group D (Level-1) staff in Indian Railways?

    Group D staff are recruited mainly in the Engineering (Civil), Mechanical, Electrical, Signal & Telecommunication (S&T), and Traffic/Operating departments.

22. What are typical working conditions for a Track Maintainer in Indian Railways?

    Track Maintainers work outdoors along tracks in all weather conditions, often in shifts, performing physically demanding tasks such as lifting tools, walking long stretches of track, and emergency repairs — which is why a PET is mandatory.

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