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

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.

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.

For male candidates, what is the running standard in the RRB Group D PET?

Male candidates must run 1000 metres in 4 minutes and 15 seconds in a single chance.

For male candidates, what is the weight-lifting (carrying) standard in the RRB Group D PET?

Male candidates must be able to lift and carry 35 kg of weight for a distance of 100 metres in 2 minutes in one chance, without putting the weight down.

For female candidates, what is the running standard in the RRB Group D PET?

Female candidates must run 1000 metres in 5 minutes and 40 seconds in a single chance.

For female candidates, what is the weight-lifting (carrying) standard in the RRB Group D PET?

Female candidates must be able to lift and carry 20 kg of weight for a distance of 100 metres in 2 minutes in one chance, without putting the weight down.

Compare the male and female PET weight-carrying standards in RRB Group D.

Male candidates carry 35 kg, female candidates carry 20 kg — both for 100 metres in 2 minutes in one chance without putting the weight down.

Compare the male and female 1000 m running time standards in the RRB Group D PET.

Male candidates: 1000 m in 4 min 15 sec; Female candidates: 1000 m in 5 min 40 sec — each in a single chance.

Is the PET in RRB Group D qualifying in nature or does it carry marks toward the final merit?

The PET is only qualifying in nature — candidates must pass it to proceed, but no marks from the PET are added to the final merit list.

How many chances does a candidate get to clear each PET task in RRB Group D?

Only one chance (single attempt) is given for each PET task — the running and the weight-carrying — with no re-attempt.

What documents/conditions allow exemption from the PET in RRB Group D recruitment?

PwBD (Persons with Benchmark Disabilities) candidates are exempted from the PET; they are required to qualify only the relevant medical examination as per their post's medical standards.

How should a candidate prepare for the RRB Group D PET running test?

Practice regular cardio and interval running to build stamina, gradually increasing distance and speed, with daily jogging/sprinting drills so that 1000 m can be completed within the required time in a single attempt.

What is a good preparation strategy for the PET weight-carrying task?

Build upper-body and grip strength through weight training, farmer's-carry practice, and timed 100 m carries with sandbags so the candidate can carry 35 kg (male)/20 kg (female) without dropping it within 2 minutes.

What are the stages of recruitment in RRB Group D (CEN for Level-1 posts)?

1) Computer Based Test (CBT), 2) Physical Efficiency Test (PET), 3) Document Verification (DV), and 4) Medical Examination.

After the CBT in RRB Group D, what determines who is called for the PET?

Candidates are shortlisted for the PET based on their CBT marks/merit, typically calling about 3 times the number of vacancies (zone/category-wise) to appear in the PET.

What happens at the Document Verification (DV) stage of RRB Group D?

At DV, candidates who clear the CBT and PET present original documents (education, age, category, identity) for verification; the final selection is based on CBT merit, subject to passing PET, DV, and medical fitness.

What is the exam pattern of the RRB Group D CBT?

The CBT is a single-stage objective test of 100 questions to be answered in 90 minutes (100 minutes for eligible PwBD candidates with scribe).

What are the four sections and their question distribution in the RRB Group D CBT?

Mathematics — 25 questions; General Intelligence & Reasoning — 30 questions; General Science — 25 questions; General Awareness & Current Affairs — 20 questions. Total = 100 questions.

What is the marking scheme (positive and negative) of the RRB Group D CBT?

Each correct answer carries 1 mark; there is a negative marking of 1/3 mark for each wrong answer.

What are the minimum qualifying percentages by category in the RRB Group D CBT?

UR (General) & EWS: 40%, OBC (NCL): 30%, SC: 30%, ST: 30% — these are the normal minimum qualifying marks (relaxable in shortage cases).

What is the educational qualification required for RRB Group D Level-1 posts?

A candidate must have passed Class 10th (Matriculation) OR hold an ITI certificate from an NCVT/SCVT recognized institution OR an equivalent National Apprenticeship Certificate (NAC) granted by NCVT.

What is the age eligibility (age limit) for RRB Group D recruitment?

The age limit is generally 18 to 33 years (for UR), calculated as on the reference date specified in the notification, with relaxations for reserved categories.

What age relaxation is given to OBC, SC, and ST candidates in RRB Group D?

OBC (NCL): 3 years; SC/ST: 5 years of upper age-limit relaxation above the normal upper limit.

What is the nationality requirement for RRB Group D eligibility?

A candidate must be a citizen of India, or a subject of Nepal/Bhutan, or a Tibetan refugee who came before 1 Jan 1962, or a person of Indian origin migrated from specified countries with intention to settle permanently in India.

What is the medical fitness standard typically required for Track Maintainer / physically demanding Group D posts?

Such posts usually require medical category B-1 / C-1 (good physical fitness with adequate visual standards), as physically demanding outdoor track-side work is involved; the exact category depends on the post.

What is the role of normalization of marks in RRB Group D CBT?

Because the CBT is held in multiple shifts/sessions, marks are normalized using a standard statistical formula to ensure fairness across shifts of differing difficulty before preparing the merit list.

What is the General Manager (GM) responsible for in a railway zone?

The General Manager is the administrative and executive head of a railway zone, responsible for the overall operation, safety, finance, and management of all divisions within that zone.

What is the function of the Permanent Way (P-Way) in the Engineering Department?

The Permanent Way refers to the finished railway track — rails, sleepers, ballast, and fastenings; the Engineering/P-Way department, including Track Maintainers, maintains it to ensure safe and smooth train running.

What is the difference between the qualifying nature of the CBT and the PET in RRB Group D selection?

The CBT is competitive and scoring — its normalized marks decide the merit list; the PET is purely qualifying (pass/fail) and adds no marks to the merit. Both must be cleared along with DV and medical.

Which body conducts the RRB Group D recruitment and through which test centers?

Recruitment is conducted by the Railway Recruitment Boards (RRBs) under the coordination of the Railway Recruitment Cell/Board, with the CBT held at computer-based test centers across the country.