Railway exams
RRB railway exams — prepared in Tamil
ரயில்வே ஆர்.ஆர்.பி. தேர்வுகளுக்கு தமிழ் வழியில் முந்தைய ஆண்டு வினாத்தாள்கள், புத்தகங்கள் மற்றும் இலவசத் தேர்வுகள்.
Everything Athiyaman Academy publishes for Railway Recruitment Board exams — eligibility, syllabus, previous year papers with Tamil solutions, free tests and books, in one place.
About the exams
Which RRB exam are you writing?
RRB NTPC
என்.டி.பி.சி.
Non-Technical Popular Categories — clerk, station master, goods train manager and similar posts. Graduate and undergraduate levels.
CBT 1 → CBT 2 → skill test → DV
RRB Group D
குரூப் டி (லெவல் 1)
Level 1 posts across the zonal railways — track maintainer, pointsman, assistant in various departments.
CBT → PET → DV
RRB ALP & Technician
ஏ.எல்.பி. மற்றும் டெக்னீஷியன்
Assistant Loco Pilot and Technician posts. ITI or diploma background, with an aptitude stage for ALP.
CBT 1 → CBT 2 → CBAT → DV
RRB JE
ஜூனியர் இன்ஜினியர்
Junior Engineer and allied technical posts for diploma and degree holders in engineering.
CBT 1 → CBT 2 → DV
Notification dates and vacancy counts change every cycle — we post each one as the RRB announces it. Follow the updates below or message us and we will tell you what is currently open.
Who can apply
Eligibility
தகுதி — வயது, கல்வித் தகுதி, உடல் தகுதி மற்றும் மருத்துவத் தரம்
Age, qualification, physical and medical standards for every RRB recruitment that is live right now, taken from the notification (CEN) for each cycle. Checked on 29 September 2026.
Age and educational qualification
| Exam | Age limit | Educational qualification |
|---|---|---|
| RRB NTPC — Graduate CEN 06/2025 |
18–33 years as on 01.01.2026 |
Degree in any discipline from a recognised university. Senior Clerk cum Typist and Junior Account Assistant cum Typist also need typing proficiency in English or Hindi on computer. |
| RRB NTPC — Undergraduate CEN 07/2025 |
18–30 years as on 01.01.2026 |
12th (+2 stage) or equivalent with not less than 50% in the aggregate. The 50% is waived for SC, ST, Ex-servicemen and PwBD candidates, and for anyone holding a higher qualification. Typing proficiency is additionally required for the two typist posts. |
| RRB Group D — Level 1 CEN 09/2025 |
18–33 years as on 01.01.2026 |
10th pass from a recognised board, or ITI from an institution recognised by NCVT or SCVT, or equivalent, or a National Apprenticeship Certificate (NAC) granted by NCVT. |
| RRB ALP CEN 01/2026 |
18–30 years as on 01.07.2026 |
10th pass plus an ITI in one of the notified trades, or a Course Completed Act Apprenticeship in those trades, or a three-year diploma in Mechanical, Electrical, Electronics or Automobile engineering. A degree in those branches is accepted in place of the diploma. |
| RRB Technician Grade I Signal CEN 02/2026 |
18–33 years as on 01.07.2026 |
Three-year B.Sc. with a minimum of 60% in Physics, Electronics, Computer Science, IT or Instrumentation, or a three-year engineering diploma, or an engineering degree in those streams. |
| RRB Technician Grade III CEN 02/2026 |
18–30 years as on 01.07.2026 |
10th pass plus an ITI in the trade notified for that particular post, or a Course Completed Act Apprenticeship in that trade. For Grade III an engineering diploma or degree is not accepted in place of the ITI. |
| RRB JE, DMS and CMA CEN 04/2026 |
18–33 years | Three-year diploma or a degree in the engineering branch mapped to the post — Civil, Mechanical, Electrical, Electronics and their allied streams. Depot Material Superintendent takes a diploma or degree in any engineering discipline. Chemical and Metallurgical Assistant takes a B.Sc. with Physics and Chemistry, minimum 55%. |
Age relaxation — upper limit
வயது தளர்வு — உயர் வரம்பு
| Category | Relaxation in the upper age limit |
|---|---|
| OBC (non-creamy layer) | 3 years |
| SC / ST | 5 years |
| PwBD — UR & EWS | 10 years |
| PwBD — OBC (NCL) | 13 years |
| PwBD — SC / ST | 15 years |
| Ex-servicemen — UR & EWS | Length of military service rendered, plus 3 years, deducted from actual age |
| Ex-servicemen — OBC (NCL) | Length of service, plus 6 years |
| Ex-servicemen — SC / ST | Length of service, plus 8 years |
| Serving railway staff with 3 years of service | Upper limit 40 years for UR and EWS, 43 for OBC, 45 for SC and ST |
| Widowed, divorced or judicially separated women, not remarried | Upper limit 35 years for UR and EWS, 38 for OBC, 40 for SC and ST |
| Course Completed Act Apprentices | By the length of the apprenticeship training undergone |
Physical Efficiency Test — Group D
உடல் தகுதித் தேர்வு — குரூப் டி
| Test | Male candidates | Female candidates |
|---|---|---|
| Lifting and carrying | Lift and carry 35 kg for a distance of 100 metres in 2 minutes, in one chance, without putting the weight down | Lift and carry 20 kg for a distance of 100 metres in 2 minutes, in one chance, without putting the weight down |
| Running | Run 1000 metres in 4 minutes 15 seconds, in one chance | Run 1000 metres in 5 minutes 40 seconds, in one chance |
Medical standards
மருத்துவத் தரம்
| Standard | Distant vision | Typical posts |
|---|---|---|
| A-1 | 6/6 in each eye without glasses, with a fogging test that must reject +2D | Assistant Loco Pilot. Anyone who has had LASIK or any other refractive surgery is not eligible for ALP. |
| A-2 | 6/9 in each eye without glasses | Station Master, Goods Train Manager, Traffic Assistant and similar safety category posts |
| A-3 | 6/9 in each eye with or without glasses, lens power up to 2D | Trains Clerk and track machine posts |
| B-1 | 6/9 and 6/12 with or without glasses, lens power up to 4D | Technician Grade I Signal and most maintenance posts |
| B-2 | 6/9 and 6/12 with or without glasses | Chief Commercial cum Ticket Supervisor, Commercial cum Ticket Clerk, crane driver |
| C-1 and C-2 | 6/12 and 6/18 with or without glasses | Workshop and permanent unit posts, and all clerical and typist posts |
Near vision of Sn 0.6 in each eye is required across all classes. Colour vision, binocular vision, night vision and mesopic vision tests apply to the A and B classes. The exact class for each post is listed in Annexure A of the relevant CEN, and the full standards are in Chapter 5 of the Indian Railway Medical Manual, Volume I.
Nationality
A candidate must be a citizen of India; or a subject of Nepal or Bhutan; or a Tibetan refugee who came to India before 1 January 1962 intending to settle permanently; or a person of Indian origin who has migrated from Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, or the East African countries of Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Zaire and Ethiopia, intending to settle permanently in India. Anyone other than an Indian citizen needs a Certificate of Eligibility issued by the Government of India.
What to study
Syllabus & exam pattern
பாடத்திட்டம் மற்றும் தேர்வு முறை
The stage-by-stage pattern for every live RRB recruitment, followed by the subject-wise topic list. Every CBT below has one third of a mark deducted for a wrong answer, and scores are normalised across shifts.
RRB NTPC — CBT 1 and CBT 2
என்.டி.பி.சி.
| Stage | Section | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|---|
| CBT 1 90 minutes 120 minutes with a scribe |
General Awareness | 40 | 40 |
| Mathematics | 30 | 30 | |
| General Intelligence & Reasoning | 30 | 30 | |
| Total | 100 | 100 | |
| CBT 2 90 minutes 120 minutes with a scribe |
General Awareness | 50 | 50 |
| Mathematics | 35 | 35 | |
| General Intelligence & Reasoning | 35 | 35 | |
| Total | 120 | 120 |
CBT 1 is a screening test — its marks do not enter the final merit list. Candidates are shortlisted for CBT 2 at twenty times the community-wise vacancies. Minimum qualifying marks: UR and EWS 40%, OBC-NCL 30%, SC 30%, ST 25%, with a 2% relaxation for PwBD candidates where there is a shortage against reserved vacancies. Senior Clerk cum Typist, Junior Account Assistant cum Typist, Accounts Clerk cum Typist and Junior Clerk cum Typist then take a qualifying Typing Skill Test — 30 words a minute in English or 25 in Hindi on a computer, without spell check or editing tools. Station Master and Traffic Assistant take the Computer Based Aptitude Test instead: a T-score of at least 42 in every test battery, no negative marking, no relaxation for any community, and a final merit of 70% CBT 2 plus 30% CBAT.
RRB Group D — single CBT
குரூப் டி (லெவல் 1)
| Section | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| General Intelligence & Reasoning | 30 | 30 |
| Mathematics | 25 | 25 |
| General Science | 25 | 25 |
| General Awareness on Current Affairs | 20 | 20 |
| Total — 90 minutes, 120 with a scribe | 100 | 100 |
One CBT decides the merit, then the PET, document verification and the medical. Minimum qualifying marks: UR and EWS 40%, OBC-NCL 30%, SC 30%, ST 30% — note that Group D sets ST at 30%, not the 25% used in NTPC and ALP. A relaxation of 2 marks applies to PwBD candidates where there is a shortage against reserved vacancies.
RRB ALP — CBT 1, CBT 2 and CBAT
உதவி லோகோ பைலட்
| Stage | Subjects | Questions | Marks | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CBT 1 | Mathematics, Mental Ability, General Science | 75 | 75 | 60 min |
| CBT 2 — Part A | Mathematics, General Intelligence & Reasoning, Basic Science & Engineering | 100 | 100 | 90 min |
| CBT 2 — Part B | Trade paper from the DGT syllabus for your ITI, apprenticeship or engineering trade | 75 | 75 | 60 min |
| CBAT | Aptitude test batteries, in English and Hindi only | T-score 42 in each battery | — | |
CBT 1 is screening only and candidates are shortlisted for CBT 2 at fifteen times the vacancies of that RRB. Part B is purely qualifying — 35% is needed by every candidate with no community relaxation, and its marks do not enter the merit list. Candidates who clear both parts are called for the CBAT at eight times the ALP vacancies. Minimum qualifying marks in CBT 1 and CBT 2 Part A: UR and EWS 40%, OBC-NCL 30%, SC 30%, ST 25%. General Awareness does not appear in the CEN 01/2026 CBT 1 syllabus.
RRB Technician — single CBT
டெக்னீஷியன்
| Section | Grade I Signal | Grade III |
|---|---|---|
| General Awareness | 10 | 10 |
| General Intelligence & Reasoning | 15 | 25 |
| Basics of Computers and Applications | 20 | — |
| Mathematics | 20 | 25 |
| Basic Science and Engineering | 35 | — |
| General Science | — | 40 |
| Total — 90 minutes each | 100 | 100 |
A single CBT, then document verification and the medical. Shortlisting for document verification is done RRB-wise and pay-level-wise on merit. PwBD candidates eligible for a scribe get 120 minutes.
RRB JE — CBT 1 and CBT 2
ஜூனியர் இன்ஜினியர்
| Stage | Section | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|---|
| CBT 1 90 minutes |
Mathematics | 30 | 30 |
| General Intelligence & Reasoning | 25 | 25 | |
| General Awareness | 15 | 15 | |
| General Science | 30 | 30 | |
| Total | 100 | 100 | |
| CBT 2 120 minutes |
General Awareness | 15 | 15 |
| Physics & Chemistry | 15 | 15 | |
| Basics of Computers and Applications | 10 | 10 | |
| Basics of Environment and Pollution Control | 10 | 10 | |
| Technical Abilities — your engineering branch | 100 | 100 | |
| Total | 150 | 150 |
CBT 1 is screening only; CBT 2 decides the merit, and the Technical Abilities paper is worth two thirds of it. The pattern above follows the CEN 04/2026 short notice and the pattern used in the previous JE cycle — the detailed CEN 04/2026 confirms the exam groups and the qualification mapped to each of them.
Subject-wise syllabus
பாட வாரியான பாடத்திட்டம்
Mathematics — all RRB exams
- Number system
- BODMAS
- Decimals
- Fractions
- LCM and HCF
- Ratio and proportion
- Percentages
- Mensuration
- Time and work
- Time and distance
- Simple and compound interest
- Profit and loss
- Algebra
- Geometry and trigonometry
- Elementary statistics
- Square root
- Age calculations
- Calendar and clock
- Pipes and cistern
General Intelligence & Reasoning — all RRB exams
- Analogies
- Alphabetical and number series
- Coding and decoding
- Mathematical operations
- Relationships
- Syllogism
- Jumbling
- Venn diagram
- Data interpretation and sufficiency
- Conclusions and decision making
- Similarities and differences
- Analytical reasoning
- Classification
- Directions
- Statement, arguments and assumptions
- Puzzles and seating arrangement
- Maps and interpretation of graphs
General Science — Group D, ALP, Technician Grade III, JE
Physics, Chemistry and Life Sciences at 10th standard level. The heads that recur every year:
- Units and measurements
- Mass, weight and density
- Work, power and energy
- Speed and velocity
- Heat and temperature
- Light, sound and waves
- Basic electricity and magnetism
- Force and motion
- Acids, bases and salts
- Metals and non-metals
- Periodic classification
- Carbon and its compounds
- Cell structure and tissues
- Life processes and control
- Reproduction and heredity
- Environment and natural resources
General Awareness and current affairs
- Current events of national and international importance
- Games and sports
- Art and culture of India
- Indian literature
- Monuments and places of India
- History of India and the freedom struggle
- Physical, social and economic geography of India and the world
- Indian polity and governance, the Constitution and the political system
- Indian economy
- General scientific and technological developments, including the space and nuclear programme
- The United Nations and other world organisations
- Environmental issues concerning India and the world
- Basics of computers and computer applications
- Common abbreviations
- Transport systems in India
- Famous personalities of India and the world
- Flagship government programmes
- Flora and fauna of India
- Important government and public sector organisations of India
Basic Science & Engineering — ALP CBT 2 Part A and Technician Grade I
- Engineering drawing — projections, views, drawing instruments, lines, geometric figures, symbolic representation
- Units and measurements
- Mass, weight and density
- Work, power and energy
- Speed and velocity
- Heat and temperature
- Basic electricity
- Levers and simple machines
- Occupational safety and health
- Environment education
- IT literacy
For Technician Grade I Signal this section additionally covers electric charge, field and intensity, electric potential and potential difference, simple electric circuits, conductors and insulators, Ohm’s law and its limitations, resistances in series and parallel, specific resistance, the relation between potential, energy and power, Ampere’s law, force on a moving charge in a magnetic field, electromagnetic induction and Faraday’s law, basic and digital electronics, electronic devices and circuits, microprocessors and microcontrollers, electronic measurements, CRO, LCD and LED panels, and transducers.
Basics of Computers and Applications — JE CBT 2 and Technician Grade I
- Architecture of computers
- Input and output devices
- Storage devices
- Networking
- Operating systems — Windows, Unix, Linux
- MS Office
- Various data representation
- Internet and email
- Websites and web browsers
- Computer virus
Basics of Environment and Pollution Control — JE CBT 2
- Basics of environment
- Adverse effects of environmental pollution and control strategies
- Air pollution, its effects and control
- Water pollution, its effects and control
- Noise pollution, its effects and control
- Waste management
- Global warming
- Acid rain
- Ozone depletion
JE Technical Abilities — by engineering branch
Civil. Engineering mechanics, building construction, building materials, construction of substructure and superstructure, building finishes, building maintenance, building drawing, concrete technology, surveying, computer aided design, geo-technical engineering, hydraulics, irrigation engineering, mechanics of structures, theory of structures, design of concrete structures, design of steel structures, transportation engineering, environmental engineering, advanced construction techniques and equipment, estimating and costing, contracts and accounts.
Mechanical. Engineering mechanics, material science, strength of materials, machining, welding, grinding and finishing processes, metrology, fluid mechanics and hydraulic machinery, industrial management, and thermal engineering covering thermodynamics, IC engines, refrigeration and air conditioning, boilers and turbines.
Electrical. Basic concepts, circuit law, magnetic circuits, AC fundamentals, measurement and measuring instruments, electrical machines, synchronous machines, generation, transmission and distribution, estimation and costing, utilisation of electrical energy, basic electronics.
Electronics. Electronic components and materials, electronic devices and circuits, digital electronics, linear integrated circuits, microprocessor and microcontroller, electronic measurements, communication engineering, data communication and networks, computer programming, basic electrical engineering.
ALP CBT 2 Part B — the trade paper
Part B draws its questions from the trade syllabus prescribed by the Directorate General of Training. You choose one trade, and it has to match your ITI trade, your Act Apprenticeship trade, or the trade mapped to your engineering discipline in the CEN.
The ITI trades notified for ALP are Fitter, Electrician, Instrument Mechanic, Millwright or Maintenance Mechanic, Mechanic (Radio and TV), Electronics Mechanic, Mechanic (Motor Vehicle), Wireman, Tractor Mechanic, Armature and Coil Winder, Mechanic (Diesel), Heat Engine, Turner, Machinist, and Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Mechanic.
Part B is qualifying only. You need 35% and no community gets a relaxation, but the marks do not count towards the merit list.
Topic lists are reproduced from the syllabus annexure of the current CEN for each exam. The CENs describe their lists as illustrative rather than exhaustive.
Live nowExam calendar
Notifications & exam calendar
அறிவிப்புகள் மற்றும் தேர்வு நாள்காட்டி
Eight RRB notifications are running at the same time this year. Where each one stands as of 29 September 2026:
| CEN | Posts | Vacancies | Application window | Where it stands |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 09/2025 | Group D — Level 1, eleven post categories including Track Maintainer Grade IV and Pointsman-B | 22,195 | Closed — 31 Jan to 9 Mar 2026 | CBT over, answer key out. The exam ran from 3 to 25 August 2026, three shifts a day, and the answer key with the response sheets went live on 7 September 2026. The zone-wise result and merit lists come next, and the PET follows for the shortlisted candidates. |
| 06/2025 | NTPC Graduate — Goods Train Manager, Station Master, Senior Clerk cum Typist, Junior Account Assistant cum Typist, Chief Commercial cum Ticket Supervisor, Traffic Assistant | 5,810 | Closed — Oct to Nov 2025 | CBT 2 result declared 27 August 2026. Scorecards and the CBAT / typing skill test shortlist went up the same evening. Shortlisted candidates take the CBAT or the typing skill test depending on the post, then document verification and the medical. |
| 07/2025 | NTPC Undergraduate — Commercial cum Ticket Clerk, Accounts Clerk cum Typist, Junior Clerk cum Typist, Trains Clerk | 3,058 | Closed — Oct to Dec 2025 | CBT 2 held 17 September 2026. CBT 1 results came out earlier in the year. The CBT 2 answer key and response sheets are live and the objection window closes on 30 September 2026. The result follows. |
| 01/2026 | Assistant Loco Pilot | 11,127 | Closed — 15 May to 14 Jun 2026 | CBT 1 on 3, 4 and 5 November 2026. The city intimation slip appears about ten days ahead and the e-call letter about four days before the exam date. |
| 02/2026 | Technician Grade I Signal and Technician Grade III | 6,557 | Closed — 30 Jun to 29 Jul 2026 | CBT on 6, 7, 8 and 9 October 2026. The city intimation slip has been out since 27 September and the e-call letter follows about four days before the exam. The split is 323 posts in Grade I Signal and 6,234 in Grade III. |
| 04/2026 | Junior Engineer, Depot Material Superintendent, Chemical and Metallurgical Assistant | 4,098 | Closed — 14 Aug to 13 Sep 2026 | CBT 1 on 27, 28 and 30 October 2026. Applications closed on 13 September and the modification window on 25 September. City intimation comes about ten days ahead of the exam and the e-call letter about four days before. |
| 06/2026 | NTPC Graduate — Pay Level 5 and Level 6 | 3,477 | 8 Oct to 6 Nov 2026 tentative |
Indicative notice out, dated 26 September 2026. Applications are online only, through rrbapply.gov.in, and close at 23:59 on the last date. Age is reckoned as on 01.01.2027. The detailed CEN 06/2026 carries the post-wise vacancies, age limits, qualifications and medical standards. |
| 07/2026 | NTPC Undergraduate — Pay Level 2 and Level 3 | 1,688 | 15 Oct to 13 Nov 2026 tentative |
Indicative notice out, dated 26 September 2026. Applications are online only, through rrbapply.gov.in, and close at 23:59 on the last date. Age is reckoned as on 01.01.2027. The detailed CEN 07/2026 carries the post-wise vacancies, age limits, qualifications and medical standards. |
The RRB does not publish a fixed annual calendar the way TNPSC does — notifications come through the year. We post every RRB notification, exam date and result as it is announced, and the shift-by-shift analysis of each Group D exam day goes up the same evening.
What we offer
Video classes, test batch & books
வீடியோ வகுப்புகள், டெஸ்ட் பேட்ச் மற்றும் புத்தகங்கள்
Video classes
வீடியோ வகுப்புகள்
Tamil-medium recorded classes you can watch on the app or the web, with the full plan, duration and fee for every batch on one page. Tell us your post and we will point you to the right one.
Test batch
டெஸ்ட் பேட்ச்
Full-length CBTs on the real pattern with cut-off tracking, plus a free GS and GK test every single day. Practise on Android through the Athiyaman Test Batch app, or in the browser.
Books
புத்தகங்கள்
RRB NTPC Previous Year Questions Tamil — Railway PYQ book
Books and orders go to 86818 59181. Classes and the test batch go to 99943 59181. We are on the phone from 9:30 AM to 7:00 PM.
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