RRB Group D Syllabus 2026: Subject-Wise, Pattern + PDF

The rrb group d syllabus for 2026 (under CEN 09/2025) is a single 100-mark Computer Based Test with four sections — General Intelligence & Reasoning (30 questions), Mathematics (25), General Science (25) and General Awareness & Current Affairs (20) — attempted in 90 minutes with 1/3 negative marking. Candidates who clear the CBT then face the Physical Efficiency Test (PET), Document Verification and Medical Examination in that order. This guide gives you the complete subject-wise syllabus, a topic-wise weightage read from previous-year papers, the exact PET standards, a 90-day study plan and a downloadable PDF checklist.

RRB Group D syllabus 2026 at a glance:

• Stages: CBT → PET → Document Verification → Medical (single CBT stage decides merit).
• CBT: 100 questions, 100 marks, 90 minutes (120 minutes for PwBD candidates with a scribe).
• Sections: Reasoning 30, Maths 25, General Science 25, General Awareness & Current Affairs 20.
• Negative marking: 1/3 (0.33) per wrong answer; no penalty for un-attempted questions.
• Level: roughly Class 10 (10th standard) for Maths and Science.
• Qualifying marks: UR/EWS 40%, OBC-NCL/SC/ST 30% (2% relaxation for PwBD).

Last updated for CEN 09/2025. Figures below are compiled from the official notification and pattern and from analysis of previous-year RRB Group D CBTs; always cross-check final numbers against your RRB regional website before the exam.

RRB Group D Syllabus 2026 Overview & Posts Covered

RRB Group D recruitment fills Level-1 posts across the 21 Railway Recruitment Boards under the 7th CPC pay level with an initial pay of ₹18,000. The notification (CEN 09/2025) covers a large basket of technical and non-technical Level-1 roles in departments such as Engineering, Mechanical, Electrical, S&T and Stores. Understanding which posts you are competing for helps you appreciate why General Science and reasoning carry so much weight — these are field jobs that demand basic scientific aptitude and quick decision-making.

The Level-1 posts commonly notified include:

The syllabus is identical across all these posts — you sit the same CBT regardless of the department you have opted for. Only the PET standards and medical category differ slightly by post.

Eligibility in brief: the minimum qualification is a Class 10 (Matriculation) pass or an ITI/equivalent, with the age band and category relaxations set out in CEN 09/2025. Because the entry bar is Class 10, the entire CBT is pitched at that level — which is exactly why a strong 10th-standard foundation in Maths and Science translates so directly into marks.

RRB Group D Exam Pattern 2026 (CBT)

The single-stage Computer Based Test is the heart of selection. Here is the confirmed rrb group d exam pattern for 2026:

Key rules every aspirant must memorise:

• Duration: 90 minutes for all candidates; 120 minutes for PwBD candidates who avail a scribe.
• Question type: Objective, multiple choice with four options.
• Negative marking: 1/3 mark (0.33) is deducted for every wrong answer. No deduction for un-attempted questions.
• Normalization: Because the exam runs across multiple shifts, marks are normalised before the merit list is drawn.

Qualifying percentages by community: UR/EWS – 40%, OBC (NCL) – 30%, SC – 30%, ST – 30%. Scoring above the cut-off does not guarantee selection; you must feature high enough in the normalised merit list.

RRB Group D Subject-Wise Syllabus: Section-Wise Split

Before the detailed topic lists, here is how the four sections stack up and how much return each offers in a 90-minute paper. Reasoning is the single largest and most scoring section, which is why toppers plan their attempt order around it.

Which subject has the highest weightage in RRB Group D?

General Intelligence & Reasoning carries the highest weightage at 30 questions/30 marks, followed by Mathematics and General Science at 25 each. Since reasoning is also the most scoring and least time-consuming section, it should anchor your preparation and be your first attempt block in the exam.

RRB Group D Maths Syllabus 2026

The rrb group d maths syllabus tests arithmetic up to roughly Class 10 standard. There is no higher-order algebra or calculus. Speed and accuracy on standard arithmetic decide your score. The full topic list:

For candidates whose school maths is rusty, a structured Class-10 level resource such as the Aakash Class 10 Study Material covers arithmetic, mensuration and elementary trigonometry in exactly the depth this exam demands.

RRB Group D General Intelligence & Reasoning Syllabus

With 30 marks and a high scoring rate, reasoning is where you build your buffer. The topics are formula-light and improve rapidly with practice:

RRB Group D General Science Syllabus (Class 10 Level)

What is the standard of the General Science section in RRB Group D?

The General Science section is set at approximately CBSE Class 10 (10th standard) level, split across Physics, Chemistry and Life Sciences. Questions are conceptual rather than numerical-heavy, and NCERT Class 9–10 science is the ideal foundation.

A Class-10 science package like the Aakash Class 10 material maps almost one-to-one onto this section and doubles up for the maths portion too, making it one of the highest-value buys for a Group D aspirant.

RRB Group D General Awareness & Current Affairs Syllabus

This 20-mark section blends static General Knowledge with recent current affairs. It is the most unpredictable block, so a targeted approach beats reading everything.

How many months of current affairs are sufficient for RRB Group D CBT?

The last 6 months of current affairs before your CBT date are sufficient for RRB Group D; going 8–12 months back only helps for major, recurring events. A monthly consolidated magazine is the most efficient way to revise this window. Editions such as the Vision IAS Current Affairs – January 2026, the December 2025 and the November 2025 magazines give you a clean, exam-ready capsule of national events, schemes, awards and science & tech that overlap heavily with the Group D GA section.

Topic-Wise PYQ Weightage: The Most-Asked Topics

Most syllabus pages stop at topic lists. Based on analysis of previous-year RRB Group D CBTs, here is the realistic distribution of questions — use it to decide what to master first and what to merely revise.

The takeaway: roughly 60–65 of the 100 questions cluster into a predictable set of high-frequency topics. Nailing these first can comfortably carry you past the cut-off before you even touch the harder tail.

High-Return vs Low-Return Topics

RRB Group D Selection Process: CBT → PET → DV → Medical

Selection is a four-stage funnel. Each stage is qualifying for the next:

Only the CBT contributes to your rank — PET, DV and Medical are strictly pass/fail. So a strong CBT score is decisive, but you cannot afford to fail the PET after clearing the written test.

RRB Group D PET Criteria (Physical Efficiency Test)

What are the PET standards for RRB Group D?

The rrb group d PET criteria differ for male and female candidates. Both tests are pass/fail and must be completed in a single chance — there is no marking, you either meet the standard or you do not.

Both events are in one chance each, so begin light physical training — jogging and grip/carry practice — well before the CBT result. Many candidates with strong written scores lose their seats purely on the running test.

Normalization, Cut-Off & Qualifying Marks Explained

Because the CBT is held in multiple shifts of varying difficulty, RRB applies a normalization formula so that no candidate is advantaged or disadvantaged by their shift. Your raw score is converted to a normalised score, and merit is drawn on that normalised value.

• Qualifying marks are the minimum percentage you must score to be considered (UR/EWS 40%, others 30%). These are the floor, not the target.
• Cut-off is the last normalised score that gets called for PET, category-wise and RRB-wise. It is driven by vacancies and competition, and typically sits well above the qualifying floor.
• PwBD candidates get a 2% relaxation in qualifying marks where applicable.

Practical implication: aim for 75–85+ raw marks, not just the qualifying minimum, because the real cut-off in most zones is far higher than 40%.

90-Day Study Plan Mapped to the Syllabus

A syllabus is only useful with a timetable. Here is a realistic week-by-week 90-day plan that front-loads high-return sections and reserves the final phase for full mocks and revision.

Non-negotiable rule: from Day 40 onwards, take at least three timed mocks a week. Mock analysis — not passive reading — is what converts syllabus coverage into marks.

Best Books & Test Series, Section by Section

Map your resources to sections rather than buying a single fat guide:

For the science and maths foundation, the Aakash Class 10 Study Material is the single most efficient buy because it feeds both the 25-mark science section and the 25-mark maths section. Pair it with a rolling set of current-affairs magazines to keep the GA section fresh through your prep cycle.

Smart Negative-Marking & Attempt Strategy

Is there negative marking in RRB Group D?

Yes — RRB Group D deducts 1/3 (0.33) mark for every wrong answer, while un-attempted questions carry no penalty. This makes blind guessing costly: three wrong guesses wipe out one correct answer.

• Attempt order: Reasoning → General Science → Mathematics → GA. Bank the easy, high-accuracy marks first.
• Educated guessing: Only guess when you can eliminate at least two options — then the odds favour you.
• Time budget: Reasoning 25 min, Science 20 min, Maths 30 min, GA 12 min, buffer 3 min.
• Target attempts: 85–90 questions with 90%+ accuracy typically clears most cut-offs.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Treating General Science as “hard” and skipping it — it is Class-10 level and highly scoring.
• Reading 12 months of current affairs when the last 6 months carry almost all the marks.
• Ignoring PET training until the CBT result — the running test fails many strong candidates.
• Attempting maths first and burning time on lengthy sums before securing reasoning marks.
• Skipping mock-test analysis, which is where accuracy and speed actually improve.

RRB Group D Syllabus PDF Download

Where can I download the RRB Group D syllabus PDF?

You can download the official rrb group d syllabus pdf from the RRB regional websites and the CEN 09/2025 notification page — the syllabus is annexed to the notification itself, so the PDF you download from the RRB site is the authoritative version. For day-to-day preparation, save this article as a topic-wise PDF checklist: use your browser’s “Print → Save as PDF” option, then print the subject-wise tables above as a revision tracker and tick off each topic as you complete it. A topic-wise checklist — rather than a plain syllabus dump — keeps your 90-day plan measurable and ensures no high-frequency topic is missed before the CBT.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the syllabus for RRB Group D?

The RRB Group D syllabus covers a single 100-mark CBT with four sections: General Intelligence & Reasoning (30 marks), Mathematics (25), General Science (25) and General Awareness & Current Affairs (20). The standard is roughly Class 10, and clearing the CBT leads to the PET, Document Verification and Medical Examination.

How many questions are asked in the RRB Group D CBT exam?

The CBT has 100 questions for 100 marks, to be attempted in 90 minutes (120 minutes for PwBD candidates using a scribe). The split is 30 reasoning, 25 maths, 25 general science and 20 general awareness & current affairs.

Which subject has the highest weightage in RRB Group D?

General Intelligence & Reasoning has the highest weightage at 30 questions and 30 marks. It is also the most scoring and least time-consuming section, so it should be your first attempt block and a priority in preparation.

What is the standard of the General Science section in RRB Group D?

The General Science section is set at roughly CBSE Class 10 (10th standard) level, spread across Physics, Chemistry and Life Sciences. Questions are conceptual rather than numerical-heavy, and NCERT Class 9–10 science is the ideal base.

What are the PET standards for RRB Group D?

Male candidates must carry 35 kg for 100 metres in 2 minutes without setting it down and run 1000 metres in 4 minutes 15 seconds. Female candidates must carry 20 kg for 100 metres in 2 minutes and run 1000 metres in 5 minutes 40 seconds. The PET is pass/fail with one chance per event.

How many months of current affairs are enough for RRB Group D?

The last 6 months of current affairs before your CBT date are sufficient. Focus on national events, government schemes, sports, awards, appointments and railway-specific news, ideally revised through a consolidated monthly current-affairs magazine.

Is there negative marking in RRB Group D, and what are the qualifying marks?

Yes, 1/3 (0.33) mark is deducted per wrong answer. Qualifying marks are 40% for UR/EWS and 30% for OBC-NCL, SC and ST, but the actual cut-off after normalization is usually much higher, so aim for 75+ raw marks.

Where can I download the RRB Group D syllabus PDF?

Download the official syllabus PDF from your RRB regional website or the CEN 09/2025 notification page, where the syllabus is included as an annexure. For revision, save this guide as a PDF and use the subject-wise tables as a topic checklist.

Recommended Study Material

AAKASH [2024 Ed.] Latest Study Material for Class 10

★★★★☆ (48)

₹3499

View Product →

Vision IAS Current Affairs Magazine January 2026 | English Medium Edition

★★★★☆ (66)

₹299

View Product →

Vision IAS Current Affairs Magazine December 2025 | English Medium Edition

★★★★☆ (74)

₹199

View Product →