RRB Group D Level 1 Complete Guide: CBT, PET, DV and Medical

Most Group D aspirants prepare for one stage and get surprised by the next. They grind the CBT, then discover the 1,000 metre run has a clock on it. Or they clear the PET and arrive at document verification with a certificate in the wrong format. RRB Group D is a four-stage selection, and each stage can end your candidature on its own. This guide walks through all four, in order, so nothing catches you off guard.

A note on dates and numbers: the railways run Group D under a new CEN (Centralised Employment Notice) almost every cycle, and age limits, vacancies and post lists change from one notice to the next. Where a figure changes by cycle, this guide says so. For anything that decides your eligibility, read the latest official notification on the RRB websites.

RRB Group D at a glance

Item	Detail
Level	Level 1 of the 7th CPC pay matrix (entry-level railway posts)
Typical posts	Track Maintainer Grade IV, Pointsman B, Assistant posts in various departments (varies by notice)
Minimum education	Class 10 pass, or ITI, or National Apprenticeship Certificate (NAC) from NCVT; some Assistant posts need specific trades
Selection stages	CBT, then PET, then Document Verification (DV), then Medical Examination
CBT	100 questions, 100 marks, 90 minutes, 1/3 negative marking
PET	Qualifying only, no marks
Pay	Level 1 basic pay Rs. 18,000 per month, plus allowances
Language	CBT is offered in English, Hindi and several regional languages

The two most recent cycles you will see discussed are CEN 08/2024 and CEN 09/2025. The first has had its CBT result and PET shortlisting reported; the second was notified in January 2026 with a CBT scheduled in August 2026, according to coverage we checked. Use them as reference points, not as a promise of what the next notice will say.

Eligibility: education, age and nationality

Educational qualification

The base requirement is a Class 10 pass from a recognised board, or an ITI certificate, or an NAC issued by NCVT. You do not need Class 12 or a degree. However, the exact requirement is listed post by post in the notice. Some Assistant posts ask for specific ITI trades, so a Class 10 pass alone may not make you eligible for every post. Read the annexure that lists qualifications for each post before you apply.

Age limit

The age limit is where cycles differ most, so treat these as examples:

Cycle	General / EWS	Cut-off date
CEN 08/2024	18 to 36 years (this cycle carried a one-time extra relaxation, as reported)	Reported differently by different sources; check the notification
CEN 09/2025	18 to 33 years	1 January 2026

For CEN 09/2025, coverage we checked lists the upper limit as 36 for OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) and 38 for SC/ST, with PwBD candidates getting higher limits. Standard relaxations apply on top of the base limit: 3 years for OBC-NCL, 5 years for SC/ST, plus separate relaxations for ex-servicemen, PwBD candidates and serving railway employees. Always calculate your age against the cut-off date printed in the notice you are applying under, not against today's date.

Nationality

You must be a citizen of India, or a subject of Nepal or Bhutan, or fall in the specific categories the notice lists (for example certain Tibetan refugees and persons of Indian origin from named countries). Check the notice wording if you are not an Indian citizen by birth.

Medical and physical fitness

Eligibility also depends on passing the medical standard for the post you are allotted. A candidate who is academically eligible but cannot meet the vision standard for a post will not be selected for that post. More on this in the medical section below.

Selection process: four stages, each one eliminates

1. Computer Based Test (CBT). A single paper, scored out of 100, normalised across shifts.
2. Physical Efficiency Test (PET). Pass or fail. Only candidates shortlisted from the CBT, in a multiple of the vacancies, are called.
3. Document Verification (DV). Original documents checked against your application.
4. Medical Examination. Held at railway hospitals; the standard depends on the post.

The final merit is based on CBT marks, because the PET is qualifying. Your PET performance, however fast, does not add marks. Think of PET, DV and medical as three gates you must pass, not three exams you must top.

Reporting on CEN 08/2024 says shortlisting for PET is done up to about three times the category-wise vacancies in each zone. Verify the ratio in the notice for your cycle.

CBT exam pattern

Section	Questions	Marks
General Intelligence and Reasoning	30	30
Mathematics	25	25
General Science	25	25
General Awareness and Current Affairs	20	20
Total	100	100

• Duration is 90 minutes. Candidates eligible for a scribe get extra time (reported as 120 minutes).
• Every question carries 1 mark. Each wrong answer costs one third of a mark. Unattempted questions carry no penalty.
• The minimum qualifying marks reported for the CBT are 40 percent for UR and EWS, and 30 percent for OBC-NCL, SC and ST. Check the notice for any relaxation for other categories.
• The test runs in many shifts, so raw marks are converted to normalised marks. The normalised score is what is compared with the cut-off.

There is no sectional time limit reported for this paper, which means you control your own time split across the 90 minutes. That makes a deliberate section order important, covered in the strategy section.

CBT syllabus: what to study in each section

Mathematics (25 questions)

Number system, simplification, HCF and LCM, ratio and proportion, percentages, decimals and fractions, unitary method, time and work, time, speed and distance, averages, profit and loss, simple and compound interest, mensuration (2D and 3D), algebra basics, square and cube roots, and basic data interpretation. The level is around Class 10. Speed matters more than difficulty.

General Intelligence and Reasoning (30 questions)

Verbal: number and alphabet series, analogy, coding-decoding, blood relations, direction sense, ranking and order, age problems, decision making. Non-verbal: mirror and water images, paper folding and cutting, embedded figures, pattern completion, figure matrices, cubes and dice. This is the biggest section, so it is the best place to bank marks.

General Science (25 questions)

Class 8 to 10 level of three subjects. Physics: units, force and motion, work, energy and power, gravitation, pressure, sound, heat, light, electricity and magnetism. Chemistry: matter, atoms and molecules, atomic structure, chemical reactions, periodic table, acids, bases and salts, metals and non-metals, combustion. Life science: cell, classification, plant and animal kingdoms, photosynthesis, human body systems, nutrition and diseases, genetics basics, ecology and pollution.

General Awareness and Current Affairs (20 questions)

Indian history and culture, basic geography, Indian polity and the Constitution, basic economics, sports, awards, books, government schemes, science and technology news, and recent events. For current affairs, the last 6 to 8 months before the exam is a sensible window.

PET standards for men and women

The Physical Efficiency Test is the stage most candidates under-prepare for. The standards below are the ones consistently reported for CEN 08/2024 and CEN 09/2025 notices. Confirm them in the notification you are bound by.

Event	Men	Women
Lift and carry weight	35 kg, over 100 metres, within 2 minutes	20 kg, over 100 metres, within 2 minutes
Run	1,000 metres in 4 minutes 15 seconds	1,000 metres in 5 minutes 40 seconds

• Both events must be cleared. There is no marking, only qualify or fail.
• The weight is carried in one go; the exact lifting method (on the shoulder, back or in both hands) and the attempt rules are given in the notice and at the venue. Do not assume you may rest and restart.
• PwBD candidates are reported as exempt from the PET, but the exemption and the medical standards for their post are set out in the notice.
• Some reports list the weight carry as "100 metres in 2 minutes" and some call it a "lift and carry"; the standard itself is the same.

How to train for the PET

You do not need athletic talent. You need two specific abilities, and both are trainable in a few weeks.

The 1,000 metre run. For men, 4:15 means about 4 minutes 15 seconds per kilometre, or roughly 255 seconds. For women, 5:40 is 340 seconds. Start by running one kilometre at a comfortable pace and note your time. Then run intervals of 200 to 400 metres at slightly faster than target pace with a walking recovery. Two or three interval days a week, plus one steady easy run, is enough for most beginners. Do not start with all-out time trials every day; that causes injury, not speed.

The weight carry. The test is grip, back and leg endurance over 100 metres, not a maximum lift. Practise carrying a sack or bag of the target weight for 100 metres at a brisk walk, with short rests. Build up from 10 kg to the full weight over a few weeks. Add deadlift-style hip hinge movements with light load, farmer carries, planks and squats. Keep your back straight when lifting.

Plan your PET training from the day you begin CBT preparation. The PET is usually held only after the CBT result, but you will not have enough time to build running fitness after the result if you have never run.

Document verification: what to prepare

Only candidates who clear the PET are called for DV. It is held at an RRB-nominated venue on a notified date, and missing it without a valid reason can cost you your candidature. Every RRB asks for original documents plus self-attested photocopies, so prepare both.

The exact list is in your call letter, but expect to need:

• Class 10 marksheet and certificate (as proof of education and date of birth)
• ITI or NAC certificate if you applied on that basis, and for trade-specific posts
• Caste certificate in the prescribed railway format, if you claim SC, ST or OBC-NCL benefits
• OBC-NCL certificate valid for the required period and issued in the format the notice specifies
• EWS certificate in the prescribed format, if applicable
• Disability certificate, ex-servicemen documents or other category documents, if applicable
• Photo ID (such as Aadhaar or another ID listed in the notice) and recent photographs
• Printouts of your application form and call letter

The commonest DV problem is a certificate that is out of date, in the wrong format, or not matching the name or date of birth on the application. Check this long before your CBT. Fixing a caste or income certificate can take weeks. A name spelled differently across your Class 10 certificate and ID card should be corrected or backed with an affidavit as early as possible, using the process your state recommends.

Medical examination

The medical is held at railway hospitals and only for candidates who clear DV. Group D posts are safety-sensitive, so the medical standard is tied to the post and is stricter than for desk jobs.

Reporting on recent notices describes medical categories like A-3, B-1 and C-1, with vision as the main separator:

Category	Typical vision requirement
A-3 type	Distance vision 6/9 in both eyes without glasses; near vision 0.6; must pass colour, binocular, night and mesopic vision tests
B-1 type	Distance vision 6/9 and 6/12 (with spectacles allowed up to a limited power); near vision 0.6; same specialised tests
C-1 type	Distance vision 6/12 and 6/18 with or without glasses; near vision 0.6

Which category applies to which post depends on the notice. In general, Pointsman is among the strictest, while workshop Assistant posts have a lighter standard. Because the standard differs by post, your post preference order matters. If you know you wear strong glasses, get an eye check early and read the medical annexure before you fill post preferences.

Do not rely on any list here as final. The medical standards in the official notification are the only ones that count.

Pay and benefits

Group D is a Level 1 post in the 7th CPC pay matrix. The entry basic pay reported in the notice coverage is Rs. 18,000 per month. On top of this, you receive dearness allowance, house rent allowance depending on the city, and travel allowance. Your actual take-home depends on the posting city, current DA rate and deductions, so any "in-hand" figure you see online is only an estimate. Railways also offer a pension scheme, medical facilities and free or concessional travel passes, and the details change with government orders. For a detailed breakdown, see the existing salary post on Pareeksha.

Cut-off trends: what we could verify

There is no single national cut-off. RRBs publish cut-offs zone-wise and category-wise, on normalised marks, in the result PDF of each region. The shortlist is based on both the minimum qualifying percentage and the zone-and-category merit cut-off.

For CEN 08/2024, whose result was reported as declared on 1 July 2026, secondary coverage gives two sample zone figures for PET shortlisting:

Zone (as reported)	UR	OBC	EWS	SC	ST
Ahmedabad	72.16	71.14	67.67	66.06	62.13
Bhubaneswar	76.68	75.43	69.81	67.15	58.18

These come from news and exam-portal coverage, not from a document we could open on the official site, so confirm against your own zone's PDF. What you can safely take from them: PET shortlisting cut-offs on normalised marks have been well above the 40 percent floor, and the gap between zones can be several marks. Use that to set a target far above the bare minimum. Because normalisation changes your score depending on your shift, never judge your result by your raw score alone.

Section-wise strategy for the CBT

These are planning suggestions, not official rules.

Choose a section order and keep it

With 90 minutes for 100 questions you have about 54 seconds per question on average. A sensible order is Reasoning first, then General Awareness and Science, then Mathematics last, if Maths is your slow section. Alternatively, start with Maths if it is your strength. Whatever order you pick, practise it in mocks until it is automatic.

Suggested time split

Section	Questions	Suggested time
Reasoning	30	25 minutes
Mathematics	25	28 minutes
General Science	25	15 minutes
General Awareness	20	8 minutes
Review and guess decisions	-	14 minutes

Reasoning

Learn the pattern for each question type once, then practise speed. Series, coding-decoding, blood relations and direction questions are fast marks if you practise them daily for 15 to 20 minutes. Non-verbal questions (mirror images, paper folding) look scary but are rule-based. Do not spend more than 45 seconds on any one figure question in the exam.

Mathematics

Revise tables up to 20, squares up to 30, cubes up to 15 and fraction-percentage equivalents. Most questions come from arithmetic. Prioritise percentage, ratio, profit and loss, time and work, and time-speed-distance. Mensuration needs formula memory, so keep a one-page formula sheet and revise it every few days.

General Science

This section is the best return on time for most candidates, because the content is school-level. Study the NCERT Class 8 to 10 textbooks, concept first, then facts. Read each chapter, make short notes, then solve questions. Daily-life applications (why a spoon heats up, what happens in a battery) are commonly asked in this style.

General Awareness and Current Affairs

Do not try to cover everything. Pick static topics that repeat (Constitution basics, important dates, rivers, national parks, sports basics) and add a weekly current-affairs revision. Read about important recent events, awards, appointments, new schemes and sports results.

Negative marking strategy

One wrong answer costs one third of a mark. If you can remove two of four options, a guess is worth it on average. If you cannot remove any, leave it. Aim to attempt where you are at least reasonably sure, and avoid guessing in bulk in the last minute.

60-day study plan

This plan assumes 3 to 4 hours of study a day plus 30 to 40 minutes of physical training on most days. Adjust the intensity to your existing level.

Days 1 to 15: build the base

• Maths: number system, simplification, HCF and LCM, percentage, ratio, averages.
• Reasoning: series, analogy, coding-decoding, classification.
• Science: physics basics from Class 8 to 10 NCERT.
• Awareness: Indian history overview and 15 minutes of current affairs a day.
• PET: walk or jog 1 km four times a week; begin carrying a light bag for 100 metres.
• Test: one sectional test at day 7 and day 14.

Days 16 to 30: widen the syllabus

• Maths: profit and loss, interest, time and work, time-speed-distance.
• Reasoning: blood relations, direction sense, ranking, age problems.
• Science: chemistry and life science chapters.
• Awareness: geography and polity.
• PET: start interval runs two days a week; increase the carry weight.
• Test: one full-length mock at day 22 and day 30, with full analysis.

Days 31 to 45: finish and strengthen

• Maths: mensuration, algebra basics, data interpretation, mixed practice.
• Reasoning: non-verbal topics, mirror and water images, paper folding, cubes.
• Science: complete remaining chapters; start a revision notebook.
• Awareness: economy, sports, awards, static GK, current affairs for the last 6 months.
• PET: try a full 1,000 metre time trial once a week; practise the full 100 metre carry.
• Test: one full mock every three days; one sectional test on alternate days.

Days 46 to 60: mocks and revision

• Take a full-length mock every second day, in exam timing, using your chosen section order.
• Spend double the test time on analysis: which errors were concept gaps, which were silly mistakes, which were time pressure.
• Revise formula sheet, science notes and current-affairs notes daily.
• Reduce new learning in the last week; sleep well and keep up light PET practice.
• Check that your documents are valid and in the right format.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Ignoring the PET until the result. The run and the carry need weeks of practice, not days.
• Applying on the wrong post basis. Missing a trade requirement or applying where your vision does not meet the standard.
• Using the wrong certificate format. OBC-NCL and EWS certificates in the wrong format are a leading cause of trouble at DV.
• Judging performance by raw marks. Normalisation changes your score across shifts.
• Skipping General Science. It is 25 marks of school-level content.
• Over-guessing. Random guesses at 1/3 negative marking can erase your gains.
• Taking mocks without analysis. A mock that is not reviewed teaches almost nothing.
• Relying on old notices. Age limits and post lists change; always read the current notice.

Frequently asked questions

What is the qualification for RRB Group D? A Class 10 pass, or ITI, or NAC from NCVT. Some posts need specific trades, so read the post-wise annexure in the notice.

What is the age limit for RRB Group D? It changes by cycle. CEN 09/2025 lists 18 to 33 years for General and EWS candidates as on 1 January 2026, with extra years for OBC-NCL, SC, ST and other categories. CEN 08/2024 had a higher limit. Check the latest notification.

How many questions are in the Group D CBT? 100 questions in 90 minutes: Reasoning 30, Mathematics 25, General Science 25 and General Awareness 20. Each wrong answer costs 1/3 mark.

Are PET marks added to the final merit? No. The PET is qualifying only. You must clear it, but it does not add marks.

What are the PET standards? As reported for recent notices, men lift and carry 35 kg over 100 metres in 2 minutes and run 1,000 metres in 4 minutes 15 seconds. Women carry 20 kg over 100 metres in 2 minutes and run 1,000 metres in 5 minutes 40 seconds. Confirm in your notification.

Is there a single national cut-off? No. Cut-offs are zone-wise and category-wise on normalised marks, and they change with each cycle.

What is the basic pay of Group D? Level 1 in the 7th CPC matrix, with a reported entry basic pay of Rs. 18,000 per month, plus allowances.

Can I wear glasses in the medical test? It depends on the post. Some medical categories allow spectacles within limits, while stricter ones require good unaided vision. Check the medical annexure before choosing posts.

What if I miss the document verification date? Missing DV without a valid reason can lead to cancellation of candidature. Contact the RRB through the channel given in the call letter if you have a genuine problem.

How many months do I need to prepare? Many candidates with Class 10 level basics can cover the syllabus in about two months with regular study, but it depends on your starting point. The 60-day plan above is a template, not a guarantee.

Final word

Group D is a four-gate process, and the candidates who reach the end are usually the ones who planned for all four from the start. Study the syllabus section by section, train for the PET in parallel, and keep your documents clean. To build speed and accuracy under timed conditions, practise with full-length mocks and sectional tests on Pareeksha, and review each one carefully.