This is the syllabus RRB prints in its detailed notice for Junior Engineer (JE), Depot Material Superintendent (DMS) and Chemical and Metallurgical Assistant (CMA): CEN 04/2026, published on 13 August 2026, and its Corrigendum-1 of 18 August 2026. It is the newest notified cycle as of 13 November 2026. We have not added topics the notice does not name. Study advice is labelled as ours. Marks, timing and negative marking are on the exam pattern page.
The guide and mocks on Pareeksha are for CBT-1, so the CBT-1 list comes first and in full. The CBT-2 technical syllabus is long; it is summarised here by subject heading, with the full text in the annexures of the CEN.
Syllabus at a glance
| Stage | Subjects | Questions (1 mark each, 1/3 negative) |
|---|---|---|
| CBT-1 (common for all posts) | Mathematics, General Intelligence and Reasoning, General Awareness, General Science | 30 + 25 + 15 + 30 = 100 in 90 minutes |
| CBT-2 | General Awareness, Physics and Chemistry, Basics of Computers and Applications, Basics of Environment and Pollution Control, Technical Abilities | 15 + 15 + 10 + 10 + 100 = 150 in 120 minutes |
The CEN calls both section splits "only indicative", so the real paper can vary a little from these counts.
Level of questions. The CEN says CBT-1 is of screening nature and that the standard of questions will generally be in conformity with the educational standards and minimum technical qualifications prescribed for the posts. For the JE and DMS posts that is a three-year diploma in engineering; for CMA it is a B.Sc. in Physics and Chemistry.
CBT-1: Mathematics (30 questions)
The CEN lists, in this order: Number systems, 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, Trigonometry, Elementary Statistics, Square Root, Age Calculations, Calendar and Clock, Pipes and Cistern.
Grouped for planning:
- Number work: number systems, BODMAS, decimals, fractions, LCM and HCF, square root.
- Arithmetic: ratio and proportion, percentages, simple and compound interest, profit and loss, time and work, pipes and cistern, time and distance, age calculations.
- Geometry and mensuration: mensuration, geometry, trigonometry.
- Algebra and statistics: algebra, elementary statistics.
- Calendar and clock.
Our note: this list has no "etc." at the end, unlike the Reasoning and General Awareness lists. Arithmetic has the most named topics, so it is the largest block to build first.
CBT-1: General Intelligence and Reasoning (25 questions)
Named in the CEN: 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, "etc."
Grouped for planning:
- Series and patterns: alphabetical and number series, analogies, similarities and differences, classification.
- Coding and operations: coding and decoding, mathematical operations, jumbling.
- Logic: syllogism, Venn diagram, conclusions and decision making, statement arguments and assumptions, analytical reasoning.
- Relationships, directions and data: relationships, directions, data interpretation and sufficiency.
Our note: the list does not name figure-based topics such as paper folding or mirror images. The "etc." means such items can still appear, but the named topics are the official core.
CBT-1: General Awareness (15 questions)
In the CEN's words: knowledge of current affairs, Indian geography, culture and history of India including the freedom struggle, Indian polity and constitution, Indian economy, environmental issues concerning India and the world, sports, general scientific and technological developments, "etc."
Our note: at 15 questions this is the smallest CBT-1 section. It is also the only one with current events, so a short daily habit is a better fit than a long one-time reading.
CBT-1: General Science (30 questions)
The CEN gives one line: Physics, Chemistry and Life Sciences, up to the Class 10 CBSE syllabus.
It names no chapters. Our note: the Class 9 and Class 10 science textbooks are the natural boundary the CEN itself sets. General Science and Mathematics together are 60 of the 100 questions, so these two decide most of a CBT-1 score.
CBT-2: the four common sections (50 questions)
The CEN says this part is common for all notified posts.
- General Awareness (15): the same list as CBT-1: current affairs, Indian geography, culture and history including the freedom struggle, polity and constitution, economy, environmental issues, sports, general scientific and technological developments.
- Physics and Chemistry (15): up to the Class 10 CBSE syllabus. Life Sciences is not named here, unlike CBT-1.
- Basics of Computers and Applications (10): architecture of computers; input and output devices; storage devices; networking; operating systems such as Windows, Unix and Linux; MS Office; various data representation; internet and email; websites and web browsers; computer virus.
- Basics of Environment and Pollution Control (10): basics of environment; adverse effects of environmental pollution and control strategies; air, water and noise pollution, their effect and control; waste management; global warming; acid rain; ozone depletion.
CBT-2: Technical Abilities (100 questions) and the exam groups
Technical questions are framed from the syllabus of your exam group. The CEN's discipline mapping table (para 13.3) puts each diploma or degree into one group:
| Exam group | Disciplines mapped to it |
|---|---|
| Mechanical and Allied Engineering | Mechanical, Production, Automobile, Manufacturing, Mechatronics, Industrial, Machining, Tools and Machining, Tools and Die Making |
| Electrical and Allied Engineering | Electrical Engineering and combinations of its sub-streams |
| Electronics and Allied Engineering | Electronics, Instrumentation and Control, Communication, Computer Science and Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Information Technology |
| Civil and Allied Engineering | Civil Engineering, combinations of its sub-streams, B.Sc. in Civil Engineering of three years |
| CMA (added by Corrigendum-1) | B.Sc. degree in Physics and Chemistry |
A candidate whose qualifications map to more than one group can choose any one, provided the posts opted for are mapped to that group. DMS candidates with a diploma outside the table choose one of the listed groups other than CMA.
Civil and Allied Engineering, Annexure VIII (A): 24 subjects
Engineering Mechanics; Building Construction; Building Materials; Construction of Substructure; Construction of 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 (railway, bridge and tunnel engineering); Highway Engineering; Environmental Engineering; Advanced Construction Techniques and Equipment; Estimating and Costing; Contracts and Accounts.
Electrical and Allied Engineering, Annexure VIII (B): 11 subjects
Basic Concepts; Circuit Law; Magnetic Circuit; AC Fundamentals; Measurement and Measuring Instruments; Electrical Machines (DC machines, transformers, three-phase and single-phase induction motors); Synchronous Machines; Generation, Transmission and Distribution (including switchgear, protection and cables); Estimation and Costing; Utilization of Electrical Energy; Basic Electronics.
Electronics and Allied Engineering, Annexure VIII (C): 10 subjects
Electronic Components and Materials; Electronic Devices and Circuits; Digital Electronics; Linear Integrated Circuit; Microprocessor and Microcontroller; Electronic Measurements; Communication Engineering; Data Communication and Network; Computer Programming (C and C++, data structure and DBMS); Basic Electrical Engineering.
Mechanical and Allied Engineering, Annexure VIII (D): 10 subjects
Engineering Mechanics; Material Science; Strength of Materials; Machining; Welding; Grinding and Finishing Process; Metrology; Fluid Mechanics and Hydraulic Machinery; Industrial Management; Thermal Engineering.
CMA exam group, Annexure VIII (E): 18 subjects
Measurements, units and dimensions; Light; Heat; Sound; Mechanics; Magnetism; Electricity and Electro Magnetism; Modern Physics; Electronics and Communications; Matter; Chemical Reactions; Acids, Bases and Salts; Atomic Structure; Periodic Classification of Elements; Chemical Bonding; Carbon and its Compounds; Environmental Chemistry; Metallurgy.
Each annexure lists sub-topics under every heading. Read your own group's annexure in the CEN before planning CBT-2; the headings above are only a map.
How to use this syllabus
- Finish CBT-1 first. CBT-1 has no technical questions, and you cannot reach CBT-2 without clearing it. This is our advice; the CEN says only that CBT-1 scores are used for shortlisting.
- Give Mathematics and General Science the most time. They are 30 questions each. Reasoning is 25 and General Awareness 15.
- Keep school science alive for both stages. Class 10 level Physics and Chemistry appears again in CBT-2 (15 questions), so CBT-1 preparation carries over.
- Test each topic as you finish it. Pareeksha's topic-wise practice is organised by topic (Pro). A free 10-question mini-mock lets you try the CBT-1 format. Full mocks and previous-year papers are Pro.
- Re-check the notice. RRB can issue corrigenda. Compare this page's "as on" date with the CEN and Corrigendum-1.
What this page does not have
- The full sub-topic text of the five technical annexures. We list the subject headings; the CEN has the detail.
- Any chapter-wise or topic-wise weightage. The notice gives only section-wise question counts, and we do not estimate anything finer.
- A chapter list for General Science. The CEN says "up to 10th Standard CBSE syllabus" and nothing more.
- The syllabus of earlier cycles. The previous notice, CEN 05/2025, prints the same CBT-1 section split; we did not compare its topic lists line by line.
Related: Exam pattern and marking · Cut-offs · Preparation strategy