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What is the Railway Group D Exam Pattern and Syllabus?

What is the Railway Group D Exam Pattern and Syllabus?

Posted On 2025-01-30

Railway recruitment board, Indian Railways, conducts one of the most sought competitive examinations i.e. RRB Group D exam. This is crucial for individuals aiming to secure jobs in various Group D posts in Railways.

RRB Group D Selection Process:

1. Computer-Based Test: Computer-Based Test (CBT). At the first stage of screening, a CBT is administered, consisting of questions that test the candidates on general knowledge, mathematics, reasoning, and general science.

2. Physical Efficiency Test (PET)

3. Document Verification and Medical Examination

For your effective preparation, please find a brief overview of the CBT test that aspirants need to focus on in the initial stage:

CBT 1 Overview

Computer Based Test (CBT 1) of the RRB Group D Exam will consist of four major sections:

General Science
Mathematics
General Intelligence & Reasoning
General Awareness and Current Affairs

Each section comprises a specific number of questions, assigned marks and allotted time duration. Have a look into the individual sections of CBT 1 examination:

Section	No. of Questions	Marks	Duration	Difficulty Level	Preparation Tips
General Science	25	25	90 Minutes	Moderate	Concentrate on Class 10-level Physics, Chemistry and Biology. Understand core concepts, equations, and scientific principles.
Mathematics	25	25	90 Minutes	Moderate to High	Practice problems on Algebra, Simplification, Time & Work, Profit & Loss and Geometry. Focus on speed and shortcuts.
General Intelligence & Reasoning	30	30	90 Minutes	Moderate	Practice regularly about pattern recognition, puzzles, logical reasoning, coding-decoding and seating arrangements.
General Awareness & Current Affairs	20	20	90 Minutes	Easy to Moderate	Keep abreast of current affairs, sports, government schemes, and Indian Railways.

Key Points to Note:

Total Questions: 100
Total Marks: 100
Time: 90 minutes (54 seconds per question on average)
Marking Scheme: +1 for correct answer; no negative marking
Duration per Section: Try to allocate time wisely for each section.

Detailed Breakdown of RRB Group D Exam Syllabus

In this section, we will understand the syllabus for RRB Group D exam thoroughly for effective preparation.

1. Mathematics Syllabus for RRB Group D Exam

Module Breakdown:

Subject	Topics Covered
Simplification	BODMAS, Approximation, Square Roots, Fractions, Reciprocals
Percentage	Basic Percentages, Calculation-oriented Percentages
Number System	LCM, HCF, Divisibility Rules, Rational/Irrational Numbers
Averages	Average Weight, Height, Age, Marks, Money Expenditure
Ratio and Proportion	Simple Ratios, Compound Ratios, Direct & Indirect Proportion
Mensuration	Areas and Volumes of basic shapes (Square, Rectangle, Circle, etc.)
Time and Work	Work Efficiency, Work and Wages, Pipes & Cistern
Speed, Time, and Distance	Relative Speed, Average Speed, Boat and River Problems
Interest	Simple Interest, Compound Interest, Profit & Loss
Geometry	Triangles, Quadrilaterals, Circles, Congruence & Similarity
Trigonometry	Functions, Identities, Heights and Distances
Probability	Basic Probability Problems

Topics requiring your attention are:

Section	Key Concepts
Simplification: BODMAS & Square Roots	BODMAS Rules: Order of operations - Brackets, Orders, Division, Multiplication, Addition, Subtraction. Square Roots: Square root of a number is the value when multiplied by itself gives the original number.
Algebra: Linear & Quadratic Equations, Polynomials	Linear Equations: Form ax+b=0ax + b = 0. Quadratic Equations: Form ax2+bx+c=0ax^2 + bx + c = 0. Polynomials: Expressions with multiple terms involving powers of variables.
Mensuration: Area & Volume of Basic Shapes	Area of Shapes: Calculating area for 2D shapes. Volume of Solids: Calculating volume for 3D shapes.
Geometry & Trigonometry	Triangles: Properties, Pythagoras theorem. Circles: Area, circumference. Trigonometric Identities: Sine, Cosine, Tangent, etc.
Time & Work	Work Efficiency: Understanding work rates and solving word problems.

2. General Intelligence & Reasoning Syllabus for RRB Group D Exam

This section is developed to evaluate your logical thinking, problem-solving skills, and general aptitude. The questions asked here are based on basic reasoning concepts and are of moderate difficulty level. Here is breif snapshot of the topics covered in this section of the exam:

Subject	Topics Covered
Analogy	Letter-based: Relationships between letters, e.g., A is to B as C is to D. Number-based: Similar relationships between numbers. Image-based: Identifying relationships in visual patterns or images. GK-based: General knowledge-related analogies.
Series	Alphabetic Series: Sequences of letters that follow a specific pattern (e.g., A, C, E, G…). Number Series: Sequences of numbers that follow a defined rule or pattern. General Knowledge Series: Sequences based on general knowledge (e.g., months, countries, capitals).
Coding & Decoding	Letter Shifting: Encoding or decoding words by shifting letters forward or backward in the alphabet. Fictitious Language: Creating codes or language patterns. Place Value: Encoding numbers based on their place values in different systems.
Puzzles	Quant-based: Solving problems involving numerical relationships or conditions. Logical Puzzles: Problems that require logical reasoning to decipher solution, for e.g. Sudoku, number placement. Seating Arrangement: Determining the arrangement of people based on given conditions, like circular or linear arrangements.
Blood Relations	General: Solving relationships between family members (e.g., brother, father, cousin). Coded: Understanding coded relationships presented in a puzzle format. Family Tree: Analyzing family trees to determine relationships.
Direction & Distance	Route Network Problems: Identifying paths, distances, and directions based on given clues. Distance-related Questions: Questions where the distance and direction between two points are calculated.
Venn Diagram	Logical Diagrams: Identifying relationships between sets using Venn diagrams. Syllogism: Applying logical reasoning to statements and conclusions, often visualized through Venn diagrams.
Non-Verbal Reasoning	Mirror Image: Identifying the mirror image of a given object or figure. Paper Folding: Problems based on the visual outcome of folding paper and making cuts. Cube & Dice: Understanding how cubes and dice unfold or rotate in space (e.g., visualizing the number on opposite faces).
Alphabet and Word Test	Sequence: Arranging letters or words in a logical sequence. Dictionary Order: Arranging words in the order they appear in the dictionary. Word Formation: Creating new words by adding prefixes, suffixes, or changing letters in the given word.

Key concepts that are important in the reasoning section include:

Key Topics to Focus On	Details
Analogy	Be prepared for letter-based, number-based, and image-based analogies.
Puzzles & Arrangements	Practice seating arrangement and logical puzzles.
Venn Diagrams	Master syllogism and logical reasoning through Venn diagrams.

3. General Science Syllabus for RRB Group D Exam

This section is based on Class 10 concepts of Physics, Chemistry and Biology. Questions generally check your general awareness of scientific concepts.

Subject	Topics Covered
Physics	Work & Motion: Types of motion, Newton’s laws. Electricity: Current, voltage, resistance, Ohm’s law. Energy: Forms and conservation of energy. Lenses: Concave and convex lenses, refraction. Force: Types of forces, laws of motion.
Chemistry	Basic Reactions: Combustion, synthesis, decomposition. Acids/Bases/Salts: Properties, reactions, pH scale. Periodic Table: Element classification, trends.
Biology	Plant Anatomy: Plant cells, tissues, photosynthesis. Human Anatomy: Body systems and organ functions. Photosynthesis: Light reactions, Calvin cycle.
Earth Sciences	Environmental Science: Ecosystems, pollution, conservation. Weather: Atmospheric pressure, forecasting. Natural Resources: Renewable and non-renewable resources.
General Science	Everyday Chemistry: Household chemicals, food additives. Nutrition: Nutrients, digestion, metabolism. Diseases: Types of diseases, prevention. Inventions: Key scientific inventions and their impact.

Details of topics to concentrate on:

Key Topics to Focus On	Details
Physics	Motion: Understand the basic concepts of motion, types of motion (linear, circular, oscillatory), and laws of motion. Energy: Study forms of energy (kinetic, potential) and energy conservation and transfer. Electricity: Concentrate on electrical circuits, Ohm's law, types of current (AC and DC), electrical power, and fundamental principles of electricity.
Chemistry	Acids, Bases, and Salts: Learn the properties, examples, and reactions of acids and bases. Understand neutralization, pH scale, and the preparation of salts. Periodic Table: Emphasize the categorization of elements, groups and periods, periodic trends such as atomic radius, electronegativity, and chemical reactivity. Identify some important groups like alkali metals, halogens, noble gases, transition metals.
Biology	Human Anatomy: Examine the structure and function of human body systems (digestive, respiratory, circulatory, nervous, etc.) and their major organs. Plant Anatomy: Emphasis should be placed on plant structure, plant cells, tissues (xylem, phloem), and functions such as photosynthesis. Basic Biological Processes: Understand basic processes such as respiration, reproduction, growth, and nutrition in both plants and animals.

4. General Awareness & Current Affairs Syllabus for RRB Group D Exam

General Awareness & Current Affairs is that area in which one scores high in the RRB Group D Exam. This section tests your knowledge about the world around you, especially targeting recent news and occurrences.

Subject	Topics Covered
Current Affairs	National and International News: Major news stories from India and around the world. Sports: Major sports happenings, accomplishments and honors. Events: Major national and international events, political occurrences, and international events of particular importance.
Art & Culture	Indian Art Forms: Indians have the most classical dance and music, paintings, sculptures, and other forms of traditional art. Literature: Famous Indian authors, notable Indian literary awards and notable literary work. Famous Artists: Renowned artists in the fields of music, painting, dance, and sculpture.
Business & Economy	National Economy: Growth rate, GDP, inflation, and other key economic indicators in India. Fiscal Policies: Government fiscal policies, taxation policies, and fiscal measures. Business Trends: Market developments, major mergers/acquisitions, business innovations, and corporate trends.
Geography	Indian and World Geography: Physical features, boundaries, capitals, and significant monuments of India and the world. Natural Disasters: Types of natural disasters (earthquakes, floods, tsunamis), and their effects.
Polity	Indian Constitution: Fundamental rights, directives, and constitutional amendments. Government Bodies: Role of the President, Parliament, Judiciary and Executive. Major Laws: Major enactments and legal policies of India such as Right to Information Act, Goods and Services Tax Act, Goods and Services Tax Act, etc).
History	Indian Freedom Struggle: Events, leaders, movements, and milestones in the Indian freedom fight. Post-Independence History: Political, social and economic developments of post-1947, and reforms and wars including major events.
Science & Technology	Recent Breakthrough: Biotechnology; Space Exploration and Artificial Intelligence are recent breakthroughs. Technological progress: Communication technology, renewable energy, and developments in the everyday technology.
Railway Current Affairs	Indian Railways News: Updates on the railway sector, with developments, new projects, train services, and improvement in railway infrastructure. Projects: Currently in progress or scheduled railway projects, including high-speed rail line additions, stations upgradation, etc. Innovations: Technology advancements in the railway industry (e.g., automation, electrification).

Topics to Focus On in General Awareness Section:

Subject	Topics Covered
Current Affairs	National & International News, Sports, Events, Government Policies, Economic Trends
Art & Culture	Indian Literature, Classical Dance Forms (Bharatanatyam, Kathak), Folk Arts, Prominent Artists, Festivals (Diwali, Holi), Music (Hindustani, Carnatic)
Geography	Indian Geography (Rivers, National Parks, States), World Geography (Mountain ranges, Capitals), Natural Resources, Climate Zones
Polity	Indian Constitution, Articles & Amendments, Structure of Government, Elections, Political Parties, Judiciary

How to Prepare for Railway Group D Exam 2025

RRB Group D exam is an important gateway for securing a job in the Indian Railways. We have detailed out the syllabus to help you craft a solid study plan. Please focus on each section, practice regularly and stay updated with current affairs to improve your chances of success. With the right approach, time management and consistent effort, you can excel in the RRB Group D exam.