Railway Jobs

What you need to know

1. 1
   Railway jobs are filled by Railway Recruitment Boards (RRBs) through open computer-based exams. Officers come through UPSC.
2. 2
   There is a job level for every stage: Class 10 or ITI (Level 1, ALP, Technician), Class 12 (NTPC Undergraduate), graduates (NTPC Graduate, RPF SI) and engineers (JE).
3. 3
   Competition is huge: about 2.5 crore candidates sat one year's exams for under a lakh posts. Eyesight and medical rules decide many posts.
4. 4
   Railways never sell jobs or appoint agents: anyone asking for money is a fraud.

Official sources

• rrbcdg.gov.inRRB Chandigarh (all RRB notices are mirrored on each RRB site)↗
• pib.gov.inPIB: railway vacancies and applicants↗

Inside this branch

• Every year: the calendar
• How to apply2 more
• After Class 10 or ITI3 more
• After Class 12 and graduation3 more
• Engineers and officers2 more
• RPF1 more
• Medical and eyesight1 more
• Apprenticeship route1 more
• Free help1 more
• For girls1 more
• Avoid scams1 more

Rules change every year: check the official website before you apply.
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What you need to know

1. 1
   RRBs follow a yearly calendar: ALP in January to March; Technician in April to June; NTPC, JE and Paramedical in July to September; Level 1 and Ministerial in October to December.
2. 2
   Real dates often slip by a few months, and applications usually stay open for about a month. RPF and Section Controller notices come separately.
3. 3
   Always read the latest notice (CEN) on your RRB's website before you apply.

Official sources

• rrbcdg.gov.inRRB annual calendar (PDF)↗
• rrbcdg.gov.inRRB Chandigarh (all RRB notices are mirrored on each RRB site)↗

Rules change every year: check the official website before you apply.
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Learn from these 3

• Official
  RRB ChandigarhEvery RRB site carries the same notices.
  Free
• Official
  RRB annual calendar (PDF)Which exam comes in which quarter.
  Free
• Official
  PIB: vacancies and applicantsHow many posts and how many candidates.
  Free

Inside this branch

• The basics
• Fees come back

Rules change every year: check the official website before you apply.
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What you need to know

1. 1
   Apply online to one RRB only; applying more than once gets you disqualified. You must already hold the qualification (not "result awaited"), and your date of birth must match your Class 10 certificate.
2. 2
   Wrong answers lose one-third of a mark.

Rules change every year: check the official website before you apply.
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What you need to know

1. 1
   Most candidates pay ₹500 and get ₹400 back if they sit the first exam. SC, ST, women, ex-servicemen, transgender, minority and low-income (EBC) candidates pay ₹250 and get all of it back on appearing. Refunds go to an Aadhaar-linked bank account.
2. 2
   SC and ST candidates get a free sleeper-class pass to travel for the exam.

Rules change every year: check the official website before you apply.
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Learn from these 4

• Official
  Level 1 (Group D) notice (PDF)Eligibility, physical test, syllabus.
  Free
• Official
  Assistant Loco Pilot notice (PDF)ITI trades, aptitude test, A-1 medical.
  Free
• Official
  Technician notice (PDF)Grade I Signal and Grade III.
  Free
• Official
  RDSO (aptitude test guidance)Psychology candidates' corner for ALP.
  Free

Inside this branch

• Level 1 (Group D)
• Assistant Loco Pilot
• Technician

Rules change every year: check the official website before you apply.
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What you need to know

1. 1
   Class 10 pass, or ITI, or apprenticeship certificate (NAC); age usually 18–33. Posts like Pointsman and Track Maintainer; starting basic pay ₹18,000 plus allowances.
2. 2
   One computer test, then a physical test: men carry 35 kg for 100 m in 2 minutes and run 1 km in 4 min 15 s; women carry 20 kg and run 1 km in 5 min 40 s.

Official sources

• rrbcdg.gov.inLevel 1 (Group D) notice, example (PDF)↗

Rules change every year: check the official website before you apply.
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What you need to know

1. 1
   Class 10 + ITI in trades like Fitter or Electrician (or an engineering diploma or degree); age usually 18–30. Starting basic ₹19,900.
2. 2
   Two computer tests, then a psychological aptitude test, and the strictest eye test: 6/6 vision without glasses.

Official sources

• rrbcdg.gov.inAssistant Loco Pilot notice, example (PDF)↗
• Vaidaani roadmapITI, Polytechnic and Skills→

Rules change every year: check the official website before you apply.
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What you need to know

1. 1
   Grade III (mostly ITI trades, age 18–30, basic ₹19,900) and Grade I Signal (higher qualification, age 18–33, basic ₹29,200). One computer test.

Official sources

• rrbcdg.gov.inTechnician notice, example (PDF)↗

Rules change every year: check the official website before you apply.
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Learn from these 3

• Official
  NTPC Graduate notice (PDF)Posts, pay levels and medical standards.
  Free
• Official
  NTPC Undergraduate notice (PDF)Class 12 posts.
  Free
• Official
  Paramedical notice (PDF)Nurse, pharmacist and lab posts.
  Free

Inside this branch

• NTPC Undergraduate
• NTPC Graduate
• Other posts

Rules change every year: check the official website before you apply.
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What you need to know

1. 1
   Class 12 with 50% (relaxed for SC, ST, PwBD and ex-servicemen); age usually 18–30. Ticket clerk, accounts clerk, junior clerk and trains clerk; basic ₹19,900–21,700. Typist posts need computer typing.

Official sources

• rrbcdg.gov.inNTPC Undergraduate notice, example (PDF)↗

Rules change every year: check the official website before you apply.
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What you need to know

1. 1
   Any degree; age usually 18–33. Station Master, Goods Train Manager, ticket supervisor and senior clerks; basic ₹29,200–35,400.
2. 2
   Two computer tests, then an aptitude test for Station Master or a typing test for typists.

Official sources

• rrbcdg.gov.inNTPC Graduate notice, example (PDF)↗

Rules change every year: check the official website before you apply.
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What you need to know

1. 1
   Paramedical (nurses, pharmacists, lab staff) and Ministerial posts (translators, law assistants) have their own notices and qualifications.

Official sources

• rrbcdg.gov.inParamedical notice, example (PDF)↗

Rules change every year: check the official website before you apply.
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Learn from these 3

• Official
  JE notice (PDF)Junior Engineer eligibility and stages.
  Free
• Official
  UPSCCivil Services and Engineering Services notices.
  Free
• Official
  All India Radio: IRMS added to ESEHow engineering officers are recruited.
  Free

Inside this branch

• Junior Engineer
• Railway officers

Rules change every year: check the official website before you apply.
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What you need to know

1. 1
   An engineering diploma or degree; age usually 18–33. Starting basic ₹35,400; two computer tests.

Official sources

• rrbcdg.gov.inJE notice, example (PDF)↗
• Vaidaani roadmapEngineering and JEE→

Rules change every year: check the official website before you apply.
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What you need to know

1. 1
   Group A officers of the Indian Railway Management Service are recruited through UPSC: traffic, accounts and personnel through the Civil Services exam; engineering branches through the Engineering Services exam (reported).

Official sources

• upsc.gov.inUPSC (railway officers through Civil Services and ESE)↗
• Vaidaani roadmapUPSC in depth→

Rules change every year: check the official website before you apply.
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Learn from these 3

• Official
  RPF Constable notice (PDF)Physical tests, height, 15% for women.
  Free
• Official
  RPF Sub-Inspector notice (PDF)Graduate entry.
  Free
• Official
  Railway Protection ForceAbout the force.
  Free

Inside this branch

• Constable and Sub-Inspector

Rules change every year: check the official website before you apply.
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What you need to know

1. 1
   Constable: Class 10, age usually 18–25. Sub-Inspector: graduate, age usually 20–25. 15% of posts are for women.
2. 2
   Physical tests: men run 1,600 m (constable: 5 min 45 s) plus long and high jump; women run 800 m (constable: 3 min 40 s). Minimum height for constable: men 165 cm, women 157 cm (lower for SC and ST).
3. 3
   People who wear glasses, or have flat feet, knock knees, squint or colour blindness, are not eligible.

Official sources

• rrbcdg.gov.inRPF Constable notice, example (PDF)↗
• rrbcdg.gov.inRPF Sub-Inspector notice, example (PDF)↗

Rules change every year: check the official website before you apply.
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Learn from these 2

• Official
  Indian RailwaysMedical manual, Chapter 5 (fitness standards).
  Free
• Official
  Level 1 notice: medical standards (PDF)Vision table for each standard.
  Free

Inside this branch

• What to know

Rules change every year: check the official website before you apply.
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What you need to know

1. 1
   Each post has a medical standard. A-1 (Loco Pilot) needs 6/6 vision without glasses; A-2 (Station Master, Goods Train Manager, Pointsman) needs 6/9 without glasses; lower standards allow glasses.
2. 2
   People who had LASIK or other eye surgery cannot take A-2 and A-3 posts. Fail the medical and you get no other post, so get your eyes tested before choosing.

Official sources

• indianrailways.gov.inIndian Railways (medical manual and notices)↗
• Vaidaani roadmapStudents with disabilities→

Rules change every year: check the official website before you apply.
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Learn from these 3

• Official
  RRC Western RailwayApprentice and other notices for one zone.
  Free
• Official
  Apprentice notice example (PDF)Merit-based, no written test, stipend.
  Free
• Official
  PIB: 20% preference for apprenticesLevel 1 posts for railway-trained apprentices.
  Free

Inside this branch

• How it works

Rules change every year: check the official website before you apply.
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What you need to know

1. 1
   Railway Recruitment Cells (RRCs) in each zone take Act Apprentices after Class 10 (50%) + ITI, on merit with no written test, and pay a stipend.
2. 2
   This is not a direct job: railway-trained apprentices get preference for up to 20% of Level 1 posts, but still sit the computer test (they skip the physical test).

Official sources

• rrc-wr.comRRC Western Railway: apprentice notice, example (PDF)↗
• pib.gov.inPIB: 20% of Level 1 posts for railway-trained apprentices↗

Rules change every year: check the official website before you apply.
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Learn from these 1

• Official
  Free coaching for SC and OBC studentsCheck which exams are covered.
  Free

Inside this branch

• What exists

Rules change every year: check the official website before you apply.
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What you need to know

1. 1
   Every notice contains the official syllabus. Practise maths, reasoning, general science and general awareness from Class 10 books.
2. 2
   The Ministry of Social Justice's free coaching for SC and OBC students covers Group A and B exams; most RRB posts are Group C, so check before joining.

Official sources

• socialjustice.gov.inFree coaching for SC and OBC students↗
• Vaidaani roadmapGovernment jobs→

Rules change every year: check the official website before you apply.
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Learn from these 1

• Official
  PIB: women in railwaysWomen in technical posts, facilities.
  Free

Inside this branch

• What to know

Rules change every year: check the official website before you apply.
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What you need to know

1. 1
   Women pay a fully refundable ₹250 fee, have easier physical tests, and get 15% of RPF posts. Widowed, divorced or separated women get a higher age limit.
2. 2
   A pregnant candidate's selection is held and she is re-tested after delivery.

Official sources

• Vaidaani roadmapFor girls: every scheme→

Rules change every year: check the official website before you apply.
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Learn from these 4

• Official
  RRC Eastern Railway (tout warning)Jobs only through exams; report touts.
  Free
• Article
  Factly: fake railway recruitmentA private 'agency' charging fees.
  Free
• Article
  Careers360: PIB flags fake RPF noticeFake notices on social media.
  Free
• Official
  Cyber crime portal (helpline 1930)Report fraud.
  Free

Inside this branch

• Red flags

Rules change every year: check the official website before you apply.
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What you need to know

1. 1
   "Pay and get a railway job": RRBs say they never appoint agents or coaching centres, and trying to influence them gets you disqualified.
2. 2
   Fake notices and websites appear often, including fake RPF and loco pilot notices. Trust only notices on official RRB websites.
3. 3
   Nobody gets a railway job by sending a CV or through "contacts". Lost money? Call 1930.

Official sources

• rrbcdg.gov.inRRB Chandigarh (all RRB notices are mirrored on each RRB site)↗
• factly.inFactly: a fake railway recruitment notice↗
• cybercrime.gov.inCyber crime portal (helpline 1930)↗

Rules change every year: check the official website before you apply.
Found a mistake in this topic? Tell us