RRB JE IT Syllabus, Exam Pattern, Eligibility

Four stages

1. CBT-I: screening, common to every post in the CEN
2. CBT-II: the paper that decides merit
3. Document Verification
4. Medical Examination

CBT-I: 100 questions, 100 marks, 90 minutes

CBT-I marks don't count in the final merit. They only shortlist for CBT-II, at 15 times the community-wise vacancy of your RRB. Scribe-eligible candidates get 120 minutes.

CBT-II: 150 questions, 150 marks, 120 minutes

The CEN calls the section split indicative. A virtual calculator appears on screen in CBT-II only.

Negative marking and qualifying marks

1/3 mark off for every wrong answer, in both CBTs.

PwBD candidates may get 2 marks' relaxation if reserved vacancies would otherwise go unfilled.

The five exam groups

If you hold degrees mapped to different groups, you choose one group at registration, as long as your chosen posts map to it. The choice is final.

CBT-I

Mathematics: 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.

General Intelligence and Reasoning: 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, statements with arguments and assumptions.

General Awareness: 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.

General Science: Physics, Chemistry and Life Sciences up to 10th standard CBSE.

CBT-II: the 50 common marks

General Awareness: as above. Physics and Chemistry: up to 10th standard CBSE.

Basics of Computers and Applications: 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: 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.

Technical Abilities: Electronics and Allied Engineering (100 marks)

From Annexure VIII (C) of CEN 04/2026.

1. Electronic Components and Materials: conductors, semiconductors and insulators; magnetic materials; jointing and cleaning materials for underground copper cable and OFC; cells and batteries, chargeable and non-chargeable; relays, switches, MCB and connectors.
2. Electronic Devices and Circuits: PN junction diodes, thyristor; diode and triode circuits; junction transistors; amplifiers; oscillator; multivibrator, counters; rectifiers; inverter and UPS.
3. Digital Electronics: number system and binary codes; Boolean algebra and logic gates; combinational and sequential logic circuits; A/D and D/A converters, counters; memories.
4. Linear Integrated Circuits: operational amplifiers; linear and non-linear applications; voltage regulators; timers; phase lock loop.
5. Microprocessor and Microcontroller: microprocessors, the 8085; assembly language programming; peripherals and other microprocessors; microcontrollers.
6. Electronic Measurements: measuring systems; basic principles of measurement; range extension methods; cathode ray oscilloscope, LCD, LED panel; transducers.
7. Communication Engineering: modulation and multiplexing techniques; wave propagation, transmission line characteristics, OFC; public address systems, electronic exchange, radar, cellular and satellite communication.
8. Data Communication and Network: data communication; hardware and interface; networks and networking devices; LAN and WAN; internetworking.
9. Computer Programming: programming concepts; fundamentals of C and C++; operators; control statements; functions, array, string and pointers, file structure; data structure and DBMS.
10. Basic Electrical Engineering: DC circuits; AC fundamentals; magnetic, thermal and chemical effects of electric current; earthing installation, maintenance and testing.

Qualification

A three-year Diploma in Engineering or a Bachelor's degree in Engineering or Technology, in a discipline mapped to an exam group. For Junior Engineer posts open to the Electronics and Allied group, that includes Information Technology, Computer Science, Computer Engineering and Computer Science and Engineering.

Qualifications differ from post to post (Annexure A of the CEN), so check the category numbers you plan to opt for.

You must hold the qualification by the closing date, 13 September 2026. Candidates awaiting results are told not to apply.

Age on 1 January 2027

18 to 33 years. Born not after 01.01.2009, and not before 02.01.1994 for UR/EWS, 02.01.1991 for OBC-NCL, or 02.01.1989 for SC/ST.

Relaxations don't add up: you get the largest one you qualify for. SC, ST, OBC-NCL and PwBD candidates applying for UR vacancies get no category relaxation (PwBD get the PwBD-UR relaxation only).

Nationality

A citizen of India or Nepal, a subject of Bhutan, or a person of Indian origin who has migrated from one of the listed countries to settle permanently in India. The last three need a certificate of eligibility from the Government of India.

Medical standards

Each post has its own medical standard (Annexure A). If you're found medically unfit you aren't offered another post. One paid medical appeal is allowed, and its result is final.

1. CBT-I: screening. Normalised marks shortlist 15 times the community-wise vacancy of your RRB for CBT-II. The marks go no further.
2. CBT-II: decides merit.
3. Document Verification: shortlisted at 1:1 of the vacancies, on CBT-II merit and your options.
4. Medical Examination against the standard for the post.

Merit Index

Candidates from different exam groups compete for the same posts, so raw marks are converted to a Merit Index:

• 350 is given to the general-category qualifying mark, 40.
• 900 is given to the mean mark of the top 0.1% or top 10 candidates in that paper, whichever is larger.
• Every other mark is scaled linearly between those two points.

So your index depends on how the top candidates in your own exam group did. Marks from multi-session CBTs are normalised across sessions first.

Ties

The older candidate ranks higher; if ages match, alphabetical order of given name decides.

Allotment

Post and zone are allotted by merit, reservation and vacancy against your preferences. Once empanelled, you lose consideration for every other post at the same pay level, so order your preferences carefully.

Pay Level 6 of the 7th Pay Commission matrix, starting at Rs 35,400. That's the level for Junior Engineer and Depot Material Superintendent under CEN 04/2026, and for the Chemical and Metallurgical Assistant post added by Corrigendum 1.

Dearness Allowance, House Rent Allowance, Transport Allowance and department-specific allowances come on top, at rates that depend on the posting and the current DA.

Fee and refund

You only get the refund if you sit CBT-I. EBC here means Economically Backward Class, not OBC, not EWS, and not the Extremely Backward Class certificate some states issue.

One RRB only

Apply to a single RRB on rrbapply.gov.in and rank zones and posts within it. You can't change the RRB later. Applying to more than one, or twice to the same one, gets every application rejected and can lead to debarment from future RRB and RRC exams. Posts you don't opt for are read as unwillingness.

Modification

A paid window runs 16 to 25 September 2026, at Rs 250 per occasion. It can't change anything in the 'Create an Account' form (including mobile and email) or the chosen RRB.

Identity

Verify with DigiLocker or Aadhaar when creating the account. The CEN says candidates who use another photo ID face much stricter scrutiny at every later stage.

Centres are allotted on logistics, not preference, and you may have to travel to another city or state.

Mock tests go up on the RRB websites before the exam so you can get used to the interface. The virtual calculator appears in CBT-II only; physical calculators are banned in both.

CEN No. 04/2026, Junior Engineer and Depot Material Superintendent, published on the RRB websites on 13 August 2026.

The fee deadline of 15 September applies only to applications already submitted; it doesn't extend the closing date.

Vacancies

The CEN notified 3,993 posts. Corrigendum 1 added 1 Junior Engineer / Electrical / TRS vacancy at RRB Secunderabad and 35 Chemical and Metallurgical Assistant vacancies across seven RRBs, making 4,029. The RRB-wise split (Annexure B) is provisional and may change.

The city and date slip, e-call letter and any travel authority are downloaded from your RRB's website. You'll also get an SMS and email.

Only the e-call letter is allowed inside. Phones, watches, earphones, Bluetooth devices, calculators, books, pens, paper, bags, belts, caps, wallets, cameras, water bottles and food are banned. A pen is provided. There may be no cloakroom. Avoid henna on your hands; it interferes with biometrics.

Requests to change date, centre or shift are never entertained.

CBT results and the final panel are published on the website of the RRB you applied to.

Your rank comes from the Merit Index (a 350-to-900 scale applied after session normalisation), not your raw mark. Document Verification is at 1:1. Empanelment follows DV and the medical, and appointment also needs verification of certificates and antecedents.

The qualifying percentages are fixed in the CEN: UR and EWS 40%, OBC-NCL 30%, SC 30%, ST 25%, in each CBT. Clearing them only makes your paper count.

The real cut-off is the shortlisting line (15 times the vacancy for CBT-II, 1:1 for Document Verification). It differs by RRB, community and cycle, so the same score can clear in one RRB and miss in another. Each RRB publishes its cut-offs with the results on its own website, linked from the RRB portal.

1. Prepare the Electronics and Allied paper, not an IT paper. Only Computer Programming and Data Communication and Network are near your degree. The rest is devices, digital electronics, linear ICs, the 8085, measurements, communication and basic electrical engineering.
2. Don't count on the ten computer marks. Basics of Computers and Applications is 10 of 150 and is set for every candidate, mechanical and civil included.
3. Treat CBT-I as a gate. Clear it comfortably and put your time into CBT-II.
4. Mind the 1/3 penalty. Three wrong answers cancel one right one. Careful skipping beats volume.
5. Don't skip General Science. It's 30 marks in CBT-I, equal to Mathematics, and only up to 10th-standard CBSE.
6. Choose your RRB on vacancies, not geography. Shortlisting is RRB-wise, and you get one choice.
7. Use the official mock test to practise with the CBT-II virtual calculator.
8. Sit the exam even if under-prepared. The refund only comes if you appear.

RRB portal (Indian Railways): rrb.indianrailways.gov.in

Application portal: rrbapply.gov.in

CEN No. 04/2026, full notification (PDF): JE and DMS, English

Corrigendum 1 to CEN 04/2026 (PDF): additional vacancies and the CMA exam group

Results, e-call letters and cut-offs appear on the site of the board you applied to.

Is there a separate IT paper in RRB JE?

Not in CEN 04/2026. IT and Computer Science are mapped to Electronics and Allied Engineering, and that's the technical paper you sit.

Can I still apply with an IT diploma or degree?

Yes, for posts mapped to the Electronics and Allied group.

What if I hold two qualifying degrees in different groups?

Pick one group at registration. It's final.

Do CBT-I marks count towards the final merit?

No. CBT-I only shortlists for CBT-II.

Is there negative marking?

Yes, 1/3 of a mark per wrong answer in both CBTs.

How much is the fee, and is any of it refunded?

Rs 500 (Rs 400 back if you sit CBT-I), or Rs 250 for concession categories (all of it back if you sit), less bank charges.

Can I apply to more than one RRB?

No. Multiple applications are all rejected and can lead to debarment.

What is the age limit?

18 to 33 on 1 January 2027, with category relaxations.

How many vacancies are there?

4,029: the CEN's 3,993 plus 36 added by Corrigendum 1.

Is a calculator allowed?

No physical calculator. CBT-II has an on-screen one.