Every RRB exam draws from a similar pool of subjects — Mathematics, General Intelligence & Reasoning, General Science, and General Awareness — but the exact mix, difficulty, and additional technical sections vary by post. Whether you’re targeting a non-technical role like Station Master through NTPC, a Level-1 post through Group D, or a technical role through ALP, JE, or Technician, knowing exactly which subjects apply to your exam — and how much weight each one carries — is the first real step toward an effective study plan. This page breaks down the official RRB syllabus for the five major exams — NTPC, Group D, ALP, JE, and Technician — so you know exactly what to study for the exam you’re targeting.
Table of Contents
For the full picture of RRB recruitment, see our RRB main hub. Once you’ve covered the syllabus, move on to our RRB Exam Pattern and RRB Preparation Guide pages to convert this into a study plan.
Subjects Common Across Most RRB Exams
| Subject | Broad Coverage |
|---|---|
| Mathematics | Number System, BODMAS, Percentage, Profit & Loss, Time & Work, Time & Distance, Simple/Compound Interest, Algebra, Geometry, Mensuration, Data Interpretation |
| General Intelligence & Reasoning | Analogies, Series (Number/Alphabet), Coding-Decoding, Syllogism, Venn Diagrams, Puzzles, Blood Relations, Data Sufficiency |
| General Science | Physics, Chemistry, and Biology up to Class 10 level |
| General Awareness & Current Affairs | Current events, Indian History, Polity, Geography, Economy, Sports, Government Schemes, Static GK |
RRB NTPC Syllabus
The NTPC syllabus is identical for CBT 1 and CBT 2 — only the number of questions and difficulty level differ. It covers three subjects:
| Subject | Key Topics |
|---|---|
| Mathematics | Number System, Decimals, Fractions, LCM/HCF, Ratio & Proportion, Percentage, Mensuration, Time & Work, Time & Distance, Simple & Compound Interest, Profit & Loss, Elementary Algebra, Geometry & Trigonometry, Elementary Statistics |
| General Intelligence & Reasoning | Analogies, Number/Alphabetical Series, Coding-Decoding, Mathematical Operations, Relationships, Syllogism, Jumbling, Venn Diagrams, Data Sufficiency, Statement-Conclusion, Maps & Graphs Interpretation |
| General Awareness | Current Affairs, Indian History, Geography, Polity, Economy, General Science, Computers, Environmental Issues, Art & Culture, Sports, Government Schemes |
Depending on the post applied for (such as Junior Clerk-cum-Typist or Senior Clerk), shortlisted candidates may also need to clear a Typing Skill Test — 30 words per minute in English or 25 words per minute in Hindi — before Document Verification.
RRB Group D Syllabus
Group D (Level 1) syllabus is divided into four subjects, tested through a single-stage CBT:
| Subject | Key Topics |
|---|---|
| Mathematics | Number System, BODMAS, Decimals, Fractions, LCM & HCF, Ratio & Proportion, Percentage, Mensuration, Time & Work, Time & Distance, Simple & Compound Interest, Profit & Loss, Algebra, Geometry, Data Interpretation |
| General Intelligence & Reasoning | Puzzles, Coding-Decoding, Series, Analogies, Similarities & Differences, Analytical Reasoning |
| General Science | Physics, Chemistry, and Life Science, at Class 10 level (as per NCERT) |
| General Awareness & Current Affairs | National/international events, polity, history, sports, culture, current affairs of the past 6–12 months |
RRB ALP Syllabus
Assistant Loco Pilot recruitment has a layered syllabus across three stages:
- CBT 1 — Mathematics, General Intelligence & Reasoning, General Science, and General Awareness (Class 10 level, screening stage only)
- CBT 2 Part A (50% weightage in merit) — Mathematics, General Intelligence & Reasoning, and Basic Science & Engineering: Engineering Drawing, Units & Measurements, Mass/Weight/Density, Work/Power/Energy, Speed & Velocity, Heat & Temperature, Basic Electricity, Levers & Simple Machines, Occupational Safety, IT Literacy
- CBT 2 Part B (qualifying only, 35% minimum) — trade-specific questions from your ITI/Diploma discipline (Mechanical, Electrical, Electronics, Automobile, Fitter, etc.), as prescribed by the Directorate General of Training
- CBAT — a psychometric/aptitude test assessing concentration, memory, and decision-making, applicable only to shortlisted candidates
Trade syllabi are published by the Directorate General of Training (DGT), so always cross-check your specific trade’s official syllabus before CBT 2.
RRB JE Syllabus
Junior Engineer recruitment (which also covers Depot Material Superintendent and Chemical & Metallurgical Assistant posts) has two CBT stages:
| Stage | Subjects |
|---|---|
| CBT 1 (screening only, marks not counted in final merit) | Mathematics, General Intelligence & Reasoning, General Awareness, General Science |
| CBT 2 (final merit) | General Awareness, Physics & Chemistry (Class 12 level), Basics of Computer Applications, Basics of Environment & Pollution Control, plus a branch-specific Technical Abilities section worth 100 of the 150 marks |
Since Technical Abilities carries the bulk of CBT 2 marks, candidates should prioritise their core diploma/degree subjects (Civil, Mechanical, Electrical, or Electronics) over the common sections once CBT 1 is cleared.
RRB Technician Syllabus
| Grade | Subjects |
|---|---|
| Technician Grade I (Signal) | Mathematics, General Intelligence & Reasoning, General Awareness & Current Affairs, Basics of Computers & Applications, Basic Science & Engineering (Class 12/ITI/Diploma level — highest weightage subject) |
| Technician Grade III | Mathematics, General Intelligence & Reasoning, General Awareness & Current Affairs, General Science (Class 10 level — highest weightage subject, no engineering component) |
The key distinction: Grade I Signal demands deeper technical knowledge through Computer Applications and Basic Science & Engineering, while Grade III stays closer to a 10th-standard general syllabus.
Topic Weightage: What to Prioritise
Across almost every RRB exam, a handful of topics consistently account for a disproportionate share of questions, so it pays to prioritise them once you’ve covered the basics:
- Mathematics — Percentage, Profit & Loss, Time & Work, and Time & Distance together form a large chunk of every RRB maths section, since they’re formula-based and quick to score once practised.
- General Intelligence & Reasoning — Coding-Decoding, Series completion, and Analogies appear in nearly every RRB CBT, regardless of exam.
- General Science — Physics and Chemistry questions in Group D and Technician Grade III tend to stick closely to NCERT Class 9–10 content, making school textbooks the single best resource.
- General Awareness — Current affairs from the past 6–12 months, along with static GK on Indian polity, geography, and government schemes, is tested across NTPC, JE, and Technician alike.
For ALP, JE, and Technician Grade I candidates, the technical/trade sections in CBT 2 typically decide the final merit far more than the common subjects — so once CBT 1 is cleared, shift the bulk of your revision time toward your branch-specific syllabus.
Related RRB Cluster Pages
- RRB Exam Pattern — question count, marks, duration, negative marking
- RRB Preparation Guide — subject-wise study plan and book recommendations
- RRB Previous Year Papers — practice with real exam questions
- RRB Eligibility & Age Limit
Preparing for NFR/RRB Guwahati or a general railway exam instead? The same core subjects apply — see our NFR Syllabus and General Railway Jobs Syllabus pages for post-specific notes relevant to those recruitment tracks.
Related Government Exams (Assam & Northeast)
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Is the RRB syllabus the same for CBT 1 and CBT 2?
For NTPC, the syllabus is identical across both stages — only the number of questions and difficulty increase in CBT 2. For ALP, JE, and Technician, CBT 2 adds technical or trade-specific sections beyond the common CBT 1 syllabus.
2. Does RRB Group D include a technical subject?
No. Group D syllabus covers Mathematics, General Intelligence & Reasoning, General Science, and General Awareness only — there is no separate technical or trade section.
3. Where can I find the official RRB syllabus PDF?
The syllabus is published along with each CEN notification on the respective RRB’s official website and the unified portal rrbapply.gov.in.
4. Is the ALP trade syllabus the same for every candidate?
No. RRB ALP CBT 2 Part B is trade-specific — candidates attempt questions only from their own ITI/Diploma discipline (Mechanical, Electrical, Electronics, etc.), based on syllabi prescribed by the Directorate General of Training.
5. Which subject carries the most weightage in RRB JE CBT 2?
Technical Abilities, specific to the candidate’s engineering branch, carries 100 of the 150 marks in CBT 2 — making it the single most important section for JE aspirants.
6. Do I need to prepare current affairs separately for every RRB exam?
Yes, but the coverage overlaps heavily — revising national and international current affairs from the past 6–12 months, along with static GK, works for NTPC, Group D, JE, and Technician alike.
Conclusion
While every RRB exam leans on the same foundation of Mathematics, Reasoning, Science, and General Awareness, the technical and trade-specific layers added for ALP, JE, and Technician posts make a real difference to how you should plan your preparation. Identify your target exam, map it against the subject breakdown above, and prioritise the sections that carry the most weightage in the final merit list rather than spreading your effort evenly across everything.
Next, head to our RRB Exam Pattern page to understand how these subjects translate into marks, timing, and negative marking. And since RRB syllabi are revised with almost every new CEN, keep visiting our website regularly for the latest updates on RRB, NFR, general railway jobs, APSC, ADRE, Assam Police, and Grade III & Grade IV recruitment — everything you need for Assam and Northeast government jobs, in one place.