RRB JE Syllabus 2026 at a Glance
RRB JE (Junior Engineer) recruitment under CEN 05/2025 has four stages: CBT 1, CBT 2, document verification and medical examination. CBT 1 is a 90-minute screening test of 100 questions from Mathematics, General Intelligence and Reasoning, General Awareness and General Science. CBT 2 has 150 questions in 120 minutes, of which 100 are technical questions from your engineering branch. Both papers deduct 1/3 mark for each wrong answer.
Key takeaway: CBT 1 only shortlists you for CBT 2. Maths (30) and General Science (30) make up 60 of the 100 CBT 1 questions, and both are calculation-friendly, so they decide whether you reach CBT 2. Source: CEN 05/2025 (JE/DMS/CMA), Railway Recruitment Boards.
| Item | CEN 05/2025 (JE, DMS, CMA) |
|---|---|
| Posts | Junior Engineer, Depot Material Superintendent, Chemical and Metallurgical Assistant |
| Pay | Level 6 of the 7th CPC (initial pay ₹35,400) |
| Vacancies | 2,569 notified (all RRBs); RRB Chennai and RRB Jammu-Srinagar vacancies modified by Corrigendum No. 1 dated 14-11-2025 |
| Age | 18-33 years as on 01-01-2026 (relaxation: SC/ST 5 years, OBC-NCL 3 years) |
| Application window | 31-10-2025 to 30-11-2025 |
| Stages | CBT 1 → CBT 2 → DV → ME |
RRB JE Exam Pattern: CBT 1
| Subject | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Mathematics | 30 | 30 |
| General Intelligence and Reasoning | 25 | 25 |
| General Awareness | 15 | 15 |
| General Science | 30 | 30 |
| Total | 100 | 100 |
- Time: 90 minutes for the whole paper.
- Negative marking: 1/3 of the marks of the question for each wrong answer.
- Nature: screening; the normalised CBT 1 score is used only to shortlist for CBT 2.
- The CEN calls the section split "only indicative", so the real paper can vary slightly.
- Calculators and other electronic gadgets are banned at the exam centre.
RRB JE Maths Syllabus (CBT 1)
| Area | Topics named in CEN 05/2025 |
|---|---|
| Number basics | Number systems, BODMAS, decimals, fractions, LCM and HCF, square root |
| Arithmetic | Ratio and proportion, percentages, profit and loss, simple and compound interest |
| Time based | Time and work, time and distance, pipes and cistern |
| Geometry | Mensuration, algebra, geometry, trigonometry |
| Others | Elementary statistics, age calculations, calendar and clock |
With 30 questions, Maths is joint-largest in CBT 1. Mensuration and arithmetic word problems are the most direct marks; practise them without a calculator.
RRB JE Reasoning Syllabus (CBT 1)
| Family | Official topics |
|---|---|
| Verbal | Analogies, alphabetical and number series, coding and decoding, jumbling, classification, similarities and differences |
| Logical | Syllogism, Venn diagram, conclusions and decision making, statement-arguments and assumptions |
| Analytical | Relationships, directions, analytical reasoning |
| Maths-based | Mathematical operations, data interpretation and sufficiency |
RRB JE General Awareness and General Science Syllabus (CBT 1)
| Subject | What the CEN says |
|---|---|
| General Awareness (15) | 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 (30) | Physics, Chemistry and Life Sciences up to 10th standard CBSE syllabus |
General Science carries as many questions as Maths. Its numerical part (electricity, motion, work and energy, light, mole concept) can be solved with Class 10 formulas.
RRB JE Exam Pattern: CBT 2
| Section | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| General Awareness | 15 | 15 |
| Physics and Chemistry | 15 | 15 |
| Basics of Computers and Applications | 10 | 10 |
| Basics of Environment and Pollution Control | 10 | 10 |
| Technical Abilities (your post's branch) | 100 | 100 |
| Total | 150 | 150 |
- Time: 120 minutes; negative marking 1/3 per wrong answer.
- The General Awareness, Physics and Chemistry (up to 10th standard CBSE), Computers and Environment syllabus is common for all posts in the CEN.
- Technical Abilities questions follow the exam group mapped to your educational qualification in the CEN's discipline mapping table (para 13.3).
- A virtual calculator is shown on the computer screen during CBT 2 (it is not available in CBT 1).
RRB JE Qualifying Marks
| Category | Minimum percentage (CBT 1 and CBT 2) |
|---|---|
| UR and EWS | 40% |
| OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) | 30% |
| SC | 30% |
| ST | 25% |
For PwBD candidates these minimums may be relaxed by 2 marks if there is a shortage of PwBD candidates against reserved vacancies. These are eligibility floors; selection is on merit.
How to Prepare Using the RRB JE Syllabus
- Secure 60 marks from Maths and Science. Both are numerical at Class 10 level and together make 60% of CBT 1.
- Keep Reasoning fast. 25 questions of series, coding, analogy and directions should take about 15-18 minutes.
- Revise GA weekly. Only 15 questions in each CBT, but the syllabus is wide; focus on current affairs, polity and Indian geography.
- Start technical subjects early. CBT 2 is two-thirds technical; your branch's core subjects decide the final rank.
- Guess only after eliminating. With four options and −1/3, a blind guess has an expected score of 0 (1/4 × 1 − 3/4 × 1/3 = 0).
RRB JE Syllabus Practice Questions (with Answers)
Q1. How many questions does RRB JE CBT 1 have from General Science? Answer: 30 out of 100.
Q2. A candidate attempts 87 questions in CBT 1 and 75 are correct. What is the score? Answer: 71. Wrong = 12; score = 75 − 12 × 1/3 = 75 − 4 = 71.
Q3 (Maths). The radius of a cylinder is 7 cm and its height is 10 cm. Find its curved surface area (π = 22/7). Answer: 440 cm² (2 × 22/7 × 7 × 10).
Q4 (Maths). Find the compound interest on ₹10,000 at 10% per annum for 2 years. Answer: ₹2,100 (10,000 × 1.1 × 1.1 − 10,000).
Q5 (Science). Two resistors of 6 Ω and 3 Ω are connected in parallel. What is the equivalent resistance? Answer: 2 Ω (6 × 3 ÷ 9).
Q6 (Science). A car starts from rest and accelerates at 2 m/s² for 5 s. What is its final velocity? Answer: 10 m/s (v = u + at = 0 + 2 × 5).
Q7 (Reasoning). If PEN is coded as QFO, how is INK coded? Answer: JOL (each letter +1).
Q8. How many technical questions are there in RRB JE CBT 2? Answer: 100 out of 150.
RRB JE Syllabus FAQs
Is there negative marking in RRB JE?
Yes. One-third of the marks of a question is deducted for each wrong answer in both CBT 1 and CBT 2.
Are RRB JE CBT 1 marks counted in the final merit?
No. CBT 1 is a screening stage; its normalised score only shortlists candidates for CBT 2.
Is the RRB JE CBT 1 syllabus the same for all branches?
Yes. CBT 1 is common for all posts in CEN 05/2025. Branch-wise technical questions appear only in CBT 2.
What level is the RRB JE General Science section?
Physics, Chemistry and Life Sciences up to the 10th standard CBSE syllabus.
What is the age limit for RRB JE CEN 05/2025?
18 to 33 years as on 01-01-2026, with an upper age relaxation of 5 years for SC/ST and 3 years for OBC (Non-Creamy Layer).
How long is the RRB JE CBT 2?
120 minutes for 150 questions.
Practice Next
- Maths: RRB JE Maths Mock Test 01, RRB JE Maths Mock Test 03, RRB JE Mensuration Mock Test 01.
- Reasoning: RRB JE Reasoning Mock Test 03.
- Science: RRB JE Science Numericals Test 01.
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