The RRB Ministerial & Isolated Categories 2026 follows a CBT-based selection process. The pattern varies slightly depending on whether the post also requires a Skill Test or Typing Test. Below is the standard CBT pattern followed by post-specific test details.
Standard CBT Pattern (Most Posts)
| Section | Questions | Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mathematics | 25 | 25 | 90 Minutes (120 min for PwD with scribe) |
| General Intelligence & Reasoning | 25 | 25 | |
| General Awareness & Current Affairs | 15 | 15 | |
| General Science | 35 | 35 | |
| Total | 100 | 100 |
Negative Marking: 1/3 mark deducted per wrong answer.
CBT Pattern for Posts with Professional Knowledge Component
For posts such as Staff & Welfare Inspector, Junior Translator, Draughtsman, and professional-level roles, the CBT may include an additional professional/technical knowledge section replacing or supplementing part of the general section. The total marks and duration remain 100 marks, 90 minutes unless specified otherwise in the official CEN.
Skill Test / Typing Test Details (Post-Specific)
| Post | Test Type | Standard | Nature |
|---|---|---|---|
| Junior Stenographer (English) | Stenography Dictation + Transcription | 80 wpm dictation; transcription on computer in 50 minutes | Qualifying |
| Junior Stenographer (Hindi) | Stenography Dictation + Transcription | 65 wpm dictation; transcription on computer in 65 minutes | Qualifying |
| Junior Translator (Hindi) | Translation Proficiency Test | Written translation passages (Hindi to English and English to Hindi) | Qualifying |
| Senior Commercial cum Ticket Clerk | Typing Test | 30 wpm (English) or 25 wpm (Hindi) on computer | Qualifying |
Normalisation Policy
Since the CBT is conducted across multiple shifts over several days, marks normalisation is applied by RRBs to ensure fairness between shifts. The normalised score is used for preparation of the merit list.
Difficulty Assessment
- Mathematics: Medium – Class 10 arithmetic and basic algebra.
- Reasoning: Easy to Medium – standard series, analogy, and non-verbal topics.
- General Science: Medium – the highest-weighted section; NCERT Class 9–10 level.
- GK/Current Affairs: Easy – current events and Railway-specific GK.