Indian Railways Group D and Apprentice Recruitment 2025: 8th, 10th, 12th Pass Jobs

The Indian Railways, under the Railway Recruitment Boards (RRBs) and Railway Recruitment Cells (RRCs), has released notifications for 32,438 Group D vacancies (Advt. No. CEN 08/2024) and multiple Apprentice vacancies across various railway zones in 2025. These opportunities are open to candidates with 8th, 10th, or 12th pass qualifications, including roles like Trackman (Track Maintainer Grade-IV), Helper/Assistant, Assistant Pointsman, Electrician (Apprentice), and Welder (Apprentice). The recruitment is conducted across India, with postings in states like Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, and others. The selection process involves a Computer-Based Test (CBT), Physical Efficiency Test (PET), and document verification for Group D, and merit-based selection for Apprentices.

Job Details

Notes on 8th Pass Eligibility

• Group D Posts: The minimum qualification is 10th pass or ITI or NAC granted by NCVT. The web results mention that some Group D roles, like Trackman, Helper, may accept 8th pass candidates in specific notifications (e.g., yojanatoday.com), but the 2025 RRB Group D notification (CEN 08/2024) specifies 10th pass as the standard. Candidates with 8th pass should verify with specific RRCs for relaxed eligibility in certain zones.
• Apprentice Posts: Require 10th pass (50% marks) with an ITI certificate in trades like Electrician or Welder. 8th pass candidates are not eligible for Apprentice roles unless specified in rare cases by individual RRCs.

State-Wise Vacancy Distribution (Group D)

The 32,438 Group D vacancies are distributed across railway zones, covering states and union territories:

Apprentice Vacancies (Examples)

• Southern Railway (SR), Tamil Nadu: 2,028 slots (e.g., Carriage Works Perambur, Central Workshop Ponmalai, Signal & Telecom Workshop Podanur) – Link.
• Central Railway (CR), Maharashtra: 1,465 slots (e.g., Mumbai, Bhusawal, Pune, Nagpur) – Link.
• Northern Railway (NR), Delhi: 1,400+ slots (tentative) – Link.
• Deadlines vary (e.g., 29/08/2025 for SR, 27/08/2025 for CR).

Eligibility Criteria

• Nationality: Indian citizens or those from Nepal, Bhutan, or specified refugee/migrant categories with a certificate of eligibility.
• Age Limit (as of 01/01/2025 for Group D, varies for Apprentices):
  • Group D: 18–36 years (relaxation: OBC +3 years, SC/ST +5 years, PwD +10 years).
  • Apprentice: 15–24 years (relaxation: OBC +3 years, SC/ST +5 years, PwD +10 years).
• Educational Qualification:
  • Group D (Trackman, Helper, Assistant Pointsman): 10th pass or ITI or NAC granted by NCVT. 8th pass may be accepted in specific zones (verify with RRC).
  • Apprentice (Electrician, Welder): 10th pass (50% marks, excluding additional subjects) + ITI in Electrician or Welder trade from NCVT/SCVT-recognized institution.
• Physical Standards (Group D):
  • Male: 35 kg weight lift, 100m carry in 2 min; 1 km run in 4 min 15 sec.
  • Female: 20 kg weight lift, 100m carry in 2 min; 1 km run in 5 min 40 sec.
• Medical Standards (Group D):
  • Visual Acuity: A-2 (6/9 without glasses) or A-3 (6/9 with/without glasses, max 2D lens power).
  • Must pass color vision, binocular vision, and night vision tests.

Selection Process

Group D

1. Computer-Based Test (CBT):
   • Duration: 90 minutes (120 min for PwD).
   • Total: 100 questions, 100 marks.
   • Sections: General Science (25), Maths (25), General Intelligence & Reasoning (30), General Awareness & Current Affairs (20).
   • Negative Marking: 1/3 mark per wrong answer.
   • Syllabus: 10th standard level (NCERT-based).
2. Physical Efficiency Test (PET):
   • Mandatory for CBT qualifiers (see physical standards above).
3. Document Verification: 10th/ITI marksheet, caste certificate, domicile, ID proof (Aadhaar/PAN).
4. Medical Examination: Conducted at railway hospitals.

Apprentice

1. Merit-Based Selection:
   • Based on 10th and ITI marks (equal weightage, minimum 50% in both).
   • No written exam or interview.
2. Document Verification: 10th marksheet, ITI certificate, caste certificate, domicile.
3. Medical Fitness Test: Ensures candidates meet job-specific health standards.

Salary

• Group D:
  • Basic Pay: ₹18,000/month (Level 1, 7th CPC).
  • In-Hand: ₹22,000–₹28,000/month (with DA, HRA, TA).
  • Benefits: Medical facilities, overtime allowance, pension.
• Apprentice:
  • Stipend: ₹7,000–₹9,000/month during training (varies by trade/year).
  • No salary during training; post-training employment not guaranteed.

Application Process

Group D

• Mode: Online
• Steps:
  1. Visit rrbapply.gov.in or rrbcdg.gov.in.
  2. Register with email and mobile number, verify via OTP.
  3. Fill in personal, educational, and post preference details.
  4. Upload documents: 10th/ITI marksheet, photo (20–50 KB, JPEG), signature (10–40 KB, JPEG), caste certificate.
  5. Pay the fee: ₹500 (General/OBC/EWS, ₹400 refundable), ₹250 (SC/ST/PwD/Female, fully refundable).
  6. Submit and print the confirmation page.
• Important Dates:
  • Notification: 22/01/2025
  • Application Start: 23/01/2025
  • Last Date: 01/03/2025
  • CBT Exam: July–August 2025 (tentative)

Apprentice

• Mode: Online
• Steps:
  1. Visit respective RRC website (e.g., sr.indianrailways.gov.in for Southern Railway).
  2. Register and fill in details (10th marks, ITI trade).
  3. Upload documents: 10th marksheet, ITI certificate, photo, signature.
  4. Pay the fee: ₹100 (General/OBC, nil for SC/ST/PwD/Female).
  5. Submit and download confirmation.
• Deadlines: Vary by zone (e.g., 29/08/2025 for SR, 27/08/2025 for CR).

Notes

• Application Deadline: The Group D deadline (01/03/2025) and some Apprentice deadlines (e.g., 05/08/2025 for some zones) have passed as of 10/08/2025. Check rrbapply.gov.in or RRC websites (e.g., sr.indianrailways.gov.in) for extensions or new notifications.
• State-Specific Posting: Postings are across railway zones (e.g., Mumbai, Chennai, Delhi, Kolkata), not candidate-chosen. Group D roles like Trackman may involve fieldwork in rural/urban areas, while Apprentices train in workshops (e.g., Perambur, Tamil Nadu).
• 8th Pass Clarification: While some sources suggest 8th pass eligibility for Group D roles like Trackman/Helper, the 2025 notification (CEN 08/2024) specifies 10th pass or ITI. 8th pass candidates should verify with specific RRCs for relaxed criteria in future cycles.
• Preparation Tips:
  • Group D CBT: Study 10th-level NCERT Maths, Science, GK; practice reasoning (coding-decoding, series); follow current affairs.
  • PET: Train for weight lifting (35 kg male, 20 kg female) and running (1 km in 4:15–5:40 min).
  • Apprentice: Ensure ITI certificate is valid; focus on 10th/ITI marks for merit.
• Why Apply?: Group D offers permanent jobs with stable pay and benefits, while Apprentices provide technical training with potential for future railway employment. Ideal for 8th/10th/12th pass candidates seeking central government jobs.