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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

01. How do I apply a job in Railways through Railway Recruitment Board?
One has to go through the Centralized Employment Notices (CENs) published from time to time in various National/Regional Newspapers and Employment News/Rozgar Samachar published by Publication Division, Govt. of India & Web site of various Railway Recruitment Boards. One has to apply within the validity of the said Employment Notice to the concerned Railway Recruitment Board only or as specified in the Advertisement.

02. How do I know about the details of the post for which recruitment is notified?
The Centralized Employment Notification (CEN) indicating the name of the posts, qualification and other details are published in Employment /Rozgar Samachar from time to time. Indicative Notification retaliating to a CEN is also published in various national, regional and local newspapers indicating in brief the post(s) notified in the CEN inviting attention of prospective candidates to the particular issue of Employment News. This may also be seen on the website of various RRBs.

03. How to get application form. Is there any laid down format for caste certificate, etc.?
Applications are to be submitted ONLINE through RRB websites ONLY. One application ONLY is required to be submitted to the selected RRB for all its notified posts against a particular CEN.
The proforma of other certificates like vision test, caste certificate, EBC certificates etc. are also published along with the CEN. These can also be downloaded from the website of all the RRBs and on this website.

04. What care I should take while filling-up the application form? 
Read the CEN carefully to know the rules and regulations, eligibility criteria etc. before filling-up the application form. Ensure that proper fee as indicated in the CEN is submitted online along with the application. Make sure to upload a recent passport size colour photograph on the application form.
Before final submiussion of the application, candidate should carefully review and confirm that all the details filled by them are correct including their clear legible photo and sign.
Eligibility of the candidates will be considered only on the strength of the information furnished in the ONLINE Application. If at any stage of recruitment or thereafter, it is found that any information furnished by the candidate in his/her application is false/incorrect or the candidate has suppressed any relevant information or the candidate does not satisfy the eligibility criteria for the post(s), his/her candidature will be rejected forthwith.
Candidates should ensure that they have requisite qualifications from recognized Board/University/Institute as on the date of Closure for submission of the application for this CEN. Those awaiting results of the final examination for the prescribed qualification are not eligible and hence should not apply.

05. Can I apply for more than one RRB?
  Candidates can apply to only one RRB. Any attempt to submit more than one application by a candidate against this CEN shall result in disqualification and debarment.

06 What is the procedure for registering online application?
One has to visit website of RRBs where a candidate wants to apply and follow the procedure mentioned therein.
Prior to the above, one has to go through the Employment Notifications published in Employment News / Rozgar Samachar and the Indicative Employment Notifications published in National/Local Newspapers from time to time. One can also follow the guidelines in the Employment Notifications uploaded on the websites of Railway Recruitment Boards.
Candidates are advised to go through the caption “STEPS TO SUBMIT ONLINE APPLICATION:” in the CEN.

07. What is the application fee for the various categories?
All the women, SC, ST, Ex-Servicemen, Persons with Benchmark Disabilities, Economically Backward Classes and Minorities have to pay Rs.250/- and the same will be refunded to the candidates who have appeared in the CBT duly deducting the Bank service charges as applicable for the refund.
Minorities include Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains and Zoroastrians (Parsis) subject to revision/deletion/inclusion if any received till the closing date of this CEN. Minority candidates claiming waiver of examination fee will be required to furnish, at the time of Document Verification (DV), 'minority community declaration' affidavit on non-judicial stamp paper that they belong to any of the above minority communities, failing which their candidature will be rejected.
Economically Backward Class (EBC) candidates are those whose annual family income is less than Rs.50,000/-. Such candidates should have valid income certificate in the prescribed format or on the letterhead of the issuing authority to this effect and submit the same at the time of DV. Candidature of candidates who have availed fee relaxation and then fail to submit EBC certificate is liable to be rejected.
For all other candidates, the application fee is Rs.500/-. Out of which Rs.400/- will be refunded to the candidates who have appeared in the CBT, duly deducting the Bank service charges as applicable for the refund.

08. What is the mode of payment of application fee?
a. ONLINE fee payment through internet banking or debit/credit cards.
b. OFFLINE fee payment through
    i. SBI Bank Challan Payment mode.
    ii. Post Office Challan Payment mode through any branch of computerized Post Office.
All applicable service charges shall be borne by the candidate. If the fee is paid through off line mode viz (b) i & ii above, the receipt should be preserved. The same should be produced on demand at the time of Document Verification (DV).

09. How should I send my application to RRB?
Candidates need NOT send printouts of application or Certificates or copies to RRBs by post. The application form along with the fees are to be submitted online.

10. Who are eligible for free travel concession for various stages of selection?
Free Sleeper Class Railway Pass admissible to SC/ST candidates will be part of e-call letter when they are called for various stages of selection viz. CBT/Physical Efficiency Test(PET)/Skill Test/Aptitude Test/DV (as applicable) as per the details of valid caste certificate furnished in ONLINE application. SC/ST candidates have to fill up relevant column in the online application whether they want to avail Free Railway Travel Facility. Those ticked “Yes” in the respective column have to upload their valid and legible caste certificate along with online application. At the time of obtaining reservation and travelling, the Reservation Clerk and/or Ticket Checking Staff will ask for the original SC/ST community certificate for verification of genuineness of the candidate. Any attempt to misuse this travelling authority shall lead to rejection of candidature at any stage of the selection process including debarment for future examinations.

11. How do I know the schedule of the examination?
When an examination is scheduled to be held, the date and time of examination is notified in Employment News/Rozgar Samachar as well as in various National, Regional and Local Newspapers. Further, the exam schedule may also be seen on this website of all RRBs. An e-mail and SMS alert are sent to the candidates on their registered e-mail and mobile number.

12. What if I do not receive any communication from RRB for the examination?
The eligibility status of the application can be seen from on the websites of all RRBs, as and when published. All the candidates who have been accepted will be scheduled for the examination. Accordingly, candidates can login to their applied to RRB and download their E-call letter even if they have not received any communication by email or sms.
In case of any difficulty, they may contact concerned RRB on telephone numbers and email address listed in “Contact us” menu of RRB website.

13. How do I know the cause of rejection of my application?
  This is displayed on the website of respective RRBs.

14. What is the minimum qualifying marks?
The minimum qualifying marks are as follows:
    UR:40%
    SC/OBC:30%
    ST:25%
Negative Marking: There shall be negative marking for incorrect answers in first and second stage CBT. 1/3rd of the marks allotted for each question shall be deducted for each wrong answer.
However, result is published as per merit and according to the number of vacancies available against different communities. 

15. What is the purpose of ‘Help Desk’ provided in the online portal?
Candidates can put quarries relating to filling up of online application and get the answers online quickly.

16. What is the duration provided for filling up of on-line application?
Generally, the duration of filling up of online application is 30 days.

17. What is the Age relaxation provided to the candidates?
Age relaxation is provided as per the extant instructions of the Government of India. These are specified in the CEN. No age relaxation is allowed to SC/ST/OBC-NCL (Non Creamy Layer) candidates applying against unreserved vacancies. PWD candidates applying against UR vacancies will be allowed age relaxation applicable for UR PWD only. If a candidate is eligible for relaxation of age on more than one ground, he/she would be accorded the highest of the age relaxations for which he/she is eligible.
Candidates should note that the date of birth filled in this application should be same as recorded in the Matriculation /SSLC or an equivalent certificate. No subsequent request for its change will be considered.

18. How do I know about the status of my selection?
After the written examination / aptitude test / skill test, as applicable, the list of short listed candidates is published on the website of all the RRBs. E-Call letters for various stages of CBT, PET and DV (as applicable) can be downloaded ONLY from websites of the RRBs concerned. The exam centre date and shift indicated in the call letter shall be final. Candidates whose roll numbers are not in the list are deemed to be out of zone of consideration.

19. Can a candidate be considered for any other post/category if he once empanelled as per merit/choice?
On completion of all stages of recruitment process, RRBs shall allot post & Railway/Unit as per the option of the candidates ONLY subject to merit and vacancy position. Once candidates have been empanelled as per their merit/choice, they will forfeit the right to be considered for any other post/category.

20. What are the medical standards for applying to RRB posts?
The medical standard and suitability for PwBD are indicated against each of the notified posts as Annexure-A of the CEN.
Candidates called for DV will have to pass requisite medical fitness test(s) conducted by the Railway Administration to ensure that the candidates are medically fit to carry out the duties connected with the post(s) opted by them. Visual Acuity Standard is one of the important criteria of medical fitness of railway staff.
The candidates are advised to read Chapter 5 of Indian Railway Medical Manual Vol.I which can be accessed at www.indianrailways.gov.in. Candidates who have undergone Lasik surgery or any other surgery procedure to correct refractory error are not eligible for the post having Medical Standards A1, A2, B1 and B2.
Different Medical standards shall apply to Ex-Servicemen as detailed in Para 534 of Indian Railway Medical Manual (IRMM) Volume I, which may be accessed at www.indianrailway.gov.in.

21. Whether alternative employment is provided in case a candidate fails the medical test by the Railway Administration?
Candidates must ensure that they fulfill the prescribed medical standards for the post(s) they are opting for. Candidates who are found medically unsuitable for the opted post(s) shall not be given any alternative appointment.

22. When is the verification of eligibility condition undertaken?
RRBs conduct verification of eligibility conditions with reference to original documents only after the candidates have qualified in all the stages of examinations. RRBs may reject the candidature of any applicant at any stage of recruitment process in case the candidate is found to be not fulfilling the requisite criteria and if appointed, such a candidate is liable to be removed from service summarily.
Candidates who have been debarred by any RRB/Railway Recruitment Cell (RRC) either for life or for a specified period which is not yet completed should NOT apply against the notified CEN. Their candidature will be rejected during any stage of recruitment as and when detected.

23. Who should bring the “No Objection Certificate”?
Candidates serving (including those undergoing induction training/probation) in any Central/State Government Department including Railways or Public-Sector Undertakings may apply directly to the RRBs duly informing their Employer. Shortlisted candidates should produce NOC from the employer on the date of his/her Document Verification(DV) failing which their candidature will be cancelled. Candidates should note that in case a communication is received from their employer by the RRB concerned withholding permission to the candidates applying for/appearing at the examination, their application/candidature will be liable to be rejected /cancelled.

24. What is the meaning of normalization?
Normalization means ‘scaling’ or ‘equalization’ of marks of candidates who appeared in different test shifts (using different question papers) – but for the same stage of recruitment examination.

25. When is normalization necessary?
It is necessary when the number of candidates is so large that it is not possible to conduct their test in one common shift. In such cases, candidates are called to appear in different shifts(tests) using different question papers for each shift. Since the standard of difficulty of question paper is likely to differ in each shift, the original (raw) marks of the candidates have to be normalized (scaled or equalized) to prepare one common merit list.

26. What do candidates gain from normalization?
It helps to ensure that no candidate is at a disadvantage due to a more difficult question paper or gets an undue advantage due to easier question paper.

27. What is the meaning of “raw score”?
It is the net marks scored by a candidate after deductions of wrong answers (@ 1/3rd marks for every wrong answer).

28. Is normalization being adopted only by RRBs?
No, normalization has been adopted by all Major agencies in the country for recruitment examinations which are being held across multiple shifts.

29. Computer Based Aptitude Test is conducted for which category/posts of RRB?
Computer Based Aptitude Test is conducted for the posts of Assistant Station Masters (ASMs), Assistant Loco Pilots (ALPs) and Traffic Assistant.

30. What are the minimum marks required for qualifying the Computer Based Aptitude Test?
A candidate needs to secure a minimum T-score of 42 marks in each of the test batteries to qualify. There shall be no negative marking in Computer Based Aptitude Test. This is applicable to all candidates and no relaxation is permissible.
Candidates will have to qualify in each of the test battery of Computer Based Aptitude Test for considering them for the post of ASMs/ALPs/Traffic Assistants.

31. Will a candidate be allowed to give the Computer Based Aptitude Test in any regional language?
The Computer Based Aptitude Test shall have questions and answer options only in English and Hindi.

32. How is the final merit determined amongst the candidates who have appeared for Computer Based Aptitude Test?
The ALP merit list will be drawn only from amongst the candidates qualifying in the Aptitude Test, with 70% weightage for the marks obtained in the Part A of Second Stage CBT and 30% weightage for the marks obtained in Computer Based Aptitude Test.

33. Where can a candidate look for question patterns for the Computer Based Aptitude Test?
Candidates are advised to visit websites of RDSO (www.rdso.indianrailways.gov.in -> Directorates -> Psycho Technical Directorate -> Candidates Corner) for question patterns and other details of AT.

34. Where can I lodge a complaint against touts or malpractices observed during the CBT ?
Click on the Security Helpline No.182 available on this website and all RRBs websites and follow the procedure stipulated therein.

DISCLAIMER

This compilation of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) has been published for general guidance, information and assistance of users.  The information contained herein is general in nature and is by no means exhaustive and is not in the nature of legal or statutory opinion, advise, interpretation or authority on the issues involved. The Rules, procedures and Guidelines cited may be changed or modified over time and for any clarification, the respective Rules made by the Competent Authority or orders of the Railway Board, Ministry of Railways, Government of India may be referred to.  Under no circumstances, shall the Railway Recruitment Boards be liable for any liability, loss, damage or expense incurred or suffered that is claimed to have resulted from the use of material contained in this compilation, including, without limitation, any error or omission with respect thereto.

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