Everything pharmacy graduates need to know about Indian Railways' Pharmacist recruitment — approved vacancies, age limit, pay scale, selection process, and the full syllabus with subject-wise weightage.
The Railway Recruitment Boards (RRBs), under the Ministry of Railways, recruit Pharmacists (Entry Grade) to staff railway hospitals and health units across India's railway zones, as part of the wider RRB Paramedical cadre.
| Particular | Detail |
|---|---|
| Recruiting Body | Railway Recruitment Boards (RRB), Ministry of Railways |
| Post | Pharmacist (Entry Grade) |
| Approved Vacancies | 120 (part of 600 total RRB Paramedical Recruitment 2026 posts across 9 categories) |
| Pay Level | Level 5, 7th CPC (initial basic pay approx. ₹29,200) |
| CEN Status | Vacancies approved; detailed CEN notification awaited (expected Jul–Sep 2026) |
| Posting | Railway hospitals / health units, zone as allotted |
A Railway Pharmacist works within the Indian Railways' medical department — dispensing medicines at railway hospitals and health units, managing the pharmacy stores, and supporting railway doctors with medication information for railway employees, pensioners and their dependants.
10+2 with Science, plus a Diploma or Bachelor's Degree in Pharmacy from a recognised institution, along with valid registration as a Pharmacist under the Pharmacy Act, 1948 (or the applicable State Pharmacy Council).
Past RRB Pharmacist cycles have used age bands in roughly the 18–35 range, with the standard reserved-category relaxations (SC/ST, OBC-NCL, PwBD, etc.) under Government of India rules. The exact minimum and maximum age for the 2026 cycle will only be confirmed in the official CEN — do not rely on any third-party figure, including this one, once the notification is out.
RRB Pharmacist selection has no interview. It follows three stages:
| Particular | Detail |
|---|---|
| Mode | Computer Based Test (CBT), single stage |
| Questions / Marks | 100 objective questions, 100 marks (1 mark each) |
| Duration | 90 minutes |
| Negative Marking | 1/3 mark deducted per wrong answer |
The 100-question CBT blends Professional Ability (Pharmacy subjects) with a General section, based on the pattern used in the most recent RRB Pharmacist cycle:
| Subject | Approx. Questions |
|---|---|
| Pharmacology & Toxicology | 20 |
| Pharmaceutics | 17 |
| General Awareness | 11 |
| Biochemistry & Clinical Pathology | 12 |
| General Science | 9 |
| General Intelligence & Reasoning | 7 |
| Pharmaceutical Jurisprudence | 8 |
| Pharmaceutical Chemistry | 5 |
| Pharmacognosy | 3 |
| Drug Store & Business Management | 3 |
| General Arithmetic | 3 |
| Health Education & Community Pharmacy | 2 |
| Total | 100 |
Pharmacology & Toxicology and Pharmaceutics together account for over a third of the paper — the highest-yield subjects to prioritise. For the full unit-by-unit syllabus under every subject above, see our RRB Pharmacist Syllabus & Exam Pattern page.
120 approved Pharmacist (Entry Grade) posts, part of a 600-post RRB Paramedical Recruitment 2026 drive. The detailed CEN with final figures is still awaited.
Pay Level 5 of the 7th CPC, with an initial basic pay of approximately ₹29,200 per month.
Yes — 1/3 mark is deducted for every wrong answer in the CBT.
No. Selection is via CBT, Document Verification and a Medical Examination — there is no interview.
Complete PDF notes, chapter-wise tests, and PYQ practice tests with detailed solutions — plus WhatsApp doubt support and personal mentorship from Kalai Mam.
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