Railway Medical

Railway Medical

Key Information

Item Details
1. Authority issuing Medical Rules Indian Railway Medical Service (IRMS) / Director General (Medical Services), Railway Board
2. Medical Categories for Running Staff A-1, A-2, A-3 (Loco pilots, Guards, Motormen)
3. Medical Categories for Non-Running Technical B-1, B-2 (JE, SSE, Signalling, Telecom etc.)
4. Medical Categories for Ministerial/Clerical C-1, C-2 (Commercial clerks, Accounts, Personnel)
5. Vision standard for A-1 (Distant) 6/6 both eyes (without glasses), no colour blindness
6. Vision standard for C-1 (Distant) 6/9 both eyes (with glasses permitted), colour blindness allowed
7. Colour Vision Test Ishihara 38-plate test; failing which Lantern test (Railway type)
8. Maximum permissible Blood Pressure ≤ 140/90 mmHg for all categories (on 3 separate readings)
9. Diabetes Mellitus limit for A-1/A-2 FBS ≤ 110 mg/dl & HbA1c ≤ 6.0 % (relaxed up to 6.5 % once)
10. Hearing standard for A-1 Normal conversation voice at 3 m (each ear separately)
11. Pregnancy provision Temporary unfit—re-exam after 6 weeks of delivery
12. Appeal Medical Board (AMB) Constituted by CMD of the Zonal Railway within 30 days of request
13. Review Medical Board (RMB) Can be asked only after 3 years of AMB decision
14. Age relaxation for medical standards No relaxation; standards are absolute irrespective of age
15. Medical examination before promotion Compulsory when moving from lower to higher medical category
16. Validity of initial medical certificate Lifetime for C-2; till age 45 for A-1, thereafter every 5 years
17. Body Mass Index (BMI) limit ≤ 30 kg/m² for A-1/A-2 (waist-hip ratio also noted)
18. Hernia & Varicose Veins rule Operated & declared fit before joining; no recurrence
19. Psychiatric fitness No history of epilepsy, schizophrenia, severe depression
20. Emergency medical rooms at A-1 stations 24×7 with doctor, nurse, defibrillator & oxygen as per RDSO norms

Important Points

  • Medical standards are uniform across all Zonal Railways; no zonal relaxation.
  • A-1 is the strictest category; even one failed parameter makes the candidate unfit.
  • Glasses are NOT allowed for A-1 distant vision, but permitted for C-1/C-2.
  • Colour blindness is an absolute disqualification for A-1, A-2, A-3, B-1, B-2.
  • Pregnant women are declared temporarily unfit; no permanent unfitness.
  • Appeal must be filed within 30 days of original board; fee is ₹100 (refunded if decision reversed).
  • Diabetes & Hypertension are the two commonest causes of temporary unfitness.
  • Tattoos are allowed except on exposed body parts if they are obscene/religiously inflammatory.
  • LASIK surgery is acceptable for A-1 provided 6 months have passed and corneal thickness ≥ 450 µm.
  • Night blindness (Nyctalopia) is tested by dark-adaptation test for A-1, A-2.
  • Running staff have to pass stress ECG (TMT) after age 40 every 5 years.
  • Medical boards are chaired by CMO of Division with 2 other railway doctors.

Practice MCQs

1. Which medical category is prescribed for a Goods Guard? A) A-1  B) A-2  C) A-3  D) B-1 **Correct: B) A-2**
2. Minimum distant vision required for A-1 category without glasses is A) 6/12  B) 6/9  C) 6/6  D) 6/18 **Correct: C) 6/6**
3. Colour vision is tested first by A) Lantern test  B) Ishihara plates  C) Snellen chart  D) Audiometry **Correct: B) Ishihara plates**
4. Maximum allowable blood pressure for any category is A) 150/90  B) 140/90  C) 160/100  D) 130/80 **Correct: B) 140/90**
5. A candidate failing the initial medical board can appeal within A) 15 days  B) 30 days  C) 45 days  D) 60 days **Correct: B) 30 days**
6. Which category can wear spectacles for distant vision? A) A-1  B) A-2  C) B-1  D) C-1 **Correct: D) C-1**
7. Diabetes limit (HbA1c) for A-1 category is A) ≤ 7.0 %  B) ≤ 6.5 %  C) ≤ 6.0 %  D) ≤ 5.5 % **Correct: C) ≤ 6.0 %**
8. Who chairs the Appeal Medical Board? A) CMD  B) CMO Division  C) DG(MS)  D) DRM **Correct: B) CMO Division**
9. Temporary unfitness due to pregnancy is reviewed after A) 4 weeks  B) 6 weeks  C) 8 weeks  D) 10 weeks **Correct: B) 6 weeks**
10. Validity of medical certificate for A-1 staff after age 45 is A) 1 year  B) 3 years  C) 5 years  D) Lifetime **Correct: C) 5 years**
RRB Preparation

RRB GROUP D

RRB NTPC

RPF SI

RPF CONSTABLE

RRB JE

RRB ALP

RRB TECHNICIAN

RRB Courses

Recorded Course

Recorded Course for Reasoning

Recorded Course for Mathematics

Recorded Course for GK

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NCERT Books

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Important Resources

RRB Group D Syllabus

RRB ALP Syllabus

RPF SI Syllabus

RRB Constable Syllabus

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