Government jobPay Level 1Group CNon‑gazetted
Pointsman 'B'
पॉइंट्समैन 'बी'
Pay Level 1 operating post via RRB Group D — setting points, coupling wagons and signalling to trains at stations and yards.
Indian Railways (Traffic Department) · Ministry of Railways · central government
In-hand pay at joining, per month
₹29,000–₹33,000
Lower in small towns, higher in metros. Work out your own city below.
- Exam
- RRB Group D
- Qualification
- 10th pass
- Age limit
- 18–33 years
- Transfers
- Within your allotted zone/region
- Work hours
- Rotating shifts with nights; 12-hour rosters at some stations
- Probation
- As per railway rules
Estimated in-hand / month
₹30,760
Gross ₹33,840 · CTC ≈ ₹4.5 lakh/yr
Where are you posted?
Pointsman 'B' · rates as of January 2026 (DA 60%). Excludes CGHS, GPF/insurance deductions and special allowances. Estimate only.
New to pay slips? Read how in-hand salary is worked out.
What you will actually do
- Operating and clamping points by hand when required
- Coupling and uncoupling wagons and coaches during shunting
- Showing hand signals to passing trains
- Checking that the last vehicle of each train has passed complete
- Securing stabled wagons and assisting the station master
A typical day
You work the station master's shift, mostly outdoors on the platform and in the yard. Each train must be watched through with a green flag or lamp; you confirm the tail lamp so the station master knows the whole train has arrived. During shunting you walk between wagons to couple them, which is the dangerous part of the job. Nights are long at small stations, with trains every half hour.
Promotion path
Timelines are ranges and vary by cadre. See how promotions and MACP work.
Pointsman 'B' (joining)
Pay Level 1
₹29,000–₹33,000 in-hand
Pointsman
3–6 years · Level 2 · via dpc
₹32,000–₹37,000 in-hand
Shunting Master / Cabin Master
Further 6–12 years · Level 4 · via dpc
₹42,000–₹50,000 in-hand
Goods Train Manager or Station Master
Through departmental exams for eligible staff · via lateral exam
Promotion timelines vary by cadre and vacancies. If not promoted, MACP gives a pay upgrade after 10, 20 and 30 years.
How to get in
Railway Recruitment Boards
- 1.Computer-based test
- 2.Physical efficiency test
- 3.Document verification
- 4.Medical examination
Eligibility: Class 10 pass, or ITI, or a National Apprenticeship Certificate (as per the latest notification). Age 18–33. SC/ST: 5 years, OBC (non-creamy layer): 3 years, PwBD: 10 years, plus relaxations for ex-servicemen and railway staff, as per the notification.
Physical standards: PET for men: carry 35 kg for 100 m in 2 minutes and run 1,000 m in 4 minutes 15 seconds. Women: carry 20 kg for 100 m in 2 minutes and run 1,000 m in 5 minutes 40 seconds. Medical standard A-2.
The good
- Less heavy labour than track maintenance
- Works closely with operating staff, with departmental routes to Train Manager
- Railway benefits
The hard parts
- Night shifts throughout
- Shunting work carries injury risk
- Level 1 pay
Postings
You apply to one Railway Recruitment Board and are posted in the zone or production unit attached to it, then to a division within that zone. Inter-zone transfer is possible only on request or mutual exchange, with loss of seniority. Posts are at stations and yards across the division, including remote ones.
Questions people ask
What is the in-hand salary of Pointsman 'B'?+
Pointsman 'B' is a Pay Level 1 post with a starting basic pay of ₹18,000. At current rates (DA 60%, January 2026), the starting in-hand salary is roughly ₹29,000–₹33,000 a month, depending on whether you are posted in a Z, Y or X class city.
What is the qualification and age limit for Pointsman 'B'?+
Class 10 pass, or ITI, or a National Apprenticeship Certificate (as per the latest notification). Age: 18–33 years. Relaxation: SC/ST: 5 years, OBC (non-creamy layer): 3 years, PwBD: 10 years, plus relaxations for ex-servicemen and railway staff, as per the notification.
Which exam do I need to clear for Pointsman 'B'?+
RRB Group D (Railway Recruitment Boards).
Why does this post need a stricter medical than other Group D posts?+
Pointsmen exchange signals with trains, so they need A-2 vision including colour vision.
Compare with similar posts
Track Maintainer Grade-IV
ट्रैक मेंटेनर ग्रेड-IV
Pay Level 1 railway post via RRB Group D — manual maintenance and patrolling of railway track, outdoors in all weather.
Trains Clerk
ट्रेन्स क्लर्क
Pay Level 2 operating post via RRB NTPC (12th level) — recording wagons and train details in yards, in shifts.
Station Master
स्टेशन मास्टर
Pay Level 6 railway post via RRB NTPC — controlling train movements at a station, in rotating shifts.
Books to prepare for RRB Group D
- See on Amazon
Lucent's General Science
Lucent Publications
Physics, chemistry and biology at the level railway exams ask. Available in Hindi as Samanya Vigyan.
- See on Amazon
Fast Track Objective Arithmetic
Rajesh Verma (Arihant)
Shorter and more shortcut-oriented than R.S. Aggarwal. Useful when time per question matters.
- See on Amazon
A Modern Approach to Verbal & Non-Verbal Reasoning
R.S. Aggarwal (S. Chand)
Covers every reasoning question type with graded practice. More than most exams need, so do the chapters in your syllabus.
All 6 books for Railway exams: NTPC, Group D, ALP, Technician and RPF
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. It costs you nothing extra and does not affect which books we list.
Sources
- RRB CEN 09/2025 Level-1 posts (official PDF)
- Railway Recruitment Boards — official portal
- Indian Railways — official website
This profile is being reviewed. Confirm details in the latest official notification. Salary computed from pay rules as of January 2026.