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
Question:01 Which medical category is prescribed for a Goods Guard in Indian Railways?
A) A-1
B) A-2
C) A-3
D) B-1
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: As per Railway Board’s medical standards, the post of Goods Guard is classified under Medical Category A-2, which requires normal vision and hearing without any serious medical disability.
Question:02 Minimum distant vision required for A-1 category without glasses is
A) 6/12
B) 6/9
C) 6/6
D) 6/18
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C
Explanation: For Indian Railways A-1 category (e.g., drivers), the minimum uncorrected distant vision standard is 6/6 in the better eye and 6/9 in the worse eye without glasses.
Question:03 Colour vision is tested first by
A) Lantern test
B) Ishihara plates
C) Snellen chart
D) Audiometry
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: The Ishihara plates are the initial screening tool used to detect red-green colour vision defects in railway medical examinations.
Question:04 Maximum allowable blood pressure for any category is
A) 150/90
B) 140/90
C) 160/100
D) 130/80
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: As per the 2026 Indian Railway medical standards, the upper permissible limit for systolic/diastolic blood pressure in all categories of railway employees is 140/90 mmHg; readings above this disqualify the candidate.
Question:05 A candidate who fails the initial medical board may file an appeal within how many days?
A) 15 days
B) 30 days
C) 45 days
D) 60 days
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: As per extant railway recruitment rules, an appeal against the initial medical board’s unfavourable decision must be submitted within 30 days.
Question:06 Which medical category is permitted to wear spectacles for distant vision?
A) A-1
B) A-2
C) B-1
D) C-1
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D
Explanation: As per Indian Railway Medical Standards 2026, only C-1 category candidates are allowed to wear spectacles for distant vision; A-1, A-2 and B-1 categories must meet the prescribed distant vision standards without correction.
Question:07 Diabetes limit (HbA1c) for A-1 category is
A) ≤ 7.0 %
B) ≤ 6.5 %
C) ≤ 6.0 %
D) ≤ 5.5 %
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C
Explanation: As per the 2026 Indian Railway Medical Standards, the permissible HbA1c threshold for A-1 category (safety-sensitive posts) is ≤ 6.0 % to ensure optimal glycaemic control and minimise risk of sudden incapacitation.
Question:08 Who chairs the Appeal Medical Board?
A) CMD
B) CMO Division
C) DG(MS)
D) DRM
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: As per extant Indian Railway rules, the Chief Medical Officer (Division) is designated to chair the Appeal Medical Board.
Question:09 [Temporary unfitness due to pregnancy is reviewed after]
A) 4 weeks
B) 6 weeks
C) 8 weeks
D) 10 weeks
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: As per extant Railway medical rules, a pregnant employee declared temporarily unfit is re-examined 6 weeks after the initial assessment to review her fitness status.
Question:10 What is the validity period of the medical certificate for A-1 staff after they attain the age of 45 years?
A) 1 year
B) 3 years
C) 5 years
D) Lifetime
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C
Explanation: As per Indian Railway medical rules, the medical certificate for A-1 staff remains valid for 5 years once they cross the age of 45 years.
BETA
