RRB Pharmacist 2026 60 Days Study Plan & Exam Strategy

RRB Pharmacist 2025 60-Day Study Plan guides candidates to efficiently prepare for the exam by prioritizing the 70-mark Professional Ability (Pharmacy) section over Non-Pharmacy topics. Focusing on high-weightage areas like Pharmacology and Pharmaceutics, the plan emphasizes concept clarity combined with daily practice of Previous Year Questions (PYQs) and MCQs for better retention and understanding.

Candidates are advised to study 2–3 subjects daily with at least 3 hours per subject, gradually increasing topics in the final 15-day revision. PYQs and topic-wise workflow help align preparation with exam patterns, ensuring optimal scoring potential in the 100-question, 90-minute RRB Pharmacist exam.

RRB Pharmacist 2025 Exam Strategic Overview

The Railway Recruitment Board (RRB) Pharmacist examination is a significant opportunity for pharmacy graduates. This guide provides a comprehensive study plan, detailing the exam structure, eligibility, and a focused syllabus analysis based on previous year papers. Strategic preparation, emphasizing high-weightage topics and consistent practice, is key to success in this competitive exam.

RRB Pharmacist Recruitment Overview (Notification 03/2025)

Exam Announcement & Schedule

The Railway Recruitment Board (RRB) announced notification CEN 03/2025 on July 26, 2025, for 105 Pharmacist positions. While applications closed in September 2025, tentative exam dates are set between March 10th and 12th, 2026. Admit cards, confirming exact details, will be released 4-5 days prior to the examination.

Eligibility Criteria

Candidates must possess a D.Pharm or B.Pharm degree and completed registration as a pharmacist is mandatory. The age limit is 20 to 35 years, with relaxations provided as per category-specific rules.

RRB Pharmacist Exam Pattern

The RRB Pharmacist Exam consists of 100 questions in 90 minutes, with negative marking and a focus on Pharmacy alongside General Awareness, Intelligence, and Science.

Key Metrics

• Total Questions: 100

• Total Marks: 100 (1 mark per question)

• Duration: 90 minutes

• Negative Marking: 1/3 mark will be deducted for each incorrect answer.

Section-wise Mark Distribution

The examination is structured into four sections with the following weightage:

Syllabus Analysis Based on Previous Year Papers (PYPs)

This analysis pinpoints essential subjects and topics for focused preparation.

A. Professional Ability (Pharmacy - 70 Questions)

Subject Weightage Analysis

Based on previous exams, the approximate question distribution within the pharmacy section helps identify major and minor subjects:

• Pharmacology: ~20 questions (28.5%) - Highest Priority

• Pharmaceutics: ~10 questions (14.3%)

• Pharmacy Practice

• Pharmaceutical Chemistry

• Pharmacognosy

• Human Anatomy & Physiology (HAP)

• Biochemistry

• Microbiology

• Pharmaceutical Jurisprudence

RRB Pharmacist Syllabus

Detailed Topic wise Syllabus Breakdown

1. Pharmacology (~20 questions): The most critical area is drug classification. Develop a daily habit of studying and writing down classifications for at least two drug classes. Recite them aloud to enhance recall (Memory Tip: Active recall through teaching strengthens memory).

• Other Key Topics: Fundamentals of ADME (Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, Excretion) and Receptors. Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) classification. Mechanism of Action (MOA) for prototype drugs, focusing on Chemotherapy (Antiviral, Anticancer), Antibiotics and Sulfonamides, Anti-tubercular (Anti-TB) drugs. Common and significant Adverse Drug Effects.

2. Pharmaceutics (~10 questions): This broad subject is vital for a good rank.

• Topics: Dosage Forms (Solid: Tablets, Capsules; Liquid: Solutions, Suspensions; Semi-solid; Parenterals), Routes of Administration, Pharmaceutical Calculations (Posology, Alligation method), Prescription handling and Incompatibilities, Drug stability and storage conditions.

3. Pharmaceutical Chemistry

• Organic Chemistry: Basic concepts, functional groups, Heterocyclic Chemistry (nomenclature, structures like pyrrole, oxazole, pyridine, quinoline), Isomerism (structural), and basic Name Reactions (e.g., Wurtz, Wolff, Reimer-Tiemann, Sandmeyer, Gattermann, Aldol, Cannizzaro).

• Medicinal Chemistry: Drug classification and Structure-Activity Relationships (SAR).

• Inorganic Chemistry: Limit tests, sources of impurities, reagents.

• Pharmaceutical Analysis: Principles of titrations, indicators, basic principles of Chromatography and Spectroscopy (UV, IR).

4. Pharmacognosy: Focus on basic concepts.

• Topics: Classification of crude drugs, Extraction and isolation methods for active constituents (Alkaloids, Glycosides), Identification tests (qualitative tests) for phytoconstituents are very important. Herbal medicines and phytopharmaceuticals.

5. Biopharmaceutics & Pharmacokinetics

• Topics: Bioavailability and Bioequivalence, Plasma drug concentration-time curves. The parameters Half-life (t½), Clearance (Cl), and Volume of Distribution (Vd) are most important.

6. Hospital & Clinical Pharmacy

• Topics: Prescription handling and interpretation, Basic drug-drug and drug-food interactions, Pharmacovigilance and Adverse Drug Reaction (ADR) reporting, Essential Medicines Lists (EML).

7. Pharmaceutical Jurisprudence

• Topics: Schedules to the Drugs & Cosmetics Act, the years in which various pharmacy-related Acts were passed, and the 10th Edition of the Indian Pharmacopoeia (IP) is a most important topic. Focus on new monographs, newly added blood components, and total volumes.

B. Non-Pharma Section (30 Questions)

1. General Awareness (10 Questions)

• Current Affairs (last 6-12 months), Indian Polity (Constitution, Fundamental Rights, Articles), Indian History & Geography, Recent advancements in Science & Technology, Nobel Prizes, Government Schemes, Awards, Books & Authors.

2. General Intelligence, Reasoning & Maths (10 Questions)

• Number & Letter Series, Coding-Decoding, Blood Relations, Syllogism, Analogy, Direction Sense Test, Seating Arrangements & Puzzles, Basic Maths (Percentage, Ratio, Profit & Loss, Time & Work, Speed & Distance, Simple & Compound Interest).

3. General Science (10 Questions)

• Much of this overlaps with the pharmacy syllabus. Additional review topics from Physics: Motion, Force, Energy, Sound, Light, Heat.

RRB Pharmacist 2026 60 Days Study Plan

The RRB Pharmacist 60-Day Study Plan helps candidates efficiently cover all topics by prioritizing high-weightage sections and integrating PYQs. It balances concept learning with extensive practice to maximize scores.

Core Principle: Prioritize Based on Weightage

Do not allocate equal time to Pharmacy and Non-Pharmacy sections. You must prioritize the Pharma portion (70 marks) over the Non-Pharma portion (30 marks) to maximize your score. General Science (10 marks) largely overlaps with pharma preparation, making the effective effort ratio approximately 80:20.

Daily Study Plan for 45 Days

1. Subject Selection: Choose 2-3 subjects daily based on your current preparation level (3 if starting).

2. Time Allocation: Dedicate at least 3 hours to thoroughly study the concepts of each selected subject.

3. The Crucial Role of PYQs and MCQs: Studying without practicing Previous Year Questions (PYQs) is ineffective. PYQs are essential to understand the required depth for each topic, preventing over- or under-studying.

• Workflow:

1. Study a topic.

2. Solve its PYQs to understand question patterns and depth.

3. Review the topic again with this new perspective.

4. Solve more MCQs and PYQs to solidify knowledge.

Final 15-Day Revision Plan

Increase the number of subjects to 4 per day. Reduce study time per subject to 2 hours. Significantly increase the time dedicated to solving MCQs and PYQs.