Mains Syllabus of railways tc Exam 2024

Mains Syllabus of Railways TC Exam 2024

General Studies

1. Current Events of National and International Importance

• National Events: This section covers significant events and developments within India, including:
  • Politics: Major political events, elections, government policies, and significant legislation.
  • Economy: Economic growth, inflation, unemployment, fiscal and monetary policies, and key economic indicators.
  • Social Issues: Poverty, inequality, education, healthcare, gender issues, and social reforms.
  • Science and Technology: Major scientific breakthroughs, technological advancements, and their impact on society.
  • Environment and Ecology: Climate change, pollution, deforestation, biodiversity conservation, and environmental policies.
  • Culture and Heritage: Important cultural events, festivals, and the preservation of India’s rich heritage.
  • Defense and Security: National security issues, defense preparedness, and major military developments.
• International Events: This section covers significant global events and developments, including:
  • International Relations: Major geopolitical events, international organizations, and global alliances.
  • Global Economy: Global economic trends, international trade, and financial markets.
  • International Security: Global security threats, terrorism, and international conflicts.
  • Science and Technology: Global scientific advancements and their impact on the world.
  • Environment and Climate Change: Global environmental issues, international agreements, and efforts to mitigate climate change.
  • Human Rights and Social Justice: International human rights issues, global poverty, and social justice movements.

2. History of India

• Ancient India:
  • Indus Valley Civilization, Vedic Period, Rise of Kingdoms (Magadha, Mauryan Empire, Gupta Empire), Religious Movements (Buddhism, Jainism), Art and Architecture.
• Medieval India:
  • Delhi Sultanate, Mughal Empire, Rise of Regional Kingdoms, Social and Cultural Developments, Art and Architecture.
• Modern India:
  • British Colonial Rule, Indian National Movement, Independence Struggle, Partition of India, Post-Independence Era.

3. Indian Polity and Governance

• Constitution of India:
  • Fundamental Rights, Directive Principles of State Policy, Fundamental Duties, Structure of Government (Executive, Legislature, Judiciary), Federalism, Panchayati Raj, Local Self-Government.
• Political System:
  • Political Parties, Elections, Electoral System, Pressure Groups, Public Opinion, Media and Politics.
• Governance and Administration:
  • Central and State Governments, Public Policy, Administrative Reforms, Good Governance, Corruption and Accountability.
• Judiciary:
  • Supreme Court, High Courts, Judicial Review, Judicial Activism, Legal System.

4. Indian Economy

• Economic Development:
  • Economic Growth, Poverty and Inequality, Employment, Infrastructure, Human Development.
• Economic Policies:
  • Fiscal Policy, Monetary Policy, Industrial Policy, Trade Policy, Foreign Investment.
• Financial System:
  • Banking, Insurance, Stock Market, Financial Institutions.
• Agriculture:
  • Agricultural Production, Land Reforms, Irrigation, Rural Development.
• Industry:
  • Industrial Growth, Small Scale Industries, Public Sector Enterprises, Private Sector.
• Services:
  • Growth of Service Sector, Tourism, Information Technology.

5. Geography of India

• Physical Features:
  • Mountains, Plateaus, Plains, Rivers, Coastal Areas, Climate, Soils.
• Natural Resources:
  • Minerals, Forests, Water Resources, Energy Resources.
• Human Geography:
  • Population Distribution, Density, Growth, Migration, Urbanization.
• Economic Geography:
  • Agriculture, Industry, Trade, Transportation.
• Environmental Geography:
  • Climate Change, Pollution, Deforestation, Biodiversity Conservation.

6. Indian Society

• Social Structure:
  • Caste System, Tribe System, Gender Roles, Social Stratification.
• Social Issues:
  • Poverty, Inequality, Education, Healthcare, Child Labour, Gender Discrimination, Social Exclusion.
• Cultural Diversity:
  • Languages, Religions, Art, Literature, Music, Dance, Festivals.
• Social Movements:
  • Dalit Movement, Women’s Movement, Environmental Movement, Human Rights Movement.

7. General Science

• Physics:
  • Basic Concepts of Motion, Force, Energy, Heat, Light, Sound, Electricity, Magnetism.
• Chemistry:
  • Basic Concepts of Matter, Atoms, Molecules, Chemical Reactions, Acids, Bases, Salts.
• Biology:
  • Basic Concepts of Living Organisms, Cells, Tissues, Organs, Systems, Human Body, Plants, Animals.
• Environment:
  • Ecology, Biodiversity, Pollution, Climate Change, Environmental Issues.

8. Reasoning and Aptitude

• Logical Reasoning:
  • Analogies, Classification, Series, Coding-Decoding, Blood Relations, Directions, Puzzles.
• Quantitative Aptitude:
  • Number Systems, Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry, Data Interpretation.
• Verbal Ability:
  • Reading Comprehension, Vocabulary, Grammar, Sentence Correction, Para Jumbles.

Railway Specific Subjects

1. Railway Operations and Management

• Railway Organization:
  • Structure of Indian Railways, Zones, Divisions, Departments.
  • Railway Board, Railway Minister, General Manager, Divisional Railway Manager.
• Railway Operations:
  • Train Operations, Signaling, Track Maintenance, Rolling Stock, Safety and Security.
  • Passenger Services, Freight Services, Parcel Services.
• Railway Management:
  • Financial Management, Human Resource Management, Marketing and Sales, Customer Service.
• Railway Safety:
  • Safety Rules and Regulations, Accident Investigation, Safety Audits.
• Railway Technology:
  • Locomotives, Coaches, Wagons, Signaling Systems, Track Technology.

2. Railway Rules and Regulations

• Indian Railways Act, 1989:
  • Provisions related to Railway Operations, Safety, Security, Passengers, Goods, Employees.
• Railway Board Circulars and Orders:
  • Instructions and guidelines issued by the Railway Board on various aspects of railway operations.
• Railway Safety Rules:
  • Rules and regulations related to safety of passengers, employees, and railway property.
• Railway Passenger Services Rules:
  • Rules and regulations related to passenger services, ticketing, reservations, baggage, and complaints.
• Railway Freight Services Rules:
  • Rules and regulations related to freight services, loading, unloading, transportation, and billing.

3. Railway Ticketing and Reservation System

• Reservation System:
  • IRCTC website, Mobile App, Reservation Counters, Quota System, Cancellation Policy.
• Ticketing System:
  • Types of Tickets (General, Platform, Reserved, Unreserved, Concessionary), Fare Structure, Ticketing Machines.
• Passenger Services:
  • Passenger Amenities, Luggage Handling, Catering Services, Information Services.
• Complaints and Grievances:
  • Procedures for lodging complaints, redressal mechanisms.

4. Railway Safety and Security

• Safety Measures:
  • Track Safety, Signaling Safety, Rolling Stock Safety, Level Crossing Safety, Fire Safety.
• Security Measures:
  • Anti-Terrorism Measures, Crime Prevention, Passenger Security, Property Security.
• Emergency Procedures:
  • Accident Response, Evacuation Procedures, First Aid.
• Railway Protection Force (RPF):
  • Role of RPF in maintaining safety and security on railways.

5. Railway Infrastructure and Technology

• Track Infrastructure:
  • Types of Tracks, Track Laying, Track Maintenance, Track Gauges.
• Rolling Stock:
  • Locomotives, Coaches, Wagons, Maintenance and Repair.
• Signaling Systems:
  • Types of Signals, Signaling Systems, Automatic Train Control (ATC).
• Telecommunications:
  • Communication Systems, Train Radio, GSM-R.
• Electrification:
  • Electrification of Railways, Overhead Electrification, Third Rail Electrification.

Sample Tables

Table 1: Railway Zones and Divisions

Zone	Headquarters	Divisions
Central Railway	Mumbai	Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur, Bhusawal, Solapur
Eastern Railway	Kolkata	Kolkata, Howrah, Sealdah, Asansol, Malda
Northern Railway	New Delhi	Delhi, Ambala, Moradabad, Lucknow, Firozpur
Southern Railway	Chennai	Chennai, Salem, Madurai, Thiruvananthapuram, Palakkad
Western Railway	Mumbai	Mumbai, Vadodara, Ahmedabad, Rajkot, Surat

Table 2: Types of Railway Tickets

Ticket Type	Description
General Ticket	Unreserved ticket for travel in general compartments.
Platform Ticket	Ticket for access to railway platforms.
Reserved Ticket	Ticket for travel in reserved compartments, with assigned seats.
Unreserved Ticket	Ticket for travel in unreserved compartments, without assigned seats.
Concessionary Ticket	Ticket with reduced fare for specific categories of passengers (e.g., students, senior citizens).

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) and Short Answers for Railways TC Exam 2024 Mains Syllabus

General Studies

1. What are the key economic indicators to focus on for the exam?

• GDP growth rate, inflation rate, unemployment rate, fiscal deficit, current account deficit, foreign exchange reserves.

2. How can I prepare for the current events section effectively?

• Read newspapers daily, follow news websites, refer to monthly magazines, and make notes of important events.

3. What are the major social issues in India that I should be aware of?

• Poverty, inequality, education, healthcare, gender issues, child labor, caste-based discrimination, and social exclusion.

4. What are the important aspects of the Indian Constitution to study?

• Fundamental Rights, Directive Principles of State Policy, Fundamental Duties, Separation of Powers, Federalism, and Panchayati Raj.

5. What are the key features of the Indian economy?

• Mixed economy, high population, agriculture-based economy, growing services sector, and challenges of poverty and inequality.

6. What are the major environmental issues facing India?

• Climate change, pollution (air, water, soil), deforestation, biodiversity loss, and unsustainable resource utilization.

7. How can I improve my reasoning and aptitude skills for the exam?

• Practice mock tests, solve puzzles, learn logical reasoning techniques, and improve your mathematical skills.

Railway Specific Subjects

1. What are the different departments within the Indian Railways?

• Operations, Engineering, Mechanical, Electrical, Signal & Telecommunication, Commercial, Personnel, Finance, and Medical.

2. What are the key aspects of railway operations?

• Train scheduling, signaling, track maintenance, rolling stock management, safety and security, and passenger and freight services.

3. What are the important railway rules and regulations to study?

• Indian Railways Act, 1989, Railway Board circulars and orders, Railway Safety Rules, Railway Passenger Services Rules, and Railway Freight Services Rules.

4. How does the railway ticketing and reservation system work?

• Through IRCTC website, mobile app, reservation counters, quota system, and cancellation policy.

5. What are the major safety and security measures implemented by Indian Railways?

• Track safety, signaling safety, rolling stock safety, level crossing safety, fire safety, anti-terrorism measures, crime prevention, passenger security, and property security.

6. What are the different types of railway infrastructure and technology?

• Track infrastructure (types of tracks, track laying, track maintenance, track gauges), rolling stock (locomotives, coaches, wagons), signaling systems (types of signals, signaling systems, ATC), telecommunications (communication systems, train radio, GSM-R), and electrification (electrification of railways, overhead electrification, third rail electrification).

7. What are the roles and responsibilities of the Railway Protection Force (RPF)?

• Maintaining safety and security on railways, preventing crime, protecting railway property, and assisting passengers in emergencies.

8. How can I prepare for the interview stage of the exam?

• Practice answering common interview questions, research the Indian Railways, and be prepared to discuss your knowledge of railway operations and management.

9. What are some tips for success in the Railways TC exam?

• Start your preparation early, focus on understanding the syllabus, practice mock tests, stay updated on current events, and develop a strong understanding of railway operations and management.