The Railway Recruitment Board will conduct the RRB Pharmacist 2026 examination between 10 March 2026 and 12 March 2026. With limited time left for preparation, candidates are advised to follow a focused 60-day study plan aligned with the exam pattern and subject-wise weightage. The recruitment examination is highly competitive and demands strategic preparation, especially in the Professional Ability section, which carries the highest marks.
RRB Pharmacist 2026 Exam Pattern and Marking Scheme
Understanding the exam structure is the first step towards effective preparation. The paper is designed to test both technical pharmacy knowledge and general aptitude.
The key details of the examination are outlined below:
- Total Questions: 100
- Total Marks: 100
- Exam Duration: 90 minutes
- Negative Marking: 1/3 mark deducted for each incorrect answer
- Mode of Exam: Computer-Based Test
The section-wise distribution of questions clearly highlights the importance of pharmacy subjects.
- Professional Ability (Pharmacy): 70 questions
- General Awareness: 10 questions
- General Intelligence & Reasoning: 10 questions
- General Science: 10 questions
Subject-Wise Weightage Based on Previous Year Papers
Analysis of earlier RRB Pharmacist exams shows that not all pharmacy subjects carry equal importance. Candidates should prioritise high-weightage areas to maximise scores. Within the Professional Ability section, the most important subjects include:
- Pharmacology – approximately 20 questions, making it the highest priority
- Pharmaceutics – around 10 questions
- Other subjects such as Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Pharmacognosy, Hospital Pharmacy, Biochemistry, Microbiology and Pharmaceutical Jurisprudence contribute the remaining questions
Topics like drug classification, mechanism of action, dosage forms, pharmaceutical calculations and legal provisions are repeatedly tested.
60-Day RRB Pharmacist Study Plan: Core Approach
The 60-day preparation schedule is divided into two clear phases to balance concept learning and revision. For the first 45 days, candidates should:
- Study 2–3 subjects per day
- Allocate at least 3 hours per subject
- Focus on concept clarity before attempting questions
- Solve Previous Year Questions (PYQs) after every topic to understand exam depth
Practising PYQs daily is essential, as it helps candidates identify frequently asked topics and avoid unnecessary over-preparation.
Final 15-Day Revision and Practice Strategy
The last phase of preparation should focus on speed, accuracy and retention.
During the final 15 days, candidates are advised to:
- Increase coverage to 4 subjects per day
- Reduce concept study time to 2 hours per subject
- Spend more time solving MCQs and mock tests
- Revise Pharmacology classifications and Pharmaceutics formulas regularly
General Science overlaps significantly with pharmacy subjects, allowing candidates to save time and strengthen multiple sections simultaneously.
Key Preparation Tip for RRB Pharmacist 2026
Candidates should avoid equal time distribution across all sections. Since 70 percent of the paper is pharmacy-based, maximum effort must be directed towards Professional Ability while maintaining basic accuracy in non-pharma sections. A disciplined 60-day plan combined with consistent PYQ practice can substantially improve performance in the RRB Pharmacist 2026 examination.