Overview
RRB NTPC recruits candidates for Non-Technical Popular Category posts across Indian Railways' zonal railways and production units, spanning both Undergraduate-level roles (Commercial cum Ticket Clerk, Accounts Clerk cum Typist, Junior Clerk cum Typist, Trains Clerk) and Graduate-level roles (Junior Clerk cum Typist, Accounts Clerk cum Typist, Station Master, and others). The current cycle (CEN 06/2025 and 07/2025) advertised 8,868 vacancies. Selection runs through two computer-based tests — CBT 1 is a normalised screening stage, and CBT 2 (also normalised) forms the actual basis of the merit list — followed by a Computer-Based Aptitude Test or Typing Skill Test for specific posts, and finally document verification and a medical examination.
What's New in the 2026 Cycle
What changed in the 2026 cycle
- 8,868 total vacancies for the current cycle — 5,810 Graduate-level and 3,058 Undergraduate-level, announced under separate CENs.
- Graduate-post age limit was revised upward from 18–33 to 18–36 years in the current cycle.
- CBT 1 marks are normalised and used only for shortlisting (20x vacancies) to CBT 2 — they are not counted in the final merit list.
- CBAT applies for Station Master/Traffic Assistant-type posts; Typing Skill Test applies for typist-cadre posts — both are separate from CBT 2 and post-specific.
- Category-wise minimum qualifying percentage in CBT 1 varies: UR 40%, EWS 40%, OBC (non-creamy layer) 30%, SC 30%, ST 25%.
Eligibility Criteria
| Criterion | Details |
|---|---|
| Age Limit | Undergraduate posts: 18–33 years; Graduate posts: 18–36 years (revised upward from 33; relaxation per government norms) |
| Educational Qualification | Undergraduate posts: Class 12 pass; Graduate posts: Bachelor's degree from a recognised university |
| Nationality | Indian citizen (or as specified for Nepalese/Bhutanese/Tibetan-refugee/other-origin candidates per Railway norms) |
| Application Fee | ₹500 (General/OBC/EWS) — ₹400 refunded on appearing in CBT 1. SC/ST/PwBD/women/ex-servicemen candidates pay ₹250, fully refunded on appearing. |
RRB NTPC Exam Pattern
The RRB NTPC selection process runs through cbt 1 + cbt 2 + cbat/typing test + dv + medical. Each stage has its own timing, marking scheme and qualifying rules, detailed below.
1st Stage CBT (CBT 1) — Screening
| Section | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| General Awareness | 40 | 40 |
| Mathematics | 30 | 30 |
| General Intelligence & Reasoning | 30 | 30 |
2nd Stage CBT (CBT 2) — Merit-Deciding
| Section | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| General Awareness | 50 | 50 |
| Mathematics | 35 | 35 |
| General Intelligence & Reasoning | 35 | 35 |
CBAT / Typing Skill Test (post-specific)
| Section | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Aptitude Test / Typing Test (English or Hindi) | — | Qualifying |
RRB NTPC Detailed Subject-Wise Syllabus
Below is the complete topic-wise RRB NTPC syllabus for every subject tested across all stages, with a short note on what each section actually rewards — use this to build a section-wise study plan rather than relying on generic topic summaries.
General Awareness
The single largest-weightage section in both CBTs — consistent daily current-affairs habits beat concentrated cramming given its huge, ever-changing scope.
- Current affairs — national & international
- Indian geography — physical, social, economic
- Indian polity, Constitution & public policy, Panchayati Raj
- Indian history & freedom struggle
- Indian economy, government schemes
- General science — physics, chemistry, biology basics
- Sports, art & culture, important days & personalities
Mathematics
Set at a Class 10–12 level — speed and accuracy on fundamentals matter more than advanced topics.
- Number system & simplification
- Percentage, ratio & proportion, averages
- Profit, loss & discount, simple & compound interest
- Time, speed & distance, time & work
- Mensuration, algebra, geometry & trigonometry basics
- Data interpretation & sufficiency
General Intelligence & Reasoning
Pattern-based and highly practisable — regular timed drills yield fast, reliable improvement.
- Analogies, coding-decoding
- Series completion, classification
- Puzzle & seating arrangement
- Statement-conclusion, syllogism
- Direction sense, blood relations
- Mathematical operations, similarities & differences
CBAT (Station Master / Traffic Assistant posts)
Can't be crammed like academic content — practise genuine psychometric-style tests to build familiarity.
- Psychometric-style aptitude test
- Decision-making & situational judgement
- Concentration & reaction-time based tasks
Typing Skill Test (typist-cadre posts)
Practise without auto-correct or spell-check tools specifically, since the real test disables them.
- Typing speed and accuracy on a computer, without auto-correct/spell-check tools, in the candidate's chosen language (English/Hindi)
Selection Process
- 1st Stage CBT (CBT 1) — normalised screening stage.
- 2nd Stage CBT (CBT 2) — normalised, forms the basis of the merit list.
- CBAT or Typing Skill Test, as applicable to the specific post applied for.
- Document Verification.
- Medical Examination.
Salary & Job Profile
RRB NTPC pay levels vary by post — from Pay Level 2 (₹19,900 basic) for Undergraduate-level posts like Commercial cum Ticket Clerk, up to Pay Level 6 (₹35,400 basic) for Station Master, plus Dearness Allowance, HRA, Transport Allowance and railway-specific perks like travel passes.
Best Books for RRB NTPC Preparation
- Lucent's General Knowledge
- Fast Track Objective Arithmetic — Rajesh Verma (Arihant)
- A Modern Approach to Verbal & Non-Verbal Reasoning — R.S. Aggarwal
- RRB NTPC Previous Year Papers — various publishers
Previous Cut-off Trends
Approximate — always verify officially
RRB NTPC CBT 1 minimum qualifying percentages are fixed by category (UR 40%, EWS 40%, OBC 30%, SC 30%, ST 25%), but the actual normalised cut-off score to reach the 20x shortlist varies by zone, post and year given the very high applicant volume. CBT 2 cut-offs for final merit vary even more sharply by post preference — always check the zone-wise and post-wise official cut-off release.
Preparation Tips
- Since CBT 1 is only a screening stage, don't over-invest revision time there once comfortably past the expected normalised cut-off — shift focus to CBT 2's higher question count early.
- General Awareness carries the single largest section weight in both CBTs — build a consistent daily current-affairs habit rather than last-minute cramming.
- Practise previous years' papers under strict timing, since negative marking makes accuracy more valuable than attempting every question.
- If targeting Station Master or typist-cadre posts, start CBAT/typing practice early rather than waiting for the CBT 2 result.
Exam Day Guidelines
- Carry the Document Checker and a valid original photo ID matching your application details exactly.
- Arrive well before the reporting time printed on your city intimation slip/admit card — RRB centres process very high candidate volumes per shift.
- No electronic devices, calculators or written material are permitted inside the exam hall.
- For the Typing Skill Test, practise specifically without auto-correct or spell-check tools, since the actual test disables them.
Frequently Asked Questions
8,868 vacancies were announced — 5,810 for Graduate-level posts and 3,058 for Undergraduate-level posts, under CEN 06/2025 and CEN 07/2025 respectively.
No, CBT 1 is a normalised screening stage only, used to shortlist 20 times the vacancies for CBT 2 — the final merit list is based on CBT 2 (plus CBAT/TST where applicable).
18 to 36 years, revised upward from the earlier 18–33 range in the current cycle, with standard relaxation for reserved categories.
Yes, 1/3rd of the marks allotted to a question is deducted for every wrong answer, in both CBT 1 and CBT 2.
Typist-cadre posts such as Junior Clerk cum Typist and Accounts Clerk cum Typist require a computer-based Typing Skill Test in the candidate's chosen language (English or Hindi).
Related Exams
Back to Syllabus Hub — browse all government exam syllabus pagesSyllabus content on this page is compiled and reviewed against the official Railway Recruitment Board notification as of 16 Jul 2026. Exam patterns, vacancies, salary figures and cut-offs are subject to change — always cross-check with the official notification at rrbapply.gov.in before applying.