RRB NTPC 2026 — Notification, Eligibility, Exam Pattern, Syllabus & Salary
Complete guide to RRB NTPC 2026 (Graduate & Undergraduate) — Graduate CBT-2 for 5,810 posts on 10 July 2026. Overview, dates, eligibility, selection process, exam pattern, detailed syllabus, salary, promotion & FAQs. Official: rrbcdg.gov.in.
📌 Overview
RRB NTPC (Non-Technical Popular Categories) Recruitment 2026 is conducted by the Railway Recruitment Boards (RRBs) to fill a large number of non-technical posts in Indian Railways. This is one of the biggest and most prestigious central government recruitments, attracting over a crore applicants across the country because of the excellent salary, job security and pan-India postings.
NTPC posts are divided into two levels — Graduate Level (e.g. Station Master, Goods Train Manager, Senior Clerk-cum-Typist, Junior Account Assistant, Commercial-cum-Ticket Clerk) and Undergraduate Level (e.g. Junior Clerk-cum-Typist, Accounts Clerk, Trains Clerk). The Graduate Level CBT-II for the current cycle covering 5,810 posts is scheduled for 10 July 2026, and exam city / admit card details are released on the official RRB regional websites.
Selection is done through a series of Computer Based Tests (CBT-1 and CBT-2), followed by a Typing Skill Test / Computer-Based Aptitude Test (as applicable), document verification and medical examination. The exam tests General Awareness, Mathematics and General Intelligence & Reasoning.
This page provides a complete, exam-ready guide to RRB NTPC 2026 covering overview, important dates, eligibility, selection process, exam pattern, detailed syllabus, pay scale and career growth. All official actions such as checking exam city, downloading the notification and admit card are done through the official RRB portals linked below.
🔗 Important Official Links
Note: Always use your RRB regional official website (e.g. rrbcdg.gov.in) to check exam city, admit card and results.
🗓️ Important Dates
| Event | Date (2026) |
|---|---|
| Notification Released | As per RRB CEN |
| Graduate CBT-1 | 16–27 March 2026 (conducted) |
| Undergraduate CBT-1 | 07 May – 21 June 2026 |
| Graduate CBT-2 Exam City Details | Released |
| Graduate CBT-2 Admit Card | ~4 days before exam |
| Graduate Level CBT-2 | 10 July 2026 |
| Skill Test / DV / Medical | After CBT-2 result |
RRB releases stage-wise schedules on the official regional RRB websites. Candidates must check the exam city intimation and download the admit card for each CBT stage. Dates are subject to change by the RRB.
🎓 Eligibility Criteria
Eligibility depends on the level (Graduate / Undergraduate) of the post applied for:
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Nationality | Indian citizen (and others as specified by RRB) |
| Graduate Level Qualification | Bachelor's degree in any discipline from a recognized university |
| Undergraduate Level Qualification | 12th (10+2) pass or equivalent |
| Typing Skill | Required for typist/clerk posts (English/Hindi typing on computer) |
| Minimum Age | 18 years |
| Maximum Age | 33 years for Graduate posts (approx., as per CEN) |
| Age Relaxation | SC/ST: 5 yrs, OBC: 3 yrs, PwD & others as per rules |
Age is calculated as on the cut-off date mentioned in the notification. Reserved categories get age relaxation as per government norms. Read the official CEN carefully for post-wise eligibility.
✅ Selection Process
RRB NTPC follows a multi-stage selection process:
- CBT-1 (First Stage) — common screening test, qualifying in nature; shortlists candidates for CBT-2
- CBT-2 (Second Stage) — post-level test; marks decide the final merit
- Typing Skill Test / CBAT — Typing test for clerk/typist posts; Computer-Based Aptitude Test for Station Master / Traffic Assistant
- Document Verification (DV) — verification of certificates and eligibility
- Medical Examination — as per the medical standards of the post
CBT-1 is only qualifying; the CBT-2 score is the main merit decider (along with skill/aptitude tests where applicable). This is why cracking CBT-2 with a high score is crucial.
📝 Exam Pattern
The CBT-1 is a 100-mark qualifying test:
| Section (CBT-1) | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| General Awareness | 40 | 40 |
| Mathematics | 30 | 30 |
| General Intelligence & Reasoning | 30 | 30 |
| Total | 100 | 100 (90 min) |
The CBT-2 is a 120-mark merit-deciding test:
| Section (CBT-2) | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| General Awareness | 50 | 50 |
| Mathematics | 35 | 35 |
| General Intelligence & Reasoning | 35 | 35 |
| Total | 120 | 120 (90 min) |
There is a negative marking of 1/3 mark for every wrong answer in both CBT-1 and CBT-2. Minimum qualifying percentages are UR/EWS 40%, OBC/SC 30%, ST 25%. PwD candidates get 60 minutes extra time.
📚 Detailed Syllabus
The RRB NTPC syllabus is common for CBT-1 and CBT-2 (CBT-2 is more advanced). The three sections cover:
| Section | Key Topics |
|---|---|
| General Awareness | Current Affairs, Indian History, Geography, Polity, Economy, General Science, Static GK, Sports, Awards, Books & Authors, Railway/Indian government developments |
| Mathematics | Number System, Decimals & Fractions, LCM/HCF, Ratio & Proportion, Percentage, Mensuration, Time & Work, Time & Distance, SI & CI, Profit & Loss, Algebra, Geometry, Trigonometry, Statistics |
| General Intelligence & Reasoning | Analogies, Coding-Decoding, Series, Syllogism, Venn Diagrams, Blood Relations, Direction Sense, Puzzles, Data Sufficiency, Statement-Conclusion, Decision Making |
General Awareness carries the highest weightage and often decides the merit — regular current affairs and static GK revision is essential. Strong speed maths and reasoning practice help maximize accuracy within the 90-minute limit.
💰 Pay Scale & Salary
RRB NTPC posts are placed in different 7th CPC pay levels depending on the post:
| Post | Pay Level | Initial Basic Pay |
|---|---|---|
| Junior Clerk-cum-Typist | Level 2 | ₹19,900 |
| Accounts Clerk-cum-Typist | Level 2 | ₹19,900 |
| Trains Clerk | Level 2 | ₹19,900 |
| Commercial-cum-Ticket Clerk | Level 3 | ₹21,700 |
| Junior Account Assistant-cum-Typist | Level 5 | ₹29,200 |
| Senior Clerk-cum-Typist | Level 5 | ₹29,200 |
| Station Master | Level 6 | ₹35,400 |
| Goods Train Manager (Guard) | Level 5 | ₹29,200 |
Along with the basic pay, employees receive DA, HRA, Transport Allowance and Railway-specific allowances plus free/concessional travel passes — making RRB NTPC jobs highly attractive with strong perks.
📈 Promotion & Career Growth
Indian Railways offers a structured, time-bound promotion system through departmental exams (GDCE / LDCE) and seniority. Employees also benefit from the MACP (Modified Assured Career Progression) scheme.
For example, a Station Master can rise to Section Controller, Chief Controller and higher operating posts, while clerical cadres progress from Junior Clerk → Senior Clerk → Head Clerk → Office Superintendent. Dedicated employees can climb into Group B gazetted officer roles, making Railways a rewarding long-term career.