Loading...
Loading...
The Railway Recruitment Board Non-Technical Popular Categories examination, known as RRB NTPC, is one of the largest government recruitment drives in India. Conducted by the Railway Recruitment Boards across the country, RRB NTPC selects candidates for a wide range of clerical, supervisory, and commercial posts in Indian Railways, including Zonal Railways and Production Units. In the 2026 cycle, a total of 8,868 vacancies have been announced: 5,810 for Graduate-level posts under CEN 06/2025 and 3,058 for Undergraduate-level posts under CEN 07/2025.
The CBT 1 (Computer-Based Test Stage 1) is the first and most competitive stage of the RRB NTPC selection process. It determines which candidates advance to CBT 2. CBT 1 scores are used purely for shortlisting and do not carry forward to the final merit calculation. The Graduate-level CBT 1 was conducted from March 16 to 27, 2026, and the Undergraduate-level CBT 1 is scheduled from May 7 to June 21, 2026, as per official RRB notifications. With 63,27,474 candidates registered for the UG level alone, RRB NTPC CBT 1 is among the most competitive first-stage examinations in India.
This page is the complete guide to RRB NTPC CBT 1 2026, covering all official dates, exam pattern, complete syllabus, eligibility criteria, post-wise vacancies, cutoff trends, preparation strategy, and links to all subpages for deeper coverage.
| Topic Page | |
| Detailed Syllabus (CBT 1 and CBT 2) | RRB NTPC Syllabus |
| Eligibility: Age, Qualification, Nationality | RRB NTPC Eligibility Criteria |
| Official Notification and Vacancy Details | RRB NTPC Notification |
| Application Process and Fee | RRB NTPC Application Process |
| Cutoff: Category-wise and Zone-wise | RRB NTPC Cutoff |
| Exam Analysis: Difficulty and Good Attempts | RRB NTPC CBT 1 Exam Analysis |
| Previous Year Question Papers | RRB NTPC PYQ |
| Exam Day Rules and Documents | RRB NTPC Exam Day Guidance |
| Result, Answer Key and Scorecard | RRB NTPC Result |
| Frequently Asked Questions | RRB NTPC FAQ |
| Full Test Series (400 Tests) | RRB NTPC Tier 1 Test Series |
| Syllabus Tracker | RRB NTPC Syllabus Tracker |
NTPC stands for Non-Technical Popular Categories. It refers to the group of posts in Indian Railways that do not require technical or engineering qualifications. These are permanent government posts on the Indian Railways payroll with structured career progression, job security, and the full range of central government benefits including DA, HRA, medical facilities, pension under NPS, and leave travel concession.
The posts under RRB NTPC span two educational levels. Graduate-level posts require a degree and carry higher pay scales (Pay Level 5 to Level 8). Undergraduate-level posts require a Class 12 pass certificate and carry Pay Level 2 to Level 5. Both levels go through the same two-stage CBT process before the final selection stages.
The sheer scale of RRB NTPC makes CBT 1 preparation extremely competitive. In the 2026 UG cycle alone, 63.27 lakh candidates registered. With only 3,058 UG-level vacancies, fewer than 1 in 200 registered candidates will ultimately be selected. At the CBT 1 stage, approximately 20 times the number of vacancies are shortlisted for CBT 2, which means roughly 1 in 10 appearing candidates advance past CBT 1.
Both Graduate and Undergraduate CBT 1 exam dates have been officially announced.
| Event Date | |
| Notification Released | October 20, 2025 |
| Application Opened | October 21, 2025 |
| Application Closed (Extended) | November 27, 2025 |
| CBT 1 Exam Dates | March 16 to 27, 2026 |
| Provisional Answer Key Released | April 6, 2026 |
| Answer Key Objection Window | April 6 to 12, 2026 |
| CBT 1 Result | Expected May 2026 |
| Event Date | |
| Notification Released | October 27, 2025 |
| Application Opened | October 28, 2025 |
| Application Closed (Extended) | December 4, 2025 |
| CBT 1 Exam Dates | May 7, 8, 9 and June 13, 14, 16 to 21, 2026 |
| City Intimation Slip Released | April 27, 2026 |
| Admit Card Available | 4 days before each candidate's exam date |
| Aadhaar Verification | Mandatory at exam centre |
The UG CBT 1 is being conducted across 200 exam centres in three daily shifts: 9:00 AM to 10:30 AM, 12:45 PM to 2:15 PM, and 4:30 PM to 6:00 PM.
A total of 8,868 vacancies have been announced across Graduate and Undergraduate levels for the 2026 cycle, distributed across all Railway Recruitment Board zones.
| Post Pay Level Initial Pay (7th CPC) | ||
| Chief Commercial cum Ticket Supervisor | Level 6 | Rs 35,400 |
| Station Master | Level 6 | Rs 35,400 |
| Goods Train Manager | Level 5 | Rs 29,200 |
| Senior Clerk cum Typist | Level 5 | Rs 29,200 |
| Junior Account Assistant cum Typist | Level 5 | Rs 29,200 |
| Senior Time Keeper | Level 5 | Rs 29,200 |
| Commercial Apprentice | Level 4 | Rs 25,500 |
| Traffic Assistant | Level 4 | Rs 25,500 |
| Post Pay Level Initial Pay (7th CPC) | ||
| Junior Clerk cum Typist | Level 2 | Rs 19,900 |
| Accounts Clerk cum Typist | Level 2 | Rs 19,900 |
| Trains Clerk | Level 2 | Rs 19,900 |
| Commercial cum Ticket Clerk | Level 3 | Rs 21,700 |
The CBT 1 pattern is the same for both Graduate and Undergraduate levels, though the difficulty varies between the two.
| Section Questions Marks Duration | |||
| General Awareness | 40 | 40 | -- |
| Mathematics | 30 | 30 | -- |
| General Intelligence and Reasoning | 30 | 30 | -- |
| Total | 100 | 100 | 90 minutes |
No sectional time limit: Unlike IBPS PO Prelims, candidates can freely move between sections. The 90-minute duration applies to the entire paper. This allows flexible time management across sections.
Negative marking: One-third of a mark (0.33 marks) is deducted for each wrong answer. The negative marking in RRB NTPC is heavier per attempt than SSC CGL (0.50 on 2 marks per question, equalling 0.25 per mark) or IBPS PO (0.25 per mark). On a 1-mark question, the risk-reward ratio for guessing in RRB NTPC is worse than most other exams.
Normalisation applied: Since CBT 1 is conducted in multiple shifts across many days, RRB applies normalisation to account for difficulty variation between shifts. All cutoffs are based on normalised scores.
CBT 1 marks not in final merit: CBT 1 marks are used only for shortlisting candidates for CBT 2. The final merit list is based entirely on CBT 2 performance (and skill test/CBAT results for applicable posts).
Shortlisting ratio: Typically 20 times the number of vacancies are shortlisted from CBT 1 to CBT 2 for each post category. For a post with 100 vacancies, 2,000 candidates advance from CBT 1.
The CBT 1 syllabus covers three subjects. The official syllabus is released in the notification. The following breakdown is based on the official CEN 06/2025 and CEN 07/2025 notifications.
General Awareness carries the highest weightage (40 marks) and is the most unpredictable section. It draws from a wide range of topics.
| Topic Area Coverage | |
| Current Affairs | National and international events from the preceding 6 to 12 months |
| Indian History | Ancient, Medieval, and Modern history; Freedom struggle |
| Indian Geography | Physical geography, rivers, mountains, states, climate |
| Indian Polity | Constitution, Fundamental Rights, Parliament, Judiciary |
| Indian Economy | GDP, budget, banking, schemes, five-year plans |
| Science and Technology | Space missions, defence technology, scientific discoveries |
| Physics | Basic laws, light, sound, electricity |
| Chemistry | Elements, compounds, reactions, acids and bases |
| Biology | Human body, diseases, ecology, plant biology |
| Sports | Recent national and international sports events, trophies |
| Culture and Art | Indian art forms, UNESCO heritage sites |
| Awards and Honours | Bharat Ratna, Padma awards, Nobel Prize, recent recipients |
| Static GK | Important days, capitals, currencies, abbreviations |
Mathematics in RRB NTPC CBT 1 is at the Class 10 standard with direct questions on arithmetic and basic algebra.
| Topic Sub-topics | |
| Number System | Natural numbers, integers, fractions, HCF, LCM, divisibility |
| Decimals and Fractions | Operations, simplification |
| BODMAS | Order of operations |
| Percentage | Basic percentage, percentage change |
| Profit, Loss and Discount | Simple problems, selling price, marked price |
| Simple and Compound Interest | Annual and half-yearly CI, time-based problems |
| Ratio and Proportion | Simple and compound ratio |
| Time and Work | Efficiency-based problems, pipes and cisterns |
| Time, Speed and Distance | Trains, boats and streams, relative speed |
| Algebra | Basic linear equations, quadratic equations |
| Geometry and Mensuration | Triangles, circles, rectangles, area, perimeter, volume |
| Trigonometry | Trigonometric ratios, simple height and distance |
| Statistics | Mean, median, mode, basic data interpretation |
| Elementary Statistics | Tables, bar graphs, pie charts (basic DI) |
Reasoning in RRB NTPC CBT 1 follows a standard pattern of verbal and non-verbal questions.
| Topic Types | |
| Analogies | Word-based, number-based, letter-based |
| Alphabetical and Number Series | Next term, missing term, wrong term |
| Coding and Decoding | Letter shifting, symbol-based, number coding |
| Mathematical Operations | Symbols representing operations |
| Relationships | Blood relations, family tree |
| Syllogism | Two-statement syllogisms |
| Jumbling | Word or sentence rearrangement |
| Venn Diagrams | Set-based relationship questions |
| Data Sufficiency | Two-statement sufficiency problems |
| Conclusions and Decision Making | Statement-conclusion problems |
| Similarities and Differences | Pattern recognition |
| Analytical Reasoning | Logical deduction problems |
| Classification | Odd one out |
| Directions | Direction sense and distance |
| Statement-Arguments and Assumptions | Logical reasoning |
| Non-verbal Reasoning | Figures, mirror images, paper folding, embedded figures |
For the complete topic-wise syllabus with priority rankings and CBT 2 syllabus comparison, visit the RRB NTPC Syllabus page. Track your topic-by-topic coverage using the RRB NTPC Syllabus Tracker.
Candidates must be Indian citizens. Subjects of Nepal, Bhutan, Tibetan refugees who settled in India before January 1, 1962, and persons of Indian origin who migrated from specified countries are eligible under prescribed conditions.
| Level Minimum Qualification | |
| Graduate Posts | Bachelor's degree in any discipline from a recognised university |
| Undergraduate Posts | Class 12 pass (or equivalent) from a recognised board |
Certain posts have additional requirements. The Station Master post requires additional qualifications related to computer proficiency. The Junior Account Assistant cum Typist and Accounts Clerk cum Typist posts require a degree in Commerce or completion of Accounts subject in Class 12.
| Level Minimum Age Maximum Age (UR) | ||
| Graduate Posts | 18 years | 33 years |
| Undergraduate Posts | 18 years | 33 years |
Age relaxation: SC/ST candidates get 5 years, OBC-NCL candidates get 3 years, PwBD candidates get 10 years from the UR limit (more for SC/ST and OBC PwBD), Ex-Servicemen get deduction of military service plus 3 years extra, and widows/divorced women (UR) get relaxation up to 35 years.
For the complete post-wise eligibility conditions including specific educational requirements and medical standards, visit the RRB NTPC Eligibility Criteria page.
The RRB NTPC selection process involves multiple stages, each qualifying for the next. Understanding the full process prevents candidates from over-focusing on CBT 1 at the expense of later stages.
| Stage Description Nature Marks Carry Forward? | |||
| CBT 1 | First Computer-Based Test (100 marks, 90 minutes) | Qualifying/Shortlisting | No |
| CBT 2 | Second Computer-Based Test (120 marks, 90 minutes) | Merit-determining | Yes |
| CBAT | Computer-Based Aptitude Test (Station Master only) | Qualifying | No |
| TST | Typing Skill Test (Typist posts) | Qualifying | No |
| DV | Document Verification | Mandatory | No |
| Medical | Medical Examination by Railway Medical Authority | Qualifying | No |
The final merit list is based entirely on CBT 2 normalised marks (with CBAT/TST qualifying status for applicable posts). CBT 1 is a screening round only.
| Feature CBT 1 CBT 2 | ||
| Questions | 100 | 120 |
| Marks | 100 | 120 |
| Duration | 90 minutes | 90 minutes |
| General Awareness Questions | 40 | 50 |
| Mathematics Questions | 30 | 35 |
| Reasoning Questions | 30 | 35 |
| Difficulty | Moderate | Moderate to High |
| Purpose | Shortlisting for CBT 2 | Final merit determination |
| Marks Count in Merit? | No | Yes |
CBT 2 difficulty is higher than CBT 1 across all three sections. The Mathematics section in CBT 2 includes more complex problems on algebra, geometry, and data interpretation. The General Awareness section in CBT 2 includes more current affairs and advanced static GK. Building CBT 1 fundamentals properly is the best preparation for CBT 2.
The application fee for RRB NTPC 2026 follows a refund-based structure.
| Category Fee Paid Refund on Appearing for CBT 1 | ||
| General / OBC | Rs 500 | Rs 400 (after bank charges) |
| SC / ST / PwBD / Women / Ex-Servicemen / Minorities / EBC | Rs 250 | Rs 250 (full refund) |
The refund is processed after the candidate actually appears for CBT 1. Candidates who register but do not appear do not receive the refund.
RRB NTPC vacancies are distributed across all 21 Railway Recruitment Board zones. Candidates apply to a specific RRB zone based on their preferred region. The major zones and their approximate share of the 8,868 total vacancies are:
| RRB Zone Headquarters Approx. Vacancies (Combined) | ||
| RRB Allahabad | Prayagraj | High |
| RRB Bhopal | Bhopal | Moderate |
| RRB Mumbai | Mumbai | Moderate |
| RRB Chennai | Chennai | Moderate |
| RRB Patna | Patna | High |
| RRB Kolkata | Kolkata | Moderate |
| RRB Ahmedabad | Ahmedabad | Moderate |
| RRB Secunderabad | Hyderabad | Moderate |
| RRB Chandigarh | Chandigarh | Moderate |
| RRB Bengaluru | Bengaluru | Moderate |
Zone-specific vacancy tables are available in the official notification PDFs. Candidates must apply to the RRB zone corresponding to their preferred posting region.
Since CBT 1 is qualifying, its cutoff determines who advances to CBT 2. Cutoffs vary by zone, category, and post.
| Category Approximate CBT 1 Cutoff Range (Out of 100) | |
| Unreserved (UR) | 60 to 75 (varies by zone and post) |
| OBC | 55 to 70 |
| SC | 48 to 62 |
| ST | 40 to 55 |
Note: RRB NTPC cutoffs are zone-specific and post-specific. Candidates in high-vacancy zones with fewer candidates tend to see lower cutoffs. Candidates in high-competition zones with fewer vacancies face higher cutoffs. For complete zone-wise and post-wise cutoff data across cycles, visit the RRB NTPC Cutoff page.
General Awareness carries 40 marks, the highest weight in CBT 1. It is also the section where the range of possible marks is highest: a well-prepared candidate can score 32 to 38 while an underprepared candidate scores 12 to 18 in the same section. No other single section offers this much differentiation.
Build static GK (History, Geography, Polity, Economy, Science) through standard reference material. Layer current affairs on top with daily updates covering the six to twelve months preceding the exam. Use the RRB NTPC Syllabus Tracker to map every GA sub-topic and track coverage systematically.
RRB NTPC Mathematics is at Class 10 standard, which means it is approachable for most candidates. The challenge is speed and accuracy, not conceptual complexity. Topics like Percentage, Profit and Loss, Simple and Compound Interest, Time and Work, and Speed-Distance-Time account for approximately 18 to 22 of the 30 Mathematics questions in most shifts.
Build fast mental calculation methods. Memorise key formulas and practise them daily. Use topic-wise tests from the RRB NTPC Tier 1 Test Series to test each arithmetic topic after studying it.
Reasoning in RRB NTPC CBT 1 is typically easy to moderate. Series (Alphabetical and Number), Analogy, Coding-Decoding, and Classification are the highest-frequency topics. Non-verbal reasoning (Mirror Images, Paper Folding, Embedded Figures) consistently contributes 4 to 6 questions. Practising all question formats, including less frequent ones like Data Sufficiency and Statement-Arguments, ensures no marks are left on the table.
The 0.33 negative marking in RRB NTPC is stricter than most exams. Every wrong answer costs one-third of a mark on a one-mark question. Candidates who attempt uncertain questions without this calibration in mind tend to underperform relative to their preparation level. Use full mock tests from the RRB NTPC Tier 1 Test Series that enforce the exact 0.33 negative marking so the discipline builds before the actual exam.
Previous year question papers reveal the exact question formats RRB uses and the topics that repeat across cycles. GA questions from previous years have a demonstrably high repetition rate in RRB NTPC. Solving 5 to 8 years of papers from the most recent cycles builds a large question bank of real exam material. Visit the RRB NTPC PYQ page for year-wise papers with answer keys.
Based on zone-wise and post-wise cutoff trends from the 2021-2024 cycles, the following score targets provide a safe buffer above the historical cutoff range for competitive zones.
| Category Typical Cutoff Range Safe Score Target Competitive Score | |||
| UR | 62 to 75 | 78 to 83 | 85 or above |
| OBC | 57 to 70 | 73 to 78 | 80 or above |
| SC | 48 to 62 | 65 to 70 | 73 or above |
| ST | 40 to 55 | 58 to 63 | 66 or above |
These targets are for competitive zones. Candidates in lower-competition zones may clear CBT 1 with somewhat lower scores. However, targeting the safe score ensures clearance regardless of zone-specific variation.
Understanding the job profile and career growth motivates preparation and is essential for interview preparation in later stages.
| Post Job Profile Career Growth | ||
| Station Master | Manages station operations, train movements, passenger safety | Promoted to Assistant Station Superintendent, then higher grades |
| Goods Train Manager | Manages goods train operations from guard's cabin | Promotion to Senior GTM, then higher grades |
| Commercial cum Ticket Supervisor | Handles ticketing, reservation, passenger queries | Promoted to Chief Ticket Inspector |
| Junior Clerk cum Typist | Office administration, documentation | Promoted to Senior Clerk, then Head Clerk |
| Accounts Clerk cum Typist | Financial records, accounts maintenance | Promoted through accounts department hierarchy |
All RRB NTPC posts are permanent central government positions with benefits under the 7th Pay Commission including Dearness Allowance, House Rent Allowance, Medical Allowance, Leave Travel Concession, and pension under the National Pension System.
What is the RRB NTPC CBT 1 exam date for 2026? Graduate-level CBT 1 was conducted from March 16 to 27, 2026. Undergraduate-level CBT 1 is scheduled for May 7, 8, 9 and June 13, 14, 16 to 21, 2026. These dates are official per RRB announcements.
How many vacancies are there in RRB NTPC 2026? A total of 8,868 vacancies: 5,810 for Graduate-level posts (CEN 06/2025) and 3,058 for Undergraduate-level posts (CEN 07/2025).
Is CBT 1 marks counted in the final selection? No. CBT 1 is purely for shortlisting candidates for CBT 2. The final merit is based exclusively on CBT 2 normalised scores (and CBAT/TST qualifying results for applicable posts).
What is the negative marking in RRB NTPC CBT 1? One-third of a mark is deducted for each wrong answer. On a 1-mark question, a wrong answer results in a deduction of approximately 0.33 marks.
Is Aadhaar mandatory for the RRB NTPC UG CBT 1 exam? Yes. For the 2026 UG CBT 1 cycle, the RRB has made Aadhaar biometric verification mandatory at the exam centre. Candidates must carry their original Aadhaar card and ensure it is updated and unlocked.
All data on this page is sourced from official RRB notifications CEN 06/2025 and CEN 07/2025, the official exam date notices published on regional RRB websites, and the answer key notice released on April 6, 2026. Vacancy figures, exam dates, shift timings, and fee details are verified from official RRB sources.
Stay updated with the latest news and notifications about RRB NTPC CBT 1 2026: Complete Guide to Exam Dates, Syllabus, Pattern, Eligibility and Cutoff and other exams.
ExamUpdateAspirantMitraa
27 May 2026
ExamUpdateAspirantMitraa
24 May 2026
