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The RRB NTPC cutoff is the minimum normalised score a candidate must achieve at each stage of the examination to advance to the next. Unlike most centrally conducted exams that publish a single national cutoff, RRB NTPC releases separate cutoffs for every Railway Recruitment Board zone, every post level, and every category. This zone-specific structure means a candidate applying through RRB Malda faces a meaningfully different threshold than one applying through RRB Chandigarh, even for the same post.
Understanding the cutoff across zones, stages, and categories is essential for setting a realistic score target and making informed decisions about which zone to apply to. This page covers the official cutoff data for CBT 1 and CBT 2 from 2022 to 2025 for both Graduate and Undergraduate levels, the factors that determine the cutoff each year, safe score targets for the 2026 cycle, and how to access the official cutoff PDFs from regional RRB websites.
The CBT 1 Graduate-level exam (CEN 06/2025) was conducted from March 16 to 27, 2026. The provisional answer key was released on April 6, 2026, with the objection window closing on April 12, 2026. The CBT 1 result and cutoff for Graduate level are expected in May to June 2026.
The CBT 1 UG-level exam (CEN 07/2025) is being conducted from May 7 to June 21, 2026. The result and cutoff for UG level are expected in July to August 2026.
This page will be updated with the official 2026 cutoff figures as soon as they are released on regional RRB websites.
Before looking at historical figures, understanding the structure of how RRB releases cutoffs prevents confusion.
| Aspect Detail | |
| Who releases the cutoff | Individual regional RRBs (not a single central body) |
| How many cutoff PDFs are released | One per zone per stage per post level (potentially 21 PDFs per stage) |
| When is the cutoff released | Along with the result for each stage |
| Is the cutoff the same for all zones | No; it varies by zone based on local competition and vacancies |
| Is there a sectional cutoff | No; RRB NTPC has no sectional cutoff. Only overall cutoff applies |
| What marks are used | Normalised scores, not raw marks |
| Does CBT 1 cutoff affect final merit | No; CBT 1 is qualifying only. Final merit is based on CBT 2 marks |
| Minimum qualifying percentage | UR and EWS: 40%; OBC: 30%; SC: 30%; ST: 25% |
The CBT 1 for CEN 05/2024 Graduate-level posts was conducted from June 5 to 24, 2025. The result and cutoff were released on September 19, 2025.
Based on official cutoff PDFs released by regional RRBs:
| RRB Zone UR CBT 1 Cutoff (Approx.) Competition Level | ||
| RRB Chandigarh | 84.16 | Very High |
| RRB Patna | 84.18 | Very High |
| RRB Kolkata | 84.07 | Very High |
| RRB Prayagraj (Allahabad) | 83.75 | Very High |
| RRB Guwahati | 83.13 | High |
| RRB Thiruvananthapuram | 83.45 | High |
| RRB Mumbai | 82.90 | High |
| RRB Secunderabad | 82.50 | High |
| RRB Chennai | 82.30 | High |
| RRB Bhopal | 81.80 | Moderate to High |
| RRB Ahmedabad | 81.50 | Moderate to High |
| RRB Bengaluru | 81.20 | Moderate to High |
| RRB Malda | 78.50 | Moderate (Lowest among major zones) |
Note: These are approximate figures based on compiled zone-wise cutoff PDFs. The exact cutoff for each zone and category is published in the official cutoff PDF on the respective regional RRB website.
| Category CBT 1 Cutoff Range (Out of 100) | |
| Unreserved (UR) | 78 to 87 |
| OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) | 73 to 82 |
| EWS | 74 to 83 |
| Scheduled Caste (SC) | 66 to 75 |
| Scheduled Tribe (ST) | 60 to 70 |
| PwBD (various) | 40 to 55 |
Graduate-level cutoffs are consistently 4 to 5 marks higher than UG-level cutoffs across all zones because the Graduate-level candidate pool is more competitive and better-prepared on average.
The UG-level CBT 1 for CEN 06/2024 was conducted from August 7 to September 9, 2025. The result and cutoff were released on November 21, 2025.
| RRB Zone UR CBT 1 Cutoff (Approx.) Competition Level | ||
| RRB Patna | 84.18 | Very High |
| RRB Kolkata | 84.07 | Very High |
| RRB Thiruvananthapuram | 83.95 | Very High |
| RRB Chandigarh | 84.16 | Very High |
| RRB Prayagraj | 83.20 | High |
| RRB Mumbai | 82.50 | High |
| RRB Secunderabad | 82.10 | High |
| RRB Bhopal | 80.90 | Moderate to High |
| RRB Ahmedabad | 80.60 | Moderate to High |
| RRB Bengaluru | 80.40 | Moderate to High |
| RRB Malda | 75.00 | Moderate (Lowest) |
| RRB Bilaspur | 76.20 | Moderate |
| Category CBT 1 Cutoff Range (Out of 100) | |
| Unreserved (UR) | 75 to 85 |
| OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) | 70 to 80 |
| EWS | 71 to 81 |
| Scheduled Caste (SC) | 62 to 72 |
| Scheduled Tribe (ST) | 55 to 66 |
| PwBD (various) | 35 to 50 |
CBT 2 determines final merit and post allocation. Its cutoff is higher than CBT 1 in absolute terms because the competition narrows to 20x-shortlisted candidates (roughly top 10 percent from CBT 1).
CBT 2 for Graduate-level posts was conducted on October 13, 2025. Results and cutoffs were released on December 15, 2025.
| Category CBT 2 Graduate Cutoff Range (Out of 120) | |
| Unreserved (UR) | 69 to 72 |
| OBC | 63 to 67 |
| EWS | 64 to 68 |
| SC | 57 to 63 |
| ST | 51 to 58 |
The CBT 2 Graduate cutoff range confirms that the competition concentrates sharply. A score of 72 to 78 in CBT 2 (out of 120) places a General category candidate safely above the cutoff for most Graduate-level posts.
CBT 2 UG cutoff range for UR category: approximately 65 to 68 out of 120.
| Exam Cycle CBT 1 UR Cutoff Range (Out of 100) Trend Note | ||
| CEN 05/2024 (2025 exam) | 78 to 87 | High; lower vacancies than 2021 |
| CEN 05/2019 (2021 exam) | 70 to 82 | Moderate; 35,000+ vacancies |
| CEN 03/2019 (2019 exam) | 75 to 85 | Moderate to High |
The cutoff for Graduate-level CBT 1 has remained in the 78 to 87 range in recent cycles with lower vacancy counts. The 2019 cycle with 35,277 vacancies saw lower cutoffs. The 2025 cycle with 8,875 Graduate-level vacancies pushed the cutoff higher.
Several variables drive the cutoff each year. Candidates cannot control these but can understand them to set realistic targets.
| Factor How It Affects the Cutoff | |
| Number of vacancies | Fewer vacancies increase competition, raising cutoffs. More vacancies lower them |
| Number of candidates who appeared | More candidates per vacancy means a more competitive distribution near the cutoff |
| Exam difficulty level | Easier papers produce higher average scores, pushing cutoffs up. Harder papers pull them down |
| Normalisation methodology | Adjusts raw scores across shifts; can raise or lower individual scores by 2 to 5 marks |
| Zone-specific competition | Urban zones (Mumbai, Chandigarh, Patna) have higher cutoffs than rural zones (Malda, Bilaspur) |
| Category-wise reservation | Separate cutoffs for each category ensure reservation quotas are filled |
| Post-level (Graduate vs UG) | Graduate-level is consistently 4 to 5 marks higher than UG-level |
| Post-specific shortlisting | Posts with fewer vacancies within a level have higher effective shortlisting thresholds |
This is a critical distinction from exams like IBPS PO. RRB NTPC CBT 1 has no sectional cutoff. The 40 GA + 30 Maths + 30 Reasoning marks are evaluated purely as a total. A candidate who scores 0 in Maths but 90 in GA and Reasoning can still clear the overall cutoff. However, RRB specifies minimum qualifying percentages:
| Category Minimum Qualifying Percentage Equivalent Marks (CBT 1, out of 100) | ||
| UR | 40% | 40 marks |
| EWS | 40% | 40 marks |
| OBC | 30% | 30 marks |
| SC | 30% | 30 marks |
| ST | 25% | 25 marks |
These are minimum qualifying marks, not the actual cutoff. The actual cutoff in competitive zones is 78 to 87 for UR, far above the 40-mark minimum. The minimum qualifying marks are relevant only when a zone has very high vacancies relative to the number of candidates who appeared.
Choosing the right zone is a strategic decision that directly affects a candidate's probability of clearing the cutoff.
| Zone Characteristics Examples Typical Cutoff | ||
| High population, many candidates | Patna, Chandigarh, Kolkata, Prayagraj | 83 to 87 for UR |
| Metropolitan area, competitive candidate pool | Mumbai, Chennai, Secunderabad | 81 to 85 for UR |
| Moderate population, moderate competition | Bhopal, Ahmedabad, Bengaluru | 80 to 83 for UR |
| Lower population, fewer candidates | Malda, Bilaspur, Siliguri, Ranchi | 75 to 80 for UR |
Candidates who are flexible about posting location can apply to lower-competition zones to increase their probability of clearing the CBT 1 cutoff at the same score level.
Based on the 2025 cutoff data and applying a buffer to account for potential difficulty variation in the 2026 cycle:
| Category Historical CBT 1 Cutoff (Graduate, Competitive Zones) Safe Target Score Competitive Score | |||
| UR | 83 to 87 | 90 to 93 | 95 or above |
| OBC | 78 to 82 | 85 to 88 | 91 or above |
| EWS | 79 to 83 | 86 to 89 | 92 or above |
| SC | 70 to 75 | 78 to 82 | 86 or above |
| ST | 63 to 68 | 71 to 75 | 78 or above |
These targets are for competitive zones. Candidates in lower-competition zones like Malda or Bilaspur can clear the cutoff with scores 5 to 8 marks below these ranges.
Three key variables may shift the 2026 CBT 1 cutoff relative to 2025.
Vacancy count: The 2026 cycle (CEN 06/2025 and 07/2025) announced 8,868 vacancies. The previous cycle (CEN 05/2024) announced 8,875 vacancies. With nearly identical vacancy counts, competition intensity is expected to remain comparable.
Candidate count: The UG CBT 1 alone has 63.27 lakh registered candidates. This is a large pool, and with 3,058 UG vacancies, the competition ratio is extremely high. Higher candidate count typically raises the cutoff slightly.
Exam difficulty: The 2026 Graduate-level CBT 1 was rated easy to moderate across multiple shifts. When the paper is easier, more candidates score above 80, pushing the effective cutoff up. Candidates should not aim for just the cutoff; targeting 90 or above provides the necessary margin.
RRB cutoffs are zone-specific and hosted only on regional RRB websites. There is no single central download link.
| Step Action | |
| 1 | Identify your RRB zone (the zone you applied to) |
| 2 | Visit the regional RRB website for that zone |
| 3 | Navigate to the "Results" or "Notifications" section |
| 4 | Find the CBT 1 or CBT 2 result link for CEN 06/2025 or 07/2025 |
| 5 | The result PDF and cutoff PDF are released simultaneously |
| 6 | Download the cutoff PDF; it shows category-wise minimum qualifying marks |
The Computer-Based Aptitude Test (CBAT) for the Station Master post has a separate qualifying cutoff. Candidates must score a minimum T-Score of 42 in each of the five test batteries in the CBAT. The CBAT cutoff is the same across all categories: 42 T-Score in each battery, regardless of UR, OBC, SC, or ST status. This uniform qualifying threshold makes the Station Master post equally accessible across categories at the CBAT stage.
Is there a sectional cutoff in RRB NTPC CBT 1? No. There is no sectional cutoff in RRB NTPC at any stage. Only the overall cutoff and the minimum qualifying percentage requirement (UR: 40%, OBC/SC: 30%, ST: 25%) apply.
When will the 2026 CBT 1 cutoff be released? The Graduate-level cutoff is expected in May to June 2026 (exam was March 16-27, 2026). The UG-level cutoff is expected in July to August 2026 (exam is May 7 to June 21, 2026). Both will be released along with the respective CBT 1 results on regional RRB websites.
Why do cutoffs differ so much between zones? Cutoffs are determined per zone based on the number of candidates who appeared in that zone and the number of vacancies allocated to that zone. Zones with more candidates per vacancy produce higher cutoffs; zones with fewer candidates per vacancy produce lower cutoffs.
Does the CBT 1 cutoff affect the final selection? No. CBT 1 is qualifying only. Clearing the CBT 1 cutoff gives eligibility to appear in CBT 2. The final merit list is based entirely on CBT 2 normalised marks (plus CBAT qualifying status for Station Master post).
Cutoff data on this page is compiled from official regional RRB cutoff PDFs released along with CBT 1 results on September 19, 2025 (Graduate CEN 05/2024) and November 21, 2025 (UG CEN 06/2024), and CBT 2 results released December 15, 2025. All zone-wise figures are based on official RRB publications. The 2026 cutoff will be published here as soon as it is released on regional RRB websites.
Stay updated with the latest news and notifications about RRB NTPC Cutoff 2026: CBT 1 and CBT 2 Category-wise and Zone-wise Official Marks and other exams.
ExamUpdateAspirantMitraa
27 May 2026
ExamUpdateAspirantMitraa
24 May 2026
