Complete exam guide
RRB NTPC — Non-Technical Popular Categories (Graduate & Undergraduate)
RRB NTPC is the Railway Recruitment Boards' big recruitment drive for non-technical, desk-and-station posts — Station Master, Goods Train Manager, Traffic Assistant and accounts/clerical roles for graduates, plus ticket, clerk and typist roles for 12th-pass candidates. It runs as two separate notifications (a graduate CEN and an undergraduate CEN), each with a computer-based first stage, a merit-deciding second stage, then a post-specific skill test, document verification and medical exam. There is no interview, and the syllabus is compact: Mathematics, Reasoning and General Awareness only — no English section. That makes it a speed-and-accuracy exam where the General Awareness block (the biggest section) is where well-organised revision pays off. CBT 1 only screens; the final merit is built from CBT 2 (plus a 70:30 weighting with the aptitude test for Station Master and Traffic Assistant).
2026 cycle — status
✓ Verified 1 Oct 2026Short notices for the new cycle (CEN 06/2026 graduate, CEN 07/2026 undergraduate) were released on 21 September 2026. Applications are tentatively set to open on 8 October (graduate) and 15 October (undergraduate); the detailed CEN notices carrying final post-wise vacancies, age tables and the exam scheme are due on 7 and 14 October. Dates in the short notice are tentative — confirm on rrbapply.gov.in once the full CEN is out. The earlier CEN 06/2025 and 07/2025 cycles are still running through their last stages.
- Short noticeDone21 September 2026
- Graduate applications (CEN 06/2026)Upcoming8 Oct – 6 Nov 2026Tentative · full CEN due 7 Oct
- Undergraduate applications (CEN 07/2026)Upcoming15 Oct – 13 Nov 2026Tentative · full CEN due 14 Oct
- CBT 1AwaitedTo be announced
Short-notice totals: 3,477 graduate and 1,688 undergraduate vacancies (5,165 combined). Post-wise and RRB-wise numbers are firm only once the detailed CEN is published, so treat any split you see elsewhere as provisional. The age cut-off date for this cycle is 1 January 2027. Apply only through the official RRB application portal.
Exam pattern
CBT 1 — First Stage (screening) Screening (shortlists for CBT 2)
Online CBT · 90 min · +1 per correct, −1/3 per wrong
| Section | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Mathematics | 30 | 30 |
| General Intelligence & Reasoning | 30 | 30 |
| General Awareness | 40 | 40 |
| Total | 100 | 100 |
One 90-minute block (120 minutes for PwBD candidates with scribe/eligibility) — no sectional timing, so you choose the order. Qualifying percentages used in the last cycle: UR/EWS 40%, OBC-NCL and SC 30%, ST 25%. Marks are normalised across shifts. CBT 1 marks do not carry into the final merit.
CBT 2 — Second Stage (merit-deciding) Merit-deciding
Online CBT · 90 min · +1 per correct, −1/3 per wrong
| Section | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Mathematics | 35 | 35 |
| General Intelligence & Reasoning | 35 | 35 |
| General Awareness | 50 | 50 |
| Total | 120 | 120 |
Same three subjects, longer and a notch harder than CBT 1, again in a single 90-minute block. Candidates are shortlisted for CBT 2 in a multiple of the vacancies, and the final merit list is drawn from CBT 2 marks (for CBAT posts, 70% CBT 2 + 30% CBAT). Marks are normalised across shifts.
Skill stage — Typing Test (CBTST) or Aptitude Test (CBAT) Post-specific (qualifying or part of merit)
Computer-based · min · No negative marking in CBAT
| Section | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Total |
CBAT applies to Station Master and Traffic Assistant: minimum T-score of 42 in each test battery, no relaxation, no negative marking; it carries 30% weight with 70% for CBT 2. Typing Skill Test applies to typist posts (Senior Clerk cum Typist, Junior Account Assistant cum Typist, Junior Clerk cum Typist, Accounts Clerk cum Typist): it is qualifying, speed required is 30 wpm in English or 25 wpm in Hindi. Goods Train Manager, Chief Commercial cum Ticket Supervisor, Commercial cum Ticket Clerk and Trains Clerk have no typing test in the last cycle's scheme — confirm in the new CEN.
Eligibility
Citizen of India, or a subject of Nepal or Bhutan, or a Tibetan refugee who came before 1 January 1962 for permanent settlement, or a person of Indian origin migrated from the countries listed in the official notice — per the standard railway recruitment clause.
Bachelor's degree from a recognised university or equivalent
Passed Class 12 (10+2) or equivalent from a recognised board
Typing proficiency in English or Hindi is tested at the typing skill test stage
| OBC (non-creamy layer) | +3 years |
| SC / ST | +5 years |
| PwBD (UR / OBC / SC-ST) | +10 / +13 / +15 years |
| Ex-servicemen | +3 years after deducting military service, per notice |
Age limits are taken from the short-notice coverage and the previous cycle's pattern; the detailed CEN published on 7 October (graduate) and 14 October (undergraduate) is the final word, including any extra relaxation categories. Degree or Class 12 results must be available by the closing date in the notice. Station Master, Traffic Assistant and similar operating posts carry medical standards (vision and fitness classes) checked at the medical stage.
Posts, pay & who should apply
| Post | Department | Group | Pay level | Approx. in-hand |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Station Master | Indian Railways — operations (graduate) | Graduate | Level 6 · initial pay ₹35,400 | |
| Chief Commercial cum Ticket Supervisor | Indian Railways — commercial (graduate) | Graduate | Level 6 · initial pay ₹35,400 | |
| Goods Train Manager | Indian Railways — operations (graduate) | Graduate | Level 5 · initial pay ₹29,200 | |
| Junior Account Assistant cum Typist | Indian Railways — accounts (graduate) | Graduate | Level 5 · initial pay ₹29,200 | |
| Senior Clerk cum Typist | Indian Railways — clerical (graduate) | Graduate | Level 5 · initial pay ₹29,200 | |
| Traffic Assistant | Indian Railways — operations (graduate) | Graduate | Level 4 · initial pay ₹25,500 | |
| Commercial cum Ticket Clerk | Indian Railways — commercial (12th pass) | Undergraduate | Level 3 · initial pay ₹21,700 | |
| Accounts Clerk cum Typist | Indian Railways — accounts (12th pass) | Undergraduate | Level 2 · initial pay ₹19,900 | |
| Junior Clerk cum Typist | Indian Railways — clerical (12th pass) | Undergraduate | Level 2 · initial pay ₹19,900 | |
| Trains Clerk | Indian Railways — operations (12th pass) | Undergraduate | Level 2 · initial pay ₹19,900 |
Special requirements: Station Master — CBAT required (70% CBT 2 + 30% CBAT) · Goods Train Manager — Largest graduate post by vacancies in the last cycle · Junior Account Assistant cum Typist — Typing skill test (qualifying) · Senior Clerk cum Typist — Typing skill test (qualifying) · Traffic Assistant — CBAT required (70% CBT 2 + 30% CBAT) · Accounts Clerk cum Typist — Typing skill test (qualifying) · Junior Clerk cum Typist — Typing skill test (qualifying)
Selection process
CBT 1 (screening) → CBT 2 (merit) → Skill stage (CBAT or typing test, where applicable) → Document Verification → Medical Examination. CBT 1 only decides who is called for CBT 2. For Station Master and Traffic Assistant, the final merit is 70% CBT 2 + 30% CBAT, with a minimum T-score of 42 in every CBAT battery. For typist posts the typing test is qualifying. For the remaining posts, the merit list follows CBT 2 marks, subject to the category-wise vacancies and your post preference. There is no interview. Exact stage mapping for each post will be restated in the detailed CEN.
Normalisation (why your raw score ≠ final score)
RRB conducts CBT 1 and CBT 2 across many days and shifts with different question papers, so scores are normalised across shifts before results are declared: a statistical adjustment makes sure a tougher paper doesn't hurt you and an easier one doesn't help you. In practice: (1) never compare raw scores with friends in other shifts; (2) attempt according to the paper you actually get, not the one you expected; (3) a raw score slightly below the cut-off you've heard about is not the end — only the normalised score is compared.
Subjects to prepare
Notification dates history
| Year | Vacancies | Notification | Exam | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 5165 | 21 Sep 2026 (short notice) | TBA | — |
| 2025 | 8868 | Graduate CEN 06/2025: 20 Oct 2025 (5,810) · UG CEN 07/2025: 27 Oct 2025 (3,058) | Graduate: 16–27 Mar 2026 · UG: 7–9 May and 13–20 Jun 2026 | — |
FAQs
Is there negative marking in RRB NTPC?
Yes — 1/3 mark is deducted for every wrong answer in both CBT 1 and CBT 2, while each correct answer earns 1 mark. Unattempted questions cost nothing. The CBAT has no negative marking.
What is the CBT 1 and CBT 2 pattern?
CBT 1: 100 questions in 90 minutes — Mathematics 30, Reasoning 30, General Awareness 40. CBT 2: 120 questions in 90 minutes — Mathematics 35, Reasoning 35, General Awareness 50. Both are single-block tests with 1/3 negative marking, and English is not tested.
Does CBT 1 count towards the final merit?
No. CBT 1 is a screening test — you need to clear the category-wise qualifying percentage and rank high enough to be called for CBT 2. The final merit is built from CBT 2 marks (with the 70:30 CBT 2 + CBAT weighting for Station Master and Traffic Assistant).
What is CBAT and who has to take it?
The Computer Based Aptitude Test is a psychometric-style test for Station Master and Traffic Assistant only. You need a T-score of at least 42 in each test battery (no relaxation), and it carries 30% of the final merit. There is no negative marking, and candidates are called in a multiple of the vacancies on the basis of CBT 2.
Which posts have a typing test and what speed is needed?
Typist posts — Senior Clerk cum Typist, Junior Account Assistant cum Typist, Junior Clerk cum Typist and Accounts Clerk cum Typist — have a qualifying typing skill test. The required speed is 30 words per minute in English or 25 in Hindi. Marks from the typing test don't count in merit; you only have to qualify.
What is the age limit and the cut-off date for the 2026 cycle?
As per the short-notice coverage: 18–33 years for graduate posts and 18–30 years for undergraduate posts, counted as on 1 January 2027, plus category relaxations (OBC +3, SC/ST +5, PwBD +10 to +15). Check the detailed CEN published on 7 and 14 October for the final table.
What is the application fee and is any of it refunded?
₹500 for General/OBC and ₹250 for SC/ST, ex-servicemen, PwBD, women, transgender, minority and EBC candidates. After you appear in CBT 1, ₹400 is refunded to the ₹500 category and the full ₹250 to the reduced-fee category, so the effective cost is small if you actually sit the exam.
Can I apply to both the graduate and undergraduate CEN?
A graduate is generally eligible for both, since the undergraduate posts ask for Class 12 as the minimum, and the two notifications run on different application windows. Whether it's wise depends on your prep time: both use the same Maths-Reasoning-GA pattern, but the undergraduate CBT 1 is a separate exam. Read the detailed CENs for any rule on applying to more than one.
Which graduate post is the best in RRB NTPC?
By starting pay, Station Master and Chief Commercial cum Ticket Supervisor (Level 6, ₹35,400) lead, followed by Goods Train Manager and the accounts/clerk posts (Level 5, ₹29,200) and Traffic Assistant (Level 4, ₹25,500). Station Master is a shift-based operational role with CBAT in the selection; accounts and clerk posts are desk jobs with a typing test. Choose by the work profile you prefer, not pay alone.
Is there any interview in RRB NTPC?
No. Selection is through CBT 1, CBT 2, the post-specific skill test where applicable, document verification and a medical examination.
Documents for document verification
Keep these ready for the application and for Document Verification: Class 10 certificate (date of birth proof), graduation marksheets and degree (for graduate posts) or Class 12 marksheet (for undergraduate posts), category certificate in the central-government format (OBC-NCL, EWS, SC or ST), PwBD or ex-servicemen certificate where applicable, photo ID (Aadhaar or equivalent), recent passport photographs, scanned signature, and your linked mobile number and email ID. Make sure the name and date of birth are spelled identically everywhere — mismatches are the commonest verification delay. OBC-NCL candidates should hold a certificate valid for the relevant financial year, or they may be considered under the unreserved category.