RRB NTPC
Railway Recruitment Board — Non-Technical Popular Categories
RRB NTPC 2026 Guide: Non-Technical Popular Categories Railway Recruitment (CEN 07/2025 Cycle)
The RRB Non-Technical Popular Categories (NTPC) recruitment is one of the largest Railway job drives in India, carried out by the Railway Recruitment Boards on behalf of zones and production units across the network. Through a Common Employment Notice (CEN), a single multi-stage computer-based test feeds candidates into graduate-level and undergraduate-level commercial, clerical, traffic and ticketing positions throughout Indian Railways.
As of 08 September 2026, activity linked to the CEN 07/2025 cycle is ongoing. For the Undergraduate category, the CBT-1 result and shortlisting are in progress or have recently been declared, and the Undergraduate CBT-2 examination is scheduled around 17 September 2026 as per current regional notices. Graduate-level activity and CBT-2 scheduling vary by RRB and by CEN, so the dates below should be treated cautiously and confirmed with your regional board.
Recruitment Snapshot
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| Recruiting body | Railway Recruitment Boards (RRBs) |
| Recruitment drive | Non-Technical Popular Categories (NTPC) |
| Current cycle | CEN 07/2025 (activity ongoing as of Sep 2026) |
| Posts | Graduate & Undergraduate non-technical Level-2 to Level-6 railway roles |
| Selection stages | CBT-1 (qualifying) → CBT-2 → Typing/Aptitude Test (where applicable) → Document Verification & Medical |
| Mode | Computer-based tests at regional centres |
| Central portal | rrbapply.gov.in |
Current Cycle Status & Key Dates
| Milestone | Date / Status (indicative) |
|---|---|
| CEN 07/2025 cycle activity | Ongoing as of 08 September 2026 |
| UG CBT-1 result / shortlisting | In progress or recently declared |
| UG CBT-2 examination | Scheduled around 17 September 2026 (per regional notices) |
| Graduate-level CBT-2 / notices | Vary by RRB and post category |
| Typing / Aptitude test | Following CBT-2 for applicable posts, per board |
| Document Verification & Medical | To be advised regionally after skill tests |
Important: Railway notices are issued region-by-region by each Railway Recruitment Board. Dates for CBT-2, skill tests and call letters differ between boards and can be revised. Always confirm your specific schedule on your regional RRB website and on rrbapply.gov.in using your registration details.
NTPC Posts Covered
The exact list of posts depends on the specific CEN, but the NTPC umbrella typically includes the following commercial, clerical, ticketing and traffic roles.
| Post | Level / Category |
|---|---|
| Senior Section Superintendent | Graduate level (Level-6) |
| Assistant Operations Manager (as notified) | Graduate level |
| Chief / Junior role variants in Traffic | Graduate/Undergraduate as per CEN |
| Trains Clerk / Clerk | Undergraduate level |
| Commercial Cum Ticket Clerk | Undergraduate level |
| Commercial Cum PWD Clerk | Undergraduate level |
| Goods Train Clerk | Undergraduate level |
| Forever Road Accounts (FRA) Clerk | Undergraduate level |
| Junior Clerk cum Time Keeper | Undergraduate level (typing post) |
| Accounts Clerk cum Time Keeper | Undergraduate level (typing post) |
| Assistant Points Keeper | Undergraduate level |
Post availability, the UG/graduate classification and whether a typing or aptitude test applies are fixed by each CEN; use the official post-wise notification as the final reference.
Eligibility Criteria
Educational Qualification
- Graduate-level posts require a bachelor's degree in any discipline from a recognised university.
- Undergraduate-level posts generally require Class XII (10+2) or an equivalent qualification.
- Some roles specify a particular stream (for example, a physics/mathematics or accounting orientation), as detailed post-wise in the CEN.
Age Limit and Category Relaxation
The age band is usually 18–33 years for most NTPC posts, with certain posts carrying a wider band of 18–36 years as notified. Statutory relaxations apply — around 3 years for OBC, 5 years for SC/ST, and additional concessions for PwBD, Ex-Servicemen and Railway employees per the rules.
Medical Standards
Railway postings carry category-specific medical fitness requirements (such as the vision, hearing and physical standards applicable to safety and non-safety roles). Candidates must satisfy the medical standard prescribed for their chosen post at the verification stage; those who fail the relevant medical assessment are not eligible for that particular post even if they clear the written tests.
Selection Stages Explained
CBT-1 – Screening Round
The first computer-based test is a qualifying screen. Candidates who meet the cut-off (which varies by zone, post and category) advance to CBT-2.
CBT-2 – Merit Decider
The second computer-based test is more comprehensive and forms the core of the written merit. Performance here, combined with the applicable post preference, determines shortlisting for skill tests.
Typing Skill Test / Aptitude Test
Depending on the post: typing posts (such as Junior Clerk cum Time Keeper, Accounts Clerk cum Time Keeper) require a Typing Skill Test to be qualified, while certain graduate-level posts (for example Assistant Points Keeper or Traffic-related roles) may require a Computer-Based Aptitude Test. These are qualifying, speed or skill checks rather than merit components.
Document Verification & Medical Examination
Candidates who clear the applicable skill test undergo document verification against originals and a preliminary/medical examination to confirm fitness for the post's medical category. Successful candidates are then placed on the region-wise merit and allotment list.
Exam Pattern
The pattern below reflects a representative/previous-cycle model. Because the number of questions, timing and section mix can differ by CEN and post level, confirm the current details from your notification.
CBT-1 (Model / Previous Cycle)
| Section | Indicative Questions |
|---|---|
| General Awareness | ~40 |
| Mathematics | ~30 |
| General Intelligence & Reasoning | ~30 |
| Total | 100 questions, 90 minutes |
CBT-1 is objective and normally carries one-third negative marking for wrong answers, with questions presented bilingually.
CBT-2 (Model / Previous Cycle)
For many categories CBT-2 has been structured as roughly 125 questions over 120 minutes, spanning Mathematics, General Intelligence & Reasoning, General Awareness (with special reference to Railways) and, for some posts, basic science/engineering or language components. Graduate-level papers are generally longer and more in-depth than undergraduate-level papers.
The precise question count, duration and negative-marking scheme must be verified for your specific CEN and post category, as RRBs revise them between drives.
Salary, Pay Levels and Allowances
NTPC posts are mapped to Pay Levels 2 to 6 of the 7th Central Pay Commission matrix.
| Pay Level | Starting Basic (Rs.) | Typical Posts |
|---|---|---|
| Level 2 | ~19,900 | Track Maintainer-type / entry support roles |
| Level 3 | ~21,700 | Clerk-level roles |
| Level 4 | ~25,500 | Senior Clerk / Trains Clerk and similar |
| Level 5 | ~29,200 | Goods Train Clerk / Assistant-level roles |
| Level 6 | ~35,400 | Senior Section Superintendent & officer-support posts |
Basic pay is supplemented by Dearness Allowance, House Rent Allowance, Transport Allowance and other railway perks (such as travel concessions for eligible employees and family). Railway jobs are transferable, and postings can move across divisions and zones as duty requires. Exact pay and allowances depend on the current DA orders and posting location, so treat the table as indicative.
How to Apply & Regional RRB Access
Registration for NTPC drives is normally done centrally through rrbapply.gov.in, where you create a one-time profile, choose your preferred RRB and posts, upload documents and pay the applicable fee. After that, call letters, exam cities and result links are handled by your chosen regional board.
Because notices are regional, keep your own RRB's website bookmarked for admit cards and updates. Examples of regional board portals include:
- RRB Apply – central registration portal
- Regional board sites such as RRB Mumbai, RRB Chennai, RRB Kolkata, RRB Allahabad, RRB Patna and others (search "RRB [city]" for the official domain of your board).
Admit Card Guidance
- Download the CBT-2 call letter from your regional RRB site using your registration number and date of birth.
- Call letters are typically released several days before the exam; regional timings differ.
- Print the admit card with a clear photograph and carry the photo ID listed on it.
- Cross-check post name, category, exam date, reporting time and centre address.
- Arrive before the gate-closing time stated on the call letter; late arrivals are usually not admitted.
Preparation Tips
For CBT-1
- Strengthen Mathematics fundamentals (number system, percentages, ratio, time-work, data tables) and practise for speed.
- Build Reasoning accuracy with puzzles, coding-decoding, series and analytical reasoning sets.
- Update General Awareness with a focus on current affairs, static GK and Railway-specific facts.
For CBT-2 and Beyond
- Practise longer sectional papers under timed, shift-normalised conditions to protect accuracy against negative marking.
- Typing aspirants should build daily keyboard speed in both English and the relevant language; aptitude-test posts should practise the specified reasoning/short-concentration modules.
- Use previous CEN papers to understand the section balance, but re-verify the current CEN pattern before the exam.
About Cut-Off Marks
There is no universal NTPC cut-off. CBT-1 and CBT-2 cut-offs are declared region-wise and post-wise after each stage and depend on the number of vacancies, applicant intensity, category and the difficulty of the shift. Use published past cut-offs only as a reference, not a guaranteed benchmark.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is NTPC the same as Group D?
No. NTPC covers non-technical graduate and undergraduate clerical, commercial and traffic roles; Group D is a separate recruitment for support-level posts.
Are the CBT-1 and CBT-2 dates the same everywhere?
No. Railway dates are announced by each regional RRB and can differ, especially for CBT-2 and skill tests; follow your own board's notices.
Do I need a typing test?
Only if you apply for a post that specifies the Typing Skill Test (for example Junior Clerk cum Time Keeper). Other posts may need an aptitude test instead, or neither.
Where do I check my result?
Results and call letters are published by your regional board; central registration data stays on rrbapply.gov.in.
Official Links
- RRB central registration & information: https://www.rrbapply.gov.in
- Your regional Railway Recruitment Board site (for CEN notices, admit cards and results): search for the official RRB website of the board you registered with.