RRB NTPC 2026: exam date, pattern, syllabus and how to apply
RRB NTPC is how the Railway Recruitment Boards fill Non-Technical Popular Categories posts such as Goods Train Manager, Commercial cum Ticket Clerk and the clerk-typist posts. A new cycle is open now: CEN 06/2026 for graduate posts and CEN 07/2026 for under-graduate posts. As of 20 October 2026, the RRBs say the graduate CBT-1 is planned to start in the fourth week of December 2026, and applications for both notices are open until early or mid-November.
RRB NTPC at a glance
| Conducting body | Railway Recruitment Boards (RRBs), Ministry of Railways |
| What it is for | Non-technical posts in the zonal railways and production units |
| Notices now open | CEN 06/2026 (Graduate) and CEN 07/2026 (Under Graduate) |
| Stages | CBT-1, CBT-2, a typing skill test for typist posts, document verification, medical |
| CBT-1 | 100 questions in 90 minutes, 1 mark each |
| Negative marking | One-third of a mark for each wrong answer |
| Mode | Computer-based test at a centre |
| How often | Each cycle is a new CEN; the RRBs announce CBT dates by notice |
| Official website | rrb.indianrailways.gov.in |
RRB NTPC 2026 exam date
These are the dates printed in the RRB notices, checked 20 October 2026:
| CEN 06/2026 (Graduate) | CEN 07/2026 (Under Graduate) | |
|---|---|---|
| Applications open | 8 October 2026 | 15 October 2026 |
| Last date to apply | 6 November 2026 (23:59) | 13 November 2026 (23:59) |
| Last date for fee payment | 8 November 2026 | 15 November 2026 |
| Correction window (with fee) | 9 to 18 November 2026 | 16 to 25 November 2026 |
| CBT-1 | Planned to start in the fourth week of December 2026 | Not announced yet |
The graduate date comes from the RRBs' indicative notice of 12 October 2026. It says a separate notice will give the exact dates once they are final. In recent RRB notices, the link to see your exam city and date goes live about 10 days before the exam, and e-call letters about 4 days before.
The previous cycle is still finishing: the CBT-2 of CEN 07/2025 was scheduled for 17 September 2026. Our RRB NTPC exam dates page follows the notices.
How to apply for RRB NTPC 2026
- Read the detailed notice for your level: CEN 06/2026 (Graduate) or CEN 07/2026 (Under Graduate). Annexure A gives each post's qualification and medical standard.
- Go to rrbapply.gov.in and create an account. The notice advises verifying your identity with Aadhaar or DigiLocker before you submit.
- Choose one RRB. You may submit only one application per CEN; more than one is rejected.
- Fill in the form, give your post preferences, and upload the photograph and signature to the notice's specifications. A live photograph is also taken during the application.
- Pay the fee. Both notices set ₹500, of which ₹400 is refunded after you appear in CBT-1, and ₹250 for SC, ST, ex-servicemen, PwBD, female, transgender, minority and EBC candidates, refunded in full after CBT-1 (less bank charges).
- Keep a copy of the submitted form. Corrections are possible only in the paid modification window.
Keep ready: your Class 10 certificate (your name and date of birth must match it), your qualifying certificate, a caste, EWS or PwBD certificate if you claim one, and your Aadhaar. Those awaiting their final result are not eligible.
Eligibility in brief. The age band is 18 to 33 years on 1 January 2027 for the graduate posts and 18 to 30 years for the under-graduate posts, with relaxations in the notice. Vacancies are provisional: 3,548 in CEN 06/2026 and 1,688 in CEN 07/2026, as printed.
RRB NTPC exam pattern
Both 2026 notices print the same tables:
| Stage | Questions | Time | Subjects (indicative) |
|---|---|---|---|
| CBT-1 | 100 | 90 minutes | General Awareness 40, Mathematics 30, General Intelligence and Reasoning 30 |
| CBT-2 | 120 | 90 minutes | General Awareness 50, Mathematics 35, General Intelligence and Reasoning 35 |
Each question carries 1 mark and a wrong answer costs one-third of a mark. Candidates who use a scribe get 120 minutes. CBT-1 only screens candidates for CBT-2; the notice requires at least 40% (UR and EWS), 30% (OBC-NCL and SC) or 25% (ST) to be eligible. Typist posts then have a qualifying Computer Based Typing Skill Test. Marks from different shifts are normalised.
RRB NTPC syllabus
- Mathematics: number system, fractions, LCM and HCF, ratio, percentage, mensuration, time and work, time and distance, interest, profit and loss, elementary algebra, geometry, trigonometry and statistics. Calculators are not allowed.
- General Intelligence and Reasoning: analogies, series, coding-decoding, mathematical operations, syllogism, Venn diagrams, puzzles, data sufficiency, statement-conclusion and decision making.
- General Awareness: current events, sports, Indian art and culture, general science up to Class 10, history and the freedom struggle, geography, polity, science and technology, computers and the economy.
The full topic list is on our RRB NTPC syllabus page.
A plan for the weeks left
If you are a graduate applicant, you have about nine weeks before the fourth week of December.
| Weeks | What to do |
|---|---|
| This week | Apply before 6 November (or 13 November for CEN 07/2026). Take one full RRB NTPC mock test cold to see where you stand. |
| Weeks 1 to 3 | Mathematics topics one by one, 30 questions a day without a calculator. Reasoning: 20 questions a day. General Awareness: one subject of static GK a week, plus 20 minutes of current affairs daily. |
| Weeks 4 to 6 | Two full mocks a week in 90 minutes. After each, sort the mistakes into "did not know", "careless" and "ran out of time". |
| Weeks 7 to 9 | Three mocks a week, revision of your mistake notebook, and the GA facts you keep missing. Check your exam city when the link opens. |
With one-third negative marking, guess only when you can rule out at least one option. Our article on negative marking works through the numbers, and the RRB NTPC CBT-1 preparation guide covers each subject in more depth.
Useful links
- Apply online: rrbapply.gov.in
- Detailed CEN 06/2026, NTPC Graduate (RRB)
- Detailed CEN 07/2026, NTPC Under Graduate (RRB)
- Free RRB NTPC mock tests
- RRB NTPC syllabus
- RRB NTPC exam dates
- RRB NTPC CBT-1 preparation: pattern, timing and a study plan
- RRB Group D 2026: exam date, pattern and how to apply
Frequently asked questions
What is the RRB NTPC 2026 exam date?
For CEN 06/2026 (Graduate), the RRBs say CBT-1 is planned to start in the fourth week of December 2026, with exact dates in a later notice. For CEN 07/2026 (Under Graduate), no CBT date had been announced on 20 October 2026.
What is the last date to apply for RRB NTPC 2026?
6 November 2026 for CEN 06/2026 and 13 November 2026 for CEN 07/2026, both at 23:59. The fee can be paid until 8 and 15 November respectively.
Is there negative marking in RRB NTPC?
Yes. One-third of a mark is deducted for each wrong answer in both CBT-1 and CBT-2. A question left blank scores nothing.
What is the RRB NTPC pass mark?
The notice sets minimum marks to be eligible: 40% for UR and EWS, 30% for OBC-NCL and SC, and 25% for ST. Clearing these does not by itself put you through; shortlisting is by normalised merit.
Can I apply for both the graduate and the under-graduate NTPC?
They are separate notices, each with its own posts, age limit and qualifications, and each allows only one application. Read Annexure A of both notices to see which posts you are eligible for before you apply.
Are your RRB NTPC mock tests official?
No. Our practice tests are written by us to the pattern in the notice. The RRBs publish their own mock test link on their websites before the exam.