RRB NTPC 2026 — Exam Pattern, Syllabus & Preparation
RRB NTPC, conducted by the Railway Recruitment Boards, recruits for non-technical railway posts such as Station Master, Ticket Collector, Clerk, Goods Guar…
TL;DR: RRB NTPC, conducted by the Railway Recruitment Boards, recruits for non-technical railway posts such as Station Master, Ticket Collector, Clerk, Goods…
Written & reviewed by the Syllab.in Academic Team (CBSE/NCERT subject experts) · Updated
RRB NTPC (Railway Recruitment Board — Non-Technical Popular Categories): RRB NTPC, conducted by the Railway Recruitment Boards, recruits for non-technical railway posts such as Station Master, Ticket Collector, Clerk, Goods Guard and Accounts Clerk. It draws enormous applicant numbers each cycle and runs as a multi-stage computer-based process (CBT 1 → CBT 2 → skill/typing test → document verification). CBT 1 is qualifying; CBT 2 marks decide the merit.
RRB NTPC Exam Pattern
| Total questions | 100 |
| Duration | 90 minutes |
| Marking scheme | +1 for correct, −1/3 for incorrect (both CBT 1 and CBT 2) |
Sections
- CBT 1 (qualifying): General Awareness 40Q, Reasoning 30Q, Maths 30Q — 100Q / 100 marks, 90 min
- CBT 2 (counts for merit): Maths 35–40Q, Reasoning 35Q, General Awareness 40–50Q
- Followed by skill/typing test and document verification for applicable posts
Subjects Covered in RRB NTPC
Mathematics · General Intelligence & Reasoning · General Awareness · Current Affairs · General Science
How to Prepare for RRB NTPC
- Treat CBT 1 as a cutoff to clear, not to perfect — the majority of your preparation should target CBT 2, whose marks actually decide selection.
- Drill high-frequency Maths (percentages, ratio, time & work, profit & loss) and Reasoning (seating, coded inequalities, syllogisms) daily until they are fast and automatic.
- For General Awareness, focus on static GK, general science and current affairs of the last 1–2 years, and add railway-specific general knowledge closer to the exam.
RRB NTPC — Frequently Asked Questions
Do CBT 1 marks count in the RRB NTPC merit?
No. CBT 1 is only qualifying. Final merit is based on CBT 2 marks (plus the skill/typing test for relevant posts).
What is the eligibility for RRB NTPC?
There are two levels: 12th-pass (undergraduate posts) and graduate posts. Age limits typically fall between 18 and 30–33 years depending on the post, with category relaxations. Verify on the relevant regional RRB site.
Is negative marking heavy in RRB NTPC?
It is relatively light — one-third (0.33) mark is deducted per wrong answer, so well-judged educated guesses can be worthwhile compared with exams that deduct a full mark.
📌 Exam patterns and dates can change — always verify the latest details on the official website before applying.
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