In short: RRB NTPC 2026-27 offers 5,165 railway jobs — 3,477 graduate-level posts (CEN 06/2026, applications 8 Oct–6 Nov 2026) and 1,688 undergraduate-level posts (CEN 07/2026, applications 15 Oct–13 Nov 2026). Selection runs through CBT-1 (100 questions, 90 minutes, screening), CBT-2 (120 questions, 90 minutes, merit-deciding) with 1/3 negative marking, followed by typing/skill tests, document verification and a medical exam.
| Key Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Total vacancies | 5,165 (3,477 Graduate + 1,688 Undergraduate) |
| CEN numbers | CEN 06/2026 (Graduate) · CEN 07/2026 (Undergraduate) |
| Graduate applications | 8 Oct 2026 – 6 Nov 2026 |
| Undergraduate applications | 15 Oct 2026 – 13 Nov 2026 |
| Qualification | Graduate: bachelor's degree · UG: Class 12 |
| Application fee | ₹500 (General), ₹250 (specified categories) |
| Exam stages | CBT-1 → CBT-2 → Typing Skill Test/CBAT → DV → Medical |
| Negative marking | 1/3 mark deducted per wrong answer |
| Pay levels | Level 2 to Level 6 (₹19,900 – ₹1,12,400) |
What Is RRB NTPC 2026-27 and How Many Posts Are There?
The Railway Recruitment Board (RRB) has announced 5,165 vacancies under the Non-Technical Popular Categories (NTPC) for the 2026-27 cycle. The vacancy approval order was issued on 3 September 2026, and indicative notices for both cycles were released on 21 September 2026. NTPC covers the clerical, ticketing and supervisory jobs of Indian Railways — no technical qualification is needed, which makes it the most popular railway recruitment after Group D.
The 5,165 posts split into 3,477 graduate-level and 1,688 undergraduate (12th-level) vacancies across railway zones. Graduate recruitment is processed under CEN 06/2026 and undergraduate recruitment under CEN 07/2026.
What Are the Graduate-Level Posts in RRB NTPC 2026-27?
The 3,477 graduate-level posts (Pay Levels 4, 5, 6) include Goods Train Manager, Chief Commercial-cum-Ticket Supervisor, Junior Accounts Assistant-cum-Typist and Senior Clerk-cum-Typist. These are among the most sought-after railway jobs: a Senior Clerk-cum-Typist draws Level 5 pay (₹29,200–₹92,300), while supervisory posts go up to Level 6 (₹35,400–₹1,12,400). The detailed notification arrives on 7 October 2026, with online applications from 8 October to 6 November 2026 on the official RRB portal.
What Are the Undergraduate-Level Posts in RRB NTPC 2026-27?
The 1,688 undergraduate-level posts (Pay Levels 2, 3) include Commercial-cum-Ticket Clerk, Accounts Clerk-cum-Typist, Junior Clerk-cum-Typist and Trains Clerk. The detailed notification is scheduled for 14 October 2026, and online applications run from 15 October to 13 November 2026. For UG posts, General, OBC and EWS candidates must have secured at least 50% marks in Class 12; for SC, ST and PwBD candidates, simply passing is sufficient.
What Is the RRB NTPC Eligibility and Age Limit?
- Education: bachelor's degree from a recognised university (graduate posts); Class 12 pass (undergraduate posts, with the 50% condition for General/OBC/EWS).
- Age limit: 18–30 years for most posts, with relaxations for reserved categories as per Railway rules.
- Application fee: ₹500 for General category candidates, ₹250 for other specified categories.
- Typing posts: 30 words per minute in English or 25 words per minute in Hindi is required for clerk posts with a typing skill test.
What Is the RRB NTPC CBT-1 Exam Pattern?
CBT-1 is the screening stage of RRB NTPC: it decides who reaches CBT-2, but its marks do not decide the final merit. About 20 times the number of vacancies are shortlisted from CBT-1 for CBT-2.
| Section | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| General Awareness | 40 | 40 |
| Mathematics | 30 | 30 |
| General Intelligence & Reasoning | 30 | 30 |
| Total | 100 | 100 |
Duration is 90 minutes (120 minutes for PwBD candidates using a scribe) and 1/3 mark is deducted for every wrong answer. Minimum qualifying marks: 40% for UR/EWS, 30% for OBC/SC and 25% for ST.
What Is the RRB NTPC CBT-2 Exam Pattern?
CBT-2 is the merit-deciding stage: the normalised CBT-2 score determines your final rank and post allocation. It covers the same three subjects at higher difficulty.
| Section | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| General Awareness (incl. General Science) | 50 | 50 |
| Mathematics | 35 | 35 |
| General Intelligence & Reasoning | 35 | 35 |
| Total | 120 | 120 |
CBT-2 also runs 90 minutes with 1/3 negative marking, and scores are normalised across shifts. CBT-2 is common in pattern for both graduate and undergraduate posts, though difficulty is set at the respective level.
What Happens After CBT-2 in RRB NTPC?
Post-specific stages follow CBT-2. Candidates for typist/clerk posts must clear the Typing Skill Test (30 wpm English / 25 wpm Hindi), while Station Master candidates face the Computer Based Aptitude Test (CBAT). The full chain is: CBT-1 → CBT-2 → Typing Skill Test / CBAT → Document Verification → Medical Examination.
How Should You Prepare for RRB NTPC 2026-27?
1. Attack the 40/50-mark General Awareness block first
General Awareness is the single largest section in both CBT-1 (40 marks) and CBT-2 (50 marks). A daily 30-minute habit of current affairs plus revision of static subjects converts directly into the highest marks per hour of study.
2. Build calculation speed for Mathematics
Maths carries 30 marks in CBT-1 and 35 in CBT-2. Practise percentages, ratio, profit & loss, time & work, simple and compound interest, and averages until arithmetic is automatic.
3. Treat Reasoning as a scoring section
Series, analogy, coding-decoding and syllogism questions in NTPC are mostly formulaic — candidates who practise previous year questions find this the most predictable section.
4. Respect the 1/3 negative marking in every mock
Attempt mock tests with the same 90-minute limit, 1/3 deduction, and the 40/30/30 (CBT-1) or 50/35/35 (CBT-2) split. If guessing gives you less than 40% accuracy, skip more in the real exam.
5. Don't ignore CBT-2 difficulty after clearing CBT-1
CBT-2 decides the merit list and is noticeably harder. Keep the same preparation intensity going so normalised scoring doesn't surprise you.
FAQs — RRB NTPC 2026-27
How many vacancies are there in RRB NTPC 2026-27?
RRB NTPC 2026-27 has 5,165 vacancies in total: 3,477 graduate-level posts under CEN 06/2026 and 1,688 undergraduate-level posts under CEN 07/2026.
What is the last date to apply for RRB NTPC 2026-27?
For graduate-level posts (CEN 06/2026), the application window is 8 October to 6 November 2026. For undergraduate-level posts (CEN 07/2026), applications are accepted from 15 October to 13 November 2026.
What is the RRB NTPC exam pattern for CBT-1 and CBT-2?
RRB NTPC CBT-1 has 100 questions for 100 marks in 90 minutes (General Awareness 40, Mathematics 30, Reasoning 30). RRB NTPC CBT-2 has 120 questions for 120 marks in 90 minutes (General Awareness 50, Mathematics 35, Reasoning 35). Both carry 1/3 negative marking per wrong answer.
Is RRB NTPC CBT-1 qualifying in nature?
Yes, RRB NTPC CBT-1 is a screening test used to shortlist candidates (about 20 times the vacancies) for CBT-2. The final merit list is based on the normalised CBT-2 score.
What is the minimum qualifying percentage in RRB NTPC?
In RRB NTPC, the minimum qualifying marks are 40% for UR and EWS candidates, 30% for OBC and SC candidates, and 25% for ST candidates.
What is the RRB NTPC 2026-27 application fee?
The RRB NTPC 2026-27 application fee is ₹500 for General category candidates and ₹250 for other specified categories.
What is the salary of RRB NTPC posts?
RRB NTPC posts fall in Pay Levels 2 to 6: Level 2 starts at ₹19,900, while Level 6 posts go up to ₹1,12,400, plus dearness allowance and railway benefits.
Which skill test applies to RRB NTPC clerk posts?
Clerk/typist posts in RRB NTPC require a Typing Skill Test at 30 words per minute in English or 25 words per minute in Hindi. Station Master candidates instead take the Computer Based Aptitude Test (CBAT).
Last updated: 05 October 2026
Comments
Leave a comment →