Fazlur Rahman
Last verified: October 8, 2026.
The Railway Recruitment Board (RRB) runs two parallel Non-Technical Popular Categories (NTPC) streams in the 2026 recruitment cycle: the Undergraduate (UG) stream under CEN 07/2025 for 10+2 level posts, and the Graduate stream under CEN 06/2025 for graduate-level posts. Together the two streams cover 8,868 vacancies across non-technical posts in Indian Railways, with selection through Computer Based Tests (CBT 1 and CBT 2), a Typing Skill Test or Computer Based Aptitude Test (CBAT) as applicable, Document Verification, and Medical Examination. The CBT 1 for the Graduate stream ran March 16-27, 2026, and the CBT 2 is scheduled for July 10, 2026. The CBT 1 for the UG stream ran May 7 to June 20, 2026, and the result and zone-wise cut-off were released on August 24, 2026. CBT 2 for the UG stream is the next stage.
This walkthrough reads RRB NTPC 2026 the way candidates encounter the recruitment: the two streams and their vacancies, the posts available in each, the selection stages, the CBT 1 cut-off that has been released for the UG stream, the exam pattern, the syllabus, and the salary structure that makes NTPC the most-coveted non-technical railway recruitment in India.
The Two Streams: UG and Graduate
RRB NTPC recruitment is split by educational qualification, and candidates apply to the stream that matches their qualification:
| Stream | CEN | Total vacancies | Eligibility | Posts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate (UG) - 10+2 level | CEN 07/2025 | 3,058 | 10+2 / Intermediate from a recognized board | Junior Clerk Cum Typist, Commercial Cum Ticket Clerk, Accounts Clerk Cum Typist, Trains Clerk, etc. |
| Graduate | CEN 06/2025 | 5,810 | Graduation (Bachelor's degree) from a recognized university | Station Master, Goods Train Manager, Senior Clerk cum Typist, Junior Accounts Assistant cum Typist, Chief Commercial Cum Ticket Supervisor, etc. |
The two streams are independent recruitments. A 10+2 candidate cannot apply for the Graduate stream; a graduate cannot apply for the UG stream. Application fees, age limits, and exam patterns are the same across both streams; the difference is the post list and the educational qualification required.
The combined 8,868 vacancies for the 2026 cycle is a meaningful increase from the 35,281 vacancies in the 2019 NTPC cycle (CEN 01/2019), which was the last major NTPC recruitment. The 2026 vacancies are smaller and more selective; the CBT 1 cut-off (discussed below) reflects the higher per-post competition.
Selection Stages: CBT 1 to CBT 2 to Skill Test to DV to Medical
The NTPC selection process has five stages. Each stage is qualifying for the next; the final merit list is based on CBT 2 marks (and CBAT marks for posts that require it):
| Stage | What it is | Qualifying? |
|---|---|---|
| CBT 1 (Computer Based Test 1) | 100-minute objective test with 100 questions; screening stage | Yes - qualifies candidates for CBT 2 |
| CBT 2 (Computer Based Test 2) | 90-minute objective test with 120 questions; merit-based for most posts | Yes - qualifies candidates for the next stage |
| Typing Skill Test / CBAT | Typing test for clerk posts; Computer Based Aptitude Test for Station Master / Goods Train Manager | Yes - qualifying; no marks counted in merit |
| Document Verification (DV) | Verification of original certificates, identity, and category | Yes - final eligibility check |
| Medical Examination | Medical fitness as per the post's prescribed standard | Yes - final eligibility check |
CBT 1 is the filter - only candidates above the zone-wise and category-wise cut-off advance to CBT 2. CBT 2 is the merit list source for most posts. The Typing Skill Test is for clerk posts and the CBAT is for Station Master and Goods Train Manager; both are qualifying. Document Verification and Medical Examination are the final eligibility checks before appointment.
The 100-minute CBT 1 covers General Awareness, Mathematics, and General Intelligence and Reasoning, with 100 questions for 100 marks. There is negative marking: 1/3 mark deducted for each wrong answer. CBT 2 has 120 questions for 120 marks with the same sections and negative marking.
The UG Cut-Off (Released August 24, 2026)
RRB released the NTPC UG CBT 1 cut-off on August 24, 2026, alongside the result. The cut-off is zone-wise and category-wise:
| Category | Minimum qualifying % |
|---|---|
| UR (Unreserved) / EWS | 40% |
| OBC-NCL / SC | 30% |
| ST | 25% |
The minimum qualifying percentage is the floor - the actual zone-wise and category-wise cut-off is higher and varies by RRB region. Higher-population zones (Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Patna) typically post the highest cut-offs; lower-population zones (Ranchi, Bhubaneswar, Guwahati) typically post the lowest. The zone-wise cut-off ranges published in earlier NTPC cycles have been 40-72 for UR, 30-65 for OBC, 25-58 for SC, and 20-50 for ST (varying year to year). The 2026 cut-off followed the same pattern.
Candidates equal to or above the prescribed cut-off for their category and zone have qualified for CBT 2. CBT 2 for the UG stream is the next stage, with the date to be announced on the RRB regional websites. CBT 2 merit is the basis for the final selection to the post list.
The Graduate Cut-Off and Result (Already Released)
For the Graduate stream under CEN 06/2025, the CBT 1 was held March 16-27, 2026, and the result was released June 2026 (RRB NTPC Result Graduate 2026, teqip.in). Around 88,037 candidates qualified in CBT 1, advancing to CBT 2 scheduled for July 10, 2026. The cut-off for the Graduate stream was released alongside the result, with zone-wise and category-wise cut-offs typically higher than the UG stream because the candidate pool is smaller and the posts are more coveted.
The Graduate stream's CBT 2 merit list drives the final selection to the 5,810 posts. The CBAT for Station Master and Goods Train Manager candidates is scheduled after CBT 2; qualifying CBAT is required for these posts but the CBAT marks do not count toward merit.
Exam Pattern in Detail
The CBT pattern for both streams:
| Section | CBT 1 questions | CBT 2 questions | Topics |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Awareness | 40 | 50 | Current affairs, Indian history, geography, polity, economics, general science |
| Mathematics | 30 | 35 | Number system, decimals, fractions, LCM/HCF, ratio, percentage, time and work, speed and distance, simple and compound interest, profit and loss, geometry, trigonometry, statistics |
| General Intelligence and Reasoning | 30 | 35 | Analogies, classifications, series, coding-decoding, blood relations, directions, syllogism, Venn diagrams, statement-conclusion, problem-solving |
| Total | 100 | 120 | - |
CBT 1 is 90 minutes; CBT 2 is 120 minutes. Both have 1/3 negative marking for wrong answers. The exam is conducted in English, Hindi, and 13 regional languages (Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Kannada, Konkani, Malayalam, Manipuri, Marathi, Odia, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu, Urdu). The medium of exam is selected at the time of application; it cannot be changed later.
CBT 1 is a screening test. The marks are not counted in the final merit; only the qualification (above the cut-off) matters. CBT 2 is the merit test; the final merit list is based on CBT 2 marks plus applicable CBAT qualifying status.
Salary: Pay Levels, In-Hand, and Allowances
NTPC posts span Pay Level 2 to Pay Level 6 of the 7th Central Pay Commission (CPC):
| Post | Pay Level | Initial basic pay | Approx. in-hand (with DA) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Junior Clerk Cum Typist (UG) | Level 2 | Rs. 19,900 | Rs. 28,000 - Rs. 32,000 |
| Trains Clerk (UG) | Level 2 | Rs. 19,900 | Rs. 28,000 - Rs. 32,000 |
| Accounts Clerk Cum Typist (UG) | Level 2 | Rs. 19,900 | Rs. 28,000 - Rs. 32,000 |
| Commercial Cum Ticket Clerk (UG) | Level 3 | Rs. 21,700 | Rs. 30,000 - Rs. 35,000 |
| Station Master (Graduate) | Level 6 | Rs. 35,400 | Rs. 45,000 - Rs. 52,000 |
| Goods Train Manager (Graduate) | Level 7 | Rs. 44,900 | Rs. 56,000 - Rs. 65,000 |
| Senior Clerk cum Typist (Graduate) | Level 5 | Rs. 29,200 | Rs. 38,000 - Rs. 44,000 |
| Junior Accounts Assistant cum Typist (Graduate) | Level 5 | Rs. 29,200 | Rs. 38,000 - Rs. 44,000 |
In-hand salaries include basic pay plus Dearness Allowance (DA, currently 22% of basic in 2026) plus House Rent Allowance (HRA, 8%/16%/24% of basic depending on city class) plus Transport Allowance. The approximate in-hand figures in the table above are based on typical postings in Class Y (16% HRA) cities; Class X (24% HRA) postings are roughly 5-8% higher, and Class Z (8% HRA) postings are 5-10% lower.
The pay levels also include annual increments, periodic DA revisions (twice a year), and a defined-benefit pension under the railway pension rules. The total compensation package for Level 6 (Station Master) and above is competitive with central government Group B entry-level positions.
What to Watch Next
Three signals settle the rest of 2026 for NTPC candidates:
First, CBT 2 dates for the UG stream. The CBT 2 is the merit-determining stage; the date is announced on the RRB regional websites. Candidates in the UG stream should monitor their RRB regional website for the schedule.
Second, CBT 2 result for the Graduate stream. The July 10, 2026 CBT 2 for the Graduate stream produces the merit list for the 5,810 graduate posts. The result and the CBAT schedule for Station Master and Goods Train Manager candidates are the next announcements to watch.
Third, the next NTPC cycle. The 2026 cycle is a two-stream recruitment (UG + Graduate); the next cycle is likely to follow the same pattern, with notifications expected in 2027 for 2028-stage recruitment. Candidates who did not qualify this cycle should treat the CBT 1 syllabus as the foundation for next-cycle preparation.
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