| 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.
Read next
SBI PO Prelims Result 2026: Check Score, Mains is the parallel banking-recruitment result that NTPC candidates often combine with railway recruitment in their preparation calendar, and CTET 2026 Result: Cut-Off, Scorecard is the parallel teaching-recruitment result for candidates considering the Central Teacher Eligibility Test as an alternative to railway recruitment.
Fazlur Rahman
