RRB NTPC Syllabus 2026 at a Glance
The RRB NTPC 2026 syllabus has three subjects in both CBT 1 and CBT 2: General Awareness, Mathematics, and General Intelligence and Reasoning. CBT 1 has 100 questions (40 GA, 30 Maths, 30 Reasoning) and CBT 2 has 120 questions (50, 35, 35), each in 90 minutes, with 1/3 mark deducted for every wrong answer. The topic list is the same for the Graduate (CEN 06/2026) and Undergraduate (CEN 07/2026) notifications.
Key takeaway: In 2026 the typing skill test (CBTST) has been dispensed with for all four typist posts (Senior Clerk cum Typist, Junior Accounts Assistant cum Typist, Junior Clerk cum Typist and Accounts Clerk cum Typist). Selection for every NTPC post in these two CENs is CBT 1 → CBT 2 → Document Verification and Medical Examination. Source: Para 13 of CEN 06/2026 and CEN 07/2026 (Railway Recruitment Boards, published on rrb.indianrailways.gov.in).
The Graduate CBT 1 is tentatively planned to start in the fourth week of December 2026 (RRB indicative notice for CEN 06/2026). The Undergraduate exam date had not been announced as of 19 October 2026.
RRB NTPC Exam Pattern 2026 (CBT 1)
| Subject | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| General Awareness | 40 | 40 |
| Mathematics | 30 | 30 |
| General Intelligence and Reasoning | 30 | 30 |
| Total | 100 | 100 |
- Time: 90 minutes (120 minutes for PwBD candidates eligible for a scribe). There is no sectional timer; you can move between subjects freely.
- Marking: 1 mark per question; 1/3 mark deducted for each wrong answer.
- Nature: screening only. Normalised CBT 1 scores shortlist candidates for CBT 2 at 15 times the community-wise vacancies of each RRB.
- The section-wise split is "only indicative"; the actual paper can vary slightly.
- No calculators or electronic gadgets are allowed.
RRB NTPC Exam Pattern 2026 (CBT 2)
| Subject | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| General Awareness | 50 | 50 |
| Mathematics | 35 | 35 |
| General Intelligence and Reasoning | 35 | 35 |
| Total | 120 | 120 |
- Time: 90 minutes (120 minutes for scribe-eligible PwBD candidates).
- Negative marking: 1/3 mark per wrong answer.
- Merit: normalised CBT 2 marks decide who is called for document verification, at 1:1 with the vacancies.
- Tie-break: the older candidate ranks higher; if the age is the same, alphabetical order of the given name (not surname).
RRB NTPC Post-wise Selection Process 2026
| CEN | Post | Pay level | Medical standard | Stages |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 06/2026 (Graduate) | Chief Commercial cum Ticket Supervisor | 6 | B2 | CBT 1, CBT 2, DV, ME |
| 06/2026 (Graduate) | Goods Train Manager | 5 | A2 | CBT 1, CBT 2, DV, ME |
| 06/2026 (Graduate) | Junior Accounts Assistant cum Typist | 5 | C2 | CBT 1, CBT 2, DV, ME (typing test dispensed with) |
| 06/2026 (Graduate) | Senior Clerk cum Typist | 5 | C2 | CBT 1, CBT 2, DV, ME (typing test dispensed with) |
| 07/2026 (Undergraduate) | Commercial cum Ticket Clerk | 3 | B2 | CBT 1, CBT 2, DV, ME |
| 07/2026 (Undergraduate) | Accounts Clerk cum Typist | 2 | C2 | CBT 1, CBT 2, DV, ME (typing test dispensed with) |
| 07/2026 (Undergraduate) | Junior Clerk cum Typist | 2 | C2 | CBT 1, CBT 2, DV, ME (typing test dispensed with) |
| 07/2026 (Undergraduate) | Trains Clerk | 2 | A3 | CBT 1, CBT 2, DV, ME |
The CENs add that typists are still expected to have basic computer and typing proficiency, which will be assessed after joining. Station Master is not among the posts in CEN 06/2026, and neither CEN prescribes a CBAT (computer-based aptitude test) stage.
RRB NTPC Maths Syllabus 2026
The official list (same for CBT 1 and CBT 2):
| Area | Topics |
|---|---|
| Number basics | Number system, decimals, fractions, LCM and HCF |
| Arithmetic | Ratio and proportion, percentage, profit and loss, simple and compound interest |
| Time based | Time and work, time and distance |
| Mensuration | Areas and volumes of 2D and 3D figures |
| Algebra and geometry | Elementary algebra, geometry, trigonometry |
| Statistics | Elementary statistics (mean, median, mode, simple data reading) |
The level is set by "the educational standards prescribed for the posts", so expect Class 10 level maths in both CENs. There is no calculator and no sectional timer, so the time you save in Maths can go to GA.
RRB NTPC Reasoning Syllabus 2026
| Family | Official topics |
|---|---|
| Verbal | Analogies, similarities and differences, completion of number and alphabetical series, coding and decoding, jumbling |
| Logical | Syllogism, Venn diagrams, statement-conclusion, statement-courses of action, decision making, data sufficiency |
| Analytical | Relationships (blood relations), puzzles, analytical reasoning (seating, ranking, direction) |
| Maths-based | Mathematical operations |
| Graphical | Maps, interpretation of graphs |
RRB NTPC GK Syllabus 2026 (General Awareness)
General Awareness is the biggest section (40% of CBT 1 and about 42% of CBT 2). The official list:
| Area | What the CEN names |
|---|---|
| Current affairs | Current events of national and international importance, games and sports, flagship government programmes |
| History and culture | History of India and the freedom struggle, art and culture of India, Indian literature, monuments and places of India |
| Geography and environment | Physical, social and economic geography of India and the world, environmental issues, flora and fauna of India |
| Polity and economy | Indian polity and governance (constitution and political system), Indian economy |
| Science | General science and life science (up to Class 10 CBSE), scientific and technological developments including India's space and nuclear programmes |
| Static GK | UN and other world organisations, common abbreviations, transport systems in India, famous personalities, important government and public sector organisations |
| Computers | Basics of computers and computer applications |
Railway GK (zones, headquarters, production units, first trains) falls under "transport systems in India" and appears regularly.
RRB NTPC Qualifying Marks 2026
| Category | Minimum qualifying marks (CBT 1 and CBT 2) |
|---|---|
| UR | 40% |
| EWS | 40% |
| OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) | 30% |
| SC | 30% |
| ST | 25% |
These apply to Ex-Servicemen and PwBD candidates by their community. For PwBD candidates the marks may be relaxed by 2 if there is a shortage against reserved vacancies. Qualifying marks are only a floor; selection is on merit.
How to Prepare Using the RRB NTPC Syllabus
- Make GA your scoring section. With 40 of 100 marks (and 50 of 120 in CBT 2), GA decides most ranks. Revise current affairs of the last 6-8 months, static GK, Class 10 science and railway GK every week.
- Calculate before you guess. At −1/3, a random guess among four options has an expected score of 0 (1/4 × 1 − 3/4 × 1/3 = 0). Guess only when you can eliminate at least one option.
- Use the free time. With no sectional timer, finish Reasoning in about 20-25 minutes and Maths in about 30, then give the remaining time to GA and review.
- Do not skip typing practice if you want a typist post: the test is dispensed with for selection, but proficiency is checked after joining.
- Practise in the official format using full CBT mocks of 100 and 120 questions.
RRB NTPC Syllabus Practice Questions (with Answers)
Q1. How many questions are asked from General Awareness in RRB NTPC CBT 2? Answer: 50 out of 120.
Q2. A candidate attempts 84 questions in CBT 1 and 72 are correct. What is the score? Answer: 68. Wrong = 12; score = 72 − 12 × 1/3 = 72 − 4 = 68.
Q3. What is the minimum qualifying percentage for an OBC (NCL) candidate in RRB NTPC 2026? Answer: 30%.
Q4 (Maths). Find the LCM and HCF of 12, 18 and 30. Answer: LCM = 180, HCF = 6.
Q5 (Maths). Find the simple interest on ₹6,000 at 8% per annum for 3 years. Answer: ₹1,440 (6,000 × 8 × 3 ÷ 100).
Q6 (Maths). The angles of a triangle are in the ratio 2 : 3 : 4. Find the largest angle. Answer: 80°. Total parts 9; 180° ÷ 9 = 20°; largest = 4 × 20° = 80°.
Q7 (Reasoning). Find the next term: B, E, H, K, ? Answer: N (each letter moves 3 places forward: B+3 = E, E+3 = H, H+3 = K, K+3 = N).
Q8 (Reasoning). If CAT is coded as DBU, how is DOG coded? Answer: EPH (each letter +1).
Q9 (GA). Which is the newest railway zone of Indian Railways, and where is its headquarters? Answer: South Coast Railway, headquartered at Visakhapatnam (working from 1 June 2026).
Q10. Is there a typing test for Junior Clerk cum Typist under CEN 07/2026? Answer: No. The Computer Based Typing Skill Test has been dispensed with for CEN 07/2026; proficiency is assessed after joining.
RRB NTPC Syllabus 2026 FAQs
Is the RRB NTPC syllabus the same for Graduate and Undergraduate posts?
Yes. CEN 06/2026 (Graduate) and CEN 07/2026 (Undergraduate) list the same topics and the same pattern. Only the difficulty follows the qualification required for the post.
Is the RRB NTPC CBT 1 and CBT 2 syllabus the same?
Yes, the topic lists are identical. CBT 2 has more questions (120 instead of 100) in the same 90 minutes, so it needs faster solving.
Is there a typing test in RRB NTPC 2026?
No. Both 2026 CENs say the Computer Based Typing Skill Test has been dispensed with for the typist posts. Read the full RRB NTPC typing test 2026 update for the Railway Board order and old vs new rules.
What is the negative marking in RRB NTPC?
One-third of a mark is deducted for each wrong answer in both CBT 1 and CBT 2. Unattempted questions get zero.
Are CBT 1 marks counted in the final RRB NTPC merit?
No. CBT 1 is a screening test. Document verification is called on the basis of normalised CBT 2 marks.
Is there a sectional time limit in RRB NTPC?
No. You get 90 minutes for the whole paper and can attempt sections in any order.
When is the RRB NTPC 2026 exam?
The Graduate (CEN 06/2026) CBT 1 is tentatively planned to start in the fourth week of December 2026. RRBs will issue a separate notice with exact dates; the Undergraduate date was not announced as of 19 October 2026.
Practice Next
- New NTPC reasoning topic tests: RRB NTPC Number Series Mock Test 02 and RRB NTPC Syllogism Mock Test 02.
- Full mocks: RRB NTPC CBT 1 Full Mock Test 01, RRB NTPC CBT 1 Full Mock Test 11, RRB NTPC CBT 2 Full Mock Test 01 and the RRB NTPC Graduate 2026 paper, 16 March Shift 2.
- Sectionals: GA Sectional 01, Maths Sectional 01, Reasoning Sectional 01, RRB NTPC Reasoning Mock Test 07, Railway GK Quiz 01.
- Related notes: RRB NTPC Goods Train Manager, RRB NTPC maths formulas, Indian railway zones and headquarters, physics for RRB Group D, chemistry for RRB Group D, biology for RRB Group D, SSC CGL syllabus 2026.
- Job update: RRB NTPC 2026 notification. Browse all study notes.