OverviewRRB NTPC at a glance
Conducting body
Railway Recruitment Boards (RRBs), under the Ministry of Railways, Government of India.
Purpose
Recruitment to Non-Technical Popular Category (NTPC) posts at graduate and undergraduate levels across the Indian Railways.
Question type
Objective multiple-choice questions in a Computer-Based Test (CBT). Negative marking applies.
Stages
CBT 1 → CBT 2 → Skill test (Typing / Computer-Based Aptitude Test, as applicable) → Document Verification & Medical.
StagesSelection stages
CBT 1 (First Stage)
A common screening test for all NTPC posts; the marks are normalised and used to shortlist candidates for CBT 2.
CBT 2 (Second Stage)
A higher-level test held for shortlisted candidates; it decides the merit for most posts.
Skill test
A Typing Skill Test for clerk/typist posts, or a Computer-Based Aptitude Test (CBAT) for Station Master / Traffic Assistant.
Document Verification & Medical
The final stage before appointment.
CBT 1CBT 1 Exam Pattern
| Section | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Mathematics | 30 | 30 |
| General Intelligence & Reasoning | 30 | 30 |
| General Awareness | 40 | 40 |
| Total | 100 | 100 |
Duration & negative marking
90 minutes (120 minutes for eligible scribe users). Negative marking of one-third (1/3) mark for each wrong answer. Practice RRB NTPC questions →
CBT 2CBT 2 Exam Pattern
| Section | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Mathematics | 35 | 35 |
| General Intelligence & Reasoning | 35 | 35 |
| General Awareness | 50 | 50 |
| Total | 120 | 120 |
Duration & negative marking
90 minutes (120 minutes for eligible scribe users). Negative marking of one-third (1/3) mark for each wrong answer.
SyllabusSection-wise syllabus
Mathematics
Number system, decimals and fractions, LCM & HCF, ratio & proportion, percentage, mensuration, time & work, time & distance, simple & compound interest, profit & loss, algebra, geometry, trigonometry and elementary statistics.
General Intelligence & Reasoning
Analogies, series, coding-decoding, mathematical operations, relationships, syllogism, Venn diagrams, data interpretation, statement-conclusion and decision-making.
General Awareness
Current affairs (national & international), Indian history and the freedom struggle, geography, Indian polity and governance, economy, general science (up to Class 10 level), and general scientific & technological developments.
PostsPosts & eligibility
Graduate-level posts
Station Master, Goods Train Manager (Guard), Senior Clerk cum Typist, Junior Account Assistant cum Typist, Senior Time Keeper and Commercial Apprentice — require a bachelor's degree.
Undergraduate-level posts
Junior Clerk cum Typist, Accounts Clerk cum Typist, Trains Clerk and Commercial cum Ticket Clerk — require a pass in Class 12 (or equivalent).
Age limit
Set in each notification (broadly 18–33 for undergraduate and 18–36 for graduate posts), with category relaxations as per government norms.
StrategyHow to prepare for RRB NTPC
1. General Awareness carries the most weight
With 40 (CBT 1) and 50 (CBT 2) marks, GA is the biggest section — build daily current-affairs and static-GK notes. Start free practice →
2. Make Maths & Reasoning quick and accurate
Practise arithmetic and reasoning sets daily; these are scoring once the methods are automatic.
3. Revise science up to Class 10
General Science in GA is pitched at the school level — the NCERT/State Board Class 6–10 science books are your core source.
4. Take timed mocks & manage negatives
Simulate 90-minute CBTs; with one-third negative marking, skip questions you are unsure about.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the RRB NTPC CBT 1 exam pattern?
- 100 questions for 100 marks in 90 minutes — Mathematics (30), Reasoning (30), General Awareness (40) — with one-third negative marking.
- What is the CBT 2 pattern?
- 120 questions for 120 marks in 90 minutes — Mathematics (35), Reasoning (35), General Awareness (50).
- Is there negative marking in RRB NTPC?
- Yes — one-third (1/3) mark is deducted for each wrong answer in both CBTs.
- What is the eligibility for RRB NTPC?
- Graduate posts need a degree; undergraduate posts need a Class 12 pass. Age limits are set in each notification.
This page summarises the RRB NTPC syllabus and exam pattern for quick revision. The stage scheme, marks, negative marking and post list follow the RRB framework but change between notifications — always confirm the latest details and dates from the official RRB notification (your regional RRB website / indianrailways.gov.in) before applying.