RRB NTPC 2026 — 8868 Vacancies, Eligibility, Exam Dates & Preparation Strategy
RRB NTPC 2026 complete guide — 8868 vacancies, eligibility, CBT 1 & CBT 2 exam dates (Graduate CBT 2: July 10, 2026), exam pattern, syllabus, and targeted preparation strategy.
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RRB NTPC 2026 is one of India's most competitive railway recruitment examinations, offering 8,868 total vacancies across Graduate and Undergraduate level posts. The Railway Recruitment Board released the official RRB NTPC notification in October 2025, and with the Graduate Level CBT 2 exam officially scheduled for July 10, 2026, this is a critical period for every railway aspirant. This complete guide covers vacancies, eligibility, exam dates, CBT 1 and CBT 2 pattern, syllabus, and preparation tips for RRB NTPC 2026.
RRB NTPC 2026 Key Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Graduate Level Notification | October 20, 2025 |
| UG Level Notification | October 27, 2025 |
| Graduate CBT 1 Exam | March 16–27, 2026 |
| UG CBT 1 Exam | May 7–21 and June 13–21, 2026 |
| Graduate CBT 2 Exam | July 10, 2026 |
| UG CBT 2 | August 2026 (tentative) |
RRB NTPC 2026 Vacancies
Total Vacancies: 8,868
| Level | Vacancies |
|---|---|
| Graduate Level | 5,810 |
| Undergraduate Level | 3,058 |
| Total | 8,868 |
Graduate Level Posts: Junior Clerk cum Typist, Accounts Clerk cum Typist, Junior Time Keeper, Trains Clerk, Commercial cum Ticket Clerk, Traffic Assistant, Goods Guard, Senior Commercial cum Ticket Clerk, Senior Clerk cum Typist, Commercial Apprentice, Station Master.
UG Level Posts: Junior Clerk cum Typist, Accounts Clerk cum Typist, Junior Time Keeper, Trains Clerk, Commercial cum Ticket Clerk.
RRB NTPC 2026 Eligibility
Educational Qualification
- Graduate Posts: Graduation degree from a recognised university
- UG Posts: 12th pass (10+2) from a recognised board
Age Limit
- Graduate Posts: 18–33 years
- UG Posts: 18–30 years
- Age relaxation: SC/ST — 5 years | OBC — 3 years | PwBD — 10 years
RRB NTPC 2026 Exam Pattern
CBT 1 (Qualifying Stage)
| Section | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Mathematics | 30 | 30 |
| General Intelligence & Reasoning | 30 | 30 |
| General Awareness | 40 | 40 |
| Total | 100 | 100 |
Duration: 90 minutes | Negative Marking: 1/3 per wrong answer
CBT 1 is qualifying — normalised marks are used for CBT 2 shortlisting.
CBT 2 (Merit Stage)
| Section | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Mathematics | 35 | 35 |
| General Intelligence & Reasoning | 35 | 35 |
| General Awareness | 50 | 50 |
| Total | 120 | 120 |
Duration: 90 minutes | Negative Marking: 1/3 per wrong answer
CBT 2 marks determine the final merit list and shortlisting for Document Verification.
RRB NTPC 2026 Syllabus
Mathematics
Number System, Decimals & Fractions, LCM & HCF, Ratio & Proportion, Percentage, Mensuration, Time & Work, Time & Distance, Simple & Compound Interest, Profit & Loss, Elementary Algebra, Geometry & Trigonometry, Elementary Statistics.
General Intelligence & Reasoning
Analogies, Alphabetical & Number Series, Coding-Decoding, Mathematical Operations, Similarities & Differences, Blood Relations, Syllogism, Jumbling, Venn Diagram, Data Sufficiency, Conclusions & Decision Making, Statement–Argument, Missing Numbers.
General Awareness
Current Affairs of National & International importance, Science & Technology, Sports & Games, Art & Culture, Indian History, Geography, Polity & Constitution, Indian Economy, Environment & Ecology, Railways GK (Indian Railway history, zones, speed records, major projects).
RRB NTPC 2026 Preparation Strategy
For CBT 2 on July 10, 2026 (urgent — 13 days away):
- Full-length mock tests daily — attempt at least one CBT 2-level mock per day under timed 90-minute conditions.
- General Awareness is the key differentiator — 50 marks in CBT 2; revise last 6 months of current affairs and Railways GK daily.
- Mathematics speed drills — 30 questions in 25 minutes; use shortcut methods for Percentage, Ratio, and SI/CI problems.
- Reasoning accuracy — analogies, coding-decoding, and number series are the quickest marks; solve 20 questions daily.
- Attempt at least 5 full mocks before July 10 and analyse every wrong answer carefully.
For CBT 1 candidates (UG level, targeting August 2026):
- Spend 45 days each on Mathematics, Reasoning, and General Awareness fundamentals.
- Daily GA routine — 30 minutes current affairs + weekly revision of static topics (History, Geography, Polity).
- Switch to full-length mock tests in the final 3 weeks.
Free Mock Tests for RRB NTPC 2026
FreePrep provides free RRB NTPC mock tests for CBT 1 and CBT 2 — Mathematics, Reasoning, and General Awareness — with detailed score analysis and bilingual (English & Hindi) interface. Practise free, no registration required. Start your NTPC preparation today.