RRB has opened two NTPC recruitments together: CEN 06/2026 for graduates (3,548 posts) and CEN 07/2026 for 12th-pass candidates (1,688 posts), which makes 5,236 posts in total. The deadlines are close. The Graduate form closes on 6 November 2026 and the Undergraduate form on 13 November 2026, both at 11:59 PM on rrbapply.gov.in. This guide puts the two official notices side by side: every post with its pay and medical standard, who is eligible for which notice, the age windows, the medical rules that rule people out late, the exam pattern and syllabus, and the form rules that most often cause rejection. Every figure is from the official notices and their FAQs, with page numbers in brackets (G = CEN 06 Graduate, UG = CEN 07 Under-Graduate).
For dates, fee and apply links, see the RRB NTPC Graduate online form and the RRB NTPC Under-Graduate online form pages.
Graduate vs Under-Graduate at a Glance
| CEN 06/2026 (Graduate) | CEN 07/2026 (Under-Graduate) | |
|---|---|---|
| Total posts | 3,548 (G p.4) | 1,688 (UG p.4) |
| Qualification | Degree from a recognised university (G p.30) | 12th (+2) with at least 50% aggregate, with exemptions (UG p.32) |
| Pay levels | Level 5 and Level 6 | Level 2 and Level 3 |
| Age (as on 01.01.2027) | 18–33 | 18–30 |
| Apply online | 08.10.2026 – 06.11.2026 (11:59 PM) | 15.10.2026 – 13.11.2026 (11:59 PM) |
| Last date for fee | 08.11.2026 | 15.11.2026 |
| Modification window | 09.11 – 18.11.2026 | 16.11 – 25.11.2026 |
| Fee | ₹500 general (₹400 refunded after CBT-1); ₹250 concessional (fully refunded after CBT-1) | |
| Selection | CBT-1 → CBT-2 → Document Verification / Medical. No typing test. | |
| Exam dates | Not announced yet; RRB will publish them on its website | |
The Graduate Posts (CEN 06/2026): 3,548
| Post | Pay level / initial pay | Medical | Posts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goods Train Manager | Level 5 / ₹29,200 | A-2 | 2,750 |
| Senior Clerk cum Typist | Level 5 / ₹29,200 | C-2 | 371 |
| Junior Accounts Assistant cum Typist | Level 5 / ₹29,200 | C-2 | 300 |
| Chief Commercial cum Ticket Supervisor | Level 6 / ₹35,400 | B-2 | 127 |
| Total | 3,548 |
Source: G p.4 and Annexure A, G p.30. Goods Train Manager makes up 2,750 of the 3,548 posts (78%), and it is also the post with the strictest eye standard (A-2, explained below). Many graduates will qualify on marks for Goods Train Manager but cannot take it because of their eyesight. Read the medical section before you set your post preferences.
Category split (G p.37): UR 1,517 · OBC-NCL 873 · SC 553 · EWS 305 · ST 300. Of these, 351 are earmarked for Ex-Servicemen.
All 21 RRBs have vacancies. The largest are Bilaspur (542), Ranchi (377), Bengaluru (346), Kolkata (332) and Ajmer (304); the single biggest row is 489 Goods Train Manager posts in SECR under RRB Bilaspur (G p.32). At the small end are Ahmedabad (19), Thiruvananthapuram (25), Malda (26) and Patna (29).
Station Master is not one of the NTPC Graduate posts this time. It has its own notice, CEN 08/2026, explained in our RRB Station Master 2026 guide.
The Under-Graduate Posts (CEN 07/2026): 1,688
| Post | Pay level / initial pay | Medical | Posts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Commercial cum Ticket Clerk | Level 3 / ₹21,700 | B-2 | 700 |
| Junior Clerk cum Typist | Level 2 / ₹19,900 | C-2 | 600 |
| Accounts Clerk cum Typist | Level 2 / ₹19,900 | C-2 | 200 |
| Trains Clerk | Level 2 / ₹19,900 | A-3 | 188 |
| Total | 1,688 |
Source: UG p.4 and p.32. Category split (UG p.40): UR 686 · OBC 414 · SC 258 · ST 167 · EWS 163, with 162 for Ex-Servicemen.
The largest boards are Kolkata (329), Chennai (168), Prayagraj (149), Mumbai (140) and Ajmer (124); the biggest single row is 114 Commercial cum Ticket Clerk posts in Southern Railway under RRB Chennai (UG p.35). Muzaffarpur has only 7 and Bilaspur 20, which is the reverse of the Graduate notice, where Bilaspur is the largest.
Choosing Your RRB
Each notice allows one application to one RRB. More than one application under the same notice, whether to the same or different RRBs, means all are rejected and the candidate is debarred (G p.5–6; UG p.5–6). Inside the chosen RRB you set your post and zone preferences, and a post you don't opt for is treated as unwillingness for it. The chosen RRB cannot be changed later, even in the modification window.
Two practical points from the notice. A request to transfer to another Railway after joining is not registered for 5 to 10 years (G p.7), so the RRB you choose is where you will work for a long time. And the board sizes are very different: in the Graduate notice, Bilaspur's 542 posts and Ahmedabad's 19 are two completely different contests.
Applying to both notices: neither notice nor either FAQ says whether a graduate may apply to both CEN 06 and CEN 07. The one-application rule is worded "against this CEN" each time. We won't guess beyond that. If you plan to apply to both, check with the RRB helpline (rrb.help@csc.gov.in; 9592001188 / 01725653333, 10 AM–5 PM on working days) first.
Eligibility
Qualification
- Graduate (CEN 06): a degree from a recognised university or its equivalent. There is no minimum percentage (G p.30).
- Under-Graduate (CEN 07): 12th (+2 stage) or equivalent with at least 50% aggregate. The 50% rule does not apply to SC, ST, PwBD and Ex-Servicemen candidates, or to anyone with a qualification higher than 12th (UG p.32).
- Result awaited = not eligible for both. You must hold the qualification by the closing date: 06.11.2026 for Graduate, 13.11.2026 for Under-Graduate. If your certificate is dated after that, bring mark sheets or an institute certificate showing that the result was declared before the closing date (G p.10; UG p.10).
Age as on 01.01.2027
| Category | Graduate (18–33): born between | Under-Graduate (18–30): born between |
|---|---|---|
| UR / EWS | 02.01.1994 – 01.01.2009 | 02.01.1997 – 01.01.2009 |
| OBC-NCL (+3) | 02.01.1991 – 01.01.2009 | 02.01.1994 – 01.01.2009 |
| SC / ST (+5) | 02.01.1989 – 01.01.2009 | 02.01.1992 – 01.01.2009 |
Other relaxations (G p.9; UG p.9): PwBD 10 / 13 / 15 years (UR-EWS / OBC / SC-ST); Ex-Servicemen 3 / 6 / 8 years after deducting service; serving Railway staff with 3 years' service up to 40 / 43 / 45 years of age; widowed, divorced or judicially separated women up to 35 / 38 / 40. Relaxations are not cumulative, and SC/ST/OBC candidates who apply against UR vacancies get no age relaxation. Your date of birth must match your 10th certificate; any mismatch leads to disqualification.
Medical Standards: Check Before You Choose Posts
The medical is the last stage, after both CBTs and document verification, so failing it means losing a selection you had already earned. The notice also says that failing the medical for one post gives no alternative post (G p.5).
| Standard | Posts | Vision | LASIK |
|---|---|---|---|
| A-2 | Goods Train Manager | 6/9, 6/9 without glasses; near Sn 0.6, 0.6 without glasses; colour, binocular, night and myopic vision tests | Not eligible |
| A-3 | Trains Clerk | 6/9, 6/9 with or without glasses (lens up to 2D); near Sn 0.6, 0.6; colour, binocular, night and myopic vision tests | Not eligible |
| B-2 | Chief Commercial cum Ticket Supervisor; Commercial cum Ticket Clerk | 6/9, 6/12 with or without glasses (up to 4D); near Sn 0.6, 0.6; field of vision test | Eligible if at least 1 year after surgery, corneal thickness ≥ 425 microns, no complications |
| C-2 | All four "cum Typist" clerk posts | 6/12, nil with or without glasses; near Sn 0.6 combined | Eligible |
Source: G p.8, p.53; UG p.8, p.55–56. If you wear glasses, the biggest Graduate post, Goods Train Manager, needs 6/9 in both eyes without them. If that's not you, put the B-2 and C-2 posts first in your preferences. For Trains Clerk, you will have to sign a "no LASIK" self-declaration at document verification, and a false declaration means debarment from all Railway recruitment (UG p.55).
Fee and Refund
| Category | Fee | Refund after appearing in CBT-1 |
|---|---|---|
| General (all others) | ₹500 | ₹400 |
| SC, ST, Ex-Servicemen, PwBD, Female, Transgender, Minorities, EBC | ₹250 | ₹250 |
Bank charges are deducted, and the refund is paid only to an Aadhaar-seeded bank account (G p.10–11). There is no refund if you don't sit CBT-1 or if your application is rejected. EBC (family income below ₹50,000 a year) is a fee concession only, not a reservation, and the certificate must be dated on or before the closing date. The Under-Graduate FAQ adds that processing charges and GST are payable on top of the fee.
Exam Pattern: CBT-1 and CBT-2
The pattern is the same for both notices (G p.19–20; UG p.20–21):
| Section | CBT-1 | CBT-2 |
|---|---|---|
| General Awareness | 40 | 50 |
| Mathematics | 30 | 35 |
| General Intelligence & Reasoning | 30 | 35 |
| Total questions | 100 | 120 |
| Time | 90 minutes | 90 minutes |
- Negative marking: 1/3 mark per wrong answer, in both CBTs.
- CBT-1 is screening. Candidates equal to 15 times the community-wise vacancies go to CBT-2, on normalised CBT-1 marks.
- CBT-2 decides selection. Document verification is called 1:1 to vacancies, RRB-wise, on normalised CBT-2 marks.
- Minimum qualifying marks in both: UR 40%, EWS 40%, OBC-NCL 30%, SC 30%, ST 25%.
- No typing test. It has been dispensed with for the "cum Typist" posts, but typing is assessed after joining, and poor performance may delay confirmation or promotion (G p.19).
- Languages: English, Hindi and 13 regional languages; questions show in your chosen language and in English.
- Tie-break: older candidate first; if age is equal, alphabetical order of the given name.
Note the timing: CBT-2 has 120 questions in the same 90 minutes, which is 45 seconds a question against 54 in CBT-1. Speed matters more in the stage that actually selects people, so practise CBT-2-length mocks before the exam.
What −1/3 means for guessing
With four options, a blind guess is worth zero on average (¼ × 1 − ¾ × ⅓ = 0). Ruling out one option makes a guess worth about +0.11 mark on average, and ruling out two makes it about +0.33. So skip questions you have no handle on, but attempt any where you can confidently eliminate an option.
Syllabus (Same for Both CBTs and Both Notices)
Mathematics: number system, decimals, fractions, LCM and HCF, ratio and proportion, percentage, mensuration, time and work, time and distance, simple and compound interest, profit and loss, elementary algebra, geometry and trigonometry, elementary statistics.
General Intelligence & Reasoning: analogies, number and alphabet series, coding-decoding, mathematical operations, similarities and differences, relationships, analytical reasoning, syllogism, jumbling, Venn diagrams, puzzles, data sufficiency, statement–conclusion, statement–courses of action, decision making, maps and interpretation of graphs.
General Awareness: current events (national and international), games and sports, art and culture of India, Indian literature, monuments and places; general science and life science up to Class 10 CBSE; history of India and the freedom struggle; physical, social and economic geography of India and the world; Indian polity and governance; scientific and technological developments, including India's space and nuclear programmes; the UN and world organisations; environmental issues; basics of computers and common abbreviations; transport systems in India; the Indian economy; famous personalities; flagship government programmes; flora and fauna of India; important government and PSU organisations.
General Awareness is the largest section in both CBTs (40 of 100, then 50 of 120), so it deserves daily time from the start. That is the opposite of the Station Master exam, which has no GA section at all.
Form Rules That Cause Rejections
- Account details are locked forever. Name, parents' names, date of birth, gender, matriculation details, email, mobile and Aadhaar e-KYC cannot be changed once the account is created. If you made an RRB account for a 2024, 2025 or 2026 CEN, you must use the same one.
- Use DigiLocker or Aadhaar verification. Candidates who use other photo IDs face "significantly stricter" scrutiny (G p.5), and the fee refund needs an Aadhaar-seeded bank account anyway.
- Live photo, not an uploaded one. The photo is taken live by webcam or phone front camera against a plain white background, with no cap, mask or spectacles and the head filling at least half the frame. Photographing a printed or on-screen photo leads to summary rejection (G p.22–23).
- Signature: JPG/JPEG of 30–49 KB, at least 140 × 60 pixels, 100 DPI or more, black ink on white paper, in running hand. Block or capital letters and thumb impressions are rejected.
- Name and date of birth must match the 10th certificate. If your Aadhaar shows a different date of birth, correct Aadhaar before applying, not the form. If you have changed your name, enter both old and new names and carry the Gazette notification.
- OBC-NCL certificate must be issued on or after 01.04.2026 and up to the closing date. Castes only on a state OBC list, not the central one, get no reservation (G p.12).
- At the exam: the self-declaration is written in the hall, and signing it in capital letters is a rejection. Carry a colour photo no older than two months, don't carry a pen, and avoid henna on hands and feet.
Changes after submission are possible only in the modification window, at ₹250 each time, and the chosen RRB and account details cannot be changed even then.
What to Do This Week
- Graduates: the form closes on 6 November. Check your unaided eyesight before choosing Goods Train Manager as your first preference, choose your RRB with the Annexure-B table open, and finish Aadhaar/DigiLocker verification.
- 12th-pass candidates: the form closes on 13 November. Confirm your 50% aggregate (or your exemption) and your date-of-birth window; the age limit here is 30, not 33.
- Everyone: start General Awareness daily, and practise 120-question, 90-minute mocks for CBT-2.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many posts are there in RRB NTPC 2026?
5,236 in total: 3,548 under CEN 06/2026 (Graduate) and 1,688 under CEN 07/2026 (Under-Graduate).
What is the last date to apply?
6 November 2026 for Graduate and 13 November 2026 for Under-Graduate, both by 11:59 PM. Fees can be paid until 8 and 15 November respectively.
Is there a typing test in RRB NTPC 2026?
No. The computer-based typing skill test has been dispensed with, but typing is assessed after joining.
Can final-year students apply?
No. Candidates awaiting their final result are not eligible; the qualification must be held by the closing date.
Is 50% compulsory in 12th for the Under-Graduate posts?
Yes, except for SC, ST, PwBD and Ex-Servicemen candidates and those who hold a qualification higher than 12th.
Can I apply for Goods Train Manager if I wear glasses?
Goods Train Manager needs the A-2 standard: 6/9, 6/9 distant vision without glasses. LASIK candidates are also not eligible for it. The clerk and commercial posts have easier standards.
Is Station Master part of RRB NTPC 2026?
No. Station Master has a separate notice this year, CEN 08/2026, with 1,265 posts.
When is the RRB NTPC 2026 exam?
The notices don't give exam dates. RRB will announce the CBT schedule on its official website; city intimation comes about 10 days before the exam and the e-call letter about 4 days before.
Official Sources
- RRB official website: CEN 06/2026 (NTPC Graduate) and CEN 07/2026 (NTPC Under-Graduate) notices and FAQs
- rrbapply.gov.in: online application for both notices
This guide was checked against both notices and their FAQs on 30 October 2026. If RRB issues a corrigendum, the official notice takes precedence.
