RRB NTPC: stages, CBT pattern, syllabus and free tracker

AspirantGoal is an independent app. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Railway Recruitment Boards or any exam authority. This page repeats what the exam body’s own documents print, as checked on 23 October 2026. The exam body’s current notice is the authority, so read it before you plan around any figure.

RRB NTPC in brief

Recruitment to various posts of Non-Technical Popular Categories, at Graduate level under CEN No. 06/2026 and Under Graduate level under CEN No. 07/2026, where the RRBs only recommend empanelled candidates and the Railway Administrations issue the offers of appointment.

Posts covered by the two notices

Stages of selection (both notices)

1st Stage CBT (both notices)

2nd Stage CBT (both notices)

Document verification and medical examination (both notices)

Language of both CBTs (both notices)

Qualifying rules

• Both notices: the 1st Stage CBT is of screening nature; its normalized score shortlists candidates for the 2nd Stage CBT as per merit. [1][2] CEN 06/2026: Para 13.1, p. 19; CEN 07/2026: Para 13.1, p. 20

Syllabus, as the Railway Recruitment Boards prints it

The notices print these topic lists inside the CBT paragraphs. They are introduced as topics questions are likely to include and end with etc., so they are indicative, not an exhaustive syllabus. The same lists are printed for both CBTs and in both notices.

Both CBT stages, both notices

Mathematics

1. Number System
2. Decimals
3. Fractions
4. Lcm
5. Hcf
6. Ratio and Proportions
7. Percentage
8. Mensuration
9. Time and Work
10. Time and Distance
11. Simple and Compound Interest
12. Profit and Loss
13. Elementary Algebra
14. Geometry and Trigonometry
15. Elementary Statistics

General Intelligence and Reasoning

1. Analogies
2. Completion of Number and Alphabetical Series
3. Coding and Decoding
4. Mathematical Operations
5. Similarities and Differences
6. Relationships
7. Analytical Reasoning
8. Syllogism
9. Jumbling
10. Venn Diagrams
11. Puzzle
12. Data Sufficiency
13. Statement-Conclusion
14. Statement-Courses of Action
15. Decision Making
16. Maps
17. Interpretation of Graphs

General Awareness

1. Current Events of National and International Importance
2. Games and Sports
3. Art and Culture of India
4. Indian Literature
5. Monuments and Places of India
6. General Science and Life Science (up to 10th CBSE)
7. History of India and Freedom Struggle
8. Physical, Social and Economic Geography of India and World
9. Indian Polity and Governance: constitution and political system
10. General Scientific and Technological Developments including Space and Nuclear Program of India
11. UN and Other important World Organizations
12. Environmental Issues Concerning India and World at Large
13. Basics of Computers and Computer Applications
14. Common Abbreviations
15. Transport Systems in India
16. Indian Economy
17. Famous Personalities of India and World
18. Flagship Government Programs
19. Flora and Fauna of India
20. Important Government and Public Sector Organizations of India

A free tracker for these 52 units

Download the RRB NTPC tracker as a CSV file. It has one row for each unit above, in the same columns as the printable syllabus tracker: minutes studied and the date you finish the first pass sit in separate columns, so a long session cannot pass for a finished unit. Add a row with Round 2 when you go through a stage again. It is free and needs no sign-up.

How AspirantGoal handles RRB NTPC

AspirantGoal ships a syllabus template for RRB NTPC, checked against app version 1.0.0 on 22 October 2026. It is an editable study aid built from published exam information, so compare it with the units above and edit what differs. You can also set the exam up as a goal of your own, which plans, times and tracks the same way.

Questions

What are the stages of the RRB NTPC selection process in 2026?

Both notices list the 1st Stage CBT, the 2nd Stage CBT, and Document Verification and Medical Examination. RRBs also reserve the right to conduct additional CBTs, for all or a limited number of candidates, if considered necessary. [1] Para 13.0(b), p. 19. Same wording in the Under Graduate notice, para 13.0(b), p. 19.

Is there a typing test in RRB NTPC 2026?

The Graduate notice dispenses with the typing skill test for Senior Clerk Cum Typist and Junior Accounts Assistant Cum Typist. The Under Graduate notice dispenses with it for Junior Clerk Cum Typist and Accounts Clerk Cum Typist. Basic computer and typing proficiency is still expected and is assessed after joining. [1] Graduate para 13.0(c), p. 19. Under Graduate notice (source 2), para 13.0(c), p. 19.

How many questions and how much time does the 1st Stage CBT have?

The 1st Stage CBT has 100 questions of 1 mark each, with 90 minutes: General Awareness 40, Mathematics 30, General Intelligence and Reasoning 30. Both notices call the section wise distribution only indicative. [1] Graduate para 13.1, p. 19. Under Graduate notice (source 2), para 13.1, p. 20.

What is the pattern of the 2nd Stage CBT?

The 2nd Stage CBT has 120 questions of 1 mark each, with 90 minutes: General Awareness 50, Mathematics 35, General Intelligence and Reasoning 35. The section wise distribution is only indicative. [1] Graduate para 13.2.1, p. 20. Under Graduate notice (source 2), para 13.2.1, p. 20.

Is there negative marking in the NTPC CBTs?

Yes. Both notices state negative marking in the CBTs: 1/3 mark is deducted for every wrong answer. [1] Graduate Important Instructions (xvii), p. 6, and paras 13.1 and 13.2.1. Under Graduate notice (source 2), Important Instructions (xvii), p. 5. FAQ 68 in source 3, p. 7.

In which languages can I take the NTPC CBTs?

Questions are available in English, Hindi and 13 regional languages: Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Kannada, Konkani, Malayalam, Manipuri, Marathi, Odia, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu and Urdu. Candidates choose one medium in the application form, and questions show in that language and in English. [1] Graduate para 14.3(d), p. 22. Under Graduate notice (source 2), para 14.3(d), p. 22.

How are candidates shortlisted for the 2nd Stage CBT?

Shortlisting is based on normalized 1st Stage CBT marks. The notices set the total at 15 times the community wise vacancies of the notified posts against the RRB, and say the Railways may increase or decrease this limit. [1] Graduate para 13.2, p. 20. Under Graduate notice (source 2), para 13.2, p. 20.

How many candidates are called for document verification?

Based on CBT performance, candidates equal to the number of vacancies are called for document verification, at 1:1, subject to the minimum qualifying marks prescribed for their community. [1] Graduate para 13.3(a) and (b), pp. 20 to 21. Under Graduate notice (source 2), para 13.3(a) and (b), p. 21.

Where is the NTPC syllabus given?

The official FAQ points to para 13.0 of the CEN. There the notices print topic lists for Mathematics, General Intelligence and Reasoning and General Awareness, introduced as topics questions are likely to cover and ending with etc. [3] FAQ 67, p. 7. Topic lists in source 1, paras 13.1 and 13.2.1, pp. 19 to 20; source 2, paras 13.1 and 13.2.1, pp. 20 to 21.

Is there a separate NTPC syllabus document on the RRB website?

The unified RRB website has a Syllabus compilation, based on previous CENs and meant for education only. Its disclaimer says syllabus for CBTs is detailed in each CEN and candidates must refer to the CEN only. It prints the same NTPC topic lists, with small spelling differences. [6] Disclaimer on the cover page; NTPC Under Graduate, pp. 4 to 5; NTPC Graduate, pp. 18 to 19.

What happens to marks when a CBT is held in several shifts?

Shortlisting for the various stages is based on normalized marks whenever a CBT is conducted in multiple sessions for the same syllabus. The notices do not describe the normalization method. [1] Graduate para 13.2.4, p. 20. Under Graduate notice (source 2), para 13.2.4, p. 21.

What this page leaves out

Dates, fees, age limits, attempts, eligibility and cut-offs change every cycle, so this page does not repeat them. Read them in the current notice.

Notes on the documents:

• Two English copies of the Graduate notice (CEN 06/2026) differ in wording: the copy on the unified RRB website, published 7 October 2026, and the copy linked on rrbapply.gov.in, listed 8 October 2026. They differ in para 13.0(c) on page 19 (the typing test and the post names) and in the note to para 13.2.1 on page 20 (when 120 minutes applies to candidates with disabilities). The stages, pattern, negative marking, topic lists and medium are the same. This page follows the unified-site copy, and para 22.0(h) says the English version published there prevails.
• On 23 October 2026 the unified RRB website listed no corrigendum for CEN 06/2026 or CEN 07/2026. The notices tell candidates to keep checking it.
• Neither notice has a syllabus annexure. The topic lists sit inside the CBT paragraphs, are introduced as topics questions are likely to include, and end with etc.
• RRB’s Knowledge Center syllabus compilation is based on earlier notices and says candidates must refer to the CEN only. It still lists a typing test and an aptitude test and names Station Master and Traffic Assistant posts. The 2026 notices dispense with the typing test for the posts they name, mention no aptitude test and do not notify those two posts.
• Both notices call the number of questions in each section only indicative, and say the actual papers may vary.
• The notices print the number of questions and 1 mark for each question. They print no total marks figure, and no topic-wise weightage.
• The notices say marks are normalized when a CBT is held in several shifts, and do not describe the method.