RRB NTPC Exam Pattern 2026 Explained: CBT 1 and CBT 2 Details

Table of Contents

Before beginning their preparation, candidates should familiarise themselves with the latest RRB NTPC Exam Pattern. Understanding the exam structure, marking scheme, section-wise weightage, duration, and qualifying requirements can help candidates prepare in a more organised manner. The selection process includes CBT 1, CBT 2, Document Verification, and Medical Examination.

The RRB NTPC CBT 1 exam consists of 100 questions for 100 marks, while CBT 2 consists of 120 questions for 120 marks. Both tests have a duration of 90 minutes, with negative marking of one-third of a mark for each incorrect answer.

RRB NTPC Exam Pattern 2026

The RRB NTPC Exam is conducted entirely in online mode and consists of objective-type multiple-choice questions. As there is no descriptive paper or interview, candidates should focus on practicing MCQs regularly. This will strengthen their preparation for both CBT 1 and CBT 2. Since CBT 2 is comparatively more challenging, candidates should also practice advanced-level questions and review their mistakes. Let’s now take a detailed look at the RRB NTPC Exam Pattern.

RRB NTPC 2026: Overview

Details	Graduate (CEN 06/2026)	Undergraduate (CEN 07/2026)
Total vacancies	3,548	1,688
Selection stages	CBT 1 → CBT 2 → Document Verification/Medical Examination	CBT 1 → CBT 2 → Document Verification/Medical Examination
CBT 1	100 questions, 90 minutes	100 questions, 90 minutes
CBT 2	120 questions, 90 minutes	120 questions, 90 minutes
Marks per question	1 mark	1 mark
Negative marking	1/3 mark per wrong answer	1/3 mark per wrong answer
Typing skill test (CBTST)	Dispensed with	Dispensed with
Age (as on 01-01-2027)	18-33 years	18-30 years

RRB NTPC CBT 1 Exam Pattern 2026

Candidates receive marks for correct answers, while a penalty is applied for wrong answers. Check the CBT 1 Pattern provided in the table below:

Sl No.	Sections	No. of Questions	Total Marks	Duration
1.	General Awareness	40	40	90 minutes
2.	Mathematics	30	30
3.	General Intelligence and Reasoning	30	30
Total		100	100

NOTES:

CBT 1 is just qualifying in nature.
The normalised score of CBT 1 shall be used for shortlisting of candidates for CBT 2, which will be around 20 times the vacancies.
Questions will be objective, i.e. Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs).
There will be a negative marking of 1/3 Marks for every question wrongly attempted.
No marks will be deducted for a question left unanswered.

RRB NTPC CBT 2 Exam Pattern 2026

Candidates can check the CBT 2 Exam Pattern in the table below.

Sr. No.	Sections	No. of Questions	Total Marks	Duration
1.	General Awareness	50	50	90 minutes
2.	Mathematics	35	35
3.	General Intelligence and Reasoning	35	35
Total		120	120

NOTES:

This is both a screening and scoring round, i.e. the marks of CBT 2 will be included in the final merit list.
It is the merit-deciding round.
Candidates must secure more marks to meet the required RRB NTPC Cut-Off.
The normalised Marks of CBT 2 will be considered for shortlisting candidates for the Skill Test/ Aptitude Test.
RRB NTPC Phase-II will also have MCQs.
Negative marking of 1/3 Marks for every question attempted incorrectly.
No marks will be deducted for a question left unanswered.

RRB NTPC Marking Scheme

Candidates receive 1 mark for every correct answer.
One-third of a mark is deducted for each wrong answer.
RRB NTPC CBT 1 and CBT 2 are conducted in multiple shifts.
Scores are normalised to account for variations in difficulty levels across different shifts.
The normalisation process ensures a fair evaluation for all candidates

RRB NTPC Exam Stages (Graduate and UG Posts)

Below, we have provided a detailed account of different exam stages under the Graduate and Undergraduate posts of RRB NTPC 2026. We have also provided post-wise important data along with the various exam stages mentioned for the various posts.

RRB NTPC Graduate Level Posts 2026 (CEN 06/2026)

Post Name	Pay Level	Initial Pay	Medical Standard	Vacancies	CBT 1 (Questions/Duration)	CBT 2 (Questions/Duration)
Chief Commercial Cum Ticket Supervisor	6	₹35,400	B2	127	100 / 90 min	120 / 90 min
Goods Train Manager	5	₹29,200	A2	2,750	100 / 90 min	120 / 90 min
Junior Accounts Assistant Cum Typist	5	₹29,200	C2	300	100 / 90 min	120 / 90 min
Senior Clerk Cum Typist	5	₹29,200	C2	371	100 / 90 min	120 / 90 min

Common CBT subject-wise distribution

Examination Stage	General Awareness	Mathematics	General Intelligence and Reasoning	Total Questions	Duration
CBT 1	40	30	30	100	90 minutes
CBT 2	50	35	35	120	90 minutes

RRB NTPC Undergraduate Level Posts 2026 (CEN 07/2026)

Post Name	Pay Level	Initial Pay	Medical Standard	Vacancies	CBT 1 (Questions/Duration)	CBT 2 (Questions/Duration)
Commercial Cum Ticket Clerk	3	₹21,700	B2	700	100 / 90 min	120 / 90 min
Accounts Clerk Cum Typist	2	₹19,900	C2	200	100 / 90 min	120 / 90 min
Junior Clerk Cum Typist	2	₹19,900	C2	600	100 / 90 min	120 / 90 min
Trains Clerk	2	₹19,900	A3	188	100 / 90 min	120 / 90 min

Common CBT subject-wise distribution

Examination Stage	General Awareness	Mathematics	General Intelligence and Reasoning	Total Questions	Duration
CBT 1	40	30	30	100	90 minutes
CBT 2	50	35	35	120	90 minutes

Important Links
RRB NTPC Syllabus	RRB NTPC Preparation Tips
RRB NTPC Previous Year Papers

FAQs

How many stages are there in RRB NTPC Exam?

The RRB NTPC recruitment process consists of several stages, including CBT 1, CBT 2, document verification, and a medical examination.

Is RRB NTPC CBT 1 qualifying?

Yes, RRB NTPC has minimum qualifying marks. Candidates need 40% (General/EWS), 30% (OBC/SC), and 25% (ST) in CBT 1 and CBT 2.

Who is eligible for NTPC?

For undergraduate-level posts, candidates must be between 18 and 33 years old. For graduate-level posts, the age limit is between 18 and 36 years. The minimum age requirement for RRB NTPC is 18 years.