RRB NTPC Exam Pattern 2026 for CBT 1, CBT 2, and CBAT

The Railway Recruitment Board (RRB) has issued the RRB NTPC Notification 2026, announcing a total of 8,868 vacancies under the Non-Technical Popular Categories (NTPC). The recruitment covers both Undergraduate (Levels 2 & 3) and Graduate-level (Levels 5 & 6) positions across various railway zones in India. As the competition is intense, candidates should have a clear understanding of the exam pattern, syllabus, and selection process to prepare effectively and secure a position in this recruitment drive.

RRB NTPC Exam Pattern 2026

The RRB NTPC 2026 Exam Pattern comprises multiple stages to select eligible candidates for various non-technical posts in the Indian Railways. The process starts with CBT 1, which serves as a qualifying test evaluating candidates in three main sections: General Awareness, Mathematics, and General Intelligence & Reasoning.

• Computer-Based Test 1 (CBT 1)
• Computer-Based Test 2 (CBT 2)
• Typing Skill Test (TST) or Computer-Based Aptitude Test (CBAT)
• Document Verification

RRB NTPC CBT 1 Exam Pattern 2026

The RRB NTPC 2026 Graduate and Undergraduate Exam Pattern consists of:

• CBT 1 is just qualifying in nature.
• The normalised score of CBT 1 shall be used for the shortlisting of candidates for CBT 2, which will be around 20 times the vacancies.
• All the 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 RRB NTPC CBT 2 Exam Pattern in the table below.

• 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.
• There will be a negative marking of 1/3 Marks for every question attempted wrong.
• No marks will be deducted for a question left unanswered.

RRB NTPC Marking Scheme 2026

Here’s a detailed overview of the RRB NTPC Marking Scheme 2026 based on the official scoring guidelines:

• Correct Answers: Candidates earn 1 mark for every correct response.
• Negative Marking: For each incorrect answer, one-third of the mark is deducted.
• Normalisation Process: Since the exam is conducted in multiple sessions, scores from each session are normalised.
• Purpose of Normalisation: This ensures fairness by adjusting for variations in difficulty levels across different question papers.

RRB NTPC Computer Aptitude Test

Candidates applying for the Station Master post must appear for the RRB NTPC Computer-Based Aptitude Test (CBAT). To qualify, they need to obtain a minimum T-Score of 42 in each test battery. This qualifying standard is uniform across all categories, with no relaxation provided to candidates belonging to SC, ST, OBC-NCL, EWS, PwBD, or Ex-Servicemen categories.

Also Check - RRB NTPC Syllabus 2026

RRB NTPC Typing Skill Test (TST)

Candidates must demonstrate a minimum typing speed of 30 words per minute (WPM) in English or 25 WPM in Hindi on a personal computer. The use of editing tools, spell-check, or any assistive features is strictly prohibited. This typing proficiency forms an essential component of the RRB NTPC Typing Skill Test evaluation process.

Note:

• Candidates must type on a personal computer without editing tools or spell-checking.
• For Hindi typing, Kruti Dev and Mangal fonts are provided.
• PwBD candidates with at least 40% disability due to blindness/low vision, cerebral palsy, or locomotor disability may be exempt from the typing test.
• They must upload the Typing Skill Test Exemption Certificate from the Competent Medical Board on the RRBs' website before the test.
• Only those who pass the typing test or are exempted will be considered for merit, based on their 2nd Stage CBT performance.