RRB NTPC Graduate 2026: 3,477 Vacancies, Eligibility, Exam Pattern, Salary & Important Dates

The Railway Recruitment Boards (RRBs) have released an indicative/short notice for the RRB NTPC Graduate Recruitment 2026 under CEN No. 06/2026. The recruitment is for 3,477 tentative vacancies for Non-Technical Popular Categories (NTPC) Graduate-level posts across all RRBs, part of a combined 5,165 NTPC vacancies (3,477 Graduate + 1,688 Undergraduate) approved by the Railway Board.

The short notice was released on 21 September 2026. The online application process is tentatively scheduled to begin on 8 October 2026 and close on 6 November 2026. The detailed CEN 06/2026, with the final post-wise, RRB-wise and category-wise vacancy breakup, is expected around 26 September 2026.

Important: The figures below are based on the indicative short notice and the standard RRB NTPC pattern followed in earlier cycles. All final terms – exact vacancies, eligibility, fee and exam pattern – will be governed strictly by the Detailed CEN No. 06/2026, to be published on rrb.indianrailways.gov.in. Candidates should always cross-check with the detailed CEN once released.

RRB NTPC Graduate 2026: Overview

The number of advertised vacancies is subject to increase or decrease according to the detailed recruitment notification.

RRB NTPC Graduate Vacancy 2026

A total of 3,477 tentative posts have been announced for NTPC Graduate level, out of the combined 5,165 NTPC vacancies approved by the Railway Board on 3 September 2026 (the remaining 1,688 being Undergraduate-level, notified separately).

Typical Graduate-level NTPC posts filled under Level 5 and Level 6 include:

• Goods Train Manager

• Station Master

• Chief Commercial-cum-Ticket Supervisor (CCTS) / Senior Commercial-cum-Ticket Clerk

• Junior Accounts Assistant-cum-Typist (JAA)

• Senior Clerk-cum-Typist

The exact post-wise, RRB-wise and category-wise (UR/OBC/SC/ST/EWS/PwBD) vacancy breakup will be released with the detailed CEN.

RRB NTPC Graduate Eligibility 2026

Educational Qualification

Candidates must hold a Bachelor's degree in any discipline from a recognized university or its equivalent.

Age Limit

Candidates must be between 18 and 33 years of age as on 1 January 2027, as per the usual RRB NTPC Graduate pattern. Some posts, such as Station Master and Goods Train Manager, may carry a narrower age band as confirmed in the detailed CEN.

Final age limits and relaxation rules will be confirmed only in the Detailed CEN 06/2026.

RRB NTPC Graduate Salary 2026

Selected candidates will be placed at Pay Level 5 and Pay Level 6 of the 7th Pay Commission, with a starting basic pay of up to ₹35,400 per month, depending on the post.

This is the pay scale and should not be confused with the final in-hand salary, because applicable allowances and deductions will affect the actual amount received.

RRB NTPC Graduate Exam Pattern 2026

The recruitment process involves 1st Stage CBT, 2nd Stage CBT, followed by a Typing Skill Test or Computer Based Aptitude Test (CBAT) as applicable, and then Document Verification/Medical Examination. The exact number of questions, marks, duration and negative marking will be as prescribed in the detailed CEN 06/2026; the pattern below reflects the standard structure followed in recent RRB NTPC cycles.

1st Stage CBT (Qualifying)

1st Stage CBT is 100 marks, held for 90 minutes (120 minutes for PwBD candidates using a scribe), and is qualifying only – it is not counted in the final merit list. The normalized score is used to shortlist candidates for 2nd Stage CBT, approximately 20 times the vacancies.

2nd Stage CBT

The 2nd Stage CBT covers the same three sections – General Awareness, Mathematics, and General Intelligence & Reasoning – with 120 questions for 120 marks, at a higher difficulty level, held for 90 minutes. This stage is common across all Graduate and Undergraduate NTPC posts within the same 7th CPC pay level.

Marking Scheme

• Correct answer: +1 mark

• Incorrect answer: -1/3 mark

• No marks deducted for unattempted questions

• Scores are normalized across shifts to account for difficulty variation

CBAT / Typing Skill Test

Candidates shortlisted for posts like Station Master and Goods Train Manager appear for the Computer Based Aptitude Test (CBAT), which requires a minimum T-score of 42 to qualify; there is no negative marking, and CBAT marks typically count toward final merit alongside 2nd Stage CBT.

Candidates applying for Senior Clerk-cum-Typist and Junior Accounts Assistant-cum-Typist appear for a Typing Skill Test in English or Hindi, which is qualifying in nature.

RRB NTPC Graduate Selection Process 2026

The selection process includes:

1. 1st Stage CBT (qualifying, for shortlisting only)

2. 2nd Stage CBT

3. Typing Skill Test / CBAT (as applicable to the post)

4. Document Verification

5. Medical Examination

Minimum qualifying marks in the CBT stages, as per recent RRB NTPC cycles, are typically UR/EWS 40%, OBC 30%, SC 30%, ST 25%; the applicable percentages will be confirmed in the detailed CEN.

RRB NTPC Graduate Application Fee 2026

As per the standard RRB fee-refund structure, ₹400 is refunded to General/OBC candidates and the full ₹250 is refunded to other exempted categories, on appearing in the 1st Stage CBT. Final fee amounts will be confirmed in the detailed CEN.

Important Dates

How to Apply for RRB NTPC Graduate 2026

The application process will be conducted online through the RRB application portal.

Step 1: Visit the Official Portal

Go to the official RRB recruitment portal, rrbapply.gov.in.

Step 2: Select the Recruitment

Choose CEN No. 06/2026 – NTPC Graduate from the ongoing recruitment list.

Step 3: Register

Complete the online registration using your personal and academic details.

Step 4: Fill in the Application

Log in and enter the required personal, academic and other information. Ensure your Aadhaar details, name and date of birth match your Class 10 certificate.

Step 5: Upload Documents

Upload the photograph, signature and other documents according to the prescribed requirements.

Step 6: Pay the Fee

Pay the applicable application fee online using the prescribed payment modes.

Step 7: Submit the Form

Check all details carefully and submit the completed application. Save a copy for future reference.

Candidates are advised to complete Aadhaar verification with biometric update before applying, as this is expected to be mandatory for this cycle.

Documents Required

• Recent photograph

• Signature

• Class 10 certificate (for date of birth proof)

• Graduation degree certificate and marksheets

• Category certificate, where applicable

• PwBD certificate, where applicable

• Aadhaar card

• Other documents required by the notification

Preparation for RRB NTPC Graduate Exam

1st Stage CBT

Since 1st Stage CBT is only for shortlisting, focus on building accuracy and speed across General Awareness, Mathematics and General Intelligence & Reasoning without over-investing preparation time relative to 2nd Stage CBT.

2nd Stage CBT

The 2nd Stage covers the same sections at a higher difficulty level and is the stage that determines merit alongside CBAT/Typing Test, so candidates should prioritize deeper practice here.

Typing Skill Test / CBAT

Candidates applying for typist posts should practice typing speed in their chosen language (English or Hindi). Candidates applying for Station Master or Goods Train Manager should familiarize themselves with the CBAT format through mock aptitude batteries.

Important Points for Candidates

• 3,477 tentative vacancies have been announced for NTPC Graduate level under CEN 06/2026.

• This is part of a combined 5,165 NTPC vacancies (3,477 Graduate + 1,688 Undergraduate) approved by the Railway Board.

• Only a short/indicative notice has been released so far; the detailed CEN is expected around 26 September 2026.

• The application process is tentatively scheduled from 8 October to 6 November 2026.

• Posts fall under Pay Level 5 and Level 6 of the 7th CPC.

• Selection involves 1st Stage CBT, 2nd Stage CBT, Typing Skill Test/CBAT, Document Verification and Medical Examination.

• 1st Stage CBT has 100 marks and is qualifying only; 2nd Stage CBT has 120 marks.

• Negative marking of 1/3 mark applies in both CBT stages.

• The age limit is expected to be 18 to 33 years as on 1 January 2027.

• All final figures should be verified against the detailed CEN once released.

FAQs

How many vacancies are available in RRB NTPC Graduate 2026?

Approximately 3,477 tentative vacancies have been announced, subject to confirmation in the detailed CEN.

When did the short notice get released?

The short/indicative notice was released on 21 September 2026.

When will the detailed notification be released?

The detailed CEN 06/2026 is expected around 26 September 2026.

When does the application process start?

The application process is tentatively scheduled to start on 8 October 2026 and close on 6 November 2026.

Is there negative marking?

Yes, in both 1st Stage and 2nd Stage CBT. One-third (1/3) mark is deducted for each incorrect answer.

What is the salary?

Selected candidates will be placed at Pay Level 5 and Level 6, with a starting basic pay of up to ₹35,400.

What is the minimum eligibility?

A Bachelor's degree in any discipline from a recognized university.

What is the age limit?

Expected to be 18 to 33 years as on 1 January 2027, with standard category-wise relaxations.

Conclusion

The RRB NTPC Graduate 2026 recruitment has been indicated for 3,477 vacancies across various Graduate-level posts in Indian Railways, with the online application process tentatively opening on 8 October 2026.

Eligible graduates should keep their documents ready and watch for the detailed CEN 06/2026, expected around 26 September 2026, which will confirm the exact vacancies, eligibility conditions, fee and exam pattern.

Candidates should carefully check the official notification once released before submitting the application.

Apply Here

Apply for RRB NTPC Graduate Recruitment 2026 (CEN 06/2026)