RRB NTPC Syllabus 2026 and Exam Pattern (CBT 1 and CBT 2)

RRB NTPC 2026 at a glance

This syllabus is taken from the Railway Recruitment Boards' detailed notification CEN 06/2026 (NTPC Graduate). The first-stage CBT pattern for CEN 07/2026 (NTPC Under Graduate) is the same: 100 questions, 40 GA, 30 Maths, 30 Reasoning, 90 minutes. For any post-specific stages, check the CEN you applied under.

Stage	Purpose
1st Stage CBT	Screening only. Normalised marks decide who goes to CBT-2
2nd Stage CBT	Merit for selection
Document Verification and Medical Exam	Candidates equal to the number of vacancies are called (1:1)

For CEN 06/2026 the typing skill test has been dispensed with for the typist posts, so there is no skill test stage this time.

Exam pattern

	General Awareness	Mathematics	General Intelligence & Reasoning	Total questions	Time
CBT-1	40	30	30	100	90 minutes
CBT-2 (Graduate)	50	35	35	120	90 minutes

• Each question carries 1 mark.
• 1/3 mark is deducted for every wrong answer. Unanswered questions get zero.
• PwBD candidates eligible for a scribe get 120 minutes.
• RRB says the section-wise split is indicative and can vary slightly in the actual paper.
• Calculators and electronic gadgets are not allowed.

How many go from CBT-1 to CBT-2?

Up to 15 times the community-wise vacancies of each RRB are shortlisted for CBT-2, based on normalised CBT-1 marks. Railways can change this ratio if needed.

Minimum qualifying marks

Category	Minimum marks
UR / EWS	40%
OBC (Non-Creamy Layer)	30%
SC	30%
ST	25%

Ex-servicemen and PwBD candidates follow the marks for their community. PwBD candidates may get a 2-mark relaxation if there are not enough PwBD candidates for reserved vacancies.

Detailed syllabus

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 and Reasoning

Analogies, Completion of Number and Alphabetical Series, Coding and 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, Interpretation of Graphs.

General Awareness

• Current events of national and international importance
• Games and sports
• Art and culture of India, Indian literature, monuments and places of India
• 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: the Constitution and political system
• Scientific and technological developments, including India's space and nuclear programmes
• UN and other important world organisations
• Environmental issues concerning India and the world
• Basics of computers and computer applications
• Common abbreviations
• Transport systems in India
• Indian economy
• Famous personalities of India and the world
• Flagship government programmes
• Flora and fauna of India
• Important government and public sector organisations of India

How to use this syllabus

1. Prioritise General Awareness. It is the largest section in both CBTs (40 of 100 and 50 of 120). Daily current affairs plus static GK on polity, geography, history and Class 10 science covers most of it.
2. Learn the "flagship government programmes". They are listed in the syllabus. Our Sarkari Yojana pages explain the major central schemes from their official portals.
3. In Maths, master percentage, ratio, and time and work first. Profit and loss, interest and data questions all build on them.
4. Mind the negative marking. With −1/3 per wrong answer, a blind guess on a four-option question gives no expected gain. Only attempt questions where you can rule out at least one option.
5. Take the official mock test. RRB provides practice tests on its website before the exam so you can learn the interface.