The RRB NTPC examination is among the largest recruitment cycles in India — previous cycles have drawn over one crore applicants. Its undergraduate tier is open on Class 12 and fills five posts across Pay Levels 2 and 3 in the zonal railways and production units of Indian Railways.
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Understanding the structure matters more here than in almost any other examination, for one reason: CBT 1 does not count towards the final merit. It is a screening stage. The final merit list is prepared on CBT 2 marks alone.
Candidates who do not grasp that distribute their preparation incorrectly across two very different papers.
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This guide sets out the undergraduate posts, the two-stage examination structure, the marking and normalisation mechanics, the typing skill test, and what actually determines selection.
Overview
| Point | Detail |
|---|---|
| Conducting Body | Railway Recruitment Board (RRB) |
| Level | Undergraduate — CEN 07/2025 |
| Qualification | Class 12 (Intermediate) from a recognised Board |
| Age | 18 to 33 years (including the current 3-year relaxation) |
| Posts | 5 — four at Level-2, one at Level-3 |
| Stages | CBT 1 → CBT 2 → Typing Skill Test (applicable posts) → DV → Medical |
| Merit | CBT 2 marks only |
| Negative marking | 1/3 mark per incorrect answer in both CBTs |
| Languages | Exam available in 15 languages |
| Portal | rrbapply.gov.in |
1. The Undergraduate Posts
| Post | Pay Level | Basic Pay | Typing Test |
|---|---|---|---|
| Junior Clerk cum Typist | Level-2 | ₹19,900 | Required |
| Accounts Clerk cum Typist | Level-2 | ₹19,900 | Required |
| Junior Time Keeper | Level-2 | ₹19,900 | Required |
| Trains Clerk | Level-2 | ₹19,900 | Not required |
| Commercial cum Ticket Clerk | Level-3 | ₹21,700 | Not required |
The undergraduate salary band runs ₹19,900 to ₹21,700 in basic pay, with an in-hand of roughly ₹28,000 to ₹38,000 depending on post and city classification.
Two posts avoid the typing test entirely — Trains Clerk and Commercial cum Ticket Clerk. This is a material consideration when setting preferences, and is examined in Section 5.
The graduate tier — Traffic Assistant (Level-4), Goods Guard, Senior Clerk cum Typist, Junior Account Assistant cum Typist, Senior Time Keeper, Senior Commercial cum Ticket Clerk (Level-5), and Commercial Apprentice and Station Master (Level-6) — requires a bachelor’s degree and is not available at the Class 12 stage.
The 2026 Vacancy Position
The 2026 cycle (CEN 06/2025 graduate and CEN 07/2025 undergraduate) was reported at 8,868 total — 5,810 graduate and 3,058 undergraduate.
Some sources cite 11,558 for 2026. That figure corresponds to the preceding cycle — 8,113 graduate and 3,445 undergraduate. Candidates should take the vacancy count from the CEN notification PDF rather than from secondary listings, as the two figures are in circulation simultaneously.
The trend is downward. More than 35,000 vacancies were released in 2019.
2. Eligibility
| Criterion | Detail |
|---|---|
| Qualification | Class 12 (Intermediate) from any recognised Board or equivalent |
| Higher qualifications | ITI, Diploma, Graduation and B.Tech holders are also eligible |
| Age (UG posts) | 18 to 33 years, incorporating the current 3-year one-time relaxation |
| Age (Graduate posts) | 18 to 36 years |
| Reference date | As stated in the notification |
| Category relaxation | As per Railway Board norms |
3. CBT 1 — The Screening Stage
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Questions | 100 |
| Marks | 100 — 1 mark per question |
| Duration | 90 minutes; 120 minutes for PwBD candidates using a scribe |
| Type | Objective, multiple choice |
| Negative marking | 1/3 mark per incorrect answer. No deduction for unanswered questions |
Section Distribution
| Section | Questions |
|---|---|
| General Awareness | 40 |
| Mathematics | 30 |
| General Intelligence and Reasoning | 30 |
Minimum Qualifying Marks
| Category | Minimum |
|---|---|
| UR | 40% |
| EWS | 40% |
| OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) | 30% |
| SC | 30% |
| ST | 25% |
These percentages may be reduced by 2% for PwBD candidates where there is a shortage of PwBD candidates against posts reserved for them.
Shortlisting
The normalised CBT 1 score is used to shortlist candidates for CBT 2.
The shortlist is 20 times the community-wise vacancies notified against that RRB, based on merit in CBT 1 and the candidate’s choice of posts.
The Critical Point
CBT 1 is screening in nature. Its marks do not enter the final merit list.
A candidate scoring exceptionally in CBT 1 gains no advantage in the final merit over a candidate who merely made the shortlist. The only function of CBT 1 is to place you within the 1:20 cut.
The strategic consequence: CBT 1 rewards speed, precision and intelligent question selection. Over-attempting without accuracy is directly counter-productive, because the 1/3 negative marking converts a wrong answer into a real loss with no offsetting benefit. Clear the shortlist efficiently; do not over-invest.
4. CBT 2 — The Stage That Decides Selection
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Questions | 120 |
| Marks | 120 — 1 mark per question |
| Duration | 90 minutes; 120 minutes for PwBD candidates |
| Negative marking | 1/3 mark per incorrect answer |
Section Distribution
| Section | Questions |
|---|---|
| General Awareness | 50 |
| Mathematics | 35 |
| General Intelligence and Reasoning | 35 |
Why This Stage Is Different
CBT 2 is both a screening and a scoring round. The final merit list is prepared on CBT 2 marks only.
CBT 2 is more difficult than CBT 1 — the questions are of a higher standard and cover a broader range of the syllabus.
Where CBT 1 rewards speed, CBT 2 rewards depth and consistency. Balanced performance across all three sections becomes essential, because sectional weakness directly affects the final ranking rather than merely the shortlist.
General Awareness carries the highest weight in CBT 2 — 50 of 120 questions, approximately 42% — and is generally the highest-scoring section for a prepared candidate. Mathematics accounts for 35 of 120, against 30 of 100 in CBT 1.
The normalised CBT 2 marks are used to shortlist candidates for the Skill Test or Aptitude Test.
5. The Typing Skill Test
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Applicable posts (UG) | Junior Clerk cum Typist, Accounts Clerk cum Typist, Junior Time Keeper |
| Not applicable | Trains Clerk, Commercial cum Ticket Clerk |
| Speed required | 30 words per minute in English or 25 wpm in Hindi |
| Equipment | Personal computer, with no editing tools and no spell-check facility |
| Hindi fonts | Kruti Dev and Mangal are provided |
| Nature | Qualifying — marks are not added to the merit |
| Shortlist | Typically 8 times the number of vacancies are called |
Two Provisions Worth Knowing
The PwBD exemption. PwBD candidates with at least 40% disability on account of blindness or low vision, cerebral palsy, or locomotor disability may be exempted from the typing test. The Typing Skill Test Exemption Certificate from a Competent Medical Board must be uploaded on the RRB website before the test. Eligible candidates who do not upload it in time do not receive the exemption.
How merit is finally determined. Only candidates who pass the typing test, or who are exempted, are considered for merit — and that merit is based on their CBT 2 performance. The typing test does not add marks; it only decides whether your CBT 2 score is counted at all.
The practical instruction: the typing test eliminates candidates who have already cleared two competitive papers. 30 wpm is achievable with consistent practice, and impossible to reach in the fortnight between the CBT 2 result and the test call. Candidates targeting the typist posts should aim for 35 wpm in English or 28 wpm in Hindi in practice, to hold a buffer above the requirement — and should practise without editing tools or spell-check, since neither is available in the test.
CBAT — Not Applicable to UG Candidates
The Computer-Based Aptitude Test applies only to Station Master and Traffic Assistant — both graduate posts. For completeness: it requires a T-score of 42 in each test battery, carries no negative marking, and where applicable, merit is computed as 70% CBT 2 plus 30% CBAT.
Undergraduate candidates do not sit the CBAT.
6. Normalisation
Both CBT 1 and CBT 2 are conducted in multiple shifts across the country. Scores are normalised to account for variation in difficulty between shifts.
Why this matters: a candidate’s raw score is not the score used. The normalisation process adjusts scores based on the relative difficulty of the shift, and given the scale of the examination, small score differences can significantly affect rank.
There is nothing a candidate can do about shift allocation. The practical response is to maximise accuracy rather than attempt count, since normalisation operates on the score and negative marking erodes it.
7. Selection Sequence
| Stage | Nature | Counts toward merit? |
|---|---|---|
| CBT 1 | Screening | No |
| CBT 2 | Screening and scoring | Yes — merit is CBT 2 only |
| Typing Skill Test | Qualifying, applicable posts | No |
| Document Verification | Verification | No |
| Medical Examination | Fitness | No |
Candidates equal to the number of vacancies are called for Document Verification based on CBT 2 performance — and, where applicable, CBT 2 and the skill test — as per their merit and options.
Note the phrase “merit and options”. Post preferences entered at application shape both the CBT 1 shortlist and the final allotment. They are not a formality.
Medical Standards
Conducted per Railway Board standards, which vary by post. Colour vision, hearing and physical fitness are assessed, and medical categories differ between posts. Candidates should obtain a colour vision test privately before applying, as it cannot be corrected and is discovered at the medical stage.
8. What Actually Decides Selection — A Summary
Three propositions follow from the structure, and they should govern preparation:
First, do not over-prepare for CBT 1. It is a screening filter at 1:20. Marks above the cut-off carry no value. Clear it with accuracy and move on.
Second, CBT 2 is the examination. It alone determines merit. It is harder, longer at 120 questions, and weighted toward General Awareness at 50 questions. Balanced sectional performance matters here in a way it does not in CBT 1.
Third, the typing test decides whether your CBT 2 score counts. For the three typist posts, a candidate who fails the typing test is not considered for merit at all, regardless of CBT 2 performance.
A fourth, on preference strategy: Trains Clerk and Commercial cum Ticket Clerk carry no typing test. Commercial cum Ticket Clerk additionally sits at Level-3 with a basic of ₹21,700 — the only UG post above Level-2 — and carried 2,424 of the 3,058 undergraduate vacancies in the 2026 cycle. For most Class 12 candidates, it is the rational first preference on pay, volume and stage count simultaneously.
9. Application
- Access rrbapply.gov.in.
- Register and complete the application when the undergraduate CEN is live.
- Complete personal and educational particulars accurately.
- Set post preferences deliberately — they affect both the CBT 1 shortlist and final allotment.
- Select examination city preferences.
- Upload documents to specification.
- Pay the fee and submit; retain the printed application.
Read the notification in full. Eligibility, exam city preferences, document requirements and post preferences must be entered correctly at registration, and a single error can result in rejection. Being found ineligible at any stage, including after the final result, leads to disqualification.
10. Documents Checklist
- ☐ Class 12 mark sheet and certificate
- ☐ Class 10 mark sheet — age proof
- ☐ Caste / category certificate, where applicable
- ☐ EWS certificate, where applicable
- ☐ PwBD certificate, where applicable
- ☐ Typing Skill Test Exemption Certificate from a Competent Medical Board — upload before the test
- ☐ Identity proof
- ☐ Passport-size photographs
- ☐ Printed application and admit card
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. Do CBT 1 marks count in the final merit? No. CBT 1 is a screening stage only. The final merit list is prepared on CBT 2 marks alone. CBT 1 determines only whether a candidate reaches the 1:20 shortlist for CBT 2.
Q2. What is the exam pattern? CBT 1 — 100 questions, 100 marks, 90 minutes: General Awareness 40, Mathematics 30, Reasoning 30. CBT 2 — 120 questions, 120 marks, 90 minutes: General Awareness 50, Mathematics 35, Reasoning 35. Negative marking of 1/3 applies in both. No deduction for unanswered questions.
Q3. What are the minimum qualifying marks? UR and EWS 40%, OBC (NCL) and SC 30%, ST 25%, in both CBT 1 and CBT 2. These may be reduced by 2% for PwBD candidates where there is a shortage against reserved posts.
Q4. Which UG posts require a typing test? Junior Clerk cum Typist, Accounts Clerk cum Typist and Junior Time Keeper. Trains Clerk and Commercial cum Ticket Clerk do not require it. The requirement is 30 wpm English or 25 wpm Hindi, on a personal computer with no editing tools or spell-check, and it is qualifying only.
Q5. Is there an exemption from the typing test? Yes. PwBD candidates with at least 40% disability due to blindness or low vision, cerebral palsy or locomotor disability may be exempted, on uploading the Typing Skill Test Exemption Certificate from a Competent Medical Board on the RRB website before the test.
Q6. Do undergraduate candidates take the CBAT? No. CBAT applies only to Station Master and Traffic Assistant, which are graduate posts.
Q7. What is the age limit for UG posts? 18 to 33 years, incorporating the current 3-year one-time relaxation. Graduate posts run to 36.
Q8. What is normalisation? Both CBTs run in multiple shifts. Scores are normalised to adjust for differences in difficulty between shifts, so the score used is not the raw score. Given the scale of the examination, small differences can meaningfully affect rank.
Disclaimer: This article is for general information only. Vacancy numbers, eligibility, age limits and relaxations, examination pattern, qualifying percentages, typing standards, medical categories and dates are set by the official RRB notification (CEN) and are revised each cycle. Secondary sources currently cite conflicting vacancy figures for 2026; candidates should take the count from the CEN notification PDF. Candidates must read the official notification on the RRB application portal before applying and treat it as the final authority.