RRB NTPC EXAM

RRB NTPC Exam

The RRB NTPC (Railway Recruitment Board Non-Technical Popular Categories) examination is a major national-level recruitment drive conducted by the Indian Railways for various administrative and operational roles, which are categorized into Undergraduate (12th Pass) and Graduate posts. This single exam selects candidates for a wide spectrum of jobs ranging from Junior Clerk cum Typist and Trains Clerk at the 12th level to high-profile posts like Goods Guard and Station Master at the graduate level, requiring a minimum age of 18. Due to the diverse posts and secure Central Government employment, the RRB NTPC receives millions of applications, making it one of the most competitive exams in the country.

Eligibility:

• Nationality: The candidate must be a citizen of India.

• Educational Qualification:

  • For Undergraduate Posts (e.g., Clerks, Trains Clerk): Must have passed 12th Class (10+2) or its equivalent.

  • For Graduate Posts (e.g., Station Master, Goods Guard): Must hold a Bachelor’s Degree from a recognised university.

• Age Limit: The minimum age for all posts is 18 years. The upper age limit (for General category) varies:

  • Undergraduate Posts: Up to 33 years.

  • Graduate Posts: Up to 36 years.

Exam Pattern

The RRB NTPC selection process is a multi-stage process primarily consisting of two Computer-Based Tests (CBTs), which are followed by post-specific skill tests.

1. Computer Based Test 1 (CBT-1) – Screening Test

CBT-1 is the initial stage, which is qualifying in nature (marks do not count towards the final merit).

Subject	No. of Questions	Maximum Marks
General Awareness	40	40
Mathematics	30	30
General Intelligence & Reasoning	30	30
Total	100	100

• Duration: 90 Minutes (120 minutes for PwBD candidates).

• Negative Marking: 1/3rd of the mark is deducted for every incorrect answer.

2. Computer Based Test 2 (CBT-2) – Merit Determining Test

Candidates shortlisted from CBT-1 appear for CBT-2. This is the main examination, and the marks obtained here are the primary basis for the final merit list. CBT-2 is conducted separately for each Pay Level (2, 3, 4, 5, and 6).

Subject	No. of Questions	Maximum Marks
General Awareness	50	50
Mathematics	35	35
General Intelligence & Reasoning	35	35
Total	120	120

• Duration: 90 Minutes (120 minutes for PwBD candidates).

• Negative Marking: 1/3rd of the mark is deducted for every incorrect answer.

3. Post-Specific Skill Tests – Qualifying/Scoring

The third stage is mandatory only for specific posts:

Test Name	Applicable Posts	Nature	Weightage in Final Merit
Computer-Based Aptitude Test (CBAT)	Station Master & Traffic Assistant	Qualifying (with T-Score)	30% (CBT-2 carries 70%)
Typing Skill Test (TST)	Clerical/Typist Posts (e.g., Jr. Clerk, Sr. Clerk, Jr. Accounts Asst.)	Qualifying	0% (Merit based solely on CBT-2)

• CBAT: Requires a minimum T-Score of 42 in each test battery. There is no negative marking.

• TST: Requires a typing speed of 30 WPM in English or 25 WPM in Hindi on a computer.

Finally, candidates who qualify all applicable stages are called for Document Verification and a Medical Examination.