RRB NTPC UG 2026: CBT 1 Starts May 7 — 3,058 Railway Vacancies Open, Complete Guide

For lakhs of aspirants who have been preparing for one of India’s most prestigious recruitment drives, the moment is almost here. The Railway Recruitment Board’s Non-Technical Popular Categories (NTPC) Undergraduate Level CBT 1 exam is scheduled to begin on May 7, 2026 — and if you’re registered, your final preparation sprint starts now.

Here is your complete, up-to-date guide covering everything from vacancies and eligibility to exam pattern and last-minute strategy.

Exam Dates — Mark Your Calendar

The Railway Recruitment Board has officially announced the RRB NTPC Undergraduate level CBT 1 Exam Date 2026. The exam will be conducted on 7th, 8th, 9th May and 13th, 14th, 16th, 17th, 18th, 19th, 20th, and 21st June 2026.

For candidates appearing on 7th May 2026, the admit card will be available on 3rd May 2026. Admit cards are released 4 days before the respective exam date. Check your registered email and the official RRB portal for your specific exam date and admit card link. JobApply24

Important: Aadhaar biometric verification is mandatory at the exam centre. Candidates must carry their original Aadhaar card and ensure it is updated and unlocked. A locked Aadhaar will cause problems at entry — check your Aadhaar status on the UIDAI website before exam day.

Vacancy Details — 8,868 Total, 3,058 for UG Posts

The Railway Recruitment Board aims to fill a total of 8,868 vacancies for FY 2025-26 for the posts of Non-Technical Popular Categories, including UG-level posts and Graduate-level posts in various Zonal Railways and Production Units of Indian Railways. Out of these, 5,810 vacancies are for Graduate Level and 3,058 for UG posts.

The Graduate Level exam has already concluded (March 16–27, 2026). Candidates appearing now are competing for the UG (12th level) posts under CEN 07/2025.

Posts included under UG Level (CEN 07/2025):

• Junior Clerk cum Typist
• Accounts Clerk cum Typist
• Trains Clerk
• Commercial cum Ticket Clerk

These positions are spread across all zonal railways and production units, offering postings across India.

Eligibility Criteria

Educational Qualification: Candidates must hold a Class 12 pass certificate (10+2) or equivalent from a recognised Board. No graduation degree is required, making this an ideal opportunity for younger candidates and those who prefer direct entry into the government sector after school.

Age Limit: For Undergraduate level posts, candidates should be between 18 and a prescribed upper age limit as per their category, with the age calculated as of 1st January 2025. The general upper age limit for most UG posts is 30 years, with standard relaxation of 3 years for OBC and 5 years for SC/ST candidates.

Salary — Post-Wise Pay Scale

These jobs are available across various zones of the Indian Railways, and the salary is governed by the 7th Pay Commission, ensuring a secure and well-compensated career. Here is the pay level breakdown for key posts:

• Junior Clerk cum Typist / Accounts Clerk cum Typist: Pay Level 2 — Basic Pay ₹19,900
• Trains Clerk: Pay Level 2 — Basic Pay ₹19,900
• Commercial cum Ticket Clerk: Pay Level 3 — Basic Pay ₹21,700

In addition to basic pay, employees receive Dearness Allowance (DA), House Rent Allowance (HRA), Travel Pass, Medical benefits, and Provident Fund contributions — making the total compensation package significantly more attractive than the base salary alone.

Exam Pattern for CBT 1 (UG Level)

The RRB NTPC Undergraduate CBT 1 exam will be conducted in Computer-Based Test mode for a duration of 90 minutes. The exam contains 100 multiple-choice questions. Candidates will receive 1 mark for each correct answer, and there will be a negative marking of one-third mark for each wrong answer.

Subject-wise distribution:

• General Awareness: 40 questions
• Mathematics: 30 questions
• General Intelligence & Reasoning: 30 questions

The CBT 1 is the first stage of the selection process. Candidates who qualify CBT 1 will proceed to CBT 2, followed by CBAT or CBTST (depending on the post), and then Document Verification and Medical Examination. JobApply24

A critical note on normalization: Since the exam is conducted in multiple shifts across several days, RRB applies normalization to adjust for variation in difficulty across sessions. Your normalized score, not your raw score, determines your merit rank.

Selection Process — All Stages Explained

1. CBT 1 (Screening Stage) — 100 questions, 90 minutes
2. CBT 2 (Merit Stage) — More detailed, subject-specific examination
3. CBAT or Typing Skill Test — depending on the post applied for
4. Document Verification — original certificates and identity verification
5. Medical Examination — fitness standards as per Railway Board norms

Only CBT 1 qualifiers proceed to the next stage. Focus entirely on clearing CBT 1 with a strong score.

Preparation Strategy for the Final Week

With exam starting May 7, here’s an effective 7-day plan:

Days 1–2 (Today & Tomorrow): Focus on General Awareness — cover current affairs from January 2025 to April 2026, plus static GK topics: Indian history, geography, polity, economy, science & technology.

Days 3–4 (May 2–3): Revise Mathematics — number system, simplification, percentage, ratio & proportion, time & work, profit & loss, averages, and simple/compound interest. Practice 30–40 questions daily.

Days 5–6 (May 4–5): Cover Reasoning — series completion, analogies, blood relations, direction sense, coding-decoding, seating arrangement, and Venn diagrams. Take full mock tests in 90-minute timed sessions.

Day 7 (May 6 — Day Before Exam): Light revision only. Review formulas and key facts. Check your admit card, exam centre location, and documents. Sleep early.

What to Carry on Exam Day

• Printed copy of your RRB NTPC Admit Card
• Original Aadhaar Card (mandatory for biometric verification)
• One additional valid photo ID (PAN card, Voter ID, Passport)
• Passport-size photographs (carry 2)

Indian Railways is one of the world’s largest employers — a career here means security, prestige, and a lifetime of benefits. This May, make that career yours.

For RRB NTPC admit card updates, result dates, cut-offs, and preparation resources — follow ProEdgeHub.in daily.