📅 Notification Released: April 13, 2026 | Source: Official RRB Notice CEN 07/2025 | Ministry of Railways, Government of India

If you applied for RRB NTPC UG between October 28 and November 27, 2025 - take a deep breath, because the wait is finally over.

The tentative CBT-1 exam schedule for CEN 07/2025 has been officially released, and honestly, the dates are closer than most candidates are expecting. I've seen too many aspirants get caught off guard by sudden schedule releases, spending the first week in panic rather than preparation. Don't be that person.

Read every section of this article carefully. Not because it's comprehensive - but because the specific details here, especially the strategy section, will directly affect what happens when you sit in front of that screen on exam day.

RRB NTPC UG CBT-1 2026 - Official Exam Dates

CEN: 07/2025
Post Category: Non-Technical Popular Categories (Under Graduate)
Stage: CBT-1

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Exam Dates: 07/05/2026, 08/05/2026, 09/05/2026 and 13/06/2026 to 21/06/2026

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The exam is spread across two separate windows - a smaller early batch in May 2026 and a much larger batch running across June 2026. Your specific date will be communicated 10 days before the exam through the official Exam City and Date intimation link on your respective RRB's website.

Don't wait for that link to start preparing. Start today.

About CEN 07/2025 - The Recruitment Behind This Exam

Let's put this opportunity in perspective for a moment.

The Railway Recruitment Boards issued Centralised Employment Notice (CEN) No. 07/2025 in October 2025, offering permanent government employment under one of the largest and most respected organizations in the world - Indian Railways. These aren't contractual roles. These are structured, pensionable government posts with clear career progression.

For a graduate-level candidate, this is exactly the kind of stable, long-term career opportunity that doesn't come around frequently. That's why lakhs of candidates applied. And that's why you cannot afford to take preparation lightly.

Complete Post Details, Vacancies & Pay Structure

Post Name: Commercial Cum Ticket Clerk
Pay Level (7th CPC): Level 3
Initial Pay: ₹21,700/month
Medical Standard: B2
Age Limit (as on 01/01/2026): 18–30 Years
Total Vacancies: 2,424

Post Name: Accounts Clerk cum Typist
Pay Level (7th CPC): Level 2
Initial Pay: ₹19,900/month
Medical Standard: C2
Age Limit (as on 01/01/2026): 18–30 Years
Total Vacancies: 394

Post Name: Junior Clerk Cum Typist
Pay Level (7th CPC): Level 2
Initial Pay: ₹19,900/month
Medical Standard: C2
Age Limit (as on 01/01/2026): 18–30 Years
Total Vacancies: 163

Post Name: Trains Clerk
Pay Level (7th CPC): Level 2
Initial Pay: ₹19,900/month
Medical Standard: A3
Age Limit (as on 01/01/2026): 18–30 Years
Total Vacancies: 77

Grand Total Vacancies: 3,058

The Commercial Cum Ticket Clerk post dominates this notification with 2,424 vacancies - nearly 80% of the total seats. If you haven't thought about post preference yet, that number should tell you something.

The competition is intense. There's no sugarcoating that. But 3,058 seats means 3,058 people will clear this - and the right preparation is what separates those who do from those who don't.

Complete CBT-1 Exam Pattern - Know EXACTLY What You're Facing

Before building any strategy, you must completely understand the structure of what you're preparing for. Here is the full breakdown of the 1st Stage Computer Based Test (CBT-1):

CBT-1 Structure - Common for ALL Four Posts

Subject Number of Questions Total Marks
General Awareness 40 40
Mathematics 30 30
General Intelligence & Reasoning 30 30
TOTAL 100 100

Key Exam Parameters
Duration: 90 minutes standard | 120 minutes for scribe-eligible candidates
Negative Marking: YES - 1/3 mark deducted per wrong answer
Mode: Computer Based Test
Nature: Screening test - normalized scores used for CBT-2 shortlisting
Shortlisting Ratio: Top 15 times the community-wise vacancy count advance to CBT-2

CBT-2 Structure - Know What Comes Next

The second stage of the selection process is CBT-2. This test is more detailed and plays a major role in shortlisting candidates for the next stages.

The CBT-2 paper includes three sections:

General Awareness carries 50 questions for a total of 50 marks.
Mathematics consists of 35 questions for 35 marks.
General Intelligence and Reasoning also includes 35 questions for 35 marks.

In total, the exam contains 120 questions for 120 marks.

The total duration of the exam is 90 minutes for general candidates and 120 minutes for scribe-eligible candidates. Negative marking is applicable, and 1/3 mark is deducted for each incorrect answer.

Typing Skill Test (CBTST) - Post-Wise Requirement

A Typing Skill Test is conducted only for selected posts. It is qualifying in nature and does not contribute to the final merit list.

The Commercial Cum Ticket Clerk and Trains Clerk posts do not require a typing test.
The Accounts Clerk cum Typist and Junior Clerk cum Typist posts require a typing test, with a minimum typing speed of 30 words per minute in English or 25 words per minute in Hindi.

COMPLETE EXAM STRATEGY - Where to Focus, What to Prioritize, How to Score

This is the most critical section of this entire article. With exam dates starting 07/05/2026, every candidate needs a razor-sharp, focused strategy - not generic advice, but specific directional guidance on where to invest preparation time for maximum return.

Strategy Foundation - Understand the Scoring Math First

Here's something most candidates don't sit down and calculate before they begin preparing. Let's do it right now.

100 questions in 90 minutes = roughly 54 seconds per question on average
Negative marking of 1/3 means every 3 wrong answers cancel out 1 correct answer

Example 1: You attempt 80 questions. 65 right, 15 wrong. Net score = 65 − 5 = 60 marks

Example 2: You attempt 70 questions. 65 right, 5 wrong. Net score = 65 − 1.67 = ≈ 63 marks

Same number of correct answers. Fewer attempts. Higher score.

I've seen this pattern in toppers across previous RRB NTPC cycles - the candidates who cleared comfortably weren't always the fastest or the most "prepared." They were the most accurate. They knew which questions to attempt and which ones to skip without guilt.
The single most important lesson before you open a single book: Accuracy always beats volume. Build that mindset from day one, and it will serve you far better than any shortcut.

General Awareness - Your Highest-Return Subject (40 Marks)

With 40 questions and 40 marks, General Awareness is the single largest section of CBT-1. If you underperform here, Mathematics and Reasoning cannot compensate.

Key focus areas:

  • General Science (Physics, Chemistry, Biology basics) --> 10-15 questions
  • Current Affairs - November 2025 to exam date
  • History, Geography, Polity, Economy - static GK
  • Railway-specific GK
  • Number System & Simplification
  • Percentage, Profit & Loss
  • Time & Work, Time & Distance
  • Simple & Compound Interest
  • Ratio & Proportion
  • Basic Data Interpretation
  • Series
  • Coding-Decoding
  • Analogies
  • Blood Relations
  • Direction Sense
  • Syllogisms
  • Odd One Out

Most candidates fail here by treating current affairs as “revision only.” Instead, follow a 15-20 minutes daily habit with a reliable source. Consistency matters more than volume.

Mathematics - Selective Preparation Pays Off (30 Marks)

You don’t need every topic. You need high-frequency scoring topics.

High-priority areas:

Focus on accuracy over coverage. A solid 22-25 marks here is often enough when combined with strong GA + Reasoning.

Practice at least 30 questions daily, focusing on understanding methods rather than speed alone.

General Intelligence & Reasoning - The Most Scoring Section (30 Marks)

This is usually the most predictable section and offers the highest scoring potential with practice.

Key topics:

Focus on identifying patterns instead of brute-solving. Pattern recognition is what converts this section into a high-scoring area.

PRE-EXAM MASTER CHECKLIST - Immediate Actions Required

Administrative Tasks - Do These This Week

□ Log in to www.rrbapply.gov.in and verify your Aadhaar verification status
□ Visit resident.uidai.gov.in and confirm Aadhaar biometrics are unlocked
□ Check Aadhaar for accuracy - Name, Date of Birth, Photo, Father's Name, Address
□ Update Aadhaar at the nearest enrollment center immediately if any details are incorrect
□ Bookmark your official RRB website and monitor it for the Exam City link
□ Begin organizing original documents for the Document Verification stage

Don't treat Aadhaar verification as a Day-Before task. RRBs have turned away candidates at exam centers for biometric mismatches. This is an administrative step - get it done this week and forget about it.

Preparation Focus - Start Immediately

□ Take one full-length diagnostic mock test to establish your current baseline score
□ Identify your weakest subject and allocate proportionally more time there
□ Begin daily current affairs reading covering November 2025 up to the exam date
□ Solve previous year RRB NTPC question papers - minimum three full sets
□ Work through General Science topics systematically - highest ROI in General Awareness
□ Practice at least 30 Mathematics questions daily from high-priority topics
□ Practice at least 30 Reasoning questions daily - focus on series, coding, and analogies

Exam Week Actions

□ Download your E-Call Letter immediately when available (4 days before the exam)
□ Verify every detail on the admit card - report discrepancies immediately
□ Visit your exam center in advance if possible - know the exact location and route
□ Arrange all exam day documents: Original Aadhaar, Admit Card, Passport-size photo
□ Stop attempting new topics 48 hours before the exam - revision only
□ Ensure 7-8 hours of sleep the night before

The last point is not optional advice. Sleep-deprived candidates make calculation errors, misread options, and rush decisions. No amount of last-night revision is worth the cognitive cost of showing up tired. Trust your preparation and rest.

FAQs

Q1. What are the official exam dates for RRB NTPC UG CBT-1 2026?
The tentative exam dates are 07/05/2026, 08/05/2026, 09/05/2026 and 13/06/2026 to 21/06/2026. Check official RRB websites for updates.

Q2. How will I know my exam city and date?
The exam city and date link will be available 10 days before your exam on the official RRB website. Login using your registration details.

Q3. When will the admit card be available?
The E-Call Letter can be downloaded 4 days before your exam date from the official RRB website.

Q4. Is Aadhaar mandatory for the exam?
Yes. Aadhaar-based biometric verification is compulsory. Carry original Aadhaar or a verified e-Aadhaar printout.

Q5. My Aadhaar biometrics are locked. What should I do?
Visit resident.uidai.gov.in or use the mAadhaar app to unlock your biometrics before the exam.

Q6. Is there negative marking in CBT-1?
Yes. 1/3 mark is deducted for each wrong answer. No penalty for unattempted questions.

Q7. How many candidates qualify for CBT-2?
Candidates equal to 15 times the community-wise vacancies are shortlisted based on normalized CBT-1 scores.

Q8. Which subject should I prioritize?
Focus more on General Awareness, followed by Reasoning and Mathematics for maximum scoring efficiency.

Q9. Will all candidates take the exam on the same day?
No. The exam is conducted across multiple dates and shifts. Your exact date will be notified 10 days before your exam.

Q10. Is typing test required for all posts?
No. It applies only to Accounts Clerk cum Typist and Junior Clerk Cum Typist.

Q11. What happens in case of a tie in scores?
Older candidates get preference. If age is the same, names are ranked alphabetically.

Q12. Can I change my exam center or RRB after applying?
No. Choices made during application cannot be changed after submission.

Q13. What is score normalization?
Scores are normalized across sessions to ensure fairness when difficulty levels vary.

Q14. Do SC/ST candidates get travel support?
Yes. Eligible SC/ST candidates can download their Travel Authority from the same link used for exam city details.

RRB Region - Official Websites

RRB Ahmedabad: www.rrbahmedabad.gov.in
RRB Ajmer: www.rrbajmer.gov.in
RRB Allahabad: www.rrbald.gov.in
RRB Bangalore: www.rrbbangalore.gov.in
RRB Bhopal: www.rrbbhopal.gov.in
RRB Bhubaneswar: www.rrbbbs.gov.in
RRB Chandigarh: www.rrbcdg.gov.in
RRB Chennai: www.rrbchennai.gov.in
RRB Gorakhpur: www.rrbgkp.gov.in
RRB Guwahati: www.rrbguwahati.gov.in
RRB Kolkata: www.rrbkolkata.gov.in
RRB Mumbai: www.rrbmumbai.gov.in
RRB Patna: www.rrbpatna.gov.in
RRB Secunderabad: www.rrbsecunderabad.gov.in
Central Application Portal: www.rrbapply.gov.in

This article is based on the official notification issued by the Railway Recruitment Boards on 13/04/2026 (CEN 07/2025). Candidates are advised to verify all details from official RRB websites. This content has no affiliation with the Government of India or Railway Recruitment Boards.