RRB NTPC Graduate CBT 1 Exam Date 2026: Railway Releases Tentative Exam Schedule
Super Admin··7 min read
RRB NTPC Graduate CBT 1 Exam Date 2026: Railway Releases Tentative Exam Schedule
The Railway Recruitment Board (RRB) has released a highly important official notification for lakhs of candidates preparing for government jobs. According to the latest indicative notice (CEN No. 06/2026) released by the Railways, the tentative RRB NTPC Graduate CBT 1 Exam Date 2026 has been announced. Under this notification, the first stage Computer Based Test (CBT-1) for various graduate-level posts of Non-Technical Popular Categories (NTPC) will be conducted in the fourth week of December 2026.
This notice was officially released on October 12, 2026. If you have also applied for this prestigious recruitment, now is the time to give the final touch to your preparation. In this article, we will discuss this exam date, exam pattern, syllabus, and the best preparation strategies in detail so that you can achieve success in your very first attempt.
RRB NTPC CEN No. 06/2026: Important Highlights
To understand all the important dates and details related to this recruitment, carefully look at the table below:
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Recruiting Organization | Railway Recruitment Board (RRBs), Ministry of Railways |
| Notification Number (CEN) | CEN No. 06/2026 |
| Post Type | Graduate-Level Posts |
| Total Vacancies | 3,548 posts |
| Application Start Date | October 8, 2026 |
| Application End Date | November 6, 2026 |
| CBT 1 Tentative Exam Date | 4th Week of December 2026 |
| Selection Process | CBT 1, CBT 2, Document Verification (DV), and Medical Test |
| Official Website | rrbapply.gov.in |
Details of CBT 1 Exam Date and Schedule
According to the notice issued by the Railway Recruitment Board on 12.10.2026, the RRB NTPC Graduate CBT 1 Exam Date 2026 is planned to commence from the fourth week of December 2026. The board has clarified that a detailed notice announcing the exact exam dates will be issued separately once the dates are finalized.
The primary objective of the Railways in releasing this tentative schedule well in advance is to ensure that candidates get sufficient time to plan their preparation. Along with this, candidates can also make arrangements for their travel and ticket bookings to reach the exam centers in a timely manner. Candidates are strongly advised not to be misled by any unauthorized or fake news circulating on social media and to rely only on the information provided on the official websites of the RRB.
Details of Posts Under CEN No. 06/2026
Through this recruitment drive, the Railways is going to fill a total of 3,548 vacancies across various zones of the Indian Railways. All these posts fall under Pay Level 5 and Level 6 of the 7th Central Pay Commission (7th CPC). The details of the major posts are as follows:
- Goods Train Manager: This post is related to train operations and has the highest number of vacancies.
- Chief Commercial cum Ticket Supervisor (CCTS): This is an important post in the commercial department.
- Senior Clerk Cum Typist: This post is primarily related to administrative and clerical work.
- Junior Accounts Assistant Cum Typist (JAA): This post falls under the Finance and Accounts department of the Railways.
Important Change: Note that this time the selection process has been streamlined, and changes have been made to the rules of the typing test or aptitude test for certain posts. The final selection will be primarily based on the marks obtained in the CBT 1 and CBT 2 exams.
RRB NTPC Graduate CBT 1 Exam Pattern
With the RRB NTPC Graduate CBT 1 Exam Date 2026 drawing closer, understanding the exam pattern becomes highly crucial. The CBT 1 exam is only a screening test (Screening Nature). This means that its marks will not be added to the final merit list, but securing the minimum cut-off marks is mandatory to qualify for the second stage (CBT 2).
Key Features of CBT 1 Exam:
- Mode of Exam: Online (Computer Based Test - CBT)
- Type of Questions: Objective Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
- Total Number of Questions: 100
- Total Marks: 100
- Duration of Exam: 90 minutes (120 minutes for PwBD candidates)
- Negative Marking: 1/3 (one-third) of a mark will be deducted for each incorrect answer.
Subject-wise Distribution of Marks:
| Subject | Number of Questions | Maximum Marks |
|---|---|---|
| General Awareness | 40 | 40 |
| Mathematics | 30 | 30 |
| General Intelligence & Reasoning | 30 | 30 |
| Total | 100 | 100 |
RRB NTPC Graduate CBT 1 Syllabus: Subject-wise Important Topics
To achieve success in the CBT 1 exam, you should study strictly according to the syllabus. Here are the most important topics for all three subjects that you should pay special attention to:
1. General Awareness
This section covers 40% of the entire paper, making it a potential game-changer:
- Current Affairs: National and international events of importance from the past 1 year, government schemes, and awards.
- Science: Physics, Chemistry, and Biology up to the 10th-grade level (as per the CBSE syllabus).
- History and Geography: India's freedom struggle, ancient, medieval, and modern history; physical and economic geography of India and the world.
- Indian Polity: Constitution, Panchayati Raj, political system, and rights.
- Static GK: Monuments of India, art and culture, important organizations (like the UN), and sports.
2. Mathematics
Accuracy in Mathematics is what will fetch you good marks:
- Number System, Decimals & Fractions
- LCM & HCF
- Percentage, Profit & Loss
- Simple & Compound Interest
- Time & Work, Time & Distance
- Elementary Algebra, Geometry & Trigonometry
3. General Intelligence & Reasoning
You can score high in this section in less time:
- Analogies, Coding & Decoding
- Series Completion (Number and Alphabetical)
- Relationships & Puzzles
- Venn Diagrams & Syllogism
- Statement-Conclusion & Decision Making
Beware of Fraud: Official Warning from Railways
The Railway Recruitment Board has issued a strict warning to candidates in its notice to beware of touts and fraudsters. Point 5 of the notice explicitly states:
"Beware of touts who make false promises of securing jobs through illegal gratification. Selection in RRB is fully transparent and is based solely on the merit of the candidate in the Computer Based Test (CBT)."
The recruitment process of the Railways is completely computerized, leaving no scope for any human intervention or influence. Therefore, believe in your hard work and do not fall prey to any anti-social elements.
Preparation Strategy and Guidance from Patamde Study
Now that very little time is left before the exam begins, your strategy must be highly precise. Adopt these tips to crack the exam:
- Daily Mock Tests: Take at least one full-length mock test daily and analyze it thoroughly. This will help you identify your weaknesses.
- Time Management: You have to solve 100 questions in 90 minutes in the exam. Therefore, without wasting time, solve those questions first that you know well.
- Regular Revision of Current Affairs: Dedicate at least 1 hour daily to revising current affairs.
- Focus on Accuracy: There is a 1/3 negative marking in the exam. Therefore, answer only those questions about which you are completely confident. Avoid guesswork.
For any latest updates, detailed study material, and the best preparation strategies regarding Railway exams, you can regularly visit Patamde Study. Patamde Study is always with you to turn your dreams into reality. Give a new direction to your preparation from today and step towards success.
