Notification Highlights
Important Examination & Application Dates
| Recruitment Event / Milestone | Official Date / Schedule |
|---|---|
| Detailed CEN Notification Release | 18 September 2026 |
| Online Application Opening Date | 19 September 2026 |
| Closing Date for Submission | 20 October 2026 (23:59 Hrs) |
| Final Online Fee Payment Date | 22 October 2026 |
| Application Status & Modification Window | 25 October to 04 November 2026 |
| 1st Stage Computer Based Test (CBT-1) | November 2026 to January 2027 |
Application Fee by Reservation Category
| Candidate Category | Prescribed Fee |
|---|---|
| UR / OBC Male Candidates | ₹500 (₹400 refunded after appearing in CBT-1) |
| SC / ST / Female / PwBD / Transgender / Minorities | ₹250 (Full ₹250 refunded on CBT-1 appearance) |
Post-Wise Vacancy & Pay Scale Breakdown
| Post Name | Department | Pay Scale | Vacancies |
|---|---|---|---|
| Station Master | Operating Department | ₹35,400 + Allowances | 3,860 |
| Goods Train Manager | Operating Department | ₹29,200 + Running Allowance | 2,940 |
| Junior Account Assistant cum Typist | Accounts Department | ₹29,200 + Allowances | 1,500 |
7th CPC Salary Structure & In-Hand Arithmetic
Monthly compensation breakdown based on Central Government pay matrices (Inputs: 01 October 2026 (7th CPC Level 6 Railway Pay Matrix)):
| Salary Component / Allowance | Monthly Amount (₹) | Calculation Basis / Statutory Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Basic Pay | ₹35,400 | Starting entry pay in prescribed 7th CPC matrix cell |
| Dearness Allowance (DA) | ₹17,700 | Calculated at 50% of Basic Pay |
| House Rent Allowance (HRA) | ₹9,558 | Class-X city rate (27%) |
| Transport Allowance (TPTA) | ₹3,600 | Higher TPTA cities + DA on TPTA |
| Gross Monthly Emoluments | ₹66,258 | Sum of Basic + DA + HRA + Allowances |
| NPS Employee Contribution (10%) | -₹5,310 | 10% of (Basic Pay + Dearness Allowance) |
| Estimated Net In-Hand Monthly Pay | ₹60,298 | Credited directly to employee bank account |
Calculated for Station Master (Level 6) in Class-X cities. Goods Train Managers receive additional running mileage allowances averaging ₹12,000 to ₹18,000 monthly.
Selection Process & Stages
Screening test of 100 questions (40 General Awareness, 30 Mathematics, 30 General Intelligence).
120 questions in 90 minutes. Marks scored determine merit ranking.
Aptitude test for Station Masters (min T-score 42) or typing speed test for Clerks.
Examination Pattern, Subjects & Negative Marking
Detailed section-wise question distribution, marks allocation, and penalty rules:
| Subject / Test Module | Questions | Max Marks | Duration | Negative Marking Penalty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CBT-1 Screening: General Awareness (40 Qs / 40 Marks) | 40 | 40 | Combined 90 Minutes | 0.33 Negative Marks (1/3rd penalty) |
| CBT-1 Screening: Mathematics (30 Qs / 30 Marks) | 30 | 30 | Combined 90 Minutes | 0.33 Negative Marks (1/3rd penalty) |
| CBT-1 Screening: General Intelligence & Reasoning (30 Qs / 30 Marks) | 30 | 30 | Combined 90 Minutes | 0.33 Negative Marks (1/3rd penalty) |
| CBT-2 Main Examination (120 Qs / 120 Marks) | 120 | 120 | 90 Minutes (50 GA + 35 Math + 35 Reasoning) | 0.33 Negative Marks (1/3rd penalty) |
Official Examination Syllabus & Section-Wise Topics
Curated subject topics based on official recruitment notifications and past pattern distribution:
- Number System, Decimals, Fractions, LCM and HCF, Ratio and Proportions, Percentages
- Mensuration, Time and Work, Time and Distance, Simple and Compound Interest, Profit and Loss
- Elementary Algebra, Geometry and Trigonometry, Elementary Statistics (Mean, Median, Mode)
- Analogies, Completion of Number and Alphabetical Series, Coding and Decoding, Mathematical Operations
- Relationships, Syllogism, Jumbling, Venn Diagrams, Data Interpretation and Sufficiency
- Conclusions and Decision Making, Similarities and Differences, Analytical Reasoning, Direction Sense
- Current Events of National and International Importance, Games and Sports, Art and Culture of India
- Indian Literature, Monuments and Places of India, General Science and Life Science (up to 10th CBSE)
- History of India and Freedom Struggle, Physical, Social and Economic Geography of India and World
- Indian Polity and Governance - Constitution and Political System, General Scientific and Technological Developments
Previous Cycle Qualifying Cut-Off Benchmarks
Historical normalized qualifying marks across reservation categories to gauge target scores and safe attempt targets:
| Cycle / Exam Stage | General (UR) | OBC-NCL | EWS | SC | ST | Total Marks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 CBT-1 Normalized (RRB Allahabad Level 6) | 77.25 | 72.10 | 71.50 | 65.80 | 56.40 | 100 |
| 2022 CBT-1 Normalized (RRB Mumbai Level 6) | 72.80 | 67.40 | 66.20 | 61.10 | 52.30 | 100 |
| 2022 CBT-1 Normalized (RRB Chandigarh Level 6) | 74.60 | 69.20 | 68.90 | 63.40 | 54.80 | 100 |
Profile Match & Application Advisory
- Candidates holding 12th Pass (10+2) with 50% marks for Undergraduate posts (Junior Clerk, Accounts Clerk, Trains Clerk) OR a Bachelor Degree for Graduate posts (Station Master, Goods Train Manager, Senior Clerk).
- Aspirants aged between 18 and 33/36 years (factoring in the special 3-year age relaxation granted by the Ministry of Railways).
- Candidates aiming for prestigious non-technical railway operations with 7th CPC Level 2 to Level 6 pay scales (Basic ₹19,900 to ₹35,400) and railway travel privilege passes.
- Aspirants with strong aptitude across General Awareness, Mathematics, and General Intelligence & Reasoning.
- Candidates failing the A-2 Medical Standard (Station Master and Goods Guard require 6/9 distance vision without glasses and normal color vision; LASIK surgery is disqualified).
- Candidates planning to register for multiple RRB zones simultaneously (applicants may choose only ONE Railway Recruitment Board zone across all CEN posts).
- Candidates seeking Station Master posts who cannot achieve the mandatory T-score of 42 in each test battery of the Computer Based Aptitude Test (CBAT).
- Candidates awaiting 12th or graduation results whose final certificates are not issued before the application cutoff.
Common Application Mistakes & Scrutiny Pitfalls
- Applying across multiple RRB regional portals: Submitting more than one application leads to computerized duplicate detection, permanent debarment, and forfeiture of fees.
- Selecting incorrect post-preference priorities: Post preference is irreversible post submission and dictates cadre allotment regardless of high merit score.
- Uploading photographs with dark sunglasses, hats, or improper background: Photos must adhere to strict white-background guidelines without specular glare.
- Neglecting the psycho CBAT battery: Over 40% of shortlisted Station Master candidates fail CBAT due to lack of mock practice on the RDSO aptitude format.
Documents to Keep Ready Before Applying
- 10th Matriculation Certificate for Name, Father’s Name, and Date of Birth validation.
- 12th Higher Secondary Mark Sheet (for Undergraduate posts) or Graduation Degree Certificate (for Graduate posts).
- Aadhaar Card for biometric authentication on the rrbapply.gov.in portal.
- Recent color passport photograph on plain white background (30 KB to 70 KB).
- Scanned signature in running handwriting with black/blue ink (30 KB to 70 KB).
- Community Certificate (SC/ST/OBC-NCL/EWS) in prescribed Central Railway Annexure format.
- Valid Savings Bank Account details for processing the ₹400 / ₹250 CBT-1 examination fee refund.
Strategic Examination Preparation Blueprint
Actionable study guidelines, speed drills, and score defense tactics curated by GovIndiaNews editorial board:
Focus heavily on NCERT Class 9 and 10 General Science fundamentals (Physics numericals, Chemical reactions, and Human anatomy).
Practice daily non-verbal reasoning questions including mirror images, paper folding, and embedded figure recognition.
Familiarize yourself with TCS exam interface shortcuts to rapidly navigate between answered, unread, and flagged questions.
Under the 1/3rd negative deduction rule, skip questions where you cannot eliminate at least two plausible distractor options.
Build endurance for Computer Based Tests through uninterrupted 90-minute full mock exam simulations.
Interactive Candidate Utilities Suite
Statutory software calculators and document specification checkers for this notification
Frequently Asked Questions (Railway Recruitment Boards (RRB))
Can I apply to more than one RRB zone for CEN 05/2026?
No. Candidates can apply to only ONE RRB zone across all posts. Submitting applications to multiple zones will lead to computerized duplicate rejection and lifetime debarment.
Is the CBT-1 score counted towards final merit in RRB NTPC?
No. CBT-1 is purely a screening test to shortlist candidates for CBT-2 at a ratio of 1:15 times the notified vacancies. Final merit is determined strictly by CBT-2 scores and CBAT/Typing performance.
What medical standard is required for Station Master posts?
Station Master requires A-2 medical classification: 6/9, 6/9 distance vision without glasses, normal color vision, and absence of night blindness. Candidates who have undergone LASIK surgery are disqualified.
When is the examination fee refund credited?
After attending the CBT-1 examination, the refund of ₹400 (for UR/OBC) or ₹250 (for SC/ST/Women) is credited back to the bank account entered during online registration.
Primary Gazette Source Notice
Notice Title: Railway Recruitment Boards Unified Portal
Verified on: 02 Oct 2026
This notice was audited by the GovIndiaNews Editorial Desk against primary gazette releases and official portal bulletins. Review sign-off conducted under our transparent Fact-Checking Policy. Found a discrepancy? Submit a notice revision via our public Corrections Desk.