The Railway Recruitment Board (RRB) has officially unveiled the examination timetable for the NTPC Graduate Level Recruitment 2025. The Computer Based Test–1 (CBT-1) is set to take place from March 16 to March 27, 2026, at various examination centers nationwide.
This notification provides much-needed clarity for thousands of candidates gearing up for one of India's most competitive railway recruitment exams. The NTPC Graduate Level recruitment aims to fill a total of 5,810 positions for various non-technical roles within the Indian Railways.
According to the RRB's announcement, candidates can access their exam city information roughly 10 days before their exam date. This exam city slip will assist candidates in planning their travel and accommodation ahead of time.
The RRB NTPC CBT-1 admit card will be available four days prior to the exam. Candidates must download their admit cards from the official RRB regional websites and bring a printed copy to the exam center, as entry without a valid admit card will not be allowed.
The RRB has mandated Aadhaar-linked biometric verification for all candidates taking the exam. Before entering the exam venue, candidates will undergo biometric authentication linked to their Aadhaar details.
Candidates are advised to carry either their original Aadhaar card or a verified e-Aadhaar printout. Those who have not completed Aadhaar verification should do so promptly. Additionally, candidates must ensure that their Aadhaar status is 'unlocked' on the UIDAI portal to avoid complications during biometric verification.
The CBT-1 exam is qualifying in nature, meaning its scores will not contribute to the final merit list. However, passing CBT-1 is essential to progress to the subsequent stage.
CBT-1 Exam Details:
Approximately 15 times the number of vacancies will be shortlisted from CBT-1 for the next phase.
The CBT-2 (Main Examination) is a critical phase, as the final merit list will be based on CBT-2 scores.
CBT-2 Exam Structure:
Performance in CBT-2 will determine post allocation, with high-demand positions like Station Master typically requiring higher cut-off scores.
After successfully passing CBT-2, candidates will be invited for:
This will be followed by Document Verification (DV). The final merit list will be compiled based on CBT-2 and CBAT scores, where applicable. Marks from CBT-1 and typing tests will not be factored into the final merit calculation.
Candidates are encouraged to:
With the exam dates confirmed, aspirants should concentrate on structured revision and effective time management to enhance their chances of success.
