The Railway Recruitment Board (RRB) has officially announced a total of 5,165 vacancies for the upcoming NTPC 2026-27 recruitment cycle under letter reference number No. E(MPP)/2026/20/6/NTPC. Operating under the Ministry of Railways, this recruitment drive covers both undergraduate and graduate-level posts, with RRB Bengaluru acting as the nodal agency. As candidates gear up for this major national-level examination, understanding the vacancy breakdown, eligibility criteria, and structured selection stages is critical for success.
RRB NTPC 2026-27 Vacancy Breakdown
The total approved pool of 5,165 openings is distributed across different educational tiers. Candidates should note that when compared to previous years—such as 11,558 vacancies in 2024 and 8,868 vacancies in 2025—the 2026-27 cycle features a more selective count of openings, pointing toward increased competition. The breakdown is as follows:
- Graduate-Level Vacancies: 3,477 posts (including positions like Goods Train Manager, Chief Commercial-cum-Ticket Supervisor, Junior Accounts Assistant cum Typist, and Senior Clerk cum Typist).
- Undergraduate-Level Vacancies: 1,688 posts.
Zonal railways and production units are scheduled to place their final indents on the OIRMS portal from September 07, 2026, to September 26, 2026 (onwards). The official notification (CEN PDF) is expected to drop in October 2026 or later.
Overview Table: NTPC 2026 Recruitment
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| Conducting Body | Railway Recruitment Board (RRB)/Railway Board |
| Letter Reference | No. E(MPP)/2026/20/6/NTPC |
| Total Approved Vacancies | 5,165 |
| NTPC Graduate Vacancies | 3,477 |
| NTPC Under-Graduate Vacancies | 1,688 |
| Approving Authority | Competent Authority (CRB & CEO) |
| Next Step | Zonal Railways/PUs to place final indent in OIRMS portal |
| Nodal RRB | RRB Bengaluru |
| Selection Process | CBT 1, CBT 2, CBAT, Document Verification, Medical Examination |
Eligibility Criteria & Exam Structure
Aspirants must meet specific age constraints before applying: the age limit is 18-30 years for undergraduate posts and 18-33 years for graduate posts. The examination structure features objective-type questions with a negative marking scheme of 1/3rd of a mark deducted for every incorrect response. For CBT 1, candidates answer a 100-mark paper within 90 minutes (120 minutes for PWD candidates). For CBT 2, the total marks increase to 120, maintaining the same 90-minute duration (120 minutes for PWD candidates).
RRB NTPC Selection Process Stages
- Computer-Based Test 1 (CBT 1)
- Computer-Based Test 2 (CBT 2)
- Computer-Based Aptitude Test/Typing Skill Test (CBAT/CBTST)
- Document Verification (DV)
- Medical Examination
Preparation Steps for RRB NTPC 2026
- Start syllabus revision and refer to the latest exam pattern.
- Monitor rrbapply.gov.in and official zonal RRB websites for the CEN PDF, application dates, and eligibility details.
- Review eligibility criteria in advance.
- Practice mock tests regularly to improve speed and accuracy.
- Prepare scanned copies of photographs, signatures, educational certificates, and ID proof in the prescribed format.
Official Regional RRB Portals
To stay updated with regional updates, notifications, and results, applicants can check their respective regional railway boards through the official links below:
- www.rrbahmedabad.gov.in (Ahmedabad)
- www.rrbajmer.gov.in (Ajmer)
- www.rrbbnc.gov.in (Bengaluru)
- www.rrbbhopal.gov.in (Bhopal)
- www.rrbbs.gov.in (Bhubaneswar)
- www.rrbbilaspur.gov.in (Bilaspur)
- www.rrbcdg.gov.in (Chandigarh)
- www.rrbchennai.gov.in (Chennai)
- www.rrbgkp.gov.in (Gorakhpur)
- www.rrbguwahati.gov.in (Guwahati)
- www.rrbjammu.nic.in (Jammu-Srinagar)
- www.rrbkolkata.gov.in (Kolkata)
- www.rrbmalda.gov.in (Malda)
- www.rrbmumbai.gov.in (Mumbai)
- www.rrbmuzaffarpur.gov.in (Muzaffarpur)
- www.rrbpatna.gov.in (Patna)
- www.rrbald.gov.in (Prayagraj)
- www.rrbranchi.gov.in (Ranchi)
- www.rrbsecunderabad.gov.in (Secunderabad)
- www.rrbsiliguri.gov.in (Siliguri)
- www.rrbthiruvananthapuram.gov.in (Thiruvananthapuram)