RRB NTPC Syllabus 2026: CBT 1 & CBT 2 Topic-wise Breakdown

A clear, topic-by-topic syllabus map is the foundation of efficient RRB NTPC preparation. As of 8 June 2026, the topic list below reflects the standard RRB NTPC syllabus, and the section weightage figures are indicative, not official counts, so treat them as planning estimates and confirm the binding scope against the official railway recruitment notification.

This guide breaks down CBT 1 and CBT 2 topic by topic, frames section weightage honestly, notes the graduate versus undergraduate difference, and covers the typing and aptitude tests. Every weightage number is labelled indicative.

RRB NTPC Exam Structure (Last-Cycle Basis)

RRB NTPC selection has commonly used CBT 1 as a screening stage, CBT 2 as the merit-deciding stage, and then a typing skill test or Computer Based Aptitude Test for specific posts, followed by document verification and a medical check. Confirm the current process in the official notice.

CBT 1 Syllabus, Topic by Topic

CBT 1 has three sections: Mathematics, General Intelligence and Reasoning, and General Awareness.

Mathematics (indicative weight: about 30 questions)

Number system, decimals and fractions, LCM and HCF, ratio and proportion, percentage, mensuration, time and work, time and distance, simple and compound interest, profit and loss, elementary algebra, geometry and trigonometry, and elementary statistics.

General Intelligence and Reasoning (indicative weight: about 30 questions)

Analogies, completion of number and alphabetical series, coding and decoding, mathematical operations, similarities and differences, relationships, analytical reasoning, syllogism, Venn diagrams, puzzle, data sufficiency, statement-conclusion, and decision making.

General Awareness (indicative weight: about 40 questions)

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 Class 10, history of India and the freedom struggle, physical, social, and economic geography of India and the world, Indian polity and governance, general scientific and technological developments, environmental issues, basics of computers, and common abbreviations.

Weightage note as of 8 June 2026: The question-count figures above are indicative of recent CBT 1 cycles and candidate-reported pattern discussions, not official counts. Always confirm the current scope on the official railway recruitment portal, which defines the binding pattern.

CBT 2 Syllabus, Topic by Topic

CBT 2 covers the same three sections at a higher difficulty and a larger question count. The indicative split is Mathematics about 35, General Intelligence and Reasoning about 35, and General Awareness about 50, for a larger total than CBT 1. The topic coverage matches CBT 1 but with greater depth, especially in mathematics and reasoning. Confirm the exact split in the official notice.

Graduate vs Undergraduate Posts

The subjects are identical, but the graduate-level CBT 2 is harder. Prepare to the standard of your post group. The exact post grouping and CBT 2 level are in the official notice.

Typing Test and Aptitude Test

• Typing Skill Test: required for typist posts such as Junior Clerk cum Typist and Senior Clerk cum Typist. It is qualifying; practise typing speed in English or Hindi as specified.
• Computer Based Aptitude Test: required for certain posts such as Station Master and Traffic Assistant. It is a psychometric aptitude test, usually qualifying.

The applicable test depends on your post. Confirm which test applies in the official notice.

How to Use This Syllabus

1. Map every topic to a study week. Do not leave any high-weight General Awareness area uncovered.
2. Prioritise General Awareness. It carries the largest share and rewards consistent daily reading.
3. Build mathematics and reasoning speed. CBT 1 is a screening race; CBT 2 rewards depth.
4. Confirm scope against the official notice. The indicative weights here guide priority, but the notification defines the binding syllabus.

A Syllabus-Driven Study Plan

Common Syllabus Mistakes

• Under-weighting General Awareness. It is the largest section. Read daily from the start.
• Treating CBT 2 like CBT 1. CBT 2 is harder and decides merit. Build depth.
• Ignoring the post-specific test. Typing or aptitude tests are qualifying and post-dependent.
• Treating indicative weights as official. Confirm scope against the official notice.

Sample Questions with Answers (RRB NTPC Style)

These practice questions mirror the RRB NTPC style across Mathematics, Reasoning, and General Awareness. The numbers and facts are pedagogical examples for practice, not official exam data.

Q1 (Mathematics). A train 150 metres long is moving at 54 km/h. How long does it take to cross a pole? Answer: Speed = 54 times 5/18 = 15 m/s. Time = 150 divided by 15 = 10 seconds.

Q2 (Mathematics). The simple interest on 5,000 rupees as a practice figure at 8 percent per annum for 3 years is: Answer: SI = (5000 times 8 times 3) divided by 100 = 1,200 rupees. (A pedagogical example, not a real rate.)

Q3 (Mathematics). If the ratio of two numbers is 3 to 5 and their sum is 64, the larger number is: Answer: Total parts = 8. Each part = 64 divided by 8 = 8. Larger = 5 times 8 = 40.

Q4 (Mathematics). A shopkeeper sells an item for 220 rupees at a 10 percent profit (practice figures). The cost price was: Answer: CP = 220 divided by 1.10 = 200 rupees.

Q5 (Reasoning). Find the next term in the series 2, 6, 12, 20, 30, ? Answer: Differences are 4, 6, 8, 10, so the next difference is 12. Next term = 30 plus 12 = 42.

Q6 (Reasoning). If FACE is coded as GBDF, then HEAD is coded as: Answer: Each letter shifts forward by one. H to I, E to F, A to B, D to E, giving IFBE.

Q7 (Reasoning). Pointing to a man, a woman said, his mother is the only daughter of my mother. How is the woman related to the man? Answer: The only daughter of the woman's mother is the woman herself, so the man's mother is the woman. The woman is the man's mother.

Q8 (General Awareness). The Tropic of Cancer passes through how many Indian states? Answer: It passes through eight Indian states. This is a standard static-GK fact tested in railway exams.

Q9 (General Awareness). Who is known as the Father of the Indian Constitution? Answer: Dr B. R. Ambedkar, who chaired the drafting committee of the Constitution.

Q10 (General Science). The chemical symbol for sodium is: Answer: Na, from its Latin name natrium.

How CBT 1 and CBT 2 Difficulty Differs in Practice

A common trap is preparing only to the CBT 1 level. CBT 1 questions are screening-level and reward speed, while CBT 2 questions on the same topics go deeper and reward conceptual command. For example, a CBT 1 maths question may ask a single-step percentage calculation, while a CBT 2 question on the same topic may combine percentage with profit-loss or a multi-step data set. Plan your revision so that after CBT 1 you escalate every topic to the harder CBT 2 standard rather than repeating screening-level practice.

Related Government Exam Guides

• RRB NTPC Papers 2026, practice paper sets
• RRB NTPC Questions Answers 2026, solved questions
• RRB JE 2026, the railway Junior Engineer track
• Railway Group D Papers 2026, the level-1 railway track

FAQ, RRB NTPC Syllabus 2026

Q: Are the section weights in this guide official? A: No. They are indicative of recent cycles. The official notification defines the binding scope.

Q: Is the syllabus the same for all NTPC posts? A: The subjects are the same, but graduate-level posts have a harder CBT 2. Prepare to your post group's standard.

Q: Do all posts have a typing test? A: No. Only specific posts require a typing or aptitude test. Confirm for your post in the notice.

Q: Where is the official syllabus? A: In the official RRB NTPC 2026 notification on the railway recruitment portal.

Q: How many questions are in CBT 1 and CBT 2? A: Indicatively, CBT 1 carries about 100 questions and CBT 2 a larger total, with CBT 2 at higher difficulty. These are indicative figures; confirm the exact counts on the official railway recruitment portal.

Q: Which section should I start with? A: General Awareness, because it carries the largest share and rewards daily reading built up over months. Run Mathematics and Reasoning practice in parallel for speed.

Q: Is there negative marking in RRB NTPC? A: Recent cycles have applied negative marking per wrong answer. Use the exact value in the official notice and attempt only what you can reason toward.

Q: How do I prepare for the post-specific test? A: For typist posts, build typing speed in the required language; for posts with a Computer Based Aptitude Test, practise standard psychometric aptitude formats. Confirm which test applies to your post in the notice.

Q: Can the same preparation serve graduate and undergraduate posts? A: The subjects overlap, so the foundation is shared, but graduate-level CBT 2 needs deeper preparation. Prepare to the standard of your highest-eligible post group.

Use this syllabus map to prioritise. The official RRB NTPC 2026 notification on the railway recruitment portal is the binding source for scope and pattern.