RRB NTPC CBT 1 Syllabus 2026: Topic-Wise List and Exam Pattern

The 2026 NTPC cycle has two notifications: CEN 06/2026 for graduate posts and CEN 07/2026 for undergraduate (12th pass) posts. Both print the CBT 1 syllabus in Para 13.1, and the topic list is word for word the same in both. This page sets out that list in a form you can study from, along with the pattern and the rules that decide who moves on to CBT 2.

For posts, vacancies and last dates, read our RRB NTPC 2026 notification guide.

RRB NTPC CBT 1 exam pattern

• Time: 90 minutes. Candidates with a disability who are eligible for a scribe get 120 minutes.
• Marking: each question carries 1 mark. One third of a mark is cut for each wrong answer.
• Section split is indicative. The notification says the actual paper may vary a little from the 40-30-30 split.
• No calculators or other electronic devices are allowed.
• Same for both levels. CEN 06/2026 and CEN 07/2026 give the same CBT 1 pattern.

Mathematics syllabus

The notification lists these topics. We have grouped them so you can plan your study by area.

The list ends with "etc.", so it is not a closed list. Treat it as a guide to the main areas.

How to study it: Start with percentage, ratio and number system. Profit and loss, interest and data questions all rest on them. Then move to time and work and time and distance. Keep geometry, trigonometry and mensuration for last, and learn the standard formulas and identities well rather than every theorem.

General Intelligence and Reasoning syllabus

How to study it: Analogies, series, coding and mathematical operations are quick to learn and quick to solve. Do them first. Syllogism and Venn diagrams need a fixed method; once you have one, use it every time. Puzzles and data sufficiency take the most time, so practise them under a timer.

General Awareness syllabus

GA has the most questions in CBT 1 and the widest list. The notification names the following.

Current affairs and general

• Current events of national and international importance
• Games and sports
• Famous personalities of India and the world
• Common abbreviations
• Flagship government programmes

History, culture and polity

• History of India and the freedom struggle
• Art and culture of India
• Indian literature
• Monuments and places of India
• Indian polity and governance: the Constitution and political system

Geography, economy and environment

• Physical, social and economic geography of India and the world
• Indian economy
• Environmental issues concerning India and the world
• Flora and fauna of India
• Transport systems in India

Science and technology

• General science and life science (up to CBSE class 10)
• General scientific and technological developments, including India's space and nuclear programmes
• Basics of computers and computer applications

Organisations

• The UN and other important world organisations
• Important government and public sector organisations of India

How to study it: Science is set at CBSE class 10 level, so NCERT class 9 and 10 science books cover it. For history, geography and polity, start with school NCERT books and short notes. Current affairs need daily reading. Basics of computers is a small topic that many people skip; an hour or two on terms, shortcuts and parts of a computer is enough.

Qualifying marks and shortlisting

CBT 1 is a screening test. Its normalised score is used only to shortlist candidates for CBT 2; it is not added to your final merit.

• Minimum qualifying marks: 40% for UR and EWS, 30% for OBC (non-creamy layer) and SC, and 25% for ST.
• These percentages also apply to Ex-Servicemen and PwBD candidates, as per their community. For PwBD candidates they may be relaxed by 2 marks if there are not enough PwBD candidates for reserved vacancies.
• About 15 times the community-wise vacancies of each RRB are shortlisted for CBT 2, by merit in CBT 1. Railways can raise or lower this number.
• When CBT 1 runs in multiple shifts, marks are normalised before shortlisting.

Clearing the minimum mark is not enough on its own. You need to rank inside the shortlist for your RRB and category.

What comes after CBT 1

1. CBT 2: 120 questions in 90 minutes (General Awareness 50, Mathematics 35, Reasoning 35), with the same topic list and the same one-third negative marking.
2. Document verification and medical examination.

One change this cycle: the computer-based typing skill test has been dropped for both CEN 06/2026 and CEN 07/2026. The notifications say typing proficiency will be checked after joining instead, and poor performance can delay confirmation or promotion.

RRB NTPC syllabus PDF

The official syllabus is part of the notification itself, in Para 13.1. Download the CEN PDF for your RRB from the unified RRB website, rrb.indianrailways.gov.in, which links to each RRB's page. Applications are submitted only on rrbapply.gov.in. Use the CEN itself as your syllabus PDF, rather than summaries from other sites.

Using mocks with the syllabus

A topic list tells you what to read. A full mock tells you which topics are costing you marks. After each test, mark the two topics where you lost the most and revise them before the next attempt. With one third of a mark lost per wrong answer, it also helps to track how many questions you guessed and how many of those were right.

Take the RRB NTPC Full Mock 1, free. It follows the CBT 1 pattern: 100 questions, a 90-minute timer and one-third negative marking, with a topic-wise report at the end. More tests are on the /rrb-ntpc page.