The Railway Recruitment Board (RRB) is expected to hold the RRB NTPC 2025 CBT 1 exam between May and June 2025. This exam is part of a large recruitment campaign to fill 11,558 Non-Technical Popular Categories (NTPC) vacancies across India.
This year, more than 1.21 crore candidates (exactly 1,21,67,679) have applied, which makes this one of the biggest and most competitive government job exams in India.
🗓️ Expected Exam Timeline
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Exam Name: RRB NTPC CBT 1 – 2025
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Expected Exam Dates: May to June 2025
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Mode: Online (Computer-Based Test)
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Stages in Selection: CBT 1 → CBT 2 → Skill/Typing Test (as applicable) → Document Verification
🏢 Multiple Shifts and Exam Centers
Due to the huge number of candidates, the CBT 1 exam will be conducted in multiple shifts each day across various centers in the country. Each candidate will receive:
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A shift timing
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A specific reporting time
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The venue details
⚠️ Important: You must reach your exam center before the reporting time for smooth entry and identity verification.
Detailed shift-wise schedule will be mentioned in your admit card, which will be released shortly before the exam.
✅ How to Check RRB NTPC 2025 Exam Date (Once Released)
Once the Railway Board releases the official exam schedule, follow these steps to check your date:
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Visit the official RRB website:
👉 https://www.rrbcdg.gov.in
(Or visit your regional RRB website — like RRB Mumbai, RRB Patna, etc.) -
Click on the “RRB NTPC 2025 Exam Date Notification” link under the NTPC section.
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Find the schedule based on your applied post (Undergraduate or Graduate level).
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Click the link to view and download the exam date PDF for your reference.
📚 RRB NTPC 2025 – CBT 1 Exam Pattern
The first stage of the RRB NTPC exam is CBT 1, which is common for all posts.
| Section | No. of Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Mathematics | 30 | 30 |
| General Intelligence & Reasoning | 30 | 30 |
| General Awareness | 40 | 40 |
| Total | 100 | 100 |
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Duration: 90 minutes (1 hour 30 minutes)
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Type: Objective (MCQs)
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Negative Marking: Yes, 1/3 mark will be deducted for every wrong answer.
🎯 Minimum Qualifying Marks (Category-Wise)
To be eligible for CBT 2, candidates must score at least the minimum qualifying marks in CBT 1 based on their category:
| Category | Minimum Qualifying % |
|---|---|
| General / EWS | 40% |
| OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) | 30% |
| SC | 30% |
| ST | 25% |
💡 These percentages may be relaxed by 2% for PwBD candidates depending on their category.
🧠 Important Tips for Aspirants
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Time management is crucial – you have only 90 minutes for 100 questions.
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Focus on scoring well in General Awareness, as it carries the most weight (40 marks).
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Regular practice and mock tests will help you prepare for the CBT format.
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Keep a close eye on official announcements to download your admit card as soon as it’s released.
📌 What’s Next After CBT 1?
Candidates who meet the minimum cut-off in CBT 1 will be shortlisted for CBT 2, which will be conducted for around 15 times the total number of vacancies.
That means:
👉 For 11,558 vacancies, nearly 1.7 lakh candidates may be shortlisted for CBT 2.
Further stages such as Typing Test or Skill Test (if applicable) and Document Verification will follow.
📢 Final Reminder
The RRB NTPC CBT 1 Exam 2025 is just around the corner. If you’ve applied:
✔️ Stay updated through your RRB regional website
✔️ Get your study plan ready
✔️ Practice previous year papers and mock tests
✔️ Keep your documents and photo ID ready for exam day
✔️ Most importantly – stay calm and confident!
🛑 Important Websites to Bookmark
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Official RRB Portal: https://www.rrbcdg.gov.in
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Admit Card & Exam Info: Your regional RRB website (e.g., RRB Mumbai, RRB Kolkata, etc.)
