RRB NTPC CBT-1 Syllabus 2026
Railway Recruitment Board (RRB)
The RRB NTPC CBT-1 (Computer Based Test-1) is the first stage of the Railway Recruitment Board (RRB) Non-Technical Popular Categories (NTPC) recruitment process. It is a screening examination conducted for both Undergraduate and Graduate-level posts. The examination consists of three sections: Mathematics, General Intelligence & Reasoning, and General Awareness. Candidates shortlisted in CBT-1 are eligible to appear for CBT-2. The marks obtained in CBT-1 are generally used only for shortlisting candidates for the next stage. :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}
Duration
90 Minutes
Marking
1 mark is awarded for every correct answer. The examination consists of 100 objective questions carrying a total of 100 marks.
Negative marking
1/3 (0.33) mark is deducted for every incorrect answer. There is no penalty for unanswered questions.
Exam Pattern
| Subject | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Mathematics | 30 | 30 |
| General Intelligence & Reasoning | 30 | 30 |
| General Awareness | 40 | 40 |
Subject-wise Syllabus
Mathematics
Number System, Decimals & Fractions, LCM & HCF, BODMAS, Percentage, Ratio & Proportion, Average, Profit & Loss, Discount, Simple & Compound Interest, Time & Work, Pipes & Cistern, Time, Speed & Distance, Boat & Stream, Algebra, Geometry, Mensuration, Trigonometry, Elementary Statistics, Data Interpretation
General Intelligence & Reasoning
Analogies, Coding-Decoding, Alphabet Series, Number Series, Classification, Blood Relations, Direction Sense, Venn Diagrams, Syllogism, Puzzle, Seating Arrangement, Statement & Conclusion, Statement & Assumption, Decision Making, Data Sufficiency, Mathematical Operations, Similarities & Differences, Analytical Reasoning, Jumbling, Interpretation of Graphs
General Awareness
Current Affairs, General Science, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, History of India, Indian Freedom Struggle, Indian Polity, Constitution, Geography of India & World, Indian Economy, Art & Culture, Indian Literature, Books & Authors, Monuments & Places of India, Environment & Ecology, Space & Nuclear Programme, Computer Basics, Computer Applications, Transport Systems in India, Government Schemes, Public Sector Organizations, United Nations & International Organizations, Famous Personalities, Sports, Important Days, Flora & Fauna
Preparation Tips
- Give maximum priority to General Awareness as it carries the highest weightage.
- Practice Arithmetic topics and Data Interpretation daily.
- Strengthen Reasoning through puzzles, coding-decoding, and analytical reasoning.
- Revise Current Affairs of the last 6–12 months regularly.
- Solve previous years' RRB NTPC papers to understand the question pattern.
- Attempt full-length mock tests to improve speed and accuracy.
- Avoid guesswork, as one-third mark is deducted for every wrong answer.