RRB NTPC Graduate CBT 1 Exam 2026 Schedule Announced: March 16–27

Railway Recruitment Board (RRB) has published the exam timetable for the Non-Technical Popular Categories (NTPC) Graduate level CBT 1 for the 2026 recruitment cycle. According to the official schedule, the first stage of the CBT will be conducted from 16 March to 27 March 2026 across various test centres nationwide.

CBT 1 Schedule and Key Events

Candidates appearing in the exam should note the release schedule for essential documents:

• City Intimation Slip & SC/ST Travel Authority – will be available about 10 days before the exam start, expected on 6 March 2026.
• Admit Card (E-Call Letter) – will be accessible for download four days before the exam, around 12 March 2026.

These documents will be published on respective RRB regional websites, where candidates must log in using their registration details to obtain them.

Aadhaar Verification Mandatory at Exam Centres

The board has emphasised that Aadhaar-linked biometric verification will be conducted during the examination. Aspirants must either carry their original Aadhaar card or an e-verified Aadhaar copy to avoid entry issues on the exam day. All candidates, including those who previously verified Aadhaar during registration, are advised to ensure that their details remain active in the UIDAI system before the exam.

RRB NTPC CBT 1 Exam Pattern Highlights

The CBT 1 examination will consist of a total of 100 objective questions divided into three major sections:

• General Awareness – 40 questions
• Mathematics – 30 questions
• General Intelligence & Reasoning – 30 questions

Total duration for the exam is 90 minutes for regular candidates, with 120 minutes allotted for PwBD candidates requiring a scribe. One-third of the marks will be deducted as negative marking for each incorrect response.

Candidates who successfully clear the CBT 1 stage will move forward to the CBT 2 examination, which will be conducted at a later date as part of the selection process.