The official RRB NTPC undergraduate exam date for the 2026 recruitment cycle has not yet been announced by the Railway Recruitment Board (RRB). However, the official notification was released on October 28, 2025, and the online application window is currently active from October 28, 2025, to November 27, 2025.
Understanding the 2026 RRB NTPC Recruitment Timeline
As an expert who has tracked railway recruitments for years, I can confirm this is standard procedure. The RRB always releases the exam dates (CBT 1) after the application window closes. This allows them to finalize the number of applicants, allocate exam centers, and manage the massive logistical challenge of conducting one of the world’s largest computer-based tests.
The recruitment process is a multi-stage marathon. You don’t just apply and take one test. The key stages are:
- First Stage Computer Based Test (CBT 1)
- Second Stage Computer Based Test (CBT 2)
- Typing Skill Test / Computer Based Aptitude Test (as applicable)
- Document Verification (DV)
- Medical Examination
Right now, the most critical action is to complete your application correctly before the November 27 deadline. The CBT 1 date will likely be announced a few weeks after the application correction window (which ends December 9, 2025) closes.
Key Dates: RRB NTPC 2025-26 Application
Here is the official schedule you need to focus on right now. Missing these deadlines means you are out of the race before it even begins.
| Event | Undergraduate Post Dates | Graduate Post Dates |
| Official Notification | October 28, 2025 | October 21, 2025 |
| Application Start Date | October 28, 2025 | October 21, 2025 |
| Application End Date | November 27, 2025 | November 20, 2025 |
| Application Correction | Nov 30 – Dec 9, 2025 | Nov 23 – Dec 2, 2025 |
| CBT 1 Exam Date | To be notified | To be notified |
This recruitment drive has announced a total of 8,875 vacancies, with 3,058 posts specifically for undergraduate candidates.
Our Expert Take: What to Expect Next
Here is an important lesson we’ve learned from tracking past RRB NTPC exams: the gap between the application deadline and the CBT 1 exam is often unpredictable but crucial.
[My Experience]: In the 2019 RRB NTPC recruitment, there was a significant delay between the application and the exam due to administrative and later, pandemic-related reasons. Candidates who stopped preparing, assuming the exam was far away, were caught off guard when the dates were suddenly announced. Conversely, those who used that time to systematically build their foundation—mastering Maths, Reasoning, and General Awareness—were the ones who ultimately cleared CBT 1.
Do not wait for the exam date to be announced. Assume the exam could be as early as January or February 2026 and start your preparation now. This 3,058-vacancy opportunity for 12th-pass candidates is significant, and competition will be fierce.
RRB NTPC Undergraduate Eligibility: Do You Qualify?
This is a critical checkpoint. For the undergraduate posts (like Junior Clerk cum Typist, Accounts Clerk cum Typist, etc.), you must meet two primary criteria:
- Age Limit: You must be between 18 to 30 years of age. (Age relaxation applies for reserved categories: 3 years for OBC and 5 years for SC/ST).
- Educational Qualification: You must have passed Class 12 (10+2) or its equivalent examination.
If you meet these, you are eligible to apply. If you are a graduate, you can also apply for the 5,810 graduate-level posts.
