Good news if you're aiming for a graduate-level railway job: the RRB NTPC notification for the Graduate posts (CEN 06/2026) is out, and the Railway Recruitment Boards have now given a tentative window for CBT 1. Reports say the exam is planned to start in the fourth week of December 2026.

This guide covers everything in one place: vacancies, important dates, the application fee, how to apply and what has changed since the last cycle. It also sets the CBT 1 window next to the application and correction deadlines, so you can see how much preparation time you really have. Let's go through it.

Key Takeaways

• CEN 06/2026 has 3,548 vacancies across four graduate-level posts. The short notice had said 3,477.
• Online applications run from 8 October to 6 November 2026 (11:59 PM). You can pay the fee until 8 November 2026.
• The correction window is open from 9 to 18 November 2026, and each correction costs ₹250.
• CBT 1 is tentatively planned for the fourth week of December 2026. Exact dates, shifts and centres will come in a later notice.
• Station Master and Traffic Assistant are not part of this notification. There is also no CBAT and no typing test this time.

RRB NTPC Notification at a Glance

The Railway Recruitment Boards released the detailed Graduate notification on 7 October 2026, according to most sources. One source gives 6 October, so check the date on the PDF itself. The table sums up the main details.

One thing about eligibility: you must already hold your degree by the last date to apply. Reports say candidates still waiting for their final result cannot apply under this CEN.

RRB NTPC Notification Important Dates

Here is the full timeline, from the short notice to the tentative CBT 1 window.

Why sources disagree on the notice date

Most reports, including Freejobalert, Oliveboard and Testbook, date the CBT 1 notice to 12 October 2026. RRBRailway.com says it came out on 10 October 2026. The content is the same either way: CBT 1 is planned to begin in the fourth week of December 2026. If the exact date matters to you, the notice on the official RRB website will settle it.

What the CBT 1 notice does not tell you yet

The notice gives a starting window only. It does not list specific dates, shifts or exam centres, and the RRBs will share those in a separate notice. Under past practice, the city intimation slip comes roughly 10 days before the exam and the e-call letter about 4 days before. Treat those gaps as a rough guide, not a promise.

How Much Preparation Time Do You Have?

This is the part that matters most for your study plan. Here's a simple countdown from today (13 October 2026):

• Until 6 November: about three and a half weeks to finish your application, and the fee deadline is two days later.
• 9 to 18 November: the correction window. Use it only if you really need to fix something, because every correction costs ₹250.
• From 18 November to CBT 1: about five weeks of focused study once the paperwork is done.
• From today to CBT 1: roughly ten weeks in total.

Ten weeks is enough time to prepare well, as long as you start now. Don't wait for the exact dates before you begin. The window is already fixed, and anything you study now counts.

Post-wise Vacancies and Medical Standards

Goods Train Manager has by far the most posts. Your medical standard depends on the post you pick, so check it before you set your preferences.

For the RRB-wise and category-wise split (UR, SC, ST, OBC, EWS), check the annexures of the official notification. The numbers for your RRB can affect your strategy more than the national total.

What Changed from the Last Cycle

Two kinds of change are worth knowing about: changes within this cycle, and changes since last year's CEN 06/2025.

Within this cycle: 3,477 became 3,548

The short notice put Graduate vacancies at 3,477. The detailed notification raised that to 3,548. If you see 3,477 on an older page, that's why.

Compared with CEN 06/2025

The main points:

• Fewer vacancies, so more competition. Choosing your RRB and setting your post preferences now matter more.
• Station Master is out. Reports say the RRBs will recruit Station Masters through a separate notification from this year.
• The process is simpler. Every post now follows the same path: CBT 1, then CBT 2, then document verification and medical examination.
• One website. Updates now come from a single site, rrb.indianrailways.gov.in, and you no longer have to track separate regional RRB sites.

RRB NTPC Application Fee

You get part of the fee back if you appear in CBT 1. Reports say concessional-category candidates get the full ₹250 back after taking the first-stage exam. For the refund on the ₹500 fee, check the official notification. You can pay online by debit card, credit card, net banking or UPI.

How to Apply for RRB NTPC: Step by Step

The whole process happens on rrbapply.gov.in. Here's how to do it without mistakes:

1. Create an account. Enter your basic details carefully. The notice says the details in the "Create an Account" form and your chosen RRB cannot be changed later, not even in the correction window.
2. Pick your RRB carefully. You can apply to only one RRB, so look at its vacancies before you decide.
3. Fill in the application form. Add your personal and educational details and your post preferences.
4. Complete the identity steps. The process includes live photo capture, identity authentication and a signature upload in the prescribed format.
5. Add scribe details if you need a scribe. This time you enter them in the application form itself.
6. Pay the fee by 8 November 2026 and submit the form by 6 November, 11:59 PM.
7. Download and print the confirmation page so you have it later.

Tip: don't leave it to the last day. Portals get slow near deadlines, and a failed payment on 8 November can cost you the whole cycle.

Selection Process and Exam Pattern

Under CEN 06/2026, the selection stages are CBT 1, CBT 2, document verification and medical examination. Coaching sources report the following exam pattern:

CBT 1 is a screening test, and reports say the final merit list is based on normalised CBT 2 marks. So your aim in December is to clear CBT 1 comfortably while you build the speed and depth CBT 2 will need.

Your Preparation Plan Until CBT 1

With about ten weeks left, here's a plan you can follow:

• Weeks 1 to 3 (while you apply): Learn the syllabus and revise the basics of arithmetic and reasoning. Standard books for competitive exams give you a structured base.
• Weeks 4 to 7: Practise by topic, especially percentages, ratios, time and work, series, coding-decoding and puzzles. General Awareness has the most questions, so give it time every day with daily current affairs.
• Weeks 8 to 10: Take full-length mocks in a 90-minute timed setting. Check every mistake and keep the negative marking in mind. An online test series helps you build exam temperament.

Keep your study steady rather than heroic. Two to three focused hours every day will do more for you than one long weekend sitting.

A Quick Note on the Undergraduate Notification

If you're also eligible at the 10+2 level, the Undergraduate recruitment is under CEN 07/2026 with 1,688 tentative vacancies. Reports put its application window at 15 October to 13 November 2026, though some list these dates as tentative. Its CBT 1 dates have not been notified yet.

Conclusion

The RRB NTPC notification for graduates gives you a clear timeline. Apply by 6 November, pay by 8 November, use the 9 to 18 November correction window only if you need it, and prepare for CBT 1 in the fourth week of December 2026. There are fewer vacancies this year, but the process is simpler, with no CBAT and no typing test. That means your CBT scores decide almost everything.

Keep the official website, rrb.indianrailways.gov.in, bookmarked for the exact exam dates and admit cards. Most of all, start preparing today, because ten good weeks can change your result. All the best!

FAQs

When is the RRB NTPC Graduate CBT 1 exam under CEN 06/2026?

An RRB notice says CBT 1 is tentatively planned to start in the fourth week of December 2026. Most sources date the notice to 12 October 2026, and one says 10 October. The exact dates, shifts and centres will come in a separate notice.

What is the last date to apply for RRB NTPC Graduate 2026?

You can apply online until 6 November 2026 at 11:59 PM. The fee can be paid until 8 November 2026, and the correction window runs from 9 to 18 November 2026.

How many vacancies are there in the RRB NTPC Graduate notification?

The detailed CEN 06/2026 has 3,548 vacancies: Goods Train Manager 2,750, Senior Clerk cum Typist 371, Junior Accounts Assistant cum Typist 300 and Chief Commercial cum Ticket Supervisor 127. The earlier short notice had said 3,477.

What is the RRB NTPC application fee?

It is ₹500 for most candidates and ₹250 for SC, ST, Ex-Servicemen, PwBD, Female, Transgender, Minority and EBC candidates. Part of the fee is refunded if you appear in CBT 1, and each correction in the correction window costs ₹250.

Is Station Master included in RRB NTPC 2026?

No. Station Master and Traffic Assistant are not part of CEN 06/2026. Reports say Station Master will be recruited through a separate notification.

Is there a typing test or CBAT in RRB NTPC Graduate 2026?

No. The typing skill test has been dropped for the typist posts, and CBAT does not apply because none of the four posts needs it. Selection is through CBT 1, CBT 2, document verification and medical examination.