Railway NTPC 2026 graduate recruitment begins today for 3,548 posts; apply by 6 November

The Railway Recruitment Boards (RRBs) have initiated the recruitment process for Non-Technical Popular Categories (NTPC) Graduate posts for the year 2026. The official notification, under CEN 06/2026, was released on 7 October 2026, with online applications opening today, 8 October 2026. This recruitment drive aims to fill 3,548 graduate-level vacancies across various departments of Indian Railways.

Eligible candidates can submit their applications through the official regional RRB websites. The last date for online application submission for graduate-level posts is 6 November 2026, 11:59 PM, with the application fee payment deadline set for 8 November 2026. This year’s recruitment cycle for 2026-27 has approved a total of 5,236 vacancies, including 3,548 graduate-level and 1,688 undergraduate-level posts.

Details of Graduate-Level Vacancies and Posts

The 2026 NTPC graduate recruitment covers 3,548 posts in Pay Level-5 and Level-6. Key positions include Goods Train Manager, Chief Commercial Cum Ticket Supervisor (CCCTS), Junior Accounts Assistant Cum Typist (JAA), and Senior Clerk Cum Typist. The largest number of vacancies is for Goods Train Manager, with 2,750 positions available across various RRB zones.

Candidates applying for these posts must possess a degree from a recognised university or an equivalent qualification. The age limit for graduate-level posts is 18 to 33 years as on 1 January 2027. Age relaxations are applicable for reserved categories, with OBC-NCL candidates receiving 3 years and SC/ST candidates 5 years. Ex-Servicemen (UR and EWS) are eligible for a 3-year age relaxation after deducting their length of service from their age.

The distribution of graduate-level vacancies across different RRB zones is detailed in the notification. For instance, RRB Bilaspur has the highest number of vacancies with 542, followed by RRB Ranchi with 377 and RRB Bengaluru with 346. The post of Station Master will be recruited separately from this year onwards.

Selection Process and Application Details

The selection process for the NTPC Graduate recruitment involves Computer Based Tests (CBTs). Candidates will first appear for a 1st Stage CBT. Depending on the specific post, a second CBT, a typing test, or a Computer-Based Aptitude Test may also be required. However, for CEN 06/2026 recruitment, the CBAT/CBTST stage (Typing Test or Aptitude Test) has been removed for graduate-level posts. Successful candidates will proceed to document verification and a medical examination.

The application fee for General/OBC candidates is Rs. 500, with Rs. 400 refundable upon appearing in the 1st Stage CBT. For SC/ST/PWD/Women/Ex-Sm/Transgender/Minorities/Economically Backward candidates, the fee is Rs. 250, which is fully refundable after appearing in the 1st Stage CBT. The application correction window will be open from 9 to 18 November 2026.

Timeline for Graduate and Undergraduate Applications

While the graduate-level applications are currently open, the Railway Recruitment Board has also announced 1,688 vacancies for Undergraduate (12th-level) NTPC posts under CEN 07/2026. The full notification for undergraduate-level posts is scheduled for 14 October 2026, with online applications opening on 15 October 2026 and closing on 13 November 2026.

The overall number of NTPC vacancies has seen a decline compared to previous years. In 2019, Indian Railways announced 35,281 NTPC vacancies. This number reduced to 11,558 in 2024-25 and further to 8,868 in 2025-26. For the current 2026-27 recruitment cycle, the total approved vacancies stand at 5,236.

Further reading

• RRB NTPC 2026 graduate application link active; apply by November 11 for 3,477 posts
• CSIR NCL MTS recruitment 2026 application begins: apply for 24 posts by November 4
• Punjab court clerk recruitment 2026: apply for 1,270 posts by 4 November
• Odisha SSB Lab Assistant recruitment 2026: apply for 435 posts by November 16
• DSSSB Delhi District Courts 2026 recruitment: apply for 641 posts by November 4

Written by Nishit Kumar

Nishit Kumar is a senior EdTech industry leader with over a decade of experience in building and scaling education platforms, shaping their product, content, and growth strategy. At FindMyCollege, Nishit oversees content and editorial strategy, guiding topic selection and content frameworks to ensure accuracy, relevance, and student-first value across the website.

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