The Railway Recruitment Board released the official notification for the RRB NTPC (Non-Technical Popular Categories) Recruitment in October 2025-26. It announced a total of 8,868 vacancies. This vacancy includes both undergraduate and graduate-level posts. Candidates interested in applying must review the RRB NTPC eligibility criteria, which cover educational qualifications, nationality, age limit, and physical standards. Meeting these requirements is crucial, as only eligible candidates will be permitted to appear for the exam. Read the article below and bookmark it for future reference.
RRB NTPC Eligibility Criteria 2025: Various Posts
The eligibility criteria for RRB NTPC 2025 vary based on several factors for both undergraduate and graduate-level candidates. Applicants must carefully review these criteria set by the Railway Recruitment Board (RRB). The key factors determining the RRB NTPC Eligibility Criteria 2025 include the following:
- The age limit of the Candidates
- Nationality of Candidates
- Educational Qualification of Candidates
- Medical and Physical Standards of Candidates
RRB NTPC Eligibility Criteria: Age Limit
Generally, candidates must be between 18 and 33 years old. However, for this recruitment cycle, the Railway Recruitment Board (RRB) has extended the upper age limit by 3 years, allowing applicants to be up to 36 years old. This relaxation offers a valuable opportunity for candidates who fall slightly above the usual age limit. It’s important to note that this age limit relaxation is a one-time provision specific to the RRB NTPC Recruitment 2025.
- For Undergraduate level posts, the age of the candidates must be between 18 to 33 years.
- For Graduate level posts, the age of the candidates must be between 18 to 36 years.
RRB NTPC Age Limit for Undergraduate level posts
The important date for determining the RRB NTPC eligibility for the RRB NTPC Recruitment 2025 is January 1, 2025. Below is the category-wise description of the age limit for candidates applying for undergraduate posts:
| Age Group | Category | Upper Age Limit | Lower Age Limit |
| 18 to 33 years | UR | 2 January 1992 | 1 January 2007 |
| OBC | 2 January 1989 | 1 January 2007 | |
| SC/ST | 2 January 1987 | 1 January 2007 |
RRB NTPC Age Limit for Graduate level posts
Candidates applying for graduate-level posts should refer to the following category-wise age limits, effective as of January 1, 2025:
| Age Group | Category | Upper Age Limit | Lower Age Limit |
| 18 to 36 years | UR | 2 January 1989 | 1 January 2007 |
| OBC | 2 January 1986 | 1 January 2007 | |
| SC/ST | 2 January 1984 | 1 January 2007 |
RRB NTPC Age Relaxation
Candidates belonging to reserved categories are eligible for age relaxation. Age relaxation for different categories is given in the table below.
| Category | Age Relaxation |
| SC/ST | 5 years |
| OBC | 3 years |
Persons with Disabilities (PWD) category are also eligible for age relaxation in the upper age limit given below.
| Category | Age Relaxation |
| UR | 10 years |
| OBC | 13 years |
| SC/ST | 15 years |
Age relaxation for Ex-Serviceman candidates in the upper age limit is given below.
| Category | Age Relaxation |
| UR | 33 years + number of years of service in Defence + 3 years |
| SC/ST | 38 years + number of years of service in Defence + 3 years |
| OBC | 36 years + number of years of service in Defence + 3 years |
Candidates from Jammu and Kashmir who are domiciled from 1st January 1980 to 31st December 1989 are also eligible for age relaxation in the upper age limit. Age relaxation for those candidates is given below.
| Category | Age Relaxation |
| UR | 38 years |
| OBC | 41 years |
| SC/ST | 43 years |
Group C and Group D candidates who serve as Casual Labour for the 3 years or more are also eligible for age relaxation in the upper age limit.
| Category | Age Relaxation |
| UR | 40 years |
| OBC | 43 years |
| SC/ST | 45 years |
Candidates working in Quasi-Administrative offices of the Indian Railway Organization such as Railway Canteen, Co-operative societies, and institutes are eligible for age relaxation in the upper age limit.
| Category | NTPC Age Relaxation |
| UR | 33 years + the length of service or 5 years, whichever is lower |
| OBC | 36 years + the length of service or 5 years, whichever is lower |
| SC/ST | 38 years + the length of service or 5 years, whichever is lower |
Women divorced, widows, or judicially separated but not remarried are also eligible for age relaxation in the upper age limit which is given below
| Category | Age Relaxation |
| UR | 35 years |
| OBC | 38 years |
| SC/ST | 40 years |
RRB NTPC Eligibility Criteria: Nationality
For the RRB NTPC Recruitment 2025, nationality is a key eligibility criterion. The Railway Recruitment Board (RRB) states that eligible candidates include Indian citizens, subjects of Nepal and Bhutan, Tibetan refugees who arrived in India before January 1, 1962, and individuals of Indian origin who have migrated from countries such as Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Burma, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Zaire, Ethiopia, or Vietnam to permanently settle in India.
- Candidates must be citizens of India.
- Candidates can also be a subject of Nepal and Bhutan.
- A person of Indian ancestry who has relocated from Pakistan, Kenya, or Burma in East Africa.
- A Tibetan refugee who arrived in India before the 1st of January 1962 and settled permanently in India.
RRB NTPC Eligibility Criteria: Educational Qualification
The RRB NTPC eligibility criteria for educational qualifications vary depending on the level of the position. Candidates applying for RRB NTPC should verify the specific educational requirements for the post they are interested in. Below are the detailed educational qualifications required for each position:
| Name of the Posts | Educational Qualification |
| Commercial Apprentice | Degree from a recognized University or its equivalent |
| Station Master | Degree from a recognized University or its equivalent |
| Goods Guard | Degree from a recognized University or its equivalent |
| Senior Commercial Cum Ticket Clerk | Degree from a recognized University or its equivalent |
| Traffic Assistant | Degree from a recognized University or its equivalent |
| Junior Accounts Assistant Cum Typist |
|
| Senior Clerk Cum Typist |
|
| Senior Time Keeper |
|
| Commercial Cum Ticket Clerk |
|
| Accounts Clerk Cum Typist |
|
| Junior Clerk Cum Typist |
|
| Junior Time Keeper |
|
| Trains Clerk |
|
Important Guidelines About RRB NTPC Academic Qualifications
Candidates must keep a few essential points in mind regarding the minimum educational standards prescribed by the Railway Recruitment Board for NTPC posts:
- As mentioned in the official notification, applicants must possess the required academic or technical qualification from a recognized Board or institution.
- Students awaiting their Class 12 final results are not eligible. Only candidates who have already cleared Class 12 (meeting the minimum qualification criteria) can apply for the RRB NTPC 2025-26 recruitment.
- Applicants holding a Diploma/Engineering degree or those who are Graduate Act Apprentices do not fall under the eligibility bracket for NTPC vacancies.
Eligibility Rules for Distance/Non-Formal Education Graduates
Candidates who have completed their graduation through distance learning or non-formal modes must meet specific conditions to ensure their qualification is equivalent to the standards laid down by RRB.
To be considered eligible, such candidates must satisfy any two of the criteria listed below:
1. Candidates with a degree obtained via distance mode or non-formal education (including open universities) will be considered eligible only if the program is recognised by the University Grants Commission (UGC) / AICTE / DEC and by the respective awarding university.
2. Further, such distance or non-formal qualifications must satisfy the following two key conditions:
- The candidate must have passed Class 12 (or its equivalent) from a recognised Board or institution.
- The degree program should be a three-year or more duration degree and the candidate must have been admitted into the program after qualifying any required entrance test (if applicable) for the distance/non-formal mode.
3. Also, the notification states that candidates awaiting final results of their degree (or qualifying exam) are not eligible to apply. The qualification must be completed and pass out by the closing date of application.
Here we provide the Medical Standards for the different posts of RRB NTPC Eligibility Criteria
| Name of Posts | Medical Standards |
| Goods Guard | A2 |
| Station Master | A2 |
| Junior Accounts Assistant Cum Typist | C2 |
| Senior Commercial Cum Ticket Clerk | B2 |
| Commercial Cum Ticket Clerk | B2 |
| Accounts Clerk Cum Typist | C2 |
| Junior Clerk Cum Typist | C2 |
| Trains Clerk | A3 |
| Medical Standard | Eyesight Requirements |
| A2 | Distance vision is 6/9 with or without glasses (no fogging test), whereas near vision is Sn = 0.6 with or without glasses. Must pass the color vision, binocular vision, night vision, and myopic vision tests. |
| A3 | Distance vision: 6/9, with or without glasses (lens power not to exceed 2D). Near vision: Sn = 0.6, with or without glasses. Must pass the color vision, binocular vision, night vision, and myopic vision tests. |
| B2 | Distance Vision: 6/9, 6/12 with or without glasses (lens power not to exceed 4D). Near vision: Sn = 0.6, with or without glasses for reading or close work. Must pass a field of vision (binocular vision) test, among other things. |
| B3 | Distance Vision: 6/12, 6/18 (with or without glasses) Near Vision: Sn: 0.6 with or without glasses for reading or close work. |
Typing Skill Requirements for Designated NTPC Posts
The typing proficiency test is conducted only for posts where typing is an essential job requirement. Applicants targeting the following roles must possess the prescribed typing skills:
- Junior Clerk-cum-Typist
- Junior Time Keeper
- Trains Clerk
- Accounts Clerk-cum-Typist
- Commercial-cum-Ticket Clerk
- Senior Clerk-cum-Typist
- Senior Time Keeper
- Junior Accounts Assistant-cum-Typist
- Station Master
Note:
- The typing test is not held during CBT 1; it is conducted after CBT 2 for shortlisted candidates.
- Typing tests will be conducted on a computer, and candidates can type in Hindi using Kruti Dev or Mangal fonts as per the board’s instructions.
- Candidates with permanent disabilities such as blindness/low vision, cerebral palsy, or locomotor disability with 40% or more impairment may be eligible for exemption.
- These PwBD candidates must upload a scanned copy of their Typing Skill Test Exemption Certificate issued by a competent medical authority on the respective RRB portal.
- Only candidates who qualify in this stage will be considered for the final merit list.
Work Experience Criteria for RRB NTPC
No prior job experience is required to apply for RRB NTPC posts. Applicants simply need to fulfill all other eligibility parameters, including age limit, nationality, educational qualification, and required proficiency specific to the post.
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