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Exam comparison · from official notices

RRB NTPC vs SSC CGL: salary, eligibility, exam pattern and syllabus

  • RRB NTPC is conducted by RRB; SSC CGL is conducted by SSC.
  • Qualification — RRB NTPC: Graduate posts: degree from a recognised university or equivalent, held by 6 November 2026. SSC CGL: Bachelor's degree from a recognised university for most posts.
  • Age limit — RRB NTPC: 18–33 years (Graduate); 18–30 years (Undergraduate) (as on 1 January 2027). SSC CGL: Varies by post: 18–27, 18–30, 20–30 or 18–32 years (as on 1 August 2026).
  • Pay levels printed — RRB NTPC: Level 5, Level 6, Level 3, Level 2. SSC CGL: Level 8, Level 7, Level 6, Level 5, Level 4.
  • RRB NTPC has 2 stages in its printed pattern; SSC CGL has 3.

RRB NTPC vs SSC CGL: side by side

Each cell is copied from the exam's latest official notice. Always confirm in the notice before applying.

FactRRB NTPCSSC CGL
Conducting body
  • RRB
  • rrb.indianrailways.gov.in
  • SSC
  • ssc.gov.in
Latest notice
  • CEN No. 06/2026 (NTPC Graduate) and CEN No. 07/2026 (NTPC Undergraduate) (published 26 September 2026 (indicative notice in Employment News))
  • Combined Graduate Level Examination, 2026 — Notice (published 21 May 2026)
Application status
  • Applications are open until 6 November 2026.
  • Applications closed on 22 June 2026.
Posts
  • Graduate (CEN 06/2026): Chief Commercial cum Ticket Supervisor, Goods Train Manager, Junior Accounts Assistant cum Typist, Senior Clerk cum Typist
  • Undergraduate (CEN 07/2026): Commercial cum Ticket Clerk, Accounts Clerk cum Typist, Junior Clerk cum Typist, Trains Clerk
  • Group 'B' and Group 'C' posts in central ministries, departments and constitutional / statutory bodies
  • Examples named in the notice: Assistant Audit Officer, Junior Statistical Officer and other Group B/C posts
Pay (as printed)
  • Level 5 (₹29,200)
  • Level 6 (₹35,400)
  • Level 3 (₹21,700)
  • Level 2 (₹19,900)

Pay Level 5 →Pay Level 6 →Pay Level 3 →Pay Level 2 →

  • Level 8 (₹47,600 – ₹1,51,100)
  • Level 7 (₹44,900 – ₹1,42,400)
  • Level 6 (₹35,400 – ₹1,12,400)
  • Level 5 (₹29,200 – ₹92,300)
  • Level 4 (₹25,500 – ₹81,100)

Pay Level 8 →Pay Level 7 →Pay Level 6 →Pay Level 5 →Pay Level 4 →

Age limit
  • 18–33 years (Graduate); 18–30 years (Undergraduate) (as on 1 January 2027)
  • Varies by post: 18–27, 18–30, 20–30 or 18–32 years (as on 1 August 2026)
Qualification
  • Graduate posts: degree from a recognised university or equivalent, held by 6 November 2026
  • Undergraduate posts: 12th (+2) or equivalent with at least 50% aggregate (not required for SC/ST/PwBD/Ex-Servicemen or higher-qualified candidates)
  • Bachelor's degree from a recognised university for most posts
  • Junior Statistical Officer: 60% in 12th-level Mathematics, or Statistics as a degree subject; Statistical Investigator Gr-II: degree in a listed subject
  • Qualification must be held as on 1 August 2026
Selection stages
  • 1st stage CBT (Graduate) (90 minutes (120 minutes for eligible PwBD with scribe))
  • 2nd stage CBT (Graduate) (90 minutes (120 minutes for eligible PwBD with scribe))
  • Tier-I (1 hour (15-minute sectional timer))
  • Tier-II, Paper-I (compulsory) (Session-I 2 h 15 min; Session-II 15 min)
  • Tier-II, Paper-II and Paper-III (2 hours each)
Negative marking
  • 1st stage CBT (Graduate): Negative marking: 1/3 mark per wrong answer.
  • 2nd stage CBT (Graduate): Negative marking: 1/3 mark per wrong answer.
  • Tier-I: Negative marking: 0.50 per wrong answer.
  • Tier-II, Paper-I (compulsory): Negative marking: 1 mark per wrong answer in Sections I–III.
  • Tier-I has 100 questions for 200 marks in one hour, with negative marking of 0.50 per wrong answer.
Vacancies
  • 3,548 (Graduate, CEN 06/2026) + 1,688 (Undergraduate, CEN 07/2026) = 5,236
  • Approx. 12,256 (tentative; post- and category-wise list on ssc.gov.in)
Application fee
  • ₹500 (General, incl. OBC-NCL/EWS men); ₹250 (SC/ST/Ex-Servicemen/PwBD/Women/Transgender/Minorities/EBC)
  • No category is fully exempt; ₹400 of the ₹500 fee and the full ₹250 fee are refunded, minus bank charges, on appearing in the 1st stage CBT.
  • ₹100
  • Women, SC, ST, PwBD and Ex-Servicemen eligible for reservation are exempted from the fee.
Official noticeOpen official notice ↗Open official notice ↗

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RRB NTPC

SSC CGL

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between RRB NTPC and SSC CGL eligibility?

RRB NTPC: age 18–33 years (Graduate); 18–30 years (Undergraduate) as on 1 January 2027; Graduate posts: degree from a recognised university or equivalent, held by 6 November 2026. Undergraduate posts: 12th (+2) or equivalent with at least 50% aggregate (not required for SC/ST/PwBD/Ex-Servicemen or higher-qualified candidates). SSC CGL: age Varies by post: 18–27, 18–30, 20–30 or 18–32 years as on 1 August 2026; Bachelor's degree from a recognised university for most posts. Junior Statistical Officer: 60% in 12th-level Mathematics, or Statistics as a degree subject; Statistical Investigator Gr-II: degree in a listed subject. Qualification must be held as on 1 August 2026. Both from the latest official notices.

What is the salary of RRB NTPC vs SSC CGL?

As printed in the notices — RRB NTPC: Level 5 (₹29,200); Level 6 (₹35,400); Level 3 (₹21,700); Level 2 (₹19,900). SSC CGL: Level 8 (₹47,600 – ₹1,51,100); Level 7 (₹44,900 – ₹1,42,400); Level 6 (₹35,400 – ₹1,12,400); Level 5 (₹29,200 – ₹92,300). Allowances are paid on top; in-hand pay is not estimated here.

How is the selection process of RRB NTPC different from SSC CGL?

RRB NTPC: 1st stage CBT (screening); 2nd stage CBT (15 times community-wise vacancies shortlisted per RRB); Document verification and medical examination; Typing Skill Test: dropped for graduate Cum Typist posts per CEN 06/2026; for undergraduate posts see the official notice. SSC CGL: Tier-I: computer-based test (qualifying/shortlisting); Tier-II: computer-based test (Paper-I for all posts; Paper-II for JSO; Paper-III for specified posts); Document verification and post preference.

How many vacancies are there in RRB NTPC and SSC CGL?

RRB NTPC: 3,548 (Graduate, CEN 06/2026) + 1,688 (Undergraduate, CEN 07/2026) = 5,236. SSC CGL: Approx. 12,256 (tentative; post- and category-wise list on ssc.gov.in). As printed in each latest notice.

What is the application fee for RRB NTPC and SSC CGL?

RRB NTPC: ₹500 (General, incl. OBC-NCL/EWS men); ₹250 (SC/ST/Ex-Servicemen/PwBD/Women/Transgender/Minorities/EBC). SSC CGL: ₹100. Fee exemptions are listed in each notice.

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