Xarothi - Assam Competitive Exam Preparation 2026

Exam Overview

Indian Railways conducts recruitment through Railway Recruitment Boards (RRBs) for various posts across its 18 zones. In 2026, Railways announced 47,000+ vacancies across NTPC, Group D, ALP, and Technician posts.
Key Recruitments: RRB NTPC: 8,868 (Graduate + 12th level) | Group D: 22,195 (Level 1) | ALP: 9,970 | Technician: 6,238 (Grade 1 & 3)
Exam Dates: NTPC Graduate CBT 1 — 16–27 March 2026 | ALP CBT 1 — 13–18 Feb 2026 | Technician CBT — 6–13 March 2026 | Group D — dates to be announced.
Eligibility: NTPC Graduate: Graduation. NTPC UG: 12th pass. Group D: 10th pass/ITI. ALP: 10th + ITI or Diploma in Engineering. Age: 18–33 (most posts), 18–30 (ALP).
Salary: NTPC Graduate: Rs. 35,400 basic (Level 6). ALP/NTPC UG: Rs. 19,900 (Level 2). Group D: Rs. 18,000 (Level 1). All posts include DA, HRA, medical, and free railway passes.
NE Region: RRB Guwahati handles recruitment for Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR, HQ Maligaon). NFR has 1,776 Group D vacancies specifically for the NE region.

Posts & Vacancies

Post	Vacancies	Qualification	Salary (Basic)	Age
NTPC (Graduate Level)	5,810	Graduation	Rs. 35,400 – 1,12,400 (Level 6)	18–33 yrs
NTPC (Under-Graduate Level)	3,058	12th Pass	Rs. 19,900 – 63,200 (Level 2)	18–33 yrs
Group D (Level 1)	22,195	10th Pass / ITI	Rs. 18,000 – 56,900 (Level 1)	18–33 yrs
ALP (Assistant Loco Pilot)	9,970	10th + ITI / Diploma in Engg.	Rs. 19,900 – 63,200 (Level 2)	18–30 yrs
Technician Grade 1 & 3	6,238	10th + ITI / Diploma	Rs. 19,900 – 29,200 (Level 2–5)	18–33 yrs

Age relaxation: OBC +3 years, SC/ST +5 years, PwBD +10 years. All posts include DA, HRA, medical benefits, and railway passes. Application fee: Rs. 500 (General/OBC), Rs. 250 (SC/ST/Female/PwBD/Ex-SM).

Exam Pattern

RRB NTPC — CBT 1 (Screening)

Subject	Questions	Marks
General Awareness	40	40
Mathematics	30	30
General Intelligence & Reasoning	30	30
Total	100	100

Duration: 90 minutes | Objective MCQ | Negative Marking: 1/3rd per wrong answer | CBT 1 is screening — 20x vacancies shortlisted for CBT 2

RRB NTPC — CBT 2 (Merit)

Subject	Questions	Marks
General Awareness	50	50
Mathematics	35	35
General Intelligence & Reasoning	35	35
Total	120	120

Duration: 90 minutes | Objective MCQ | Negative Marking: 1/3rd per wrong answer | Final merit based on CBT 2 marks (normalized)

RRB Group D — CBT

Subject	Questions	Marks
Mathematics	25	25
General Intelligence & Reasoning	30	30
General Science	25	25
General Awareness & Current Affairs	20	20
Total	100	100

Duration: 90 minutes | Objective MCQ | Negative Marking: 1/3rd per wrong answer | Followed by Physical Efficiency Test (PET, qualifying)

RRB ALP — CBT 1 (Screening)

Subject	Questions	Marks
Mathematics	20	20
General Intelligence & Reasoning	25	25
General Science	20	20
General Awareness & Current Affairs	10	10
Total	75	75

Duration: 60 minutes | Objective MCQ | Negative Marking: 1/3rd per wrong answer | Followed by CBT 2 (Part A: General + Technical, Part B: Trade-specific) and CBAT

Selection Process

RRB NTPC

1st Stage CBT (Computer Based Test) — 100 questions, 100 marks, 90 minutes (screening)
2nd Stage CBT — 120 questions, 120 marks, 90 minutes (merit-based)
Typing Skill Test / Computer Based Aptitude Test (CBAT) — as applicable for specific posts
Document Verification & Medical Examination
Final Merit List — Based on CBT 2 marks (normalized)

RRB Group D

Computer Based Test (CBT) — 100 questions, 100 marks, 90 minutes
Physical Efficiency Test (PET) — qualifying
Document Verification & Medical Examination
Final Merit List — Based on CBT marks (normalized)

RRB ALP & Technician

1st Stage CBT — 75 questions, 75 marks, 60 minutes (screening)
2nd Stage CBT — Part A (General + Technical, 100 marks) + Part B (Trade-specific, qualifying)
Computer Based Aptitude Test (CBAT) — for ALP post only, tests psychological aptitude
Document Verification & Medical Examination
Final Merit List — Based on CBT 2 Part A marks + CBAT (where applicable)

Railways for Assam Students

Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR): Headquartered at Maligaon, Guwahati. NFR covers Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura, Meghalaya, and parts of West Bengal & Bihar. NFR has announced 1,776 Group D/Level 1 vacancies for the NE region in 2026.
RRB Guwahati: The regional Railway Recruitment Board at Panbazar, Guwahati handles all RRB exam registrations, admit cards, and results for NFR zone candidates. Exam centres are available in Guwahati, Dibrugarh, Silchar, and other NE cities.
Key NE Railway Projects: Bogibeel Bridge (India's longest rail-road bridge), Lumding–Sabroom line (connecting Tripura), Barak Valley line expansion, and new railway stations across Assam offer growth and career opportunities in the region.
GK Topics from NE: NFR history and zones, Bogibeel and Saraighat bridges, railway connectivity in NE, Act East Policy and NE as India's gateway to Southeast Asia, and Assam current affairs frequently appear in General Awareness sections.

Syllabus

1. Mathematics
Number System, BODMAS, Fractions & Decimals
Ratio & Proportion, Percentage
Profit & Loss, Simple & Compound Interest
Time & Work, Time & Distance
Algebra — Linear Equations, Polynomials
Geometry — Triangles, Circles, Quadrilaterals
Mensuration — Area, Volume, Surface Area
Data Interpretation — Bar Graph, Pie Chart, Table
Trigonometry — Basics & Heights & Distances
2. General Intelligence & Reasoning
Analogies & Classification
Number & Alphabet Series
Coding-Decoding & Puzzles
Syllogism & Statement-Conclusion
Blood Relations & Direction Sense
Venn Diagrams & Seating Arrangement
Non-Verbal Reasoning — Mirror Image, Figure Completion
Mathematical Operations & Inequalities
3. General Awareness & Current Affairs
Current Affairs — National & International
Indian History — Ancient, Medieval, Modern
Indian Polity & Constitution
Indian Economy & Budget
Indian & World Geography
Awards, Honours & Sports
Science & Technology Developments
Important Government Schemes
Railways — History, Zones, Projects, Recent Developments
4. General Science (Group D & ALP)
Physics — Force, Motion, Light, Sound, Electricity
Chemistry — Elements, Compounds, Acids & Bases, Periodic Table
Biology — Human Body, Diseases, Nutrition, Ecology
Environmental Science
Science & Technology in Daily Life
5. Assam & Northeast-Relevant Topics
Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) — HQ Maligaon, Guwahati
RRB Guwahati — Regional Recruitment Board
Railway Projects in NE — Lumding–Sabroom, Barak Valley
Bogibeel Bridge & Other NE Railway Infrastructure
NFR Group D Vacancies — 1,776 Posts for NE Region
Assam Current Affairs & Geography
Northeast India — Tribes, Culture, Biodiversity
Flood & Disaster Management along Railway Routes in Assam

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the major Railway exams in 2026?

The major Railway Recruitment Board (RRB) exams in 2026 are: RRB NTPC (8,868 vacancies for graduate & 12th-pass level posts), RRB Group D (22,195 vacancies for Level 1 posts), RRB ALP (9,970 Assistant Loco Pilot vacancies), and RRB Technician (6,238 vacancies). Together, these offer 47,000+ posts across Indian Railways.

What is the RRB NTPC 2026 exam pattern?

RRB NTPC has two CBT stages: CBT 1 (100 questions, 100 marks, 90 min — screening) and CBT 2 (120 questions, 120 marks, 90 min — merit). Both test Mathematics, Reasoning, and General Awareness. Negative marking: 1/3rd per wrong answer. Some posts require an additional Typing Test or CBAT. Final merit is based on CBT 2 marks.

What is the RRB Group D 2026 exam pattern?

RRB Group D has a single CBT with 100 questions for 100 marks in 90 minutes. Subjects: Mathematics (25Q), Reasoning (30Q), General Science (25Q), and General Awareness (20Q). Negative marking: 1/3rd per wrong answer. This is followed by a Physical Efficiency Test (PET) which is qualifying. Minimum qualifying marks: UR/EWS 40%, OBC 30%, SC 30%, ST 25%.

What is the eligibility for Railway exams?

NTPC Graduate Level: Bachelor's degree. NTPC UG Level: 12th pass. Group D: 10th pass or ITI from NCVT/SCVT. ALP: 10th pass + ITI in relevant trade or Diploma in Engineering. Technician: 10th + ITI or Diploma. Age: 18–33 for most posts (18–30 for ALP), with relaxation of +3 years OBC, +5 years SC/ST.

What is the salary for Railway posts?

NTPC Graduate Level: Rs. 35,400 basic (Level 6), in-hand approx. Rs. 44,000–48,000. NTPC UG Level: Rs. 19,900 basic (Level 2). Group D: Rs. 18,000 basic (Level 1), in-hand approx. Rs. 22,500–25,380. ALP: Rs. 19,900 basic (Level 2), in-hand approx. Rs. 24,000–34,000. All posts include DA, HRA, medical benefits, and railway passes.

How does RRB Guwahati recruit for Assam and Northeast?

RRB Guwahati handles Railway recruitment for the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) zone headquartered at Maligaon, Guwahati. NFR covers Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura, Meghalaya, and parts of West Bengal. In 2026, NFR has 1,776 Group D/Level 1 vacancies specifically for the NE region.

Is there any reservation for Northeast candidates in Railway exams?

Railway exams follow central government reservation norms: SC (15%), ST (7.5%), OBC-NCL (27%), EWS (10%). Northeast tribal communities classified under ST get the standard ST relaxation — 5 years age relaxation, lower cutoff (25%), and unlimited attempts where applicable. Some NFR-specific recruitment may have domicile-based quotas.

What preparation tips work for Assam students in Railway exams?

Focus on Mathematics and Reasoning — these are high-scoring and common across all Railway exams. For General Awareness, cover Indian Railways (zones, projects, NFR developments), Assam current affairs, and national events. Practice mock tests regularly to build speed for the 90-minute CBT. For Group D, revise Class 10 science thoroughly. For NTPC, focus on Class 12-level concepts.

Railway Exams — 2026