Upcoming Railway Exams for 12th Pass 2026: Complete List, Salary & Eligibility

If you have cleared Class 12 and are targeting a government job, railway exams are one of the most direct routes available. Indian Railways recruits lakhs of candidates every few years, and several posts — RRB NTPC, Railway Group D, and RPF Constable — are open to 12th pass students with no additional degree required. This article covers every railway exam for 12th pass students active or expected in 2025-26, including eligibility criteria, official salary figures, and the selection process for each.

1. Three major exams are open to 12th pass students: RRB NTPC, Railway Group D, and RPF Constable.
2. RRB NTPC CEN 05/2024 has been notified with 11,558 vacancies across multiple posts.
3. Group D (Level 1) and RPF Constable notifications are expected in 2025-26 — check indianrailways.gov.in for updates.
4. In-hand salaries (after allowances) range from approx. Rs. 22,000/month (Group D) to Rs. 40,000+/month (NTPC higher grades).
5. Age limit for most posts: 18 to 33 years, with relaxation for reserved categories.
6. No ITI or vocational qualification needed for NTPC or RPF Constable — 12th pass is sufficient.

Here is a quick overview of all railway recruitment exams that a 12th pass candidate can apply for, based on official RRB and RRC notifications:

Note: RPF SI requires a graduation degree and is not open to 12th pass candidates. RRB ALP requires ITI, not just 12th pass. The two primary exams for 12th pass students are NTPC and RPF Constable.

RRB NTPC (Non-Technical Popular Categories) is the exam most 12th pass students target, and for good reason. The posts cover clerical, ticketing, accounts, and commercial work — all standard white-collar roles inside the railway system. The current cycle, CEN 05/2024, was notified in September 2024 with 11,558 vacancies across all RRBs.

Posts Open to 12th Pass Candidates

Under CEN 05/2024, the following posts are open to 12th pass candidates (Pay Level 2 and Level 3):

• Junior Clerk cum Typist — Pay Level 2 (Rs. 19,900 basic)
• Accounts Clerk cum Typist — Pay Level 2 (Rs. 19,900 basic)
• Junior Time Keeper — Pay Level 2 (Rs. 19,900 basic)
• Trains Clerk — Pay Level 2 (Rs. 19,900 basic)
• Commercial cum Ticket Clerk — Pay Level 3 (Rs. 21,700 basic)

Posts at Pay Level 4, 5, and 6 require graduation. If you have only 12th pass, your pool is Level 2 and Level 3 posts.

Salary figures below are from the 7th Pay Commission structure. The basic pay is fixed; in-hand amount varies by posting city (HRA differs) and transport allowance.

The in-hand figure includes DA (dearness allowance), HRA (varies: 27%/18%/9% of basic by city category), and TA. It excludes NPS deduction (10% of basic+DA).

The selection process has two stages of CBT (Computer Based Test), followed by a typing test for clerical posts, and document verification.

• CBT 1: 100 questions, 90 minutes — General Awareness, Mathematics, General Intelligence & Reasoning
• CBT 2: 120 questions, 90 minutes — General Awareness (50Q), Mathematics (35Q), Reasoning (35Q)
• Typing Test / Skill Test: Only for shortlisted candidates after CBT 2
• Document Verification: Final stage before appointment

Official notification: CEN 05/2024 on rrbapply.gov.in

Railway Group D (officially RRC CEN Group D) covers track maintenance, gatemen, pointsmen, helpers in various departments, and similar field roles. It is Level 1 in the pay matrix — the entry point into Indian Railways.

The last major Group D cycle (CEN 01/2019) had over 1 lakh vacancies. A new notification is widely expected in 2025-26, but as of the date of this article, it has not been officially released. Check indianrailways.gov.in or your zonal RRC website for updates.

The minimum qualification for Group D is 10th pass plus ITI from a recognised institution in a relevant trade, OR 12th pass. Either works. For a 12th pass student without an ITI, you are directly eligible.

Group D falls under Pay Level 1. The basic pay is Rs. 18,000 per month.

Group D also includes perks like free railway pass for self and family (after confirmation), access to railway quarters, and medical facilities through RELHS.

• CBT: 100 questions, 90 minutes (General Science, Mathematics, General Intelligence & Reasoning, General Awareness)
• Physical Efficiency Test (PET): Mandatory — running, weight lifting tasks differ for male and female candidates
• Document Verification

RPF (Railway Protection Force) Constable is a uniformed role under Indian Railways. It is a Central Armed Police Force position — not an administrative role like NTPC. If you are comfortable with physical fitness requirements and want a uniform service job, this is worth serious consideration.

A large recruitment cycle (over 4,000+ vacancies) ran in 2024. The next RPF Constable cycle is expected in 2025-26. No official notification has been released as of writing — flag this for regular checking.

RPF personnel also receive uniform allowance, ration allowance in some postings, and free travel on Indian Railways.

• CBT: 120 questions, 90 minutes — General Awareness, Arithmetic, General Intelligence & Reasoning
• Physical Efficiency Test (PET)
• Physical Measurement Test (PMT)
• Document Verification and Medical Examination

Official source: indianrailways.gov.in and RPF recruitment portal

There is no single answer — it depends on what you are looking for. Here is a side-by-side comparison:

If you want an office role with a decent growth path and your stream does not matter, RRB NTPC is the go-to. If you are physically fit and prefer a uniformed role, RPF Constable offers slightly better pay at entry level. Group D is a reliable option if you are comfortable with field work and want to get into the system quickly once the notification releases.

Still unsure which exam fits your profile? Talk to a career counsellor on CuroMinds — sessions are available online for students across India.

All railway recruitment applications are submitted online through the official RRB portals. Here is the step-by-step process:

1. Step 1: Visit the official RRB website — rrbapply.gov.in or your regional RRB (e.g., rrbchennai.gov.in, rrbnorthernrailway.nic.in)
2. Step 2: Read the official notification PDF carefully — eligibility, vacancies, exam pattern, and important dates
3. Step 3: Register with your mobile number and email ID
4. Step 4: Fill in personal details, educational qualifications, and post preferences
5. Step 5: Upload scanned photo, signature, and category certificate (if applicable) in the specified format
6. Step 6: Pay the application fee — Rs. 500 for General/OBC; fee refunded partially for candidates who appear in CBT; SC/ST/Ex-Servicemen/Women often exempt
7. Step 7: Submit and download the application confirmation

Important: Application fees and category exemptions vary by notification. Always verify from the official CEN before applying.

For a full article on government job applications, read our step-by-step article.

Three railway exams are clearly open to 12th pass students right now or in the near term: RRB NTPC (notified, apply before the deadline), RPF Constable (notification expected), and Railway Group D (notification expected). Start with NTPC preparation since the syllabus overlaps significantly with the other two.

The biggest mistake most students make is waiting for notifications before starting preparation. Start now — NCERT Maths, daily current affairs, and previous year papers are enough to build a solid base across all three exams.

All three railway exams share a similar CBT syllabus. The split differs slightly, but core subjects are the same:

A student from Lucknow who cleared RRB NTPC CBT 1 in 2021 shared that she spent 3 months on Maths (her weak subject) using NCERT Class 9-10 books before moving to practice tests. That approach — fix the weakness first, then build speed — works better than spreading time equally across all subjects.

Free resources for preparation: NCERT textbooks (Class 6-10) for Maths and Science, daily newspaper reading for Current Affairs, and previous year question papers from the official RRB website.

If you need structured guidance on exam selection and a study plan book your counselling session.