The Railway Recruitment Board (RRB) conducted its Non-Technical Popular Categories (NTPC) undergraduate exam on August 7, 2025, across various centers in India. The first day of the exam in Prayagraj saw a significantly low attendance. This has sparked conversations about the reasons behind the low participation and the overall exam process. Despite the exam taking place smoothly at 26 centers in the North Central Railway (NCR) region, a large number of candidates were absent.

Low Attendance at the RRB NTPC Exam

Out of a total of 21,680 registered candidates, only 12,367 appeared for the RRB NTPC exam, marking an attendance rate of just 43%. This indicates that more than half of the candidates, around 57.04%, did not attend the exam. This is particularly notable considering the large number of vacancies being filled by this recruitment drive, including positions like Commercial-cum-Ticket Clerk, Accounts Clerk-cum-Typist, Junior Clerk-cum-Typist, and Train Clerk. The exam was conducted to fill 389 vacant positions under the RRB NTPC category.

The exam was held in two shifts, with the first shift witnessing the attendance of 4,628 candidates out of 10,840 and the second shift seeing 4,685 candidates attend. The exam was conducted under strict security protocols, including biometric identification, CCTV surveillance, and confidential procedures. According to Shashikant Tripathi, the Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO) of NCR, the examination proceeded smoothly, with all necessary security measures in place.

Regional Insights: Rajasthan’s Exam Attendance

On the first day, nine cities in Rajasthan hosted the RRB NTPC exam at 29 centers. However, only 45.59% of the registered candidates in Rajasthan appeared for the exam. A total of 16,103 candidates attended, while 19,217 candidates were absent. The low attendance in Rajasthan mirrored the trends observed in Prayagraj, where candidates seemed to be missing out on the opportunity, despite the preparation for this massive recruitment.

Analysis of the RRB NTPC Exam Paper

The RRB NTPC exam is one of the most sought-after exams in India, with over 63 lakh candidates registered for the current session. The exam will continue until September 9, 2025. In Prayagraj, candidates reported that the difficulty level of the paper was moderate. Most candidates found the Mathematics section to be of easy to medium difficulty, the Reasoning section relatively easy, and the General Knowledge (GK) section of moderate difficulty.

The exam consisted of three sections: Mathematics, Reasoning, and General Awareness. Candidates were free to attempt the sections in any order. According to several candidates, the Reasoning section was the easiest, with 25 out of the 30 questions being easily answerable. In total, most candidates attempted around 75 to 85 questions across all sections, reflecting a reasonable level of confidence in their performance.

The exam pattern has been designed to assess candidates across various key areas like problem-solving, analytical skills, and general knowledge. This year’s exam format did not pose significant challenges for the majority of candidates, although the GK section was slightly more challenging for some.

Positions Available and Recruitment Details

The ongoing RRB NTPC recruitment is aimed at filling a total of 3445 positions across various categories. The major positions are as follows:

• Commercial-cum-Ticket Clerk: 2,022 positions

• Accounts Clerk-cum-Typist: 361 positions

• Junior Clerk-cum-Typist: 990 positions

• Train Clerk: 72 positions

These positions are crucial for the functioning of the Indian Railways, and the recruitment process is highly competitive. The exam aims to assess a wide range of candidates who possess diverse skills, from basic clerical work to technical operations.

RRB NTPC UG Level Exam Pattern and Selection Process

The RRB NTPC recruitment for undergraduate (UG) level positions is conducted in two phases of Computer-Based Testing (CBT), CBT 1 and CBT 2. Following the CBT stages, candidates applying for the positions of Accounts Clerk-cum-Typist and Junior Clerk-cum-Typist will be required to undergo a typing skill test.

The exam follows a standard format, where each incorrect answer results in a penalty of one-third of the marks allocated for that question. This negative marking ensures that candidates answer questions carefully and only provide correct responses.

For the second phase of the CBT, candidates will be shortlisted on a 15-times-the-vacancy ratio, which means the top 15 candidates will be shortlisted for each vacancy. The second phase CBT will be common for all posts, and the final shortlisting will be based on normalized scores from the first phase CBT.

Second Stage CBT Details

The second stage CBT is scheduled to include 120 questions, with a time limit of 90 minutes. The questions will be divided into the following sections:

• General Awareness: 50 questions

• Mathematics: 35 questions

• General Intelligence and Reasoning: 35 questions

Candidates who have successfully completed the first phase CBT will be eligible for the second stage CBT, where their knowledge and skills will be further evaluated in these specific areas. This stage plays a critical role in the final selection process, as it determines the candidates’ performance relative to their peers.

The Ongoing Examination and Its Challenges

As of now, the RRB NTPC exam is scheduled to continue until September 9, 2025, and it has witnessed a mixed response from candidates. The absence of a significant portion of registered candidates has raised questions about the reasons behind their lack of participation. This could be due to various factors, such as personal reasons, the timing of the exam, or a lack of preparation, though some believe that external factors such as the perception of exam difficulty or logistical issues might have contributed.

The RRB NTPC exam has always been one of the most crucial recruitment processes for the Indian Railways. With the ever-growing number of candidates vying for limited positions, the exam’s significance cannot be overstated. While the turnout was lower than expected, the examination process itself remains well-organized and secure, with the authorities ensuring strict adherence to protocols.

With over 63 lakh candidates registered, the RRB NTPC exam continues to be a pivotal event for job seekers in India. Despite the challenges faced in terms of attendance, the exam has been conducted in a secure and efficient manner, with a relatively smooth process reported by candidates. The recruitment will continue to play an important role in providing jobs for many individuals across the country, with the second phase CBT expected to be more competitive.

The low attendance on the first day has raised questions, but it is likely that the coming days will bring in more candidates, especially as the exam date approaches its conclusion in September. As the recruitment process continues, candidates will have the opportunity to demonstrate their skills and secure positions that could lead to long-term career prospects in the Indian Railways.

With the second stage of the exam on the horizon, candidates who continue to participate will need to focus on improving their performance in the remaining phases to ensure they make it through to the final selection.