The Railway Recruitment Boards (RRBs) have launched the much-anticipated Non-Technical Popular Categories (NTPC) 2025 recruitment drive, announcing 5,810 graduate-level vacancies across various administrative and operational roles in Indian Railways. The notification, released on October 21, 2025, targets positions essential for streamlining railway operations, including station management and commercial supervision. With applications now open until November 20, 2025, the drive is expected to attract millions of aspirants seeking stable government employment amid India's expanding rail network, which spans over 68,000 kilometres and employs more than 1.2 million people. This recruitment underscores the government's push to modernise staffing in non-technical sectors, addressing skill gaps in ticketing, accounts, and traffic coordination.

The vacancies are distributed across six key posts: Chief Commercial Cum Ticket Supervisor (161 openings), Station Master (615), Goods Train Manager (3,416—the largest share), Junior Accounts Assistant Cum Typist (921), Senior Clerk Cum Typist (638), and Traffic Assistant (59). Eligibility requires candidates to hold a bachelor's degree from a recognised university and fall within the age bracket of 18 to 33 years as of January 1, 2026, with relaxations for reserved categories per government norms. The selection process is multi-tiered, beginning with a first-stage Computer-Based Test (CBT) of 100 questions on general awareness, mathematics, and reasoning, followed by a second-stage CBT with 120 questions tailored to the post. Depending on the role, candidates may proceed to a Computer-Based Aptitude Test (CBAT) or Typing Skill Test (CBTST), culminating in document verification and medical examination. Notably, no skill test is mandated for Goods Train Manager or Chief Commercial Cum Ticket Supervisor positions.

Applications must be submitted exclusively online through any of the 21 official RRB websites, such as www.rrbcdg.gov.in, with the process involving one-time registration, form completion, document upload (photograph and signature in specified formats), fee payment, and confirmation printout. The application window runs from October 21 to November 20, 2025 (11:59 p.m. IST), with fee payments accepted until November 22 and modifications allowed from November 23 to December 2. Fees stand at Rs 500 for General, OBC, and EWS categories (Rs 400 refunded post-first-stage CBT appearance), reduced to Rs 250 for SC, ST, PwBD, women, transgender, minority, ex-servicemen, and EBC candidates (fully refunded). Only one application per candidate is permitted, and multiple submissions will lead to disqualification. This streamlined digital process aims to minimise errors and build on the success of previous NTPC drives that filled over 35,000 posts since 2015.

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Successful candidates can expect competitive entry-level salaries in Pay Level 5 (Rs 29,200) or Pay Level 6 (Rs 35,400), inclusive of dearness allowance, house rent allowance, and other perks, translating to gross monthly emoluments of approximately Rs 45,000 to Rs 55,000 in metropolitan areas. These roles offer job security, pension benefits under the National Pension System, and opportunities for promotions within the world's fourth-largest railway network. As applications surge, experts advise early submission to avoid server overloads, while the RRBs emphasise adherence to guidelines to prevent common pitfalls like mismatched documents. This recruitment not only bolsters railway efficiency but also empowers youth from diverse backgrounds, aligning with national goals for inclusive employment in public infrastructure.

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