RRB NTPC Undergraduate Result 2025 Released: 51,978 Candidates Move to CBT 2 on December 20

On November 21, 2025, the Railway Recruitment Board quietly dropped the results for its RRB NTPC Undergraduate Level CBT 1—a moment millions of aspirants had been waiting for since the exam ended in September. With over 63 lakh applicants vying for just 3,445 posts, the competition was brutal. Now, only 51,978 candidates have made the cut. And for them, the real test begins on December 20, 2025, across India—the second stage of what’s arguably the most crowded government job exam in the country.

Who Made the Cut—and Who Didn’t

The results, released at 5:00 PM on November 21, 2025, rolled out zone-by-zone on regional portals like rrbchd.gov.in, rrbald.gov.in, and rrbmumbai.gov.in. Candidates had to log in with their registration ID and password to see their scorecards. The cut-off? Harsh. General and EWS candidates needed at least 40%. OBC and SC candidates had to clear 30%. No exceptions. No grace marks. Just cold, hard percentages.

It’s not just about passing—it’s about ranking. With 51,978 candidates shortlisted for 3,445 vacancies, the competition isn’t just stiff—it’s exponential. Think of it this way: for every one job opening, nearly 15 people are still in the race. And that’s after 99% of applicants were already eliminated in CBT 1.

The Jobs on the Line

The posts aren’t glamorous, but they’re stable. And in India’s job market, stability is gold. Positions include Station Master, Chief Commercial Cum Ticket Supervisor, Junior Account Assistant Cum Typist, and Senior Clerk Cum Typist. These aren’t desk jobs with air conditioning and free coffee—they’re frontline roles in the world’s largest railway network. You’re managing ticketing, freight, schedules, and passenger safety. One mistake, and delays ripple across hundreds of stations.

And yet, despite the pressure, the demand never drops. The Economic Times reported that over 63 lakh candidates applied. That’s more than the population of Norway. And for what? A salary that starts around ₹25,000–₹35,000, with benefits, pension, and lifelong job security. In a country where 80% of new graduates struggle to find formal employment, this isn’t just a job—it’s a lifeline.

What Comes Next? The CBT 2 Crunch

The next exam—RRB NTPC UG CBT 2—is scheduled for December 20, 2025, across India. City Intimation Slips will drop on December 10. Admit Cards, four days before that. No delays. No extensions. The exam covers the same three subjects: General Awareness, Mathematics, and Reasoning. But this time, the questions will be harder. Deeper. More nuanced.

According to Jagran Josh, the difficulty level of CBT 2 is designed to weed out those who relied on rote memorization. This isn’t about knowing the capital of a state—it’s about understanding railway policy, budget allocations, and recent amendments to the Indian Railways Act. The math section? No calculator. Just mental agility under pressure.

Behind the Scenes: The Answer Key Controversy

Some candidates still remember the July 1, 2025, provisional answer key. RRB allowed objections—for ₹50 per question. Thousands filed them. Some were upheld. Others dismissed. The final answer key, released in August, changed the scores of nearly 12% of applicants. That’s not insignificant. It’s the difference between passing and failing. One candidate from Lucknow told Testbook he gained 14 marks after his objection was accepted. Another from Chennai lost 8. Those numbers don’t just affect scores—they change lives.

And here’s the twist: RRB never disclosed how many objections were filed, or how many were accepted. Transparency? Barely there. But candidates learned a lesson: never assume. Always challenge. Always verify.

Why This Matters Beyond the Result Sheet

This isn’t just about railway jobs. It’s about the broken promise of upward mobility. In 2025, over 1.2 crore youth applied for government exams across India. Only 1.8 lakh got selected. The RRB NTPC is one of the few that still feels like a fair shot. No connections. No quotas beyond the legal ones. Just your score, your preparation, your grit.

But the system is cracking. The number of applicants keeps rising. The vacancies? Flat. In 2023, there were 3,400 posts. In 2025, it’s 3,445. That’s a 1.3% increase. Meanwhile, applications jumped 22%. That’s not growth. That’s desperation.

What happens if CBT 2 gets delayed? What if the medical exam backlog stretches into 2026? What if the government freezes recruitment again? These aren’t hypotheticals. They’ve happened before. In 2021, the CBT 2 was postponed for 11 months. Thousands of candidates lost jobs, loans, and hope.

What’s Next?

After CBT 2, the remaining candidates face a Computer-Based Aptitude Test (for traffic-related roles), document verification, and a medical check-up. That last one is brutal. Vision tests, hearing checks, blood pressure—fail any one, and you’re out. No appeals. No second chances.

So what should candidates do now? Study. But not just any way. Focus on previous years’ papers. Practice mental math. Read The Hindu’s Railway section daily. And don’t wait for the admit card to start preparing. The clock is ticking.