RRB NTPC 2025 Application Deadline Today: 8,868 Vacancies at Stake

Today, at 11:59 PM IST, the online application window for the RRB NTPC Recruitment 2025 shuts forever — no extensions, no exceptions. For over 12 million applicants across India, this isn’t just a deadline; it’s the final chance to lock in a shot at one of the country’s most coveted government jobs. With Railway Recruitment Boards closing the portal for CEN 06/2025, candidates who’ve spent weeks preparing documents, gathering certificates, and double-checking forms now hold their breath. The stakes? 8,868 vacancies — 5,810 for graduates, 3,058 for undergraduates — spread across 21 regional offices from Chandigarh to Thiruvananthapuram.

What’s at Stake? The Real Numbers Behind the Hype

This isn’t just another government job drive. It’s the largest non-technical recruitment in over five years. The Railway Recruitment Control Board (RRCB), headquartered in New Delhi, confirmed the total vacancy count after reconciling data from all 21 regional boards. The breakdown is stark: Graduate posts — like Station Master, Senior Commercial Cum Ticket Clerk, and Junior Account Assistant — make up nearly two-thirds of the openings. Undergraduate roles — Junior Clerk, Accounts Clerk, Traffic Assistant — are equally competitive, especially in smaller cities where railway jobs remain a lifeline.

The application fee structure reflects India’s economic diversity: ₹500 for General/EWS/OBC candidates, ₹250 for SC/ST/Ex-servicemen/PwBD/Female applicants. But here’s the catch — the fee isn’t just the base amount. Add ₹60 or ₹30 for bank transaction charges, depending on category. That’s ₹560 for many, a non-trivial sum for rural applicants. Yet, over 11.7 million applications were submitted by November 25, according to unofficial RRB estimates. That’s roughly 1,300 applicants per vacancy.

Why the Extension? A Last-Minute Lifeline

Originally, the Graduate application window was set to close on November 20. But after a flood of complaints — from portal crashes in Kolkata to document upload failures in Bhopal — the Railway Recruitment Boards extended the deadline by a full week. RRB Chennai, RRB Mumbai, and RRB Ahmedabad all issued joint advisories. "We saw applicants waiting in queues outside cyber cafes at midnight," said a senior RRB official in Chennai. "This wasn’t just about technical glitches. It was about fairness."

But fairness has limits. The deadline for fee payment? That’s now November 29 — two days after the portal closes. Why? Because payment gateways don’t shut at midnight. But if you didn’t submit your form by the 27th, your payment won’t matter. No exceptions. Not even for those who claim their "internet failed." The system logs timestamps down to the second.

What Happens After the Deadline?

The real race begins now — and it’s not over yet. From November 30 to December 9, applicants get a correction window. Yes, you can fix mistakes. But only if you pay an additional ₹100 fee. Want to change your category? Your photo? Your exam center preference? Do it now — or live with it. Meanwhile, eligible scribe candidates (for PwBD applicants) must register their scribe details between December 10 and 14. Miss that, and you’re disqualified from the next stage.

The selection process is a gauntlet: CBT-1 (Computer Based Test 1) is expected in January 2026, followed by CBT-2 in March. For Station Master and Traffic Assistant roles, there’s a mandatory Computer Based Aptitude Test (CBAT). Then comes the Skill Test (typing speed for clerical roles), Document Verification, and finally, a Medical Examination. The entire cycle could stretch into mid-2026. And remember — the Undergraduate CBT-1 results were already released on November 21. That means some candidates are already in the next round, while others are still trying to hit "Submit."

Who’s Eligible? The Fine Print No One Reads

For Graduate posts: You need a degree from a recognized university. Age limit? 18 to 33 as of December 31, 2025. That means anyone born between January 1, 1992, and December 31, 2007, qualifies. For Undergraduate: 12th pass minimum. Age? 18 to 30. So if you turned 31 on December 1, 2025? You’re out. No grace period. No "I was just one day late."

The posts? Over a dozen roles, including: Junior Time Keeper, Goods Guard, Senior Clerk, and — the crown jewel — Station Master. The last one, with its authority over train schedules and platform safety, draws thousands. But here’s the twist: Station Master posts require CBAT, which tests spatial reasoning and decision-making under pressure. Most coaching centers don’t prepare for it. That’s where the real filtering happens.

What’s Next? The Road to CBT-1

The RRCB has confirmed that admit cards for CBT-1 will be released in early January 2026. The exam will be conducted in 1,100+ centers across India. No offline applications. No physical submissions. Everything is digital. And if you didn’t upload your photo in the right format (20–50 KB, JPEG/PNG), your application is invalid. No one is calling to fix it. No one is emailing you. The system doesn’t care.

Experts say this recruitment cycle will set a precedent. With over 11 million applicants, the scale is unprecedented. The RRBs are under pressure to digitize everything — from application to result. And if they handle this well, it could become the model for future government exams. But if the portal crashes again during CBT-1? The backlash could be seismic.