SSC CGL vs RRB NTPC (Graduate): Posts, Eligibility, Exam and Pay Compared

For a graduate looking at central government jobs outside the banks, the two largest recruitments are SSC's Combined Graduate Level examination (CGL) and the railways' Non-Technical Popular Categories for graduates (NTPC). Both take a degree in any discipline. They differ in the range of posts and pay, in how many stages they test you over, in age, and in whether they take you before your result. This guide sets them side by side from their current notices; it does not pick a winner.

For every live vacancy open to you today, see jobs for graduates, or browse civil services vacancies and railway vacancies.

At a Glance

Posts and Pay

CGL covers a much wider ladder. Its posts run from Level 4 to Level 8 — the Assistant Audit Officer is at Level 8 and Group B gazetted, assistant section officers and inspectors at Level 7, auditors and accountants at Level 5. The Group A, B, C and D guide explains what those levels mean.

NTPC's graduate posts are concentrated lower: the Chief Commercial cum Ticket Supervisor at Level 6 and three posts at Level 5. They are railway posts — commercial, operating and accounts — rather than posts across the central government.

Eligibility

Both take "a degree", with CGL adding subject conditions for two statistics posts. The differences are in timing and age:

• Timing. CGL says "candidates who have appeared in their final year of their graduation can also apply", provided they hold the degree as on 1 August 2026. The railways say "Candidates waiting for final results of prescribed educational qualifications are NOT eligible".
• Age. CGL's limit depends on the post — 27, 30 or 32. NTPC's is 33 for every post, as on 1 January 2027.

The Examination

SSC CGL has two tiers. Tier-I has four subjects — reasoning, general awareness, quantitative aptitude and English — of 25 questions and 50 marks each, in an hour, with "negative marking of 0.50 marks for each wrong answer". Tier-II's Paper-I is "compulsory for all the posts" and includes mathematical abilities, reasoning, English, general awareness, a computer knowledge test and a data entry speed test; Paper-II (statistics) is only for the two statistics posts and Paper-III (finance and accounts) only for the audit and accounts officer posts. Scores are normalised across shifts — see normalisation of marks.

RRB NTPC (Graduate) has two computer-based tests. The 1st stage — 100 questions in 90 minutes, with general awareness 40, mathematics 30 and reasoning 30 — is "of screening nature", shortlisting at 15 times the vacancies. The 2nd stage has 120 questions in 90 minutes. Both deduct one-third of a mark per wrong answer. The typing test for the two typist posts "has been dispensed with for CEN No. 06/2026", though typing proficiency "shall be assessed after joining".

Which Suits Whom

• If you are in your final year, only CGL takes you.
• If you are over 32, only NTPC is open; between 27 and 32 it depends on the CGL post.
• If you want the widest choice of posts and the higher levels, CGL runs to Level 8.
• If you want a railway career, NTPC's graduate posts are the railways' route; see the RRB NTPC guide.
• If you have statistics or accounts strengths, CGL's specialist papers reward them.

Many candidates prepare for both, since their first-stage syllabi overlap. For the banking alternative, see bank PO vs SSC CGL; for all graduate routes, government exams after graduation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is SSC CGL or RRB NTPC better for graduates?

Neither in general. CGL offers a wider range of posts from Level 4 to Level 8 and takes final-year students; NTPC's graduate posts are at Levels 5 and 6, run to age 33 and need a declared result.

Can final-year students apply for RRB NTPC?

Not for the graduate posts under CEN 06/2026, which excludes candidates awaiting their final results. SSC CGL does allow final-year students who hold the degree by 1 August 2026.

What is the age limit for SSC CGL and RRB NTPC?

CGL: 18 to 27, 30 or 32 depending on the post, as on 1 August 2026. NTPC graduate: 18 to 33 as on 1 January 2027.

Is there a typing test in RRB NTPC graduate?

Not in CEN 06/2026, which dispensed with it for the Senior Clerk cum Typist and Junior Accounts Assistant cum Typist posts; proficiency is assessed after joining.

Do the two exams have the same negative marking?

No. CGL Tier-I deducts 0.50 marks per wrong answer on questions worth 2 marks; NTPC deducts one-third of a mark per wrong answer on 1-mark questions.

In Summary

SSC CGL and RRB NTPC (Graduate) both take a degree in any discipline. CGL recruits across central departments from Level 4 to Level 8, takes final-year students, has an age limit of 27 to 32 by post, and tests over two tiers with specialist papers for some posts. NTPC's graduate posts are railway posts at Levels 5 and 6, need a declared result, run to age 33, and test over two CBTs without a typing test in 2026. Your result date, age and the career you want decide between them.

Sources

• Staff Selection Commission, Combined Graduate Level Examination 2026 notice — paras 2, 5, 8 and 13
• Railway Recruitment Boards, CEN No. 06/2026 — Non-Technical Popular Categories (Graduate)