On 21st November 2025, the Railway Recruitment Boards quietly dropped the RRB NTPC Undergraduate (UG) Cut Off 2025 across all 21 regional websites — not with a press release, but with a PDF. For hundreds of thousands of aspirants who’d waited since August, this was the moment of truth. The cutoffs, which determine who moves to CBT 2, varied wildly: from 82.27 in RRB Chandigarh to just 68.79 in RRB Bilaspur for the General category. And that’s not a typo. One candidate scoring 75 might be through in Mumbai, but out in Chennai. The system isn’t broken — it’s calibrated. But it’s brutal in its precision.
Why the Cutoffs Differ So Much
The numbers tell a story of regional competition. In RRB Chandigarh, the General category cutoff hit 82.27 — nearly 14 points higher than Bilaspur’s 68.79. Why? More applicants. Fewer seats. Higher stakes. According to Shiksha.com, cutoffs are shaped by three things: total vacancies, number of applicants, and exam difficulty. But there’s a fourth, unspoken factor: aspirant density. Chandigarh, with its proximity to Delhi and strong coaching culture, drew twice as many applicants as Bilaspur. Result? A sharper curve.The normalization process — used to adjust scores across different exam shifts — made it even more complex. A candidate scoring 70 in a tough shift might be scaled up to 75. Another scoring 72 in an easy shift might be scaled down. That’s why the official cutoffs are published as normalized scores, not raw marks. And that’s why candidates must check their own region’s PDF, not rely on national averages.
Category-Wise Cutoffs: A Stark Reality Check
The reservation system adds another layer. The Railway Recruitment Boards set minimum qualifying percentages: 40% for UR and EWS, 30% for OBC and SC, and 25% for ST. But the actual cutoffs — the real bar to clear — are far higher. For example, while ST candidates only needed 25% to qualify, the actual cutoff ranged from 55 to 62. That’s not generosity. That’s competition.Here’s how it broke down nationally:
- Unreserved (UR): 78–83 marks
- EWS: 70–77 marks
- OBC: 72–78 marks
- SC: 63–70 marks
- ST: 55–62 marks
Notice something? EWS, introduced in 2019, now sits almost neck-and-neck with OBC. That’s new. In 2021, EWS cutoffs were 10–12 points below OBC. Now? The gap has shrunk to just 2–5 points. It’s not just about quotas anymore — it’s about who’s showing up.
Zone-by-Zone Breakdown: Who’s In, Who’s Out
The regional variations are where the real drama lies. Here’s what the data shows:- RRB Chandigarh: Gen 82.27, OBC 71.47, SC 71.87, ST 46.71
- RRB Bhubaneswar: Gen 71.91, OBC 65.76, SC 53.09, ST 47.79
- RRB Bilaspur: Gen 68.79, OBC 60.70, SC 51.49, ST 50.07
- RRB Kolkata: Gen 75.34, OBC 68.12, SC 59.81, ST 52.03
- RRB Mumbai: Gen 79.15, OBC 70.05, SC 64.22, ST 48.90
Chandigarh’s ST cutoff — 46.71 — is lower than Bilaspur’s SC cutoff (51.49). That’s not an error. It reflects how few ST applicants competed in Chandigarh, and how many SC applicants did. The system doesn’t care about your category alone. It cares about your category in your zone.
How to Check Your Status — Step by Step
If you took the exam, here’s how to find out if you’re in:- Go to your regional RRB website (e.g., rrbchd.gov.in or rrbbilaspur.gov.in)
- Look for the ‘RRB NTPC Result and Cut Off 2025’ link under ‘Latest Notifications’
- Click your region and download the PDF
- Log in with your Registration Number and Date of Birth if prompted
- Find your category and compare your normalized score
Don’t trust third-party sites like Testbook or Adda247 for your final status. They aggregate data — but only the official PDF is binding. And remember: the cutoffs are published alongside the results. If your roll number is in the result list, you’ve cleared the cutoff. No exceptions.
What Happens Next — And Why It Matters
The next stage, CBT 2, is scheduled for early 2026. But here’s the twist: the cutoffs for CBT 2 won’t be released until after the exam. That means you’re flying blind. Your CBT 1 score doesn’t carry forward — it’s just a gatekeeper. CBT 2 is a fresh race, with its own normalization, its own competition, its own cutoffs. Thousands who cleared CBT 1 will still fall short in CBT 2. That’s the nature of the game.And the stakes? Higher than ever. The Railway Recruitment Board advertised over 20,000 UG-level posts. But more than 12 million candidates applied. That’s a 0.16% selection rate. For perspective, getting into IIT is easier. This isn’t a job exam. It’s a national lottery with a syllabus.
Historical Context: How This Compares to 2021
In 2021, the cutoffs were lower across the board. General category cutoffs hovered around 65–75 in most zones. Back then, the exam was harder, fewer people applied, and normalization was less refined. Now? The applicant pool has swollen. Competition has intensified. And the government’s push for digital transparency means cutoffs are now published faster — and with more precision. The system is more fair, but also more unforgiving.For example, in 2022, RRB Ranchi’s General cutoff was 70.12. In 2025? It’s 75.34. A 7.5-point jump in just four years. That’s not inflation. That’s desperation.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if my normalized score is enough to qualify for CBT 2?
You must compare your normalized score — visible on your CBT 1 result PDF — against the zone-specific cutoff published on your regional RRB’s website. The cutoff varies by region and category, so never rely on national averages. If your score is equal to or higher than the published cutoff for your region and category, you’ve qualified. If not, you’re out, regardless of how close you were.
Why is the ST cutoff lower in some zones than the SC cutoff in others?
Because cutoffs reflect regional applicant density, not just reservation policy. In zones with fewer ST applicants and more SC applicants, the SC cutoff rises due to competition — even if the reservation percentage is the same. The system adjusts for local demand, not national quotas. A 46.71 ST cutoff in Chandigarh doesn’t mean ST candidates are treated less fairly — it means fewer ST candidates competed there.
Can I challenge the cutoff or my normalized score?
No. The Railway Recruitment Boards do not entertain challenges to normalized scores or cutoffs. The normalization formula is applied uniformly across all shifts and regions, and the process is audited by independent examiners. Any discrepancies in your score must be raised during the result declaration window — which closed on 21st November. After that, the cutoff is final.
What’s the difference between qualifying marks and cutoff marks?
Qualifying marks are the minimum percentage you must achieve to be eligible — 40% for UR, 30% for OBC/SC, 25% for ST. But cutoff marks are the actual scores of the last selected candidate in your category and region. You must clear both. Many candidates hit the qualifying mark but miss the cutoff — and don’t advance. It’s not about passing. It’s about outperforming thousands.
Will the CBT 2 cutoff be higher than CBT 1?
Almost certainly. CBT 2 is more competitive because only the top scorers from CBT 1 qualify. In 2021, CBT 2 cutoffs were 10–15 points higher than CBT 1 in most zones. Expect the same trend. The exam is tougher, the competition is fiercer, and the stakes are higher. Don’t celebrate your CBT 1 result — start preparing for CBT 2 immediately.
Why was the UG cutoff released later than the Graduate cutoff?
The Graduate-level exam was held earlier (June 2025), so its results and cutoffs were processed and released by September. The UG exam ran from August to September, and with over 12 million applicants, normalization took longer. The RRBs needed extra time to validate data across 21 zones, leading to the 21st November release — nearly two months after the exam ended. It wasn’t a delay. It was a necessity.