RRB NTPC vs SSC CGL vs IBPS Clerk: Government job aspirants in India often face a dilemma when choosing between the Railway Recruitment Board (RRB) Non-Technical Popular Categories (NTPC), Staff Selection Commission (SSC) Combined Graduate Level (CGL), and Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) Clerk exams. One of the critical factors influencing this decision is the vacancy-to-applicant ratio, salary, selection process, and vacancy. In this article, we have discussed all these aspects.
RRB NTPC vs SSC CGL vs IBPS Clerk
In 2025, all three major recruitment bodies- RRB, SSC, and IBPS announced large-scale vacancies across different sectors, reflecting the continued demand for government and public-sector jobs in India.
The RRB NTPC recruitment drive announced 8,868 vacancies, bifurcated between Graduate Level (5,810) and Undergraduate Level (3,058) posts. These include popular roles such as Station Master, Goods Guard, Clerk, Typist, and Junior Account Assistant, offering opportunities for both 12th-pass and graduate candidates.
The SSC CGL 2025 examination announced a significantly higher number of openings, with 14,582 total vacancies across Group B and Group C posts in various Central Government ministries and departments. The posts include high-prestige designations like Income Tax Inspector, Assistant Section Officer, Assistant Enforcement Officer, Statistical Investigator, and Tax Assistant. SSC CGL continues to remain one of the largest central-level recruitment drives in India.
Meanwhile, the IBPS Clerk 2025 recruitment announced 13,533 state-wise vacancies for clerical positions across nationalized banks, with Uttar Pradesh (2,346 vacancies) recording the highest number among all states. Please note, that this is not the final vacancy and may change by the release of the final result.
| Category / Feature | RRB NTPC 2025 | SSC CGL 2025 | IBPS Clerk 2025 |
| Total Vacancies | 8,868 | 14,582 (Tentative) | 13,533 (Subject to Change) |
| Recruiting Body | Railway Recruitment Board (RRB) | Staff Selection Commission (SSC) | Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) |
| Sector Type | Railway Sector (Central Govt.) | Central Government Ministries & Departments | Banking & Financial Sector (Public Sector Banks) |
| Post Levels | – Graduate Level: 5,810 – 12th Level (UG): 3,058 | – Group B (Gazetted/Non-Gazetted) – Group C | Clerical Cadre (State-wise posts) |
| Example Posts | Station Master, Goods Guard, Typist, Clerk, Jr. Accountant | Income Tax Inspector, Assistant Section Officer, Assistant Enforcement Officer, Statistical Investigator, Tax Assistant | Clerk in PSU Banks, Customer Support, Data Entry, Financial Operations |
| Eligibility Requirement | 12th pass or Graduate (as per post) | Graduate in any discipline (some posts require specific qualifications like Statistics) | Graduate in any discipline + local language proficiency |
| Vacancy Distribution | Based on post type (Graduate / UG Level) | Department & Category-wise (UR, OBC, SC, ST, EWS) | State & Category-wise (General, OBC, SC, ST, EWS) |
| Highest Vacancy Concentration | Graduate-level posts (Railway Operations) | CBDT, CBIC, and Central Ministries | Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Maharashtra |
| Nature of Job | Central Government (Railway-based) | Central Government (Administrative/Inspector roles) | Public Sector Banks (State-based employment) |
| Scale of Competition | Very High | Extremely High | Moderate to High |
In summary, SSC CGL leads in total number of central-level vacancies, IBPS Clerk offers the widest state-level distribution, and RRB NTPC provides a balanced mix of graduate and 12th-level jobs within the Railway sector.
RRB NTPC vs SSC CGL vs IBPS Clerk: Salary Comparison
When comparing government job salaries among RRB NTPC, SSC CGL, and IBPS Clerk, it’s important to understand that these figures are approximate and can vary depending on the city of posting, allowances, and department-specific benefits. The data below gives a general idea of the pay levels after the 7th Pay Commission and may change once the 8th Pay commission comes in effect.
Among these three, SSC CGL offers the highest salary package, especially for Pay Level 7 and Pay Level 8 posts, where the gross monthly salary in X cities can reach up to ₹70,000 or more. The RRB NTPC Graduate-level posts like Station Master or Chief Commercial cum Ticket Supervisor come next, with an initial pay ranging from ₹29,200 to ₹35,400. On the other hand, IBPS Clerks in public sector banks receive a respectable gross monthly salary of around ₹40,700, which increases with experience, DA revisions, and promotions.
| Post / Exam | Pay Level / Scale | Initial Basic Pay (₹) | Gross Salary (Approx. in X City) | Remarks |
| RRB NTPC (Undergraduate Posts) | Level 2 – 3 | ₹19,900 – ₹21,700 | ₹30,000 – ₹35,000 | Includes posts like Junior Clerk cum Typist, Train Clerk, etc. |
| RRB NTPC (Graduate Posts) | Level 5 – 6 | ₹29,200 – ₹35,400 | ₹45,000 – ₹55,000 | Includes posts like Station Master, Goods Train Manager, etc. |
| SSC CGL (Pay Level 8) | ₹47,600 – ₹1,51,100 | ₹47,600 | ₹70,000+ | Highest salary tier under CGL, e.g., Assistant Section Officer (MEA) |
| SSC CGL (Pay Level 6–7) | ₹35,400 – ₹44,900 | ₹35,400 – ₹44,900 | ₹53,000 – ₹67,000 | Common for roles like Income Tax Inspector, Assistant, etc. |
| IBPS Clerk | Basic + Allowances | ₹24,050 | ₹40,720 | Includes DA, HRA, and other allowances (Nov 2024 revision) |
RRB NTPC vs SSC CGL vs IBPS Clerk: Selection Process
All three exams follow a multi-stage selection process consisting of online Computer-Based Tests (CBTs) that assess a candidate’s reasoning, quantitative, and general awareness abilities. While the RRB NTPC focuses on clerical and traffic-related posts within Indian Railways, the SSC CGL recruits for administrative and statistical roles under various ministries, and the IBPS Clerk examination aims to fill clerical positions in nationalized banks.
The difficulty level of these exams depends entirely on the candidate’s preparation, conceptual clarity, and practice levels. However, competition is generally higher in RRB NTPC and SSC CGL due to the massive number of applicants as compared to IBPS Clerk, where the candidate pool is relatively smaller.
Noet: The details shared below are based on 2025 notification.
| Feature | RRB NTPC (Railways) | SSC CGL (Central Govt.) | IBPS Clerk (Banking) |
| Conducting Body | Railway Recruitment Board (RRB) | Staff Selection Commission (SSC) | Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) |
| Purpose | Recruitment for Non-Technical Popular Categories like Clerk, Station Master, Typist, etc. | Recruitment for Group B & C posts in ministries and departments | Recruitment of clerical staff in public sector banks |
| Selection Process | 1. CBT 1 (Preliminary) 2. CBT 2 (Main) 3. CBAT (for Station Master) / Typing Test (for Typist) 4. Document Verification & Medical Exam | 1. Tier 1 (Preliminary) 2. Tier 2 (Main) 3. Data Entry Speed Test (DEST) for some posts & Document Verification | 1. Preliminary Exam (Qualifying) 2. Mains Exam (Merit-based) 3. Local Language Proficiency Test (LLPT) |
| Stage 1 Pattern | CBT 1 (Graduate): 100 Qs / 100 Marks – Math: 30 – Reasoning: 30 – GA: 40 Duration: 90 min Negative: -⅓ | Tier 1: 100 Qs / 200 Marks – Reasoning, GA, Quant, English (25 each) Duration: 60 min Negative: -0.5 | Prelims: 100 Qs / 100 Marks – English (30), Numerical (35), Reasoning (35) Duration: 60 min (sectional timing) Negative: -0.25 |
| Stage 2 Pattern | CBT 2 (Graduate): 120 Qs / 120 Marks – Math: 35 – Reasoning: 35 – GA: 50 Duration: 90 min Negative: -⅓ | Tier 2 (Paper 1): – Section I: Math & Reasoning (60 Qs) – Section II: English & GA (70 Qs) – Section III: Computer (20 Qs) + DEST Duration: 2 hrs 15 min Negative: -1 (Paper 1), -0.5 (Paper 2) | Mains: 155 Qs / 200 Marks – GA/Financial (40), English (40), Reasoning & Computer (40), Quant (35) Duration: 160 min (sectional timing) Negative: -0.25 |
| Additional / Skill Tests | – CBAT (for Station Master): Qualifying – Typing Test: 30 wpm (Eng) / 25 wpm (Hindi) | – DEST: 2000 key depressions in 15 minutes (Qualifying) | – LLPT: Must know local language; qualifying only |
| Final Merit Based On | CBT 2 + CBAT / Typing (as applicable) | Tier 2 (Paper 1 + Paper 2 for JSO only) | Mains Score (LLPT qualifying) |
| Exam Mode | Online (CBT) | Online (CBT) | Online (CBT) |
| Language Medium | English & Hindi | English & Hindi (except English section) | English & Hindi (except English section) |
| Qualifying Nature of Stage 1 | Yes (for shortlisting to CBT 2) | Yes (for shortlisting to Tier 2) | Yes (for shortlisting to Mains) |
| Negative Marking | -⅓ per wrong answer | -0.5 or -1 depending on paper | -0.25 per wrong answer |
What is the Vacancy-to-Applicant Ratio of these Posts?
Based on previous recruitment data, the RRB NTPC exam is the most competitive, with around 1.26 crore applicants for 35,208 vacancies in 2019, resulting in a staggering 1:3,580 competition ratio. The SSC CGL 2024 cycle saw about 36.73 lakh applicants for 18,174 vacancies, giving a ratio of roughly 1:20 per post, indicating tough but comparatively balanced competition. Meanwhile, the IBPS Clerk 2023 exam had around 9 lakh applicants for 4,545 vacancies, reflecting a 1:198 competition ratio. Overall, RRB NTPC remains the most competitive due to its massive applicant base, followed by IBPS Clerk and SSC CGL, which maintain steady yet high competition levels.
1. RRB NTPC
- Vacancies 2019: 35,208
- Applicants 2019: Approximately 1.26 crore (12.6 million)
- Competition Ratio: Approximately 1:3,580
2. SSC CGL
- Vacancies (2024): 18,174
- Applicants (2024): Approximately 36.73 lakh (3.673 million)
- Competition Ratio: Approximately 1:20
3. IBPS Clerk
- Vacancies (2023): 4,545
- Applicants (2023): Approximately 9 lakh (0.9 million)
- Competition Ratio: Approximately 1:198
Free E-Books for Preparation
Below are some free resources for candidates preparing for the RRB NTPC, SSC CGL, and IBPS Clerk or other bank exams.
Choosing between RRB NTPC, SSC CGL, and IBPS Clerk depends on individual preferences, career goals, and preparation strategies. If you prefer a career in the railways with a moderate competition ratio, RRB NTPC could be suitable. For those aiming for central government services with a higher competition ratio, SSC CGL offers prestigious positions. However, if you are looking for a relatively less competitive exam with opportunities in the banking sector, IBPS Clerk presents a favourable option.
FAQs
Q1: Which exam has the highest competition among RRB NTPC, SSC CGL, and IBPS Clerk?
A1: RRB NTPC has the highest competition due to millions of applicants applying for limited vacancies.
Q2: How many vacancies are there in RRB NTPC, SSC CGL, and IBPS Clerk?
A2: In 2025, RRB NTPC – 8,868, SSC CGL – 14,582 (tentative), IBPS Clerk – 13,533 (state-wise, subject to change).
Q3: What are the eligibility criteria for these exams?
A3: RRB NTPC – 12th pass or Graduate (as per post), SSC CGL – Graduate, IBPS Clerk – Graduate + local language proficiency.
Q4: What is the selection process for these exams?
A4: All are online CBT-based exams: RRB NTPC – CBT 1 + CBT 2 + CBAT/Typing, SSC CGL – Tier 1 + Tier 2 + DEST, IBPS Clerk – Prelims + Mains + LLPT.
Q5: Which job offers the highest salary?
A5: SSC CGL offers the highest salary (₹35,400 – ₹70,000+), followed by RRB NTPC Graduate-level posts (₹29,200–₹55,000) and IBPS Clerk (~₹40,700).
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Hi, I’m Tripti, a senior content writer at Oliveboard, where I manage blog content along with community engagement across platforms like Telegram and WhatsApp. With 3+ years of experience in content and SEO optimization related to banking exams, I have led content for popular exams like SSC, banking, railways, and state exams.