RRB NTPC General Science Syllabus

The General Science component of the RRB NTPC 2027 examination is tested as part of the General Awareness section in both CBT 1 and CBT 2. It covers Physics, Chemistry, and Life Sciences (Biology) at the Class 10 level as prescribed by the NCERT. Approximately 8 to 12 questions in the General Awareness section of CBT 1 and CBT 2 are based on General Science. These questions test conceptual understanding and applied knowledge of science in everyday contexts rather than deep academic knowledge.

Quick Facts: NTPC General Science

Physics

Physics questions in RRB NTPC General Science are based on fundamental concepts from the Class 9 and Class 10 NCERT Physics syllabus. Questions test both factual recall and conceptual understanding.

Motion

•        Distance and displacement; scalar and vector quantities

•        Speed, velocity, and acceleration: definitions and formulae

•        Equations of motion: v = u + at; s = ut + 1/2 at^2; v^2 = u^2 + 2as

•        Uniform and non-uniform motion; distance-time and velocity-time graphs

•        Circular motion: centripetal force and acceleration

Force and Laws of Motion

•        Newton's First Law (Law of Inertia): concept of inertia, mass as measure of inertia

•        Newton's Second Law: F = ma; relationship between force, mass, and acceleration

•        Newton's Third Law: action and reaction; examples in everyday life

•        Law of Conservation of Momentum: applications in collisions

•        Friction: types (static, kinetic, rolling), laws of friction, ways to reduce and increase friction

•        Gravitation: Newton's Law of Gravitation; G (gravitational constant) and g (acceleration due to gravity)

•        Weight vs mass; free fall; escape velocity

Work, Energy and Power

•        Work: W = Fd cos(theta); positive, negative, and zero work

•        Energy: kinetic energy (KE = 1/2 mv^2) and potential energy (PE = mgh)

•        Law of Conservation of Energy: energy transformation examples

•        Power: P = W/t; unit: Watt; commercial unit: kilowatt-hour (kWh)

Sound

•        Nature of sound: longitudinal waves, need for medium

•        Wave characteristics: amplitude, wavelength, frequency, time period, velocity of sound

•        Reflection of sound: echo; conditions for echo formation

•        Ultrasound and infrasound: frequency ranges and applications

•        SONAR: principle and applications

•        Human ear: structure and function

Light

•        Reflection of light: laws of reflection; plane and spherical mirrors (concave and convex)

•        Mirror formula and magnification

•        Refraction of light: laws of refraction; refractive index; Snell's Law

•        Lenses: concave and convex lenses; lens formula; power of lens

•        Dispersion of light: prism, rainbow; VIBGYOR

•        Human eye: structure, accommodation; defects of vision (myopia, hypermetropia, presbyopia) and correction

•        Tyndall effect; scattering of light; why sky is blue

Electricity

•        Electric current, potential difference, resistance: definitions and units

•        Ohm's Law: V = IR; limitations of Ohm's Law

•        Resistors in series and parallel: equivalent resistance

•        Joule's Law of Heating: H = I^2 Rt; electric power P = VI = I^2 R = V^2/R

•        Domestic electric circuits: live, neutral, earth wires; fuses; MCB

•        Electric cell, battery, electromotive force

Magnetic Effects of Electric Current

•        Magnetic field around a current-carrying conductor

•        Electromagnets: principle and applications

•        Fleming's Left-Hand Rule: force on a current-carrying conductor in a magnetic field

•        Electric motor: principle and working

•        Electromagnetic induction: Faraday's law; Fleming's Right-Hand Rule

•        Electric generator (AC and DC): principle and working

Heat and Thermodynamics

•        Temperature and heat; units: Celsius, Fahrenheit, Kelvin; conversion formulae

•        Specific heat capacity; latent heat of fusion and vaporisation

•        Heat transfer: conduction, convection, radiation; everyday examples

•        Thermal expansion: linear, superficial, cubical

•        Greenhouse effect and global warming

Modern Physics

•        Radioactivity: alpha, beta, and gamma radiation; properties; uses

•        Nuclear fission and fusion: definition, examples, energy release

•        Nuclear power plants in India: Tarapur, Kudankulam, Kakrapar, Kaiga, Narora

•        Sources of energy: renewable (solar, wind, hydro, biomass, tidal, geothermal) and non-renewable (coal, petroleum, natural gas, nuclear)

Chemistry

Chemistry questions in RRB NTPC General Science are based on the Class 9 and Class 10 NCERT Chemistry syllabus. Questions frequently test everyday applications of chemical knowledge.

Matter and Its Properties

•        States of matter: solid, liquid, gas; interconversion; sublimation, deposition

•        Properties: boiling point, melting point, density, viscosity, surface tension

•        Elements, compounds, and mixtures: definitions and differences

•        Homogeneous and heterogeneous mixtures; solutions, suspensions, colloids

•        Separation techniques: filtration, distillation, chromatography, centrifugation, evaporation

Atomic Structure

•        Dalton's Atomic Theory; Thomson's model; Rutherford's model; Bohr's model

•        Subatomic particles: proton, neutron, electron; discovery and properties

•        Atomic number and mass number; isotopes, isobars, isotones

•        Valency; electronic configuration of first 20 elements

Periodic Table

•        Modern Periodic Law and Modern Periodic Table: periods and groups

•        Trends in the periodic table: atomic radius, ionisation energy, electronegativity, metallic character

•        Classification: metals, non-metals, metalloids; alkali metals, alkaline earth metals, halogens, noble gases

•        Important groups: Group 1 (alkali metals), Group 17 (halogens), Group 18 (noble gases)

•        s-block, p-block, d-block, f-block elements

Chemical Bonding

•        Ionic bond: formation, properties of ionic compounds

•        Covalent bond: formation, properties of covalent compounds; single, double, triple bonds

•        Metallic bond: electron sea model

•        Electrovalency and covalency

Chemical Reactions

•        Types of reactions: combination, decomposition, displacement, double displacement, redox

•        Exothermic and endothermic reactions

•        Oxidation and reduction: gain/loss of oxygen, hydrogen, electrons

•        Oxidising and reducing agents

•        Balancing chemical equations

•        Corrosion: rusting of iron; prevention methods

•        Rancidity: oxidation of fats; prevention

Acids, Bases and Salts

•        Definitions: Arrhenius, Bronsted-Lowry

•        Properties of acids and bases; pH scale; neutralisation reaction

•        Indicators: litmus, methyl orange, phenolphthalein; universal indicator

•        Types of salts: acidic, basic, neutral, double, complex

•        Preparation and uses of: NaOH (caustic soda), Na2CO3 (washing soda), NaHCO3 (baking soda), NaCl (common salt), CaO (quicklime), Ca(OH)2 (slaked lime), Bleaching powder, Plaster of Paris

•        Electrolysis: principle, electrolyte, electrode, applications

Carbon and Its Compounds

•        Allotropes of carbon: diamond, graphite, fullerene; properties and uses

•        Organic chemistry basics: hydrocarbons (alkanes, alkenes, alkynes); functional groups

•        Homologous series; IUPAC nomenclature basics

•        Important organic compounds: methane, ethane, ethanol, ethanoic acid, soap

•        Saponification: making soap from fat + NaOH

•        Difference between soap and detergent

Metals and Non-Metals

•        Physical and chemical properties of metals and non-metals

•        Reactivity series of metals; displacement reactions

•        Extraction of metals: ore, gangue, flux, slag; reduction, electrolytic refining

•        Corrosion: types, examples, prevention (galvanisation, paint, alloys)

•        Important alloys: Steel, Stainless steel, Brass, Bronze, Solder, Duralumin, Nichrome

Everyday Chemistry

•        Cleansing agents: soap and detergent; hard water; temporary and permanent hardness

•        Medicines: antibiotics (Penicillin), analgesics (Aspirin, Paracetamol), antiseptics (Dettol, Iodine)

•        Fertilisers: nitrogenous (Urea), phosphatic, potassic

•        Food preservation: salt, sugar, vinegar, pasteurisation

•        Polymer chemistry basics: natural and synthetic polymers; PVC, nylon, polythene, Teflon, Bakelite

Biology / Life Sciences

Biology questions in RRB NTPC General Science are based on the Class 9 and Class 10 NCERT Biology syllabus with some Class 11 and 12 level applied biology.

Cell: Structure and Functions

•        Cell theory: Schleiden, Schwann, Virchow

•        Plant cell vs animal cell: structural differences

•        Cell organelles: nucleus, mitochondria, chloroplast, ribosome, Golgi apparatus, lysosome, endoplasmic reticulum, vacuole, centrosome; functions

•        Prokaryotic vs eukaryotic cells

•        Cell division: mitosis and meiosis; significance

Tissues

•        Plant tissues: meristematic and permanent tissues (simple and complex)

•        Animal tissues: epithelial, connective, muscular, nervous tissues; types and functions

Life Processes

•        Nutrition: autotrophic (photosynthesis: equation, chlorophyll, light and dark reactions) and heterotrophic (types: holozoic, saprophytic, parasitic)

•        Respiration: aerobic and anaerobic; respiration equation; ATP

•        Transportation: blood, heart (structure and function), blood groups (A, B, AB, O), Rh factor

•        Excretion: kidney (structure), nephron (function), dialysis

•        Nervous system: neuron structure, reflex action, human brain

•        Endocrine system: glands and hormones (insulin, thyroxine, adrenaline, growth hormone)

Reproduction

•        Asexual reproduction: fission, budding, regeneration, vegetative propagation, spore formation

•        Sexual reproduction in plants: pollination (types), fertilisation, seed and fruit formation

•        Human reproductive system: male and female organs; menstrual cycle; fertilisation; pregnancy

•        Contraception methods; sexually transmitted diseases

Heredity and Evolution

•        Mendel's Laws: Law of Segregation, Law of Independent Assortment; dominant and recessive traits

•        Chromosomes, DNA, genes; sex determination in humans

•        Variations: heritable and non-heritable; mutations

•        Darwinian theory of evolution; natural selection; survival of the fittest

•        Evidence for evolution: fossils, homologous and analogous organs

•        Human evolution: Homo sapiens timeline

Ecology and Environment

•        Ecosystem: biotic and abiotic components; producers, consumers, decomposers

•        Food chain and food web; energy flow; 10% law

•        Biogeochemical cycles: carbon cycle, nitrogen cycle, water cycle

•        Biodiversity: hotspots; India's biodiversity

•        National parks and wildlife sanctuaries in India: Project Tiger, Project Elephant

•        Environmental pollution: air, water, soil, noise; sources and effects

•        Ozone depletion: causes (CFCs), effects, Montreal Protocol

•        Sustainable development; renewable energy

Human Health and Disease

•        Types of diseases: infectious and non-infectious; deficiency diseases; genetic diseases

•        Pathogens: bacteria, viruses, fungi, protozoa, worms; examples of diseases caused

•        Important diseases: Malaria (Plasmodium, Anopheles mosquito), Dengue, Typhoid, Tuberculosis, Cholera, AIDS, Diabetes, Cancer

•        Immunity: innate and acquired; antibodies and antigens; vaccines

•        Important vaccines: OPV, BCG, Hepatitis B, Measles, COVID-19

•        Food and nutrition: macronutrients and micronutrients; deficiency diseases (scurvy, rickets, night blindness, anaemia, goitre, kwashiorkor, marasmus)

•        Blood: composition, blood groups, blood transfusion compatibility, coagulation

Science and Technology in Daily Life

•        ISRO and space science: satellites (INSAT, IRS, GSAT, GPS/NavIC), launch vehicles (PSLV, GSLV, LVM3), Mars Orbiter Mission, Chandrayaan missions

•        Nuclear energy in India: nuclear reactors, nuclear power plants

•        Biotechnology applications: GM crops, insulin production, gene therapy

•        Nanotechnology: applications in medicine and materials

•        Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning: basic concepts and applications

•        Information technology: internet, cloud computing, cybersecurity basics

Topic-wise Weightage

Preparation Tips for General Science

1. Use NCERT Class 9 and 10 as Your Primary Source

The entire General Science syllabus for RRB NTPC is covered within the NCERT Class 9 and Class 10 Science textbooks. Read each chapter once for understanding, then prepare concise chapter-wise notes covering key concepts, formulae, and standard facts.

2. Prioritise High-Frequency Facts

Certain facts appear consistently across RRB examinations: Newton's Laws, Ohm's Law, photosynthesis equation, blood groups, important chemical reactions, alloys, diseases and their causative agents, hormones and their functions, and ISRO missions. Master these facts thoroughly before moving to lower-frequency topics.

3. Connect Science to Current Affairs

Many General Science questions in RRB NTPC have a current affairs angle: new ISRO missions, vaccine developments, new drug approvals, nuclear plant milestones. Follow science and technology news as part of your daily current affairs reading.

4. Revise Disease-Pathogen-Vector Connections

A reliable area for easy marks is the disease-pathogen-vector table. Memorise: Malaria (Plasmodium, female Anopheles), Dengue (virus, female Aedes aegypti), Typhoid (Salmonella typhi, contaminated water), Tuberculosis (Mycobacterium tuberculosis, airborne), Cholera (Vibrio cholerae, contaminated water), AIDS (HIV, blood/bodily fluids).

Frequently Asked Questions: General Science

Q1. Is General Science a separate section in RRB NTPC?

No. General Science questions are part of the General Awareness section, not a separate section. However, they form a distinct identifiable cluster within GA and can be specifically prepared for.

Q2. What level of science is tested in RRB NTPC?

Science questions are set at the Class 10 level (NCERT standard). Deep knowledge of Class 11 or 12 level topics is not required for the NTPC examination.

Q3. How many General Science questions appear in CBT 1?

Approximately 8 to 12 questions from the General Awareness section of CBT 1 (40 questions total) are science-based. The exact number varies by examination session.