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# RRB NTPC 6-Day Intensive Study Plan: Undergraduate Level
## HONEST ASSESSMENT FIRST
**Can you hit 90+ in 6 days from zero?**
Short answer: Possibly, but only under specific conditions.
The RRB NTPC UG exam has 100 questions worth 100 marks (1 mark each, 1/3 negative marking). A 90+ score means getting ~93-95 questions right with minimal negatives. From zero preparation, this is ambitious but not impossible IF your baseline is decent — meaning you finished Class 10 with reasonable understanding of Math and Science, and you read news occasionally.
**Realistic probability breakdown:**
- Strong Class 10 base + 6 days focused execution: 70-80 score is likely, 85-90 is achievable, 90+ requires good luck on General Awareness
- Average Class 10 base: 75-82 is the realistic ceiling
- The single biggest limiting factor is General Awareness — you cannot fully prepare it in 6 days. You need to get lucky on current affairs questions.
**The brutal truth:** GA alone has ~40 questions. Of those, ~15-18 will be current affairs you simply cannot predict. You can nail the static GA (history, geography, polity, science facts) which covers ~22-25 questions. This cap alone makes 90+ genuinely hard. Execute perfectly and you can hit 88-92. That is the honest ceiling.
---
## EXAM STRUCTURE (Know This Cold)
| Section | Questions | Marks | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Awareness | 40 | 40 | — |
| Mathematics | 30 | 30 | — |
| General Intelligence & Reasoning | 30 | 30 | — |
| Total | 100 | 100 | 90 minutes |
Negative marking: -1/3 per wrong answer. Never guess blindly.
---
## TOPIC PRIORITY MASTER LIST
Ranked by: (frequency × marks × learnability in short time)
### General Awareness (40 marks) — Target: 28-32
| Priority | Topic | Est. Hours | Expected Questions | Achievability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Science (Physics/Chemistry/Bio basics) | 6 hrs | 8-10 | HIGH |
| 2 | Indian History (Ancient/Medieval/Modern) | 5 hrs | 6-8 | HIGH |
| 3 | Geography (India + World) | 4 hrs | 5-7 | MEDIUM |
| 4 | Indian Polity & Constitution | 3 hrs | 4-5 | HIGH |
| 5 | Economics basics | 2 hrs | 2-3 | MEDIUM |
| 6 | Current Affairs | 2 hrs | 12-15 | LOW (luck-dependent) |
| 7 | Static GK (awards, sports, books) | 1.5 hrs | 3-4 | MEDIUM |
### Mathematics (30 marks) — Target: 24-27
| Priority | Topic | Est. Hours | Expected Questions | Achievability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Number System | 3 hrs | 3-4 | HIGH |
| 2 | Percentage & Profit/Loss | 3 hrs | 4-5 | HIGH |
| 3 | Simple & Compound Interest | 2 hrs | 2-3 | HIGH |
| 4 | Time, Speed & Distance | 2.5 hrs | 2-3 | HIGH |
| 5 | Ratio & Proportion | 2 hrs | 2-3 | HIGH |
| 6 | Algebra (basic) | 2 hrs | 2-3 | MEDIUM |
| 7 | Geometry & Mensuration | 3 hrs | 3-4 | MEDIUM |
| 8 | Data Interpretation | 2 hrs | 2-3 | HIGH |
| 9 | Time & Work | 1.5 hrs | 1-2 | HIGH |
### Reasoning (30 marks) — Target: 25-28
| Priority | Topic | Est. Hours | Expected Questions | Achievability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coding-Decoding | 2 hrs | 3-4 | VERY HIGH |
| 2 | Series (Number/Letter/Mixed) | 2.5 hrs | 4-5 | VERY HIGH |
| 3 | Analogy | 1.5 hrs | 3-4 | HIGH |
| 4 | Blood Relations | 2 hrs | 2-3 | HIGH |
| 5 | Syllogism | 2 hrs | 2-3 | HIGH |
| 6 | Direction & Distance | 1.5 hrs | 2-3 | HIGH |
| 7 | Seating Arrangement | 2 hrs | 2-3 | MEDIUM |
| 8 | Venn Diagrams | 1 hr | 1-2 | HIGH |
| 9 | Statement & Conclusions | 1 hr | 1-2 | MEDIUM |
---
## 6-DAY SCHEDULE
### DAY 1 — Mathematics Foundation + Reasoning Basics
**Daily goal:** Build calculation speed and crack the easiest reasoning types
**Block 1: 7:00–9:00 AM — Number System (2 hrs)**
Why first: It underpins every math topic. Get this wrong and percentages, ratios, and SI/CI all suffer.
Core concepts:
- LCM and HCF: For HCF, use prime factorization (take lowest powers). For LCM, take highest powers.
- Divisibility rules: 2 (last digit even), 3 (digit sum divisible by 3), 4 (last two digits), 5 (ends in 0/5), 9 (digit sum divisible by 9), 11 (alternate digit sum difference divisible by 11)
- Remainders: If N = DQ + R, then remainder when N is divided by D is R. For powers, use cyclicity.
- Cyclicity of units digits: 2 has cycle 4 (2,4,8,6), 3 has cycle 4 (3,9,7,1), 7 has cycle 4 (7,9,3,1), others follow patterns.
- Fractions to decimals you MUST memorize: 1/3=0.33, 1/6=0.166, 1/7=0.142, 1/8=0.125, 1/9=0.111, 1/11=0.0909
Frequent question types:
- "Find the remainder when 7^50 is divided by 5" — use cyclicity (7^1=7, 7^2=49, 7^3=343, 7^4=...1, cycle of 4; 50÷4=12R2, so answer is units digit of 7^2 = 9, remainder 4)
- "Find HCF/LCM of numbers" — straightforward, always appears
- "A number when divided by 6 leaves remainder 4. What remainder when divided by 3?" — use modular logic
Shortcut: For consecutive numbers LCM, use the formula approach; for two numbers, LCM × HCF = Product of numbers.
**Block 2: 9:00–11:00 AM — Percentage & Profit/Loss (2 hrs)**
Why now: Highest frequency math topic combined. Usually 4-5 questions together.
Core formulas:
- Profit% = (Profit/CP) × 100
- SP = CP × (100 + P%)/100
- Successive discounts: If d1% and d2%, net discount = d1 + d2 – (d1×d2)/100
- Markup and discount: If marked x% above CP, then discounted y%, Net change = x – y – xy/100
- A's salary is x% more than B's = B's salary is [x/(100+x)] × 100 % less than A's
Frequent question types:
- "A trader marks up 20% and gives 10% discount. Profit%?" — Apply net change formula: 20–10–(20×10)/100 = 8%
- "If price increases 20%, by how much should consumption reduce to keep expenditure same?" — [20/(100+20)]×100 = 16.67%
- "Cost price of 10 = selling price of 8. Find profit%." — CP of 10 = SP of 8, so CP per unit = 8/10 of SP, profit = 2/8 = 25%
**Block 3: 11:00 AM–1:00 PM — Ratio, Proportion & Mixtures (2 hrs)**
Core formulas:
- Componendo-Dividendo: If a/b = c/d, then (a+b)/(a–b) = (c+d)/(c–d)
- Mixture: (Quantity of A)/(Quantity of B) = (C_B – C_mean)/(C_mean – C_A) (Alligation rule)
- Partnership: Profit divided in ratio of Capital × Time
Frequent question types:
- Alligation problems with milk and water
- "A:B = 3:4, B:C = 5:6, find A:C" — Multiply ratios: A:B:C = 15:20:24
- Partnership profit sharing
**Block 4: 2:00–4:00 PM — Reasoning: Series + Coding-Decoding (2 hrs)**
Why these first: Together they give you 7-9 questions and are the most mechanical/learnable.
Series rules to recognize instantly:
- Prime number series: 2, 3, 5, 7, 11, 13... (memorize primes to 50)
- Square/cube series: 1,4,9,16,25 or 1,8,27,64,125
- Difference series: Check if differences form AP or GP
- Alternate term series: Even and odd-position terms follow separate patterns
- Mixed operator series: ×2+1, ×3–2, etc.
Coding-Decoding types:
- Letter shift codes: A+3=D type. Always find the shift value for one pair and apply universally.
- Reverse alphabet: A=Z, B=Y, C=X (A's position from front = Z's position from back)
- Number-letter: A=1, B=2... OR A=26, B=25...
- Symbol substitution: Just map it directly, no trick needed.
Practice approach: Do 20 series questions, 20 coding questions this block. Speed matters more than perfect understanding here.
**Block 5: 4:00–6:00 PM — Reasoning: Analogy + Blood Relations + Directions (2 hrs)**
Analogy shortcuts:
- Always identify the relationship type first: part-whole, tool-user, cause-effect, category-member
- For number analogies: check squares, cubes, differences, products
- Don't overthink. First relationship that works is usually correct.
Blood Relations memory trick — draw a tree:
- Use M/F to mark gender. Mark each relationship on the tree.
- "A is the son of B's father's only daughter" — B's father's only daughter = B's mother (if B has no sisters) or B's aunt. Draw it out.
- Key: Never assume gender unless stated.
Direction tricks:
- Always draw a compass. Fix North up, East right.
- Shadow rules: Morning sun in East = shadow falls West. Evening sun in West = shadow falls East.
- "If you face North and turn right" = you now face East.
**Block 6: 6:00–8:00 PM — Revision + 20 Mixed Questions**
- Spend 30 min reviewing all formulas from today
- Spend 30 min redoing any formula you got confused on
- Spend 1 hour solving 20 mixed questions from today's topics
- Note every mistake. Do NOT move on without understanding why you got it wrong.
---
### DAY 2 — Mathematics (SI/CI, Time-Work, TSD) + Reasoning (Syllogism, Arrangement)
**Daily goal:** Complete core math and 80% of reasoning
**Block 1: 7:00–9:00 AM — Simple & Compound Interest (2 hrs)**
This is pure formula work — highest ROI topic in math.
Essential formulas:
- SI = PRT/100
- CI = P[(1 + R/100)^T – 1]
- Difference between CI and SI for 2 years = P(R/100)^2
- Difference between CI and SI for 3 years = P(R/100)^2 × (R/100 + 3)
- Population/Depreciation: Same as CI formula, just use + for growth, – for depreciation
Frequent question types:
- "SI for 3 years is 360, find CI for 2 years" — Find P and R from SI, apply CI formula
- "A sum doubles in 8 years at SI. In how many years at same rate will it triple?" — If doubles in 8, SI rate = 100/8 = 12.5%. To triple, need 200% SI, time = 200/12.5 = 16 years
- "What annual rate gives Rs 8000 become Rs 8820 in 2 years CI?" — Apply CI formula backwards
**Block 2: 9:00–11:00 AM — Time, Speed & Distance (2 hrs)**
Core formulas:
- Speed = Distance/Time (memorize unit conversions: 1 km/hr = 5/18 m/s)
- Relative speed: Same direction = subtract; Opposite direction = add
- Train crossing a pole: Time = Length of train / Speed of train
- Train crossing a platform: Time = (Length of train + Length of platform) / Speed of train
- Boats and streams: Downstream = B+S, Upstream = B–S; Speed of boat = (D+U)/2, Stream = (D–U)/2
Frequent question types:
- Two trains/people problems with relative speed
- A and B start from opposite ends — when do they meet?
- Average speed trap: Average speed = 2xy/(x+y), NOT (x+y)/2
Memory aid for average speed: Think "harmonic mean, not arithmetic mean" — this distinction costs many students 2 marks.
**Block 3: 11:00 AM–1:00 PM — Time & Work + Data Interpretation (2 hrs)**
Time & Work (45 min):
- Work formula: If A does work in x days, A's 1-day work = 1/x
- Combined work: 1/x + 1/y = 1/T, so T = xy/(x+y)
- Pipes: Same as time and work. Inlet positive, outlet negative.
- "A is twice as fast as B" means A does work in half the time.
DI (75 min):
- Types: Bar graph, Line graph, Pie chart, Table
- Practice READING the chart fast. Most errors here are reading errors, not calculation errors.
- For pie charts: Value = (Angle/360) × Total or (Percentage/100) × Total
- Always check the unit on the axes. Easy to misread "in thousands" as absolute values.
**Block 4: 2:00–4:00 PM — Reasoning: Syllogism + Venn Diagrams (2 hrs)**
Syllogism is fully learnable in 2 hours if you follow the rules:
Venn diagram method:
- "All A are B" — A circle fully inside B circle
- "Some A are B" — Partially overlapping circles
- "No A is B" — Separate circles
- "Some A are not B" — A partially outside B
The two rules students always forget:
- "All A are B" does NOT mean "All B are A"
- "Some A are B" always means "Some B are A" (this conversion is valid)
Definite vs. Possible conclusions:
- If the Venn diagram ALWAYS gives the conclusion = Definite (follows)
- If the Venn diagram SOMETIMES gives it = Possible, not definite (doesn't follow)
Venn Diagram set questions:
- Only A = A – (A∩B) – (A∩C) + (A∩B∩C)
- Total = A + B + C – (A∩B) – (B∩C) – (A∩C) + (A∩B∩C)
- Practice with 2-circle and 3-circle problems; they appear directly as 1-2 questions.
**Block 5: 4:00–6:00 PM — Reasoning: Seating Arrangement + Missing Number Puzzles (2 hrs)**
Seating arrangement strategy:
- Always start with definite/absolute clues first ("A sits at the extreme left")
- Then use relative clues ("B sits immediately to the right of A")
- For circular arrangements: Fix one person, arrange others relatively
- In 6 days, you cannot master complex 8-person circular arrangements. Focus on linear (4-6 person) and simple circular. Skip sets with 7+ people — too time-costly.
Missing number in matrix/series puzzles:
- Check row-wise, column-wise, and diagonal patterns
- Check if numbers are products, sums, or differences of row/column elements
- Check if each row's pattern is the same
**Block 6: 6:00–8:00 PM — Geometry & Mensuration Introduction (2 hrs)**
Do NOT try to learn all of geometry tonight. Learn only formulas you can apply directly.
Must-know formulas:
- Triangle: Area = ½ × base × height; Heron's formula for sides; Angle sum = 180°
- Circle: Area = πr², Circumference = 2πr; Area of sector = (θ/360) × πr²
- Rectangle: Area = l×b, Perimeter = 2(l+b); Diagonal = √(l²+b²)
- Cylinder: Volume = πr²h, CSA = 2πrh, TSA = 2πr(r+h)
- Cone: Volume = 1/3 πr²h, Slant height l = √(r²+h²), CSA = πrl
- Sphere: Volume = 4/3 πr³, Surface area = 4πr²
What to skip in geometry: Theorems, proofs, coordinate geometry. NTPC rarely asks proof-based questions at UG level. Only formula-application questions appear.
---
### DAY 3 — General Awareness: Science + History
**Daily goal:** Cover 18-20 GA questions worth of material
This is memory-intensive day. Study in shorter blocks with more breaks.
**Block 1: 7:00–9:30 AM — Physics Basics (2.5 hrs)**
Most tested Physics topics in NTPC:
Laws of Motion:
- Newton's 1st: Object stays at rest or uniform motion unless external force acts (Inertia)
- Newton's 2nd: F = ma
- Newton's 3rd: Every action has equal and opposite reaction
- Momentum = mass × velocity; Conservation of momentum in closed systems
Heat and Temperature:
- Conversion: °C to °F = (°C × 9/5) + 32; °F to °C = (°F – 32) × 5/9
- Absolute zero = –273.15°C = 0 Kelvin
- Latent heat: Heat absorbed/released during phase change (no temperature change)
- Good conductors: Metals. Poor conductors (insulators): Wood, rubber, air.
Electricity:
- Ohm's Law: V = IR
- Power: P = VI = I²R = V²/R
- In series: Same current, different voltage; Total R = R1+R2+R3
- In parallel: Same voltage, different current; 1/R = 1/R1 + 1/R2 + 1/R3
- Fuse is always connected in SERIES on the live wire.
Light:
- Reflection: Angle of incidence = angle of reflection
- Concave mirror: Converging; used in torches, doctor's mirrors, solar furnaces
- Convex mirror: Diverging; used as rear-view mirrors (wider field of view)
- Concave lens: Diverging; used for myopia (short-sightedness)
- Convex lens: Converging; used for hypermetropia (long-sightedness)
- Speed of light = 3 × 10^8 m/s
Sound:
- Travels fastest in solids, slowest in gases
- Cannot travel in vacuum
- Speed in air at 0°C = 332 m/s
- Ultrasound (>20,000 Hz): Used in sonar, medical imaging
- Infrasound (<20 Hz): Produced by earthquakes, elephants
Frequently tested single-fact questions:
- SI unit of force = Newton; Energy = Joule; Power = Watt
- Instrument for measuring: Pressure = Barometer; Temperature = Thermometer; Earthquake = Seismograph; Humidity = Hygrometer; Wind speed = Anemometer
- Transformer works on electromagnetic induction. Step-up increases voltage.
**Block 2: 9:30–11:30 AM — Chemistry Basics (2 hrs)**
Most tested Chemistry topics:
Periodic table essentials:
- Groups 1 and 2 are highly reactive metals (alkali and alkaline earth)
- Noble gases (Group 18) are inert
- Nonmetals are on the right side; Metalloids on the staircase
- Atomic number = protons. Atomic mass = protons + neutrons.
- Valency of common elements: H=1, O=2, N=3, C=4, Na=1, Cl=1, Fe=2or3, Cu=1or2
Acids, Bases and Salts:
- Acids: pH < 7, turn blue litmus red, taste sour. HCl, H2SO4, HNO3, CH3COOH (vinegar)
- Bases: pH > 7, turn red litmus blue, taste bitter. NaOH, KOH, Ca(OH)2
- Neutral: pH = 7, pure water
- Indicators: Litmus (red in acid, blue in base), Phenolphthalein (colorless in acid, pink in base)
Common chemical compounds to memorize:
- NaCl = Common salt; NaHCO3 = Baking soda; Na2CO3 = Washing soda
- CaCO3 = Limestone; CaO = Quicklime; Ca(OH)2 = Slaked lime
- H2O2 = Hydrogen peroxide; NH3 = Ammonia; CO2 = Carbon dioxide
- Rust = Fe2O3 (iron oxide); Bronze = Copper + Tin; Brass = Copper + Zinc; Steel = Iron + Carbon
Important chemical processes:
- Photosynthesis: 6CO2 + 6H2O → C6H12O6 + 6O2 (light energy, chlorophyll)
- Rusting requires: Iron + Water + Oxygen. Prevented by galvanization (zinc coating).
- Combustion requires fuel, heat, and oxygen. CO2 and water are products.
- Bleaching powder = Ca(OCl)Cl used as disinfectant.
**Block 3: 11:30 AM–1:00 PM — Biology Basics (1.5 hrs)**
Most tested Biology topics:
Cell Biology:
- Cell theory: All living things are made of cells; cell is basic unit of life
- Plant cell has cell wall, chloroplasts, large vacuole. Animal cell does not.
- Mitochondria = powerhouse of cell (ATP production)
- Nucleus contains DNA/chromosomes; controls cell activities
Diseases and their causes:
- Bacterial: TB (Mycobacterium tuberculosis), Typhoid (Salmonella typhi), Cholera (Vibrio cholerae)
- Viral: Dengue (Aedes mosquito vector), Malaria is Protozoan (Plasmodium, Anopheles mosquito), AIDS (HIV)
- Deficiency diseases: Vitamin A = Night blindness; B1 = Beriberi; B12 = Anaemia; C = Scurvy; D = Rickets; Iodine = Goitre; Iron = Anaemia; Calcium = Osteoporosis
Human Body Systems:
- Largest organ = Skin; Hardest substance in body = Enamel (tooth)
- Heart has 4 chambers; RBC carry oxygen (no nucleus in mature RBC)
- Insulin is produced by Pancreas (beta cells); controls blood sugar
- Kidneys filter blood, produce urine; nephron is functional unit
- Cerebrum = thinking; Cerebellum = balance; Medulla = breathing/heartbeat
**Block 4: 2:00–4:30 PM — Indian History: Ancient + Medieval (2.5 hrs)**
Ancient India — focus on these only:
- Indus Valley: 2500 BCE, Harappa/Mohenjo-Daro, town planning, drainage system, no iron tools
- Vedic Age: Rigveda (oldest), Four Vedas (Rig, Sama, Yajur, Atharva), caste system emerged
- Mauryan Empire: Chandragupta Maurya (founder), Ashoka (greatest, spread Buddhism after Kalinga war 261 BCE), Arthashastra by Kautilya
- Gupta Empire: Golden Age of India, Chandragupta I, Samudragupta, Chandragupta II (Vikramaditya), Aryabhatta, Kalidasa
- Buddhism: Founded by Gautama Buddha (563 BCE Lumbini), Four Noble Truths, Eight-Fold Path, Nirvana
- Jainism: Founded by Mahavira (24th Tirthankara), Ahimsa, Triratna (Right Faith, Right Knowledge, Right Conduct)
Medieval India — focus on these only:
- Delhi Sultanate: Qutb-ud-din Aibak (1206, founder), Iltutmish, Razia Sultana (first woman ruler), Balban, Alauddin Khilji (market reforms), Muhammad bin Tughlaq (transfer of capital), Firuz Shah Tughlaq
- Mughal Empire: Babur (1526 1st Battle of Panipat, founded Mughal empire), Humayun, Akbar (Din-i-Ilahi, Navratnas), Jahangir, Shah Jahan (Taj Mahal), Aurangzeb (Deccan wars, declined empire)
- Vijayanagara Empire: 1336, Harihara and Bukka, Krishnadevaraya (greatest), Battle of Talikota 1565 (destroyed)
- Bhakti Movement: Kabir, Mirabai, Tukaram, Ramananda; Sufi Movement: Nizamuddin Auliya, Amir Khusrau
**Block 5: 4:30–6:30 PM — Modern Indian History (2 hrs)**
This is the MOST asked history period in NTPC. Do not skip any of this.
Freedom Movement timeline (MUST memorize):
- 1857: First War of Independence (Sepoy Mutiny); Mangal Pandey, Rani Lakshmibai, Bahadur Shah Zafar
- 1885: Indian National Congress founded by A.O. Hume; First session in Bombay
- 1905: Partition of Bengal by Curzon → Swadeshi Movement
- 1906: Muslim League founded in Dhaka
- 1911: Partition of Bengal revoked; Capital shifted Delhi to Delhi
- 1915: Gandhi returned from South Africa
- 1919: Jallianwala Bagh massacre (April 13), Rowlatt Act; Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms
- 1920: Non-Cooperation Movement by Gandhi; Khilafat Movement
- 1922: Chauri Chaura incident → Gandhi called off NCM
- 1927: Simon Commission (no Indian member); boycotted "Go Back Simon"
- 1929: Lahore Congress session, Purna Swaraj declared by Nehru, Jan 26 chosen as Independence Day
- 1930: Dandi March (Salt Satyagraha), March 12 – April 5; Civil Disobedience Movement
- 1931: Gandhi-Irwin Pact; Second Round Table Conference
- 1942: Quit India Movement (August 9); "Do or Die" speech by Gandhi; Arrested at Birla House
- 1943: INA formed by Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose; Azad Hind government in Singapore
- 1946: Cabinet Mission Plan; Direct Action Day by Muslim League
- 1947: June 3 Mountbatten Plan (Partition); August 15 Independence; August 14 Pakistan
Governors-General/Viceroys (most asked):
- William Bentinck: Abolished Sati (1829), English education (Macaulay's Minute)
- Dalhousie: Doctrine of Lapse, Railways, Telegraph, Post Office, Widow Remarriage Act
- Curzon: Partition of Bengal, Ancient Monuments Act, Universities Act
- Mountbatten: Last Viceroy, Independence and Partition
Social Reformers (frequently asked):
- Ram Mohan Roy: Brahmo Samaj, opposed Sati, promoted widow remarriage
- Swami Vivekananda: Ramakrishna Mission, 1893 Chicago speech
- Dayananda Saraswati: Arya Samaj, "Back to Vedas"
- B.R. Ambedkar: Drafted Constitution, fought for Dalits, converted to Buddhism
**Block 6: 6:30–8:00 PM — Revision (1.5 hrs)**
- Create a single-page timeline of freedom movement dates (write them by hand)
- Flashcard-style run-through of Science facts (read, cover, recall)
- 15 practice questions from today's topics
---
### DAY 4 — General Awareness: Geography + Polity + Economics
**Daily goal:** Complete remaining GA static content
**Block 1: 7:00–9:00 AM — Indian Geography (2 hrs)**
Physical features (most tested):
- Himalayas: Three parallel ranges — Himadri (Greater), Himachal (Lesser), Shivalik (Outer)
- Highest peak in India: Kangchenjunga (K2 is in Pakistan-administered Kashmir)
- Passes: Bolan (Balochistan), Khyber (Pakistan), Nathu La (Sikkim), Rohtang (Himachal Pradesh), Zoji La (J&K)
- Rivers: Indus system (Indus, Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Beas, Sutlej); Ganga system (Yamuna, Ghaghra, Gandak, Kosi); Deccan rivers (Godavari, Krishna, Kaveri, Mahanadi, Narmada — west-flowing: Narmada and Tapti)
- Longest river in India: Ganga; Largest river basin: Ganga
- Largest state by area: Rajasthan; Smallest: Goa; Largest by population: Uttar Pradesh
- Highest rainfall: Mawsynram (Meghalaya); Lowest: Jaisalmer (Rajasthan)
- Western Ghats: Highest peak = Anai Mudi (Kerala); Eastern Ghats: discontinuous
Soils:
- Alluvial: Most fertile, Gangetic plains, rice/wheat/sugarcane
- Black (Regur): Deccan plateau, cotton — called Black Cotton Soil
- Red: Iron-rich, less fertile, peninsular India
- Laterite: High rainfall areas (Karnataka, Kerala), cashew/tea
Agriculture:
- Largest producer: Rice (West Bengal), Wheat (Uttar Pradesh), Cotton (Gujarat), Sugarcane (Uttar Pradesh), Tea (Assam), Coffee (Karnataka)
- Kharif crops (sown in monsoon, harvested autumn): Rice, Jowar, Bajra, Cotton, Groundnut
- Rabi crops (sown in winter, harvested spring): Wheat, Barley, Mustard, Peas
**Block 2: 9:00–10:30 AM — World Geography (1.5 hrs)**
Most tested world geography facts:
Continents and features:
- Largest continent: Asia; Smallest: Australia (if treating as continent)
- Longest river: Nile (Africa); Largest river by discharge: Amazon (South America)
- Largest ocean: Pacific; Deepest: Pacific (Mariana Trench, ~11,000m)
- Largest desert: Sahara (hot); Largest cold desert: Antarctic
- Longest mountain range: Andes (South America)
Countries and capitals (most tested):
- Capital of Australia = Canberra (not Sydney); Canada = Ottawa (not Toronto); Brazil = Brasilia
- Landlocked countries: Nepal, Bhutan, Afghanistan, Mongolia, Switzerland, Austria, Bolivia, Paraguay
- Straits: Strait of Hormuz (Gulf to Arabian Sea — critical oil route); Malacca (Pacific to Indian Ocean); Palk Strait (India-Sri Lanka)
Climate and Natural Phenomena:
- Monsoon originates from: Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal
- El Niño: Warming of Pacific Ocean → drought in India, floods in South America
- Cyclone naming: In Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea, India maintains naming list with SAARC nations
**Block 3: 10:30 AM–1:00 PM — Indian Polity & Constitution (2.5 hrs)**
This is a HIGH-REWARD topic. Most questions here are direct facts.
Constitutional basics:
- Constitution adopted: November 26, 1949; Enacted: January 26, 1950 (Republic Day)
- Drafted by: Constituent Assembly chaired by Dr. Rajendra Prasad; Drafting Committee chaired by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar
- Originally: 395 Articles, 8 Schedules, 22 Parts (currently 448 Articles, 12 Schedules, 25 Parts due to amendments)
- India borrowed from: UK (Parliamentary system, Rule of Law), USA (Fundamental Rights, Judicial Review), Ireland (Directive Principles), Australia (Concurrent List, Joint Sitting), Canada (Federal system with strong Centre), USSR (Fundamental Duties — 42nd Amendment)
Fundamental Rights (Part III, Articles 12-35):
- Right to Equality (14-18): Equality before law, no discrimination, abolition of untouchability
- Right to Freedom (19-22): Speech/expression, assembly, movement, residence, profession; Protection from arrest
- Right Against Exploitation (23-24): No forced labour, no child labour under 14 in factories
- Right to Freedom of Religion (25-28)
- Cultural and Educational Rights (29-30)
- Right to Constitutional Remedies (32): Dr. Ambedkar called this "Heart and Soul of Constitution"
Important Constitutional Bodies:
- President: Article 52; Elected by Electoral College (elected MPs + MLAs); 5-year term; Removed by impeachment
- PM and Council of Ministers: Article 74; PM appointed by President; Cabinet is collectively responsible to Lok Sabha
- Parliament: Article 79; Rajya Sabha (Upper, permanent, max 250 members), Lok Sabha (Lower, max 552 members)
- Supreme Court: Article 124; Chief Justice + 33 judges; Original, Appellate, and Advisory jurisdiction
- CAG: Article 148; Audits government accounts; Appointed by President
- Election Commission: Article 324; Independent body; Chief Election Commissioner removed same way as Supreme Court Judge
Important Amendments:
- 42nd (1976): Mini Constitution — added Fundamental Duties, changed Preamble (added Socialist, Secular, Integrity)
- 44th (1978): Removed Right to Property from Fundamental Rights (now Article 300A, legal right)
- 73rd/74th (1992-93): Constitutional status to Panchayati Raj and Urban Local Bodies
- 86th (2002): Right to Education (Article 21A), free and compulsory education for 6-14 years
- 101st (2016): GST introduced
**Block 4: 2:00–3:30 PM — Economics Basics (1.5 hrs)**
Only learn what NTPC actually asks — pure applied facts, no theory.
GDP and Budget:
- GDP = Total market value of all goods and services produced in a country in a year
- GDP vs GNP: GNP = GDP + income from abroad – income of foreigners in India
- Union Budget presented by Finance Minister on February 1 (changed from last day of February in 2017)
- Revenue expenditure vs Capital expenditure: Revenue = recurring (salaries, interest); Capital = asset creation (roads, buildings)
Banking:
- RBI founded 1935; Nationalized 1949; Governor appointed by Central Government
- CRR (Cash Reserve Ratio): % of deposits banks must keep with RBI as cash (no interest earned)
- SLR (Statutory Liquidity Ratio): % of deposits banks must keep in liquid assets (gold/government securities)
- Repo Rate: Rate at which RBI lends to commercial banks (increasing repo = tighter money supply = fight inflation)
- Reverse Repo Rate: Rate at which RBI borrows from banks
- NABARD: National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development
- SEBI: Securities and Exchange Board of India (capital market regulator)
- IRDAI: Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India
Five-Year Plans (replaced by NITI Aayog in 2015):
- Planning Commission replaced by NITI Aayog (National Institution for Transforming India) in January 2015
- Chairman of NITI Aayog = Prime Minister
- Twelfth Plan was the last (2012-2017)
**Block 5: 3:30–5:30 PM — Static GK: Awards, Sports, Organisations (2 hrs)**
Important Awards (India):
- Bharat Ratna: Highest civilian award; First awarded 1954; First recipients: C. Rajagopalachari, S. Radhakrishnan, C.V. Raman
- Padma Awards: Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan, Padma Shri — announced on Republic Day
- Gallantry awards: Param Vir Chakra (highest, military), Ashoka Chakra (highest, peacetime)
- Sahitya Akademi, Sangeet Natak Akademi, Lalit Kala Akademi — for literature, performing arts, visual arts respectively
- Nobel Prize categories: Physics, Chemistry, Medicine, Literature, Peace, Economics (added 1969)
Sports:
- Olympic rings: 5 rings (Blue, Yellow, Black, Green, Red) represent 5 continents
- ICC formed: 1909; BCCI formed: 1928; Headquarters: Mumbai
- FIFA headquarters: Zurich; Cricket World Cup first held: 1975
- India's cricket World Cup wins: 1983 (Kapil Dev), 2007 T20 (Dhoni), 2011 ODI (Dhoni)
- Arjuna Award: National Sports Award for athletes; Dronacharya Award: For coaches; Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna (now Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna): Highest sports award
International Organisations:
- UN founded: 1945; HQ: New York; 6 official languages
- UN Security Council: 5 permanent members (USA, UK, France, Russia, China) + 10 rotating
- IMF and World Bank headquarters: Washington D.C.
- WTO headquarters: Geneva; WHO headquarters: Geneva; UNESCO: Paris
- SAARC: 8 members (India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Afghanistan); HQ: Kathmandu
- BRICS: Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa
**Block 6: 5:30–8:00 PM — Current Affairs Crash Course (2.5 hrs)**
This is the lottery section. Do not spend more than 2.5 hours here. Focus only on:
Categories to cover (30 min each):
- National appointments in last 12 months (President, PM, Chief Justices, RBI Governor, Chiefs of Army/Navy/Air Force, UPSC Chairman, CAG)
- India's rankings and reports (Global Hunger Index, Human Development Index, Press Freedom Index, Ease of Doing Business)
- Important government schemes launched/renamed in last year (check a reliable source like GKToday or Jagran Josh)
- India's sports achievements in major events (Olympics if recent, cricket, Asian Games)
- Science/space achievements (ISRO missions especially)
- Important summits India hosted or attended
Strategy for current affairs: Do NOT try to memorize everything. Pick the 40-50 most important facts and review them twice. Anything beyond that has rapidly diminishing returns with 6 days available.
---
### DAY 5 — Mixed Practice + Algebra + Weak Area Attack
**Daily goal:** Identify and fix your weakest areas; introduce remaining math topics
**Block 1: 7:00–8:30 AM — Algebra (1.5 hrs)**
Core identities (memorize cold):
- (a+b)² = a² + 2ab + b²
- (a–b)² = a² – 2ab + b²
- (a+b)³ = a³ + 3a²b + 3ab² + b³
- a³ + b³ = (a+b)(a² – ab + b²)
- a³ – b³ = (a–b)(a² + ab + b²)
- If x + 1/x = k, then x² + 1/x² = k² – 2 and x³ + 1/x³ = k³ – 3k
NTPC-specific algebra questions:
- "If x + y = 5 and xy = 6, find x² + y²" — Use (x+y)² = x² + 2xy + y²: 25 = x² + 12, so x²+y² = 13
- Value substitution: Often the fastest method. Substitute x=1 and check options.
- "If a + b + c = 0, find a³ + b³ + c³" — Answer is always 3abc (identity)
**Block 2: 8:30–10:30 AM — Full Mock Test 1 (2 hrs)**
Take a complete 100-question mock test under exam conditions.
Rules:
- Strict 90-minute timer
- No phone, no checking answers mid-way
- After the test, spend 30 min ONLY analyzing: which topics you got most wrong
Do not aim for a perfect score on this mock. Aim for a diagnostic. Mark every question where you were unsure, even if you got it right.
**Block 3: 10:30 AM–12:30 PM — Weak Area Drilling (2 hrs)**
Based on your mock test analysis, attack your bottom 3 topics. Spend 40 minutes on each. If you scored below 50% in a topic, it means either the concept is wrong or you're making avoidable errors.
Standard weak areas at this stage:
- If weak in Reasoning: Usually seating arrangement or syllogism. Re-read rules, do 15 more problems.
- If weak in Math: Usually geometry formulas or number system. Re-copy formulas, do 10 targeted problems.
- If weak in GA Science: Create a condensed fact sheet and re-read it 3 times.
**Block 4: 1:30–3:30 PM — Mathematics: Geometry + Mensuration Practice (2 hrs)**
Now that you have the formulas from Day 2, practice application:
Geometry shortcuts:
- Equilateral triangle side a: Area = (√3/4)a², Height = (√3/2)a, Circumradius = a/√3, Inradius = a/(2√3)
- For right triangle: Pythagorean triplets to memorize: (3,4,5), (5,12,13), (7,24,25), (8,15,17), (9,40,41), (6,8,10), (10,24,26)
- Angle in semicircle = 90° (Thales' theorem — appears directly)
- Tangent to a circle is perpendicular to the radius at point of contact
What NTPC specifically tests in Mensuration:
- Area and perimeter of combined figures (rectangle + semicircle)
- Change in volume/area when dimensions change ("if radius doubles, volume becomes?")
- Cost of painting/carpeting rooms (area problems with unit cost)
- Cylindrical tanks being filled — combine volume with time/speed
**Block 5: 3:30–5:30 PM — GA: Final Revision Round 1 (2 hrs)**
By now you have studied most GA content. Today's revision focuses on HIGH-CONFUSION areas:
Create "confusion pairs" cheat sheet:
- Bharat Ratna vs Padma Vibhushan (different categories)
- WTO (Geneva) vs World Bank (Washington D.C.)
- Nile (longest) vs Amazon (largest by volume/discharge)
- Rajya Sabha (250 max) vs Lok Sabha (552 max)
- CRR (cash with RBI) vs SLR (liquid assets with bank itself)
- Repo (RBI lends to banks) vs Reverse Repo (banks lend to RBI)
These confusion pairs cost 3-4 marks in every NTPC exam because students swap them under pressure.
**Block 6: 5:30–7:00 PM — Reasoning: Speed Practice (1.5 hrs)**
At this stage, reasoning should be your scoring stronghold. Run through:
- 20 series questions (target: 18/20 correct, under 10 minutes)
- 20 coding-decoding questions (target: 18/20 correct, under 10 minutes)
- 10 analogy questions (target: 9/10, under 5 minutes)
- 10 blood relation + direction questions (target: 8/10, under 8 minutes)
If you're not hitting these targets, identify the specific sub-type that's slowing you down and fix the rule, not the speed.
**Block 7: 7:00–8:00 PM — Science Fact Sheet Review (1 hr)**
Re-read your Day 3 science notes. Focus specifically on anything you got wrong in the mock test. Do NOT learn new topics tonight.
---
### DAY 6 — Final Mock + Strategic Revision + Exam-Day Prep
**Daily goal:** Peak performance calibration; no new topics at all
**Block 1: 7:00–9:30 AM — Full Mock Test 2 (2.5 hrs)**
Same rules as yesterday. Aim for better score, but more importantly aim for better error discipline:
- Did you attempt questions you were truly unsure about? Stop doing this.
- Did you make calculation errors? Slow down by 10 seconds per calculation.
- Did you misread GA questions? Read EVERY word in GA questions — they often use "NOT" or "EXCEPT."
After mock, analyze only your errors from the final 30 questions in each section — these are usually attempted under time pressure and show your "panic mistakes."
**Block 2: 9:30–11:30 AM — High-Frequency Question Types Drill (2 hrs)**
These question types appear in EVERY NTPC exam. Drill them until they are automatic:
Reasoning (do 5 of each):
- Odd one out (letter/number/word)
- Mirror images
- Dice problems (if attempted before; if not, skip — too time-costly to learn today)
- Ranking and order
Math (do 5 of each):
- Percentage change → reverse percentage
- Two trains problems
- Compound interest for 2 years
- Ratio and mixture (alligation)
GA (read once, don't drill):
- Last 6 months' major government scheme launches
- Current holders of top positions (President, PM, CJI, RBI Governor, Army Chief)
- Any ISRO/space news from last 6 months
**Block 3: 11:30 AM–1:00 PM — Confusion Pairs + Weak Area Final Pass (1.5 hrs)**
Review your personal mistake list from both mock tests. Group your mistakes into:
- Conceptual error (didn't know the rule/formula)
- Calculation error (knew what to do but made arithmetic mistake)
- Reading error (misread the question)
For conceptual errors: Re-read the rule one more time, do 2 examples.
For calculation errors: Do NOT study — practice more carefulness, not more content.
For reading errors: In the actual exam, underline key words (NOT, EXCEPT, FALSE, ALWAYS) while reading.
**Block 4: 2:00–3:30 PM — GA: Static GK Last Round (1.5 hrs)**
Final sweep of the highest-frequency static GA facts:
- All 12 Schedules of the Constitution (briefly — what each one covers)
- India's boundaries: North (China, Nepal, Bhutan), Northeast (Myanmar, Bangladesh), East (Bangladesh, Myanmar), West (Pakistan, Afghanistan — brief border), South (Sri Lanka — Palk Strait)
- States with single borders: Which state borders only 2-3 other states
- UNESCO World Heritage Sites in India (top 10): Taj Mahal, Red Fort, Ajanta, Ellora, Konark, Hampi, Mahabalipuram, Kaziranga, Manas, Sundarbans, Khajuraho, Fatehpur Sikri, Qutb Minar complex, Humayun's Tomb
**Block 5: 3:30–5:00 PM — Mathematics: Speed Calculation Practice (1.5 hrs)**
Today is NOT for learning. Today is for developing exam-pace reflexes.
Calculation speed drills:
- Squares from 1 to 30 (do from memory, check)
- Cubes from 1 to 15 (do from memory, check)
- Multiplication tables to 20 (random spot checks)
- Percentage equivalents of common fractions (1/3, 1/4, 1/5, 1/6, 1/7, 1/8)
In the actual exam, if you can recall 24² = 576 in 1 second instead of calculating, you save 30+ seconds across the math section. That compounds.
**Block 6: 5:00–6:30 PM — Exam Strategy Session (1.5 hrs)**
This block is NOT studying — it is exam execution planning.
Section order strategy:
- Recommended order: Reasoning → Mathematics → General Awareness
- Reasoning first: Freshest brain, most reliable section, builds confidence
- Mathematics second: Analytical, some fatigue acceptable, use shortcuts
- GA last: Mostly memory recall, less demanding on active brain
Time allocation:
- Reasoning: 25 minutes (1 minute per question roughly; some 30 seconds, some 90)
- Mathematics: 35 minutes (some problems take 2-3 minutes)
- GA: 30 minutes (pure recall, should be fast)
Negative marking strategy:
- Attempt ONLY if you can eliminate at least 2 options. With 4 options, eliminating 2 gives 50/50 odds — expected value = +0.5 – 0.5(0.33) = +0.33. Worth attempting.
- With 0 eliminated (pure guess), expected value = 0.25 – 0.75(0.33) = –0.0, essentially neutral but risky. Skip these.
- NEVER guess in GA current affairs if you have no idea. +1 vs –0.33 sounds good, but if you're truly random, the –0.33 accumulates.
**Block 7: 6:30–8:00 PM — Final Night Routine (1.5 hrs)**
- Spend 45 minutes reading your one-page freedom movement timeline and science fact sheet
- Spend 15 minutes reviewing your confusion pairs sheet
- Pack your ID/documents for tomorrow. Do NOT study after 8 PM.
- Sleep 7-8 hours. Sleep deprivation cuts cognitive performance more than any study could compensate.
---
## MOCK TEST STRATEGY
**When:** Day 5 (morning) and Day 6 (morning). Two full mocks is optimal for 6 days — more would eat into study time; fewer won't calibrate you.
**Where to find mock tests:**
- Testbook, Embibe, or Oliveboard — all have free NTPC UG mocks
- Alternatively, download official previous year NTPC question papers (freely available)
**What to do with mock results:**
- Do not average your two scores and feel comfortable. Look at section-wise performance.
- If you score 70% in Reasoning, you're on track. Below 60%, you need more drilling.
- If you score 65%+ in Math, you're on track. Below that, you have formula gaps.
- GA score on mock is the least reliable predictor — the actual exam will have different current affairs.
**What NOT to do:**
- Do not take more than 2 full mocks in 6 days. Analysis takes as long as the test.
- Do not take a mock on Day 1 or 2. You haven't built enough content yet to learn from errors.
- Do not chase your mock score. Chase your error pattern.
---
## DO'S AND DON'TS
### DO:
- Study in 90-minute blocks with 10-minute breaks. Cognitive research is clear on this.
- Write key formulas by hand every day. Writing reinforces memory more than reading.
- Do 30-40 practice questions per topic AFTER reading theory. Reading alone doesn't build exam reflexes.
- Focus disproportionately on Reasoning — it's the most reliably scorable section in 6 days.
- Learn what types of questions NTPC repeats. This is pattern matching, not understanding.
- Trust your first instinct on GA questions. Second-guessing GA memorization is usually wrong.
### DON'T:
- Don't read NCERT textbooks cover to cover. In 6 days, that is fatal. Extract only exam-relevant facts.
- Don't study for more than 8 hours on any day — 8 focused hours beats 12 exhausted hours.
- Don't attempt new topics on Day 5 or Day 6. Anything new this late won't consolidate.
- Don't skip Reasoning. Students consistently over-invest in GA and under-invest in Reasoning, which is guaranteed marks.
- Don't memorize lists of 50 items. Prioritize top-10 versions of every list (top 10 states by area, top 10 rivers by length, etc.) — NTPC almost always picks from the top of these lists.
- Don't rely on YouTube lectures for primary study in 6 days. They are time-inefficient. Use notes, textbooks condensed to key points, and question practice.
- Don't do trigonometry or coordinate geometry. These appear rarely in NTPC UG and take enormous time to master from scratch. The return does not justify the investment in 6 days.
- Don't spend more than 30 minutes on any single question on exam day. Skip, mark for review, and move on.
---
## TOPICS TO COMPLETELY SKIP (6-Day Constraint)
These appear in NTPC but are either low-frequency or too time-intensive for your situation:
- Trigonometry (sines, cosines, identities) — 1-2 questions, weeks to master from zero
- Coordinate geometry — 1 question at most, requires significant algebraic facility
- Permutations and combinations — 1-2 questions, concept-heavy
- Probability — 1 question, skip unless you know it already
- Statistics (mean, median, mode is fine — skip standard deviation, variance)
- Advanced number theory (Euler's theorem, Wilson's theorem)
- Complex seating arrangements with 8+ people and multiple conditions
- Detailed physical geography (climate zones, soil science beyond basics)
- State-specific current affairs (national-level only in this time frame)
- Any GA topic older than your coverage in Days 3-4 (medieval architecture details, etc.)
---
## REALISTIC SCORE PROJECTIONS
If you execute this plan faithfully:
| Section | Realistic Score | Stretch Score |
|---|---|---|
| Reasoning | 24-27/30 | 28-30 |
| Mathematics | 22-25/30 | 26-28 |
| General Awareness | 24-30/40 | 31-35 |
| Total | 70-82 | 85-93 |
The GA ceiling is the honest constraint. With great current affairs luck (your preparation overlaps with what's asked), you can hit 31-35 in GA. With bad luck, 24-27.
The 90+ scenario requires: Reasoning 27+, Math 25+, GA 38+ — and that GA number is genuinely hard in 6 days because it depends on which current affairs questions appear.
Execute the plan. Aim for 85. If GA is kind to you, 90+ is within reach. That is the honest picture.# RRB NTPC 6-Day Intensive Study Plan: Undergraduate Level
## HONEST ASSESSMENT FIRST
**Can you hit 90+ in 6 days from zero?**
Short answer: Possibly, but only under specific conditions.
The RRB NTPC UG exam has 100 questions worth 100 marks (1 mark each, 1/3 negative marking). A 90+ score means getting ~93-95 questions right with minimal negatives. From zero preparation, this is ambitious but not impossible IF your baseline is decent — meaning you finished Class 10 with reasonable understanding of Math and Science, and you read news occasionally.
**Realistic probability breakdown:**
- Strong Class 10 base + 6 days focused execution: 70-80 score is likely, 85-90 is achievable, 90+ requires good luck on General Awareness
- Average Class 10 base: 75-82 is the realistic ceiling
- The single biggest limiting factor is General Awareness — you cannot fully prepare it in 6 days. You need to get lucky on current affairs questions.
**The brutal truth:** GA alone has ~40 questions. Of those, ~15-18 will be current affairs you simply cannot predict. You can nail the static GA (history, geography, polity, science facts) which covers ~22-25 questions. This cap alone makes 90+ genuinely hard. Execute perfectly and you can hit 88-92. That is the honest ceiling.
---
## EXAM STRUCTURE (Know This Cold)
| Section | Questions | Marks | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Awareness | 40 | 40 | — |
| Mathematics | 30 | 30 | — |
| General Intelligence & Reasoning | 30 | 30 | — |
| Total | 100 | 100 | 90 minutes |
Negative marking: -1/3 per wrong answer. Never guess blindly.
---
## TOPIC PRIORITY MASTER LIST
Ranked by: (frequency × marks × learnability in short time)
### General Awareness (40 marks) — Target: 28-32
| Priority | Topic | Est. Hours | Expected Questions | Achievability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Science (Physics/Chemistry/Bio basics) | 6 hrs | 8-10 | HIGH |
| 2 | Indian History (Ancient/Medieval/Modern) | 5 hrs | 6-8 | HIGH |
| 3 | Geography (India + World) | 4 hrs | 5-7 | MEDIUM |
| 4 | Indian Polity & Constitution | 3 hrs | 4-5 | HIGH |
| 5 | Economics basics | 2 hrs | 2-3 | MEDIUM |
| 6 | Current Affairs | 2 hrs | 12-15 | LOW (luck-dependent) |
| 7 | Static GK (awards, sports, books) | 1.5 hrs | 3-4 | MEDIUM |
### Mathematics (30 marks) — Target: 24-27
| Priority | Topic | Est. Hours | Expected Questions | Achievability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Number System | 3 hrs | 3-4 | HIGH |
| 2 | Percentage & Profit/Loss | 3 hrs | 4-5 | HIGH |
| 3 | Simple & Compound Interest | 2 hrs | 2-3 | HIGH |
| 4 | Time, Speed & Distance | 2.5 hrs | 2-3 | HIGH |
| 5 | Ratio & Proportion | 2 hrs | 2-3 | HIGH |
| 6 | Algebra (basic) | 2 hrs | 2-3 | MEDIUM |
| 7 | Geometry & Mensuration | 3 hrs | 3-4 | MEDIUM |
| 8 | Data Interpretation | 2 hrs | 2-3 | HIGH |
| 9 | Time & Work | 1.5 hrs | 1-2 | HIGH |
### Reasoning (30 marks) — Target: 25-28
| Priority | Topic | Est. Hours | Expected Questions | Achievability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coding-Decoding | 2 hrs | 3-4 | VERY HIGH |
| 2 | Series (Number/Letter/Mixed) | 2.5 hrs | 4-5 | VERY HIGH |
| 3 | Analogy | 1.5 hrs | 3-4 | HIGH |
| 4 | Blood Relations | 2 hrs | 2-3 | HIGH |
| 5 | Syllogism | 2 hrs | 2-3 | HIGH |
| 6 | Direction & Distance | 1.5 hrs | 2-3 | HIGH |
| 7 | Seating Arrangement | 2 hrs | 2-3 | MEDIUM |
| 8 | Venn Diagrams | 1 hr | 1-2 | HIGH |
| 9 | Statement & Conclusions | 1 hr | 1-2 | MEDIUM |
---
## 6-DAY SCHEDULE
### DAY 1 — Mathematics Foundation + Reasoning Basics
**Daily goal:** Build calculation speed and crack the easiest reasoning types
**Block 1: 7:00–9:00 AM — Number System (2 hrs)**
Why first: It underpins every math topic. Get this wrong and percentages, ratios, and SI/CI all suffer.
Core concepts:
- LCM and HCF: For HCF, use prime factorization (take lowest powers). For LCM, take highest powers.
- Divisibility rules: 2 (last digit even), 3 (digit sum divisible by 3), 4 (last two digits), 5 (ends in 0/5), 9 (digit sum divisible by 9), 11 (alternate digit sum difference divisible by 11)
- Remainders: If N = DQ + R, then remainder when N is divided by D is R. For powers, use cyclicity.
- Cyclicity of units digits: 2 has cycle 4 (2,4,8,6), 3 has cycle 4 (3,9,7,1), 7 has cycle 4 (7,9,3,1), others follow patterns.
- Fractions to decimals you MUST memorize: 1/3=0.33, 1/6=0.166, 1/7=0.142, 1/8=0.125, 1/9=0.111, 1/11=0.0909
Frequent question types:
- "Find the remainder when 7^50 is divided by 5" — use cyclicity (7^1=7, 7^2=49, 7^3=343, 7^4=...1, cycle of 4; 50÷4=12R2, so answer is units digit of 7^2 = 9, remainder 4)
- "Find HCF/LCM of numbers" — straightforward, always appears
- "A number when divided by 6 leaves remainder 4. What remainder when divided by 3?" — use modular logic
Shortcut: For consecutive numbers LCM, use the formula approach; for two numbers, LCM × HCF = Product of numbers.
**Block 2: 9:00–11:00 AM — Percentage & Profit/Loss (2 hrs)**
Why now: Highest frequency math topic combined. Usually 4-5 questions together.
Core formulas:
- Profit% = (Profit/CP) × 100
- SP = CP × (100 + P%)/100
- Successive discounts: If d1% and d2%, net discount = d1 + d2 – (d1×d2)/100
- Markup and discount: If marked x% above CP, then discounted y%, Net change = x – y – xy/100
- A's salary is x% more than B's = B's salary is [x/(100+x)] × 100 % less than A's
Frequent question types:
- "A trader marks up 20% and gives 10% discount. Profit%?" — Apply net change formula: 20–10–(20×10)/100 = 8%
- "If price increases 20%, by how much should consumption reduce to keep expenditure same?" — [20/(100+20)]×100 = 16.67%
- "Cost price of 10 = selling price of 8. Find profit%." — CP of 10 = SP of 8, so CP per unit = 8/10 of SP, profit = 2/8 = 25%
**Block 3: 11:00 AM–1:00 PM — Ratio, Proportion & Mixtures (2 hrs)**
Core formulas:
- Componendo-Dividendo: If a/b = c/d, then (a+b)/(a–b) = (c+d)/(c–d)
- Mixture: (Quantity of A)/(Quantity of B) = (C_B – C_mean)/(C_mean – C_A) (Alligation rule)
- Partnership: Profit divided in ratio of Capital × Time
Frequent question types:
- Alligation problems with milk and water
- "A:B = 3:4, B:C = 5:6, find A:C" — Multiply ratios: A:B:C = 15:20:24
- Partnership profit sharing
**Block 4: 2:00–4:00 PM — Reasoning: Series + Coding-Decoding (2 hrs)**
Why these first: Together they give you 7-9 questions and are the most mechanical/learnable.
Series rules to recognize instantly:
- Prime number series: 2, 3, 5, 7, 11, 13... (memorize primes to 50)
- Square/cube series: 1,4,9,16,25 or 1,8,27,64,125
- Difference series: Check if differences form AP or GP
- Alternate term series: Even and odd-position terms follow separate patterns
- Mixed operator series: ×2+1, ×3–2, etc.
Coding-Decoding types:
- Letter shift codes: A+3=D type. Always find the shift value for one pair and apply universally.
- Reverse alphabet: A=Z, B=Y, C=X (A's position from front = Z's position from back)
- Number-letter: A=1, B=2... OR A=26, B=25...
- Symbol substitution: Just map it directly, no trick needed.
Practice approach: Do 20 series questions, 20 coding questions this block. Speed matters more than perfect understanding here.
**Block 5: 4:00–6:00 PM — Reasoning: Analogy + Blood Relations + Directions (2 hrs)**
Analogy shortcuts:
- Always identify the relationship type first: part-whole, tool-user, cause-effect, category-member
- For number analogies: check squares, cubes, differences, products
- Don't overthink. First relationship that works is usually correct.
Blood Relations memory trick — draw a tree:
- Use M/F to mark gender. Mark each relationship on the tree.
- "A is the son of B's father's only daughter" — B's father's only daughter = B's mother (if B has no sisters) or B's aunt. Draw it out.
- Key: Never assume gender unless stated.
Direction tricks:
- Always draw a compass. Fix North up, East right.
- Shadow rules: Morning sun in East = shadow falls West. Evening sun in West = shadow falls East.
- "If you face North and turn right" = you now face East.
**Block 6: 6:00–8:00 PM — Revision + 20 Mixed Questions**
- Spend 30 min reviewing all formulas from today
- Spend 30 min redoing any formula you got confused on
- Spend 1 hour solving 20 mixed questions from today's topics
- Note every mistake. Do NOT move on without understanding why you got it wrong.
---
### DAY 2 — Mathematics (SI/CI, Time-Work, TSD) + Reasoning (Syllogism, Arrangement)
**Daily goal:** Complete core math and 80% of reasoning
**Block 1: 7:00–9:00 AM — Simple & Compound Interest (2 hrs)**
This is pure formula work — highest ROI topic in math.
Essential formulas:
- SI = PRT/100
- CI = P[(1 + R/100)^T – 1]
- Difference between CI and SI for 2 years = P(R/100)^2
- Difference between CI and SI for 3 years = P(R/100)^2 × (R/100 + 3)
- Population/Depreciation: Same as CI formula, just use + for growth, – for depreciation
Frequent question types:
- "SI for 3 years is 360, find CI for 2 years" — Find P and R from SI, apply CI formula
- "A sum doubles in 8 years at SI. In how many years at same rate will it triple?" — If doubles in 8, SI rate = 100/8 = 12.5%. To triple, need 200% SI, time = 200/12.5 = 16 years
- "What annual rate gives Rs 8000 become Rs 8820 in 2 years CI?" — Apply CI formula backwards
**Block 2: 9:00–11:00 AM — Time, Speed & Distance (2 hrs)**
Core formulas:
- Speed = Distance/Time (memorize unit conversions: 1 km/hr = 5/18 m/s)
- Relative speed: Same direction = subtract; Opposite direction = add
- Train crossing a pole: Time = Length of train / Speed of train
- Train crossing a platform: Time = (Length of train + Length of platform) / Speed of train
- Boats and streams: Downstream = B+S, Upstream = B–S; Speed of boat = (D+U)/2, Stream = (D–U)/2
Frequent question types:
- Two trains/people problems with relative speed
- A and B start from opposite ends — when do they meet?
- Average speed trap: Average speed = 2xy/(x+y), NOT (x+y)/2
Memory aid for average speed: Think "harmonic mean, not arithmetic mean" — this distinction costs many students 2 marks.
**Block 3: 11:00 AM–1:00 PM — Time & Work + Data Interpretation (2 hrs)**
Time & Work (45 min):
- Work formula: If A does work in x days, A's 1-day work = 1/x
- Combined work: 1/x + 1/y = 1/T, so T = xy/(x+y)
- Pipes: Same as time and work. Inlet positive, outlet negative.
- "A is twice as fast as B" means A does work in half the time.
DI (75 min):
- Types: Bar graph, Line graph, Pie chart, Table
- Practice READING the chart fast. Most errors here are reading errors, not calculation errors.
- For pie charts: Value = (Angle/360) × Total or (Percentage/100) × Total
- Always check the unit on the axes. Easy to misread "in thousands" as absolute values.
**Block 4: 2:00–4:00 PM — Reasoning: Syllogism + Venn Diagrams (2 hrs)**
Syllogism is fully learnable in 2 hours if you follow the rules:
Venn diagram method:
- "All A are B" — A circle fully inside B circle
- "Some A are B" — Partially overlapping circles
- "No A is B" — Separate circles
- "Some A are not B" — A partially outside B
The two rules students always forget:
- "All A are B" does NOT mean "All B are A"
- "Some A are B" always means "Some B are A" (this conversion is valid)
Definite vs. Possible conclusions:
- If the Venn diagram ALWAYS gives the conclusion = Definite (follows)
- If the Venn diagram SOMETIMES gives it = Possible, not definite (doesn't follow)
Venn Diagram set questions:
- Only A = A – (A∩B) – (A∩C) + (A∩B∩C)
- Total = A + B + C – (A∩B) – (B∩C) – (A∩C) + (A∩B∩C)
- Practice with 2-circle and 3-circle problems; they appear directly as 1-2 questions.
**Block 5: 4:00–6:00 PM — Reasoning: Seating Arrangement + Missing Number Puzzles (2 hrs)**
Seating arrangement strategy:
- Always start with definite/absolute clues first ("A sits at the extreme left")
- Then use relative clues ("B sits immediately to the right of A")
- For circular arrangements: Fix one person, arrange others relatively
- In 6 days, you cannot master complex 8-person circular arrangements. Focus on linear (4-6 person) and simple circular. Skip sets with 7+ people — too time-costly.
Missing number in matrix/series puzzles:
- Check row-wise, column-wise, and diagonal patterns
- Check if numbers are products, sums, or differences of row/column elements
- Check if each row's pattern is the same
**Block 6: 6:00–8:00 PM — Geometry & Mensuration Introduction (2 hrs)**
Do NOT try to learn all of geometry tonight. Learn only formulas you can apply directly.
Must-know formulas:
- Triangle: Area = ½ × base × height; Heron's formula for sides; Angle sum = 180°
- Circle: Area = πr², Circumference = 2πr; Area of sector = (θ/360) × πr²
- Rectangle: Area = l×b, Perimeter = 2(l+b); Diagonal = √(l²+b²)
- Cylinder: Volume = πr²h, CSA = 2πrh, TSA = 2πr(r+h)
- Cone: Volume = 1/3 πr²h, Slant height l = √(r²+h²), CSA = πrl
- Sphere: Volume = 4/3 πr³, Surface area = 4πr²
What to skip in geometry: Theorems, proofs, coordinate geometry. NTPC rarely asks proof-based questions at UG level. Only formula-application questions appear.
---
### DAY 3 — General Awareness: Science + History
**Daily goal:** Cover 18-20 GA questions worth of material
This is memory-intensive day. Study in shorter blocks with more breaks.
**Block 1: 7:00–9:30 AM — Physics Basics (2.5 hrs)**
Most tested Physics topics in NTPC:
Laws of Motion:
- Newton's 1st: Object stays at rest or uniform motion unless external force acts (Inertia)
- Newton's 2nd: F = ma
- Newton's 3rd: Every action has equal and opposite reaction
- Momentum = mass × velocity; Conservation of momentum in closed systems
Heat and Temperature:
- Conversion: °C to °F = (°C × 9/5) + 32; °F to °C = (°F – 32) × 5/9
- Absolute zero = –273.15°C = 0 Kelvin
- Latent heat: Heat absorbed/released during phase change (no temperature change)
- Good conductors: Metals. Poor conductors (insulators): Wood, rubber, air.
Electricity:
- Ohm's Law: V = IR
- Power: P = VI = I²R = V²/R
- In series: Same current, different voltage; Total R = R1+R2+R3
- In parallel: Same voltage, different current; 1/R = 1/R1 + 1/R2 + 1/R3
- Fuse is always connected in SERIES on the live wire.
Light:
- Reflection: Angle of incidence = angle of reflection
- Concave mirror: Converging; used in torches, doctor's mirrors, solar furnaces
- Convex mirror: Diverging; used as rear-view mirrors (wider field of view)
- Concave lens: Diverging; used for myopia (short-sightedness)
- Convex lens: Converging; used for hypermetropia (long-sightedness)
- Speed of light = 3 × 10^8 m/s
Sound:
- Travels fastest in solids, slowest in gases
- Cannot travel in vacuum
- Speed in air at 0°C = 332 m/s
- Ultrasound (>20,000 Hz): Used in sonar, medical imaging
- Infrasound (<20 Hz): Produced by earthquakes, elephants
Frequently tested single-fact questions:
- SI unit of force = Newton; Energy = Joule; Power = Watt
- Instrument for measuring: Pressure = Barometer; Temperature = Thermometer; Earthquake = Seismograph; Humidity = Hygrometer; Wind speed = Anemometer
- Transformer works on electromagnetic induction. Step-up increases voltage.
**Block 2: 9:30–11:30 AM — Chemistry Basics (2 hrs)**
Most tested Chemistry topics:
Periodic table essentials:
- Groups 1 and 2 are highly reactive metals (alkali and alkaline earth)
- Noble gases (Group 18) are inert
- Nonmetals are on the right side; Metalloids on the staircase
- Atomic number = protons. Atomic mass = protons + neutrons.
- Valency of common elements: H=1, O=2, N=3, C=4, Na=1, Cl=1, Fe=2or3, Cu=1or2
Acids, Bases and Salts:
- Acids: pH < 7, turn blue litmus red, taste sour. HCl, H2SO4, HNO3, CH3COOH (vinegar)
- Bases: pH > 7, turn red litmus blue, taste bitter. NaOH, KOH, Ca(OH)2
- Neutral: pH = 7, pure water
- Indicators: Litmus (red in acid, blue in base), Phenolphthalein (colorless in acid, pink in base)
Common chemical compounds to memorize:
- NaCl = Common salt; NaHCO3 = Baking soda; Na2CO3 = Washing soda
- CaCO3 = Limestone; CaO = Quicklime; Ca(OH)2 = Slaked lime
- H2O2 = Hydrogen peroxide; NH3 = Ammonia; CO2 = Carbon dioxide
- Rust = Fe2O3 (iron oxide); Bronze = Copper + Tin; Brass = Copper + Zinc; Steel = Iron + Carbon
Important chemical processes:
- Photosynthesis: 6CO2 + 6H2O → C6H12O6 + 6O2 (light energy, chlorophyll)
- Rusting requires: Iron + Water + Oxygen. Prevented by galvanization (zinc coating).
- Combustion requires fuel, heat, and oxygen. CO2 and water are products.
- Bleaching powder = Ca(OCl)Cl used as disinfectant.
**Block 3: 11:30 AM–1:00 PM — Biology Basics (1.5 hrs)**
Most tested Biology topics:
Cell Biology:
- Cell theory: All living things are made of cells; cell is basic unit of life
- Plant cell has cell wall, chloroplasts, large vacuole. Animal cell does not.
- Mitochondria = powerhouse of cell (ATP production)
- Nucleus contains DNA/chromosomes; controls cell activities
Diseases and their causes:
- Bacterial: TB (Mycobacterium tuberculosis), Typhoid (Salmonella typhi), Cholera (Vibrio cholerae)
- Viral: Dengue (Aedes mosquito vector), Malaria is Protozoan (Plasmodium, Anopheles mosquito), AIDS (HIV)
- Deficiency diseases: Vitamin A = Night blindness; B1 = Beriberi; B12 = Anaemia; C = Scurvy; D = Rickets; Iodine = Goitre; Iron = Anaemia; Calcium = Osteoporosis
Human Body Systems:
- Largest organ = Skin; Hardest substance in body = Enamel (tooth)
- Heart has 4 chambers; RBC carry oxygen (no nucleus in mature RBC)
- Insulin is produced by Pancreas (beta cells); controls blood sugar
- Kidneys filter blood, produce urine; nephron is functional unit
- Cerebrum = thinking; Cerebellum = balance; Medulla = breathing/heartbeat
**Block 4: 2:00–4:30 PM — Indian History: Ancient + Medieval (2.5 hrs)**
Ancient India — focus on these only:
- Indus Valley: 2500 BCE, Harappa/Mohenjo-Daro, town planning, drainage system, no iron tools
- Vedic Age: Rigveda (oldest), Four Vedas (Rig, Sama, Yajur, Atharva), caste system emerged
- Mauryan Empire: Chandragupta Maurya (founder), Ashoka (greatest, spread Buddhism after Kalinga war 261 BCE), Arthashastra by Kautilya
- Gupta Empire: Golden Age of India, Chandragupta I, Samudragupta, Chandragupta II (Vikramaditya), Aryabhatta, Kalidasa
- Buddhism: Founded by Gautama Buddha (563 BCE Lumbini), Four Noble Truths, Eight-Fold Path, Nirvana
- Jainism: Founded by Mahavira (24th Tirthankara), Ahimsa, Triratna (Right Faith, Right Knowledge, Right Conduct)
Medieval India — focus on these only:
- Delhi Sultanate: Qutb-ud-din Aibak (1206, founder), Iltutmish, Razia Sultana (first woman ruler), Balban, Alauddin Khilji (market reforms), Muhammad bin Tughlaq (transfer of capital), Firuz Shah Tughlaq
- Mughal Empire: Babur (1526 1st Battle of Panipat, founded Mughal empire), Humayun, Akbar (Din-i-Ilahi, Navratnas), Jahangir, Shah Jahan (Taj Mahal), Aurangzeb (Deccan wars, declined empire)
- Vijayanagara Empire: 1336, Harihara and Bukka, Krishnadevaraya (greatest), Battle of Talikota 1565 (destroyed)
- Bhakti Movement: Kabir, Mirabai, Tukaram, Ramananda; Sufi Movement: Nizamuddin Auliya, Amir Khusrau
**Block 5: 4:30–6:30 PM — Modern Indian History (2 hrs)**
This is the MOST asked history period in NTPC. Do not skip any of this.
Freedom Movement timeline (MUST memorize):
- 1857: First War of Independence (Sepoy Mutiny); Mangal Pandey, Rani Lakshmibai, Bahadur Shah Zafar
- 1885: Indian National Congress founded by A.O. Hume; First session in Bombay
- 1905: Partition of Bengal by Curzon → Swadeshi Movement
- 1906: Muslim League founded in Dhaka
- 1911: Partition of Bengal revoked; Capital shifted Delhi to Delhi
- 1915: Gandhi returned from South Africa
- 1919: Jallianwala Bagh massacre (April 13), Rowlatt Act; Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms
- 1920: Non-Cooperation Movement by Gandhi; Khilafat Movement
- 1922: Chauri Chaura incident → Gandhi called off NCM
- 1927: Simon Commission (no Indian member); boycotted "Go Back Simon"
- 1929: Lahore Congress session, Purna Swaraj declared by Nehru, Jan 26 chosen as Independence Day
- 1930: Dandi March (Salt Satyagraha), March 12 – April 5; Civil Disobedience Movement
- 1931: Gandhi-Irwin Pact; Second Round Table Conference
- 1942: Quit India Movement (August 9); "Do or Die" speech by Gandhi; Arrested at Birla House
- 1943: INA formed by Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose; Azad Hind government in Singapore
- 1946: Cabinet Mission Plan; Direct Action Day by Muslim League
- 1947: June 3 Mountbatten Plan (Partition); August 15 Independence; August 14 Pakistan
Governors-General/Viceroys (most asked):
- William Bentinck: Abolished Sati (1829), English education (Macaulay's Minute)
- Dalhousie: Doctrine of Lapse, Railways, Telegraph, Post Office, Widow Remarriage Act
- Curzon: Partition of Bengal, Ancient Monuments Act, Universities Act
- Mountbatten: Last Viceroy, Independence and Partition
Social Reformers (frequently asked):
- Ram Mohan Roy: Brahmo Samaj, opposed Sati, promoted widow remarriage
- Swami Vivekananda: Ramakrishna Mission, 1893 Chicago speech
- Dayananda Saraswati: Arya Samaj, "Back to Vedas"
- B.R. Ambedkar: Drafted Constitution, fought for Dalits, converted to Buddhism
**Block 6: 6:30–8:00 PM — Revision (1.5 hrs)**
- Create a single-page timeline of freedom movement dates (write them by hand)
- Flashcard-style run-through of Science facts (read, cover, recall)
- 15 practice questions from today's topics
---
### DAY 4 — General Awareness: Geography + Polity + Economics
**Daily goal:** Complete remaining GA static content
**Block 1: 7:00–9:00 AM — Indian Geography (2 hrs)**
Physical features (most tested):
- Himalayas: Three parallel ranges — Himadri (Greater), Himachal (Lesser), Shivalik (Outer)
- Highest peak in India: Kangchenjunga (K2 is in Pakistan-administered Kashmir)
- Passes: Bolan (Balochistan), Khyber (Pakistan), Nathu La (Sikkim), Rohtang (Himachal Pradesh), Zoji La (J&K)
- Rivers: Indus system (Indus, Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Beas, Sutlej); Ganga system (Yamuna, Ghaghra, Gandak, Kosi); Deccan rivers (Godavari, Krishna, Kaveri, Mahanadi, Narmada — west-flowing: Narmada and Tapti)
- Longest river in India: Ganga; Largest river basin: Ganga
- Largest state by area: Rajasthan; Smallest: Goa; Largest by population: Uttar Pradesh
- Highest rainfall: Mawsynram (Meghalaya); Lowest: Jaisalmer (Rajasthan)
- Western Ghats: Highest peak = Anai Mudi (Kerala); Eastern Ghats: discontinuous
Soils:
- Alluvial: Most fertile, Gangetic plains, rice/wheat/sugarcane
- Black (Regur): Deccan plateau, cotton — called Black Cotton Soil
- Red: Iron-rich, less fertile, peninsular India
- Laterite: High rainfall areas (Karnataka, Kerala), cashew/tea
Agriculture:
- Largest producer: Rice (West Bengal), Wheat (Uttar Pradesh), Cotton (Gujarat), Sugarcane (Uttar Pradesh), Tea (Assam), Coffee (Karnataka)
- Kharif crops (sown in monsoon, harvested autumn): Rice, Jowar, Bajra, Cotton, Groundnut
- Rabi crops (sown in winter, harvested spring): Wheat, Barley, Mustard, Peas
**Block 2: 9:00–10:30 AM — World Geography (1.5 hrs)**
Most tested world geography facts:
Continents and features:
- Largest continent: Asia; Smallest: Australia (if treating as continent)
- Longest river: Nile (Africa); Largest river by discharge: Amazon (South America)
- Largest ocean: Pacific; Deepest: Pacific (Mariana Trench, ~11,000m)
- Largest desert: Sahara (hot); Largest cold desert: Antarctic
- Longest mountain range: Andes (South America)
Countries and capitals (most tested):
- Capital of Australia = Canberra (not Sydney); Canada = Ottawa (not Toronto); Brazil = Brasilia
- Landlocked countries: Nepal, Bhutan, Afghanistan, Mongolia, Switzerland, Austria, Bolivia, Paraguay
- Straits: Strait of Hormuz (Gulf to Arabian Sea — critical oil route); Malacca (Pacific to Indian Ocean); Palk Strait (India-Sri Lanka)
Climate and Natural Phenomena:
- Monsoon originates from: Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal
- El Niño: Warming of Pacific Ocean → drought in India, floods in South America
- Cyclone naming: In Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea, India maintains naming list with SAARC nations
**Block 3: 10:30 AM–1:00 PM — Indian Polity & Constitution (2.5 hrs)**
This is a HIGH-REWARD topic. Most questions here are direct facts.
Constitutional basics:
- Constitution adopted: November 26, 1949; Enacted: January 26, 1950 (Republic Day)
- Drafted by: Constituent Assembly chaired by Dr. Rajendra Prasad; Drafting Committee chaired by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar
- Originally: 395 Articles, 8 Schedules, 22 Parts (currently 448 Articles, 12 Schedules, 25 Parts due to amendments)
- India borrowed from: UK (Parliamentary system, Rule of Law), USA (Fundamental Rights, Judicial Review), Ireland (Directive Principles), Australia (Concurrent List, Joint Sitting), Canada (Federal system with strong Centre), USSR (Fundamental Duties — 42nd Amendment)
Fundamental Rights (Part III, Articles 12-35):
- Right to Equality (14-18): Equality before law, no discrimination, abolition of untouchability
- Right to Freedom (19-22): Speech/expression, assembly, movement, residence, profession; Protection from arrest
- Right Against Exploitation (23-24): No forced labour, no child labour under 14 in factories
- Right to Freedom of Religion (25-28)
- Cultural and Educational Rights (29-30)
- Right to Constitutional Remedies (32): Dr. Ambedkar called this "Heart and Soul of Constitution"
Important Constitutional Bodies:
- President: Article 52; Elected by Electoral College (elected MPs + MLAs); 5-year term; Removed by impeachment
- PM and Council of Ministers: Article 74; PM appointed by President; Cabinet is collectively responsible to Lok Sabha
- Parliament: Article 79; Rajya Sabha (Upper, permanent, max 250 members), Lok Sabha (Lower, max 552 members)
- Supreme Court: Article 124; Chief Justice + 33 judges; Original, Appellate, and Advisory jurisdiction
- CAG: Article 148; Audits government accounts; Appointed by President
- Election Commission: Article 324; Independent body; Chief Election Commissioner removed same way as Supreme Court Judge
Important Amendments:
- 42nd (1976): Mini Constitution — added Fundamental Duties, changed Preamble (added Socialist, Secular, Integrity)
- 44th (1978): Removed Right to Property from Fundamental Rights (now Article 300A, legal right)
- 73rd/74th (1992-93): Constitutional status to Panchayati Raj and Urban Local Bodies
- 86th (2002): Right to Education (Article 21A), free and compulsory education for 6-14 years
- 101st (2016): GST introduced
**Block 4: 2:00–3:30 PM — Economics Basics (1.5 hrs)**
Only learn what NTPC actually asks — pure applied facts, no theory.
GDP and Budget:
- GDP = Total market value of all goods and services produced in a country in a year
- GDP vs GNP: GNP = GDP + income from abroad – income of foreigners in India
- Union Budget presented by Finance Minister on February 1 (changed from last day of February in 2017)
- Revenue expenditure vs Capital expenditure: Revenue = recurring (salaries, interest); Capital = asset creation (roads, buildings)
Banking:
- RBI founded 1935; Nationalized 1949; Governor appointed by Central Government
- CRR (Cash Reserve Ratio): % of deposits banks must keep with RBI as cash (no interest earned)
- SLR (Statutory Liquidity Ratio): % of deposits banks must keep in liquid assets (gold/government securities)
- Repo Rate: Rate at which RBI lends to commercial banks (increasing repo = tighter money supply = fight inflation)
- Reverse Repo Rate: Rate at which RBI borrows from banks
- NABARD: National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development
- SEBI: Securities and Exchange Board of India (capital market regulator)
- IRDAI: Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India
Five-Year Plans (replaced by NITI Aayog in 2015):
- Planning Commission replaced by NITI Aayog (National Institution for Transforming India) in January 2015
- Chairman of NITI Aayog = Prime Minister
- Twelfth Plan was the last (2012-2017)
**Block 5: 3:30–5:30 PM — Static GK: Awards, Sports, Organisations (2 hrs)**
Important Awards (India):
- Bharat Ratna: Highest civilian award; First awarded 1954; First recipients: C. Rajagopalachari, S. Radhakrishnan, C.V. Raman
- Padma Awards: Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan, Padma Shri — announced on Republic Day
- Gallantry awards: Param Vir Chakra (highest, military), Ashoka Chakra (highest, peacetime)
- Sahitya Akademi, Sangeet Natak Akademi, Lalit Kala Akademi — for literature, performing arts, visual arts respectively
- Nobel Prize categories: Physics, Chemistry, Medicine, Literature, Peace, Economics (added 1969)
Sports:
- Olympic rings: 5 rings (Blue, Yellow, Black, Green, Red) represent 5 continents
- ICC formed: 1909; BCCI formed: 1928; Headquarters: Mumbai
- FIFA headquarters: Zurich; Cricket World Cup first held: 1975
- India's cricket World Cup wins: 1983 (Kapil Dev), 2007 T20 (Dhoni), 2011 ODI (Dhoni)
- Arjuna Award: National Sports Award for athletes; Dronacharya Award: For coaches; Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna (now Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna): Highest sports award
International Organisations:
- UN founded: 1945; HQ: New York; 6 official languages
- UN Security Council: 5 permanent members (USA, UK, France, Russia, China) + 10 rotating
- IMF and World Bank headquarters: Washington D.C.
- WTO headquarters: Geneva; WHO headquarters: Geneva; UNESCO: Paris
- SAARC: 8 members (India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Afghanistan); HQ: Kathmandu
- BRICS: Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa
**Block 6: 5:30–8:00 PM — Current Affairs Crash Course (2.5 hrs)**
This is the lottery section. Do not spend more than 2.5 hours here. Focus only on:
Categories to cover (30 min each):
- National appointments in last 12 months (President, PM, Chief Justices, RBI Governor, Chiefs of Army/Navy/Air Force, UPSC Chairman, CAG)
- India's rankings and reports (Global Hunger Index, Human Development Index, Press Freedom Index, Ease of Doing Business)
- Important government schemes launched/renamed in last year (check a reliable source like GKToday or Jagran Josh)
- India's sports achievements in major events (Olympics if recent, cricket, Asian Games)
- Science/space achievements (ISRO missions especially)
- Important summits India hosted or attended
Strategy for current affairs: Do NOT try to memorize everything. Pick the 40-50 most important facts and review them twice. Anything beyond that has rapidly diminishing returns with 6 days available.
---
### DAY 5 — Mixed Practice + Algebra + Weak Area Attack
**Daily goal:** Identify and fix your weakest areas; introduce remaining math topics
**Block 1: 7:00–8:30 AM — Algebra (1.5 hrs)**
Core identities (memorize cold):
- (a+b)² = a² + 2ab + b²
- (a–b)² = a² – 2ab + b²
- (a+b)³ = a³ + 3a²b + 3ab² + b³
- a³ + b³ = (a+b)(a² – ab + b²)
- a³ – b³ = (a–b)(a² + ab + b²)
- If x + 1/x = k, then x² + 1/x² = k² – 2 and x³ + 1/x³ = k³ – 3k
NTPC-specific algebra questions:
- "If x + y = 5 and xy = 6, find x² + y²" — Use (x+y)² = x² + 2xy + y²: 25 = x² + 12, so x²+y² = 13
- Value substitution: Often the fastest method. Substitute x=1 and check options.
- "If a + b + c = 0, find a³ + b³ + c³" — Answer is always 3abc (identity)
**Block 2: 8:30–10:30 AM — Full Mock Test 1 (2 hrs)**
Take a complete 100-question mock test under exam conditions.
Rules:
- Strict 90-minute timer
- No phone, no checking answers mid-way
- After the test, spend 30 min ONLY analyzing: which topics you got most wrong
Do not aim for a perfect score on this mock. Aim for a diagnostic. Mark every question where you were unsure, even if you got it right.
**Block 3: 10:30 AM–12:30 PM — Weak Area Drilling (2 hrs)**
Based on your mock test analysis, attack your bottom 3 topics. Spend 40 minutes on each. If you scored below 50% in a topic, it means either the concept is wrong or you're making avoidable errors.
Standard weak areas at this stage:
- If weak in Reasoning: Usually seating arrangement or syllogism. Re-read rules, do 15 more problems.
- If weak in Math: Usually geometry formulas or number system. Re-copy formulas, do 10 targeted problems.
- If weak in GA Science: Create a condensed fact sheet and re-read it 3 times.
**Block 4: 1:30–3:30 PM — Mathematics: Geometry + Mensuration Practice (2 hrs)**
Now that you have the formulas from Day 2, practice application:
Geometry shortcuts:
- Equilateral triangle side a: Area = (√3/4)a², Height = (√3/2)a, Circumradius = a/√3, Inradius = a/(2√3)
- For right triangle: Pythagorean triplets to memorize: (3,4,5), (5,12,13), (7,24,25), (8,15,17), (9,40,41), (6,8,10), (10,24,26)
- Angle in semicircle = 90° (Thales' theorem — appears directly)
- Tangent to a circle is perpendicular to the radius at point of contact
What NTPC specifically tests in Mensuration:
- Area and perimeter of combined figures (rectangle + semicircle)
- Change in volume/area when dimensions change ("if radius doubles, volume becomes?")
- Cost of painting/carpeting rooms (area problems with unit cost)
- Cylindrical tanks being filled — combine volume with time/speed
**Block 5: 3:30–5:30 PM — GA: Final Revision Round 1 (2 hrs)**
By now you have studied most GA content. Today's revision focuses on HIGH-CONFUSION areas:
Create "confusion pairs" cheat sheet:
- Bharat Ratna vs Padma Vibhushan (different categories)
- WTO (Geneva) vs World Bank (Washington D.C.)
- Nile (longest) vs Amazon (largest by volume/discharge)
- Rajya Sabha (250 max) vs Lok Sabha (552 max)
- CRR (cash with RBI) vs SLR (liquid assets with bank itself)
- Repo (RBI lends to banks) vs Reverse Repo (banks lend to RBI)
These confusion pairs cost 3-4 marks in every NTPC exam because students swap them under pressure.
**Block 6: 5:30–7:00 PM — Reasoning: Speed Practice (1.5 hrs)**
At this stage, reasoning should be your scoring stronghold. Run through:
- 20 series questions (target: 18/20 correct, under 10 minutes)
- 20 coding-decoding questions (target: 18/20 correct, under 10 minutes)
- 10 analogy questions (target: 9/10, under 5 minutes)
- 10 blood relation + direction questions (target: 8/10, under 8 minutes)
If you're not hitting these targets, identify the specific sub-type that's slowing you down and fix the rule, not the speed.
**Block 7: 7:00–8:00 PM — Science Fact Sheet Review (1 hr)**
Re-read your Day 3 science notes. Focus specifically on anything you got wrong in the mock test. Do NOT learn new topics tonight.
---
### DAY 6 — Final Mock + Strategic Revision + Exam-Day Prep
**Daily goal:** Peak performance calibration; no new topics at all
**Block 1: 7:00–9:30 AM — Full Mock Test 2 (2.5 hrs)**
Same rules as yesterday. Aim for better score, but more importantly aim for better error discipline:
- Did you attempt questions you were truly unsure about? Stop doing this.
- Did you make calculation errors? Slow down by 10 seconds per calculation.
- Did you misread GA questions? Read EVERY word in GA questions — they often use "NOT" or "EXCEPT."
After mock, analyze only your errors from the final 30 questions in each section — these are usually attempted under time pressure and show your "panic mistakes."
**Block 2: 9:30–11:30 AM — High-Frequency Question Types Drill (2 hrs)**
These question types appear in EVERY NTPC exam. Drill them until they are automatic:
Reasoning (do 5 of each):
- Odd one out (letter/number/word)
- Mirror images
- Dice problems (if attempted before; if not, skip — too time-costly to learn today)
- Ranking and order
Math (do 5 of each):
- Percentage change → reverse percentage
- Two trains problems
- Compound interest for 2 years
- Ratio and mixture (alligation)
GA (read once, don't drill):
- Last 6 months' major government scheme launches
- Current holders of top positions (President, PM, CJI, RBI Governor, Army Chief)
- Any ISRO/space news from last 6 months
**Block 3: 11:30 AM–1:00 PM — Confusion Pairs + Weak Area Final Pass (1.5 hrs)**
Review your personal mistake list from both mock tests. Group your mistakes into:
- Conceptual error (didn't know the rule/formula)
- Calculation error (knew what to do but made arithmetic mistake)
- Reading error (misread the question)
For conceptual errors: Re-read the rule one more time, do 2 examples.
For calculation errors: Do NOT study — practice more carefulness, not more content.
For reading errors: In the actual exam, underline key words (NOT, EXCEPT, FALSE, ALWAYS) while reading.
**Block 4: 2:00–3:30 PM — GA: Static GK Last Round (1.5 hrs)**
Final sweep of the highest-frequency static GA facts:
- All 12 Schedules of the Constitution (briefly — what each one covers)
- India's boundaries: North (China, Nepal, Bhutan), Northeast (Myanmar, Bangladesh), East (Bangladesh, Myanmar), West (Pakistan, Afghanistan — brief border), South (Sri Lanka — Palk Strait)
- States with single borders: Which state borders only 2-3 other states
- UNESCO World Heritage Sites in India (top 10): Taj Mahal, Red Fort, Ajanta, Ellora, Konark, Hampi, Mahabalipuram, Kaziranga, Manas, Sundarbans, Khajuraho, Fatehpur Sikri, Qutb Minar complex, Humayun's Tomb
**Block 5: 3:30–5:00 PM — Mathematics: Speed Calculation Practice (1.5 hrs)**
Today is NOT for learning. Today is for developing exam-pace reflexes.
Calculation speed drills:
- Squares from 1 to 30 (do from memory, check)
- Cubes from 1 to 15 (do from memory, check)
- Multiplication tables to 20 (random spot checks)
- Percentage equivalents of common fractions (1/3, 1/4, 1/5, 1/6, 1/7, 1/8)
In the actual exam, if you can recall 24² = 576 in 1 second instead of calculating, you save 30+ seconds across the math section. That compounds.
**Block 6: 5:00–6:30 PM — Exam Strategy Session (1.5 hrs)**
This block is NOT studying — it is exam execution planning.
Section order strategy:
- Recommended order: Reasoning → Mathematics → General Awareness
- Reasoning first: Freshest brain, most reliable section, builds confidence
- Mathematics second: Analytical, some fatigue acceptable, use shortcuts
- GA last: Mostly memory recall, less demanding on active brain
Time allocation:
- Reasoning: 25 minutes (1 minute per question roughly; some 30 seconds, some 90)
- Mathematics: 35 minutes (some problems take 2-3 minutes)
- GA: 30 minutes (pure recall, should be fast)
Negative marking strategy:
- Attempt ONLY if you can eliminate at least 2 options. With 4 options, eliminating 2 gives 50/50 odds — expected value = +0.5 – 0.5(0.33) = +0.33. Worth attempting.
- With 0 eliminated (pure guess), expected value = 0.25 – 0.75(0.33) = –0.0, essentially neutral but risky. Skip these.
- NEVER guess in GA current affairs if you have no idea. +1 vs –0.33 sounds good, but if you're truly random, the –0.33 accumulates.
**Block 7: 6:30–8:00 PM — Final Night Routine (1.5 hrs)**
- Spend 45 minutes reading your one-page freedom movement timeline and science fact sheet
- Spend 15 minutes reviewing your confusion pairs sheet
- Pack your ID/documents for tomorrow. Do NOT study after 8 PM.
- Sleep 7-8 hours. Sleep deprivation cuts cognitive performance more than any study could compensate.
---
## MOCK TEST STRATEGY
**When:** Day 5 (morning) and Day 6 (morning). Two full mocks is optimal for 6 days — more would eat into study time; fewer won't calibrate you.
**Where to find mock tests:**
- Testbook, Embibe, or Oliveboard — all have free NTPC UG mocks
- Alternatively, download official previous year NTPC question papers (freely available)
**What to do with mock results:**
- Do not average your two scores and feel comfortable. Look at section-wise performance.
- If you score 70% in Reasoning, you're on track. Below 60%, you need more drilling.
- If you score 65%+ in Math, you're on track. Below that, you have formula gaps.
- GA score on mock is the least reliable predictor — the actual exam will have different current affairs.
**What NOT to do:**
- Do not take more than 2 full mocks in 6 days. Analysis takes as long as the test.
- Do not take a mock on Day 1 or 2. You haven't built enough content yet to learn from errors.
- Do not chase your mock score. Chase your error pattern.
---
## DO'S AND DON'TS
### DO:
- Study in 90-minute blocks with 10-minute breaks. Cognitive research is clear on this.
- Write key formulas by hand every day. Writing reinforces memory more than reading.
- Do 30-40 practice questions per topic AFTER reading theory. Reading alone doesn't build exam reflexes.
- Focus disproportionately on Reasoning — it's the most reliably scorable section in 6 days.
- Learn what types of questions NTPC repeats. This is pattern matching, not understanding.
- Trust your first instinct on GA questions. Second-guessing GA memorization is usually wrong.
### DON'T:
- Don't read NCERT textbooks cover to cover. In 6 days, that is fatal. Extract only exam-relevant facts.
- Don't study for more than 8 hours on any day — 8 focused hours beats 12 exhausted hours.
- Don't attempt new topics on Day 5 or Day 6. Anything new this late won't consolidate.
- Don't skip Reasoning. Students consistently over-invest in GA and under-invest in Reasoning, which is guaranteed marks.
- Don't memorize lists of 50 items. Prioritize top-10 versions of every list (top 10 states by area, top 10 rivers by length, etc.) — NTPC almost always picks from the top of these lists.
- Don't rely on YouTube lectures for primary study in 6 days. They are time-inefficient. Use notes, textbooks condensed to key points, and question practice.
- Don't do trigonometry or coordinate geometry. These appear rarely in NTPC UG and take enormous time to master from scratch. The return does not justify the investment in 6 days.
- Don't spend more than 30 minutes on any single question on exam day. Skip, mark for review, and move on.
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## TOPICS TO COMPLETELY SKIP (6-Day Constraint)
These appear in NTPC but are either low-frequency or too time-intensive for your situation:
- Trigonometry (sines, cosines, identities) — 1-2 questions, weeks to master from zero
- Coordinate geometry — 1 question at most, requires significant algebraic facility
- Permutations and combinations — 1-2 questions, concept-heavy
- Probability — 1 question, skip unless you know it already
- Statistics (mean, median, mode is fine — skip standard deviation, variance)
- Advanced number theory (Euler's theorem, Wilson's theorem)
- Complex seating arrangements with 8+ people and multiple conditions
- Detailed physical geography (climate zones, soil science beyond basics)
- State-specific current affairs (national-level only in this time frame)
- Any GA topic older than your coverage in Days 3-4 (medieval architecture details, etc.)
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## REALISTIC SCORE PROJECTIONS
If you execute this plan faithfully:
| Section | Realistic Score | Stretch Score |
|---|---|---|
| Reasoning | 24-27/30 | 28-30 |
| Mathematics | 22-25/30 | 26-28 |
| General Awareness | 24-30/40 | 31-35 |
| Total | 70-82 | 85-93 |
The GA ceiling is the honest constraint. With great current affairs luck (your preparation overlaps with what's asked), you can hit 31-35 in GA. With bad luck, 24-27.
The 90+ scenario requires: Reasoning 27+, Math 25+, GA 38+ — and that GA number is genuinely hard in 6 days because it depends on which current affairs questions appear.
Execute the plan. Aim for 85. If GA is kind to you, 90+ is within reach. That is the honest picture.