The RRB NTPC exam conducted on 31st March 2016 (Shift 2) is one of the frequently searched previous year papers among railway exam aspirants. This paper included 100 questions from three sections—General Awareness, Mathematics, and Reasoning. For candidates preparing for RRB NTPC, going through the memory-based PDF of this paper can be extremely helpful in understanding the kind of questions asked and improving their preparation strategy.
I chose to write about this paper because many aspirants focus only on mock tests without realising the importance of solving actual exam papers. This particular shift from 2016 is a great resource for practice because the question difficulty was moderate, and the paper followed the standard exam structure. Solving previous year papers is not just about checking your knowledge—it’s also about learning how to manage time, avoid silly mistakes, and build confidence. I’ve broken down the paper section-wise and shared how you can download and use the PDF effectively.
RRB NTPC 31 March 2016 Shift 2: Exam Structure
The paper was conducted online with the following structure:
- Total Questions: 100
- Time Limit: 90 minutes
- Negative Marking: 1/3rd mark deducted for each wrong answer
| Section | No. of Questions | Difficulty Level |
|---|---|---|
| General Awareness | 40 | Moderate |
| Mathematics | 30 | Moderate |
| Reasoning | 30 | Easy to Moderate |
General Awareness: Static + Current Affairs Mix
This section tested a mix of static GK, science facts, and current affairs from late 2015 and early 2016. Students found this section scoring if they had revised regularly.
Topics Covered:
- History, Geography, Polity
- Current Affairs
- Science & Technology
- Books and Authors
- Government Schemes
- Budget and Economy
Sample Questions (Memory-Based):
- Where is Chilika Lake located?
- What is the capital of Bhutan?
- Who is the author of “Wings of Fire”?
- When is World Environment Day celebrated?
Mathematics: Concept-Based, Speed-Driven
The maths section had questions mostly from Class 10 level topics. Calculation speed was important, and the difficulty was moderate overall.
Topics Included:
- Profit and Loss
- Simple and Compound Interest
- Time, Speed and Distance
- Averages
- Percentages
- Mensuration
- Number System
Example Questions:
- A man earns 10% interest on Rs. 5000 in one year. What is the interest?
- If a car travels 90 km in 1.5 hours, what is the speed?
Reasoning: Easiest Scoring Section
This was the easiest and most scoring part of the paper. Students with regular practice could easily attempt 25+ questions with good accuracy.
Topics Covered:
- Analogy
- Number and Alphabet Series
- Odd One Out
- Coding-Decoding
- Blood Relations
- Direction Sense
- Syllogisms (basic level)
Sample Questions:
- In a code, PEN is written as QFO. How is BOOK written?
- A is the sister of B. B is the father of C. What is A to C?
Good Attempt and Safe Score Estimate
Here’s what a good attempt looked like in this shift:
- General Awareness: 24–28
- Mathematics: 22–25
- Reasoning: 26–28
A total attempt of around 72 to 78 questions with 80% accuracy was considered safe.
Download PDF – RRB NTPC 31 March 2016 Shift 2
You can find the PDF version of this paper on several preparation websites, Telegram channels, and exam forums. These are usually memory-based papers shared by candidates who appeared in the exam.
N.B: If you want to download the PDF then, CLICK HERE.
How to Use the PDF:
- Download the paper and take a printout if possible
- Solve it under 90 minutes without any help
- Cross-check answers and mark the incorrect ones
- Revise related topics from your study material
- Track your performance weekly with other shift papers
If you can’t find the direct download link, search with the keywords: RRB NTPC 31 March 2016 Shift 2 PDF with Answers or check exam Telegram groups.
Final Thoughts
Solving previous year papers like RRB NTPC 31 March 2016 Shift 2 gives a strong base for your preparation. These papers give real exam experience, and you can see clear patterns in the way questions are asked. If you’re preparing seriously for NTPC, don’t just depend on mocks—include actual past papers in your study plan.
This particular shift had a balanced difficulty and covered important syllabus areas. So download the PDF, solve it sincerely, and use it as a stepping stone towards better performance in the actual exam.
