Railway Recruitment Boards will conduct the seventh phase of the first stage recruitment examinations for the ongoing computer-based test for selection to railways’ non-technical popular category (NTPC) posts in July. In a notification released recently, after the candidates protested online, the RRBs or Railway Recruitment Boards, one of the official recruitment arms of Indian Railways, said the examinations will be held on July 23, 24, 26 and 31.

The examinations will be held across the country for approximately 2.78 lakh candidates, the RRB NTPC notification released last week said.

The RRB NTPC notification has also said the the link for viewing the exam city and date and downloading of free travelling authority for SC and ST candidates will be made available on all RRB websites ten days before the exam.

As usual, the downloading of RRB NTPC admit cards will start four days prior to the exam date mentioned in exam city and date information link.

The RRBs has also asked the candidates to strictly follow COVID-related guidelines issued along with the admit card.

“Use of Face Mask is mandatory. Candidates will be allowed entry only if wearing a Face Mask and the Face mask shall be worn at all times. (except at the time of capturing photograph),” the notification said.

A total of 1.26 crore candidates have registered for the RRB NTPC exam which is being held to fill 35,208 vacancies in various NTPC posts of Indian Railways which are Junior Clerk cum Typist, Junior Time Keeper, Accounts Clerk cum Typist, Senior Clerk cum Typist, Junior Account Assistant cum Typist, Senior Time Keeper and other posts.

Indian Railways is organising a ‘Cheer4India’ campaign for the Olympic-bound athletes across the country and has urged people to come out in support of the sportspersons, who will be competing at the Tokyo Games beginning July 23. Indian Railways has set up Olympic selfie points at various railway stations over different divisions across the country for people to show their support and to encourage the Indian contingent which is participating in the Tokyo Olympics.

Rahul Agarwal, Divisional Railway Manager, Mysuru, has urged the rail users to click selfies at Selfie Points installed across Indian railway stations and share them widely to encourage the participating athletes, and for creating a fit India.

Earlier last month, while announcing the ‘Cheer Up’ Campaign across the country, the Union Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju had said over 6,000 selfie points will be set up in the country where people can show their support. “I have spoken to Railway Minister Piyush Goyal and he immediately deployed space across 6,000 railway stations across the country where Olympics Selfie Points have been set up. The Chief Minister of Haryana has also clicked a selfie photograph with the symbol to encourage others to join the campaign and encourage the Tokyo-bound players.”

“I wanted the Olympics movement and the importance of Olympics to be understood by everyone spread across the length and breadth of India. Sports is the biggest soft power of a nation,” he added.

The number of Indian athletes participating in the Summer Olympics and Paralympic Games has seen a steady rise in the past three editions. Over 100 athletes have already made the cut so far and many more are expected to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics.

With the Tokyo Games round the corner, the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) is likely to declare the name of flag bearers for the opening ceremony of the showpiece event by July 5. “IOA is planning to declare the names on the 5th of July. We have some names which we are sorting out but as of now, majorly it is on PV Sindhu and Bajrang Punia but again it’s not official. Final names will be declared by July 5,” sources in the know of developments told ANI.

Meanwhile, the Sports Authority of India (SAI) and IOA has continued their efforts to sensitise the Tokyo-bound athletes to help them understand the Japanese culture and address the possible barriers besides being ideal ambassadors of the country.