The Railway Recruitment Boards (RRBs) have released the official notification for the Assistant Loco Pilot (ALP) Recruitment 2026, announcing a total of 11,127 vacancies across various railway zones. The detailed RRB ALP Notification 2026 was published on 14 May 2026. Interested candidates who have completed Matriculation with ITI or possess a Diploma/Degree in Engineering and fall within the age limit of 18 to 30 years can apply online from 15 May 2026 to 14 June 2026. Candidates can check the complete eligibility details, important dates, and application process through the direct notification PDF and online application links provided below.
RRB ALP Recruitment 2026 Overview
| Organization Name | Railway Recruitment Boards (RRBs), Ministry of Railways, Government of India |
| Advertisement No. | CEN No. 01/2026 |
| Post Name | Assistant Loco Pilot (ALP) |
| Department | Ministry of Railways, Government of India (Various Zonal Railways) |
| Total Vacancies | 11127 (All RRBs combined) |
| Pay Scale | Level-2 in 7th CPC Pay Matrix; Initial Pay Rs. 19,900/- |
| Medical Standard | A-1 (Stringent vision and physical fitness standards; Lasik surgery candidates NOT eligible) |
| Application Mode | Online only (via official RRB websites) |
| Selection Mode | CBT-1 (75 marks) + CBT-2 (Part A: 100 marks + Part B: 75 marks qualifying) + CBAT + Document Verification + Medical Examination |
| Suitability for PwBD | Not Suitable |
| Official Website | Refer RRB-wise websites listed below (e.g., www.rrbald.gov.in, www.rrbmumbai.gov.in, etc.) |
RRB ALP Recruitment 2026 – Vacancy Details
A total of 11,127 vacancies have been released for the Assistant Loco Pilot (ALP) post under various Railway Recruitment Boards (RRBs) and Zonal Railways across India. The vacancies are allocated category-wise among UR, SC, ST, OBC, and EWS candidates as per government reservation rules. The number of vacancies reserved for Ex-Servicemen (ExSM) is already included in the overall vacancy count and is not considered additional. Candidates belonging to the PwBD category are not eligible for this recruitment, as the post has been declared unsuitable for Persons with Benchmark Disabilities.
RRB ALP Recruitment 2026 – Eligibility Criteria
Candidates applying for RRB ALP Recruitment 2026 must satisfy all eligibility conditions on or before the last date of online application submission, i.e., 14 June 2026. Applicants should possess the required Educational or Technical qualifications from a recognized Board, University, or Institute. Candidates who are awaiting their final examination results are not eligible to apply for the Assistant Loco Pilot (ALP) post.
The ALP position is not suitable for Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD). Additionally, candidates who have undergone Lasik surgery or any other type of corrective eye surgery are not eligible for this recruitment due to the strict medical standards prescribed by the Railway Recruitment Boards (RRBs).
Educational Qualification
| Option | Details |
|---|---|
| Option A – Matriculation + ITI | Matriculation / SSLC plus ITI from recognised institutions of NCVT/SCVT in the trades of Fitter, Electrician, Instrument Mechanic, Millwright/Maintenance Mechanic, Mechanic (Radio & TV), Electronics Mechanic, Mechanic (Motor Vehicle), Wireman, Tractor Mechanic, Armature & Coil Winder, Mechanic (Diesel), Heat Engine, Turner, Machinist, Refrigeration & Air-Conditioning Mechanic. OR Matriculation / SSLC plus Course Completed Act Apprenticeship in the above trades. |
| Option B – Matriculation + Diploma/Degree in Engineering | Matriculation / SSLC plus 3-year Diploma in Mechanical / Electrical / Electronics / Automobile Engineering (or combination of these streams) from a recognised institution in lieu of ITI. Note: Degree in the above Engineering disciplines will also be acceptable in lieu of Diploma. |
RRB ALP Recruitment 2026 – Age Limit
| Category | Age Limit / Relaxation |
|---|---|
| General (UR) & EWS | 18 to 30 years (as on 01-07-2026) |
| OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) | 3 years relaxation (max 33 years) |
| SC & ST | 5 years relaxation (max 35 years) |
| Ex-Servicemen (UR & EWS) | 3 years after deduction of length of service from age |
| Ex-Servicemen (OBC-NCL) | 6 years after deduction of length of service from age |
| Ex-Servicemen (SC & ST) | 8 years after deduction of length of service from age |
| Serving Railway Staff (Group C/D) – UR & EWS | Maximum 40 years of age |
| Serving Railway Staff (Group C/D) – OBC (NCL) | Maximum 43 years of age |
| Serving Railway Staff (Group C/D) – SC & ST | Maximum 45 years of age |
| Widowed / Divorced / Judicially Separated Women (UR & EWS) | Maximum 35 years of age |
| Widowed / Divorced / Judicially Separated Women (OBC-NCL) | Maximum 38 years of age |
| Widowed / Divorced / Judicially Separated Women (SC & ST) | Maximum 40 years of age |
RRB ALP Recruitment 2026 – Application Fee
| Category | Examination Fee | Refund on Appearing in CBT-1 |
|---|---|---|
| All Candidates (except categories below) | Rs. 500/- (Rupees Five Hundred only) | Rs. 400/- refunded (deducting bank charges) |
| SC / ST / Ex-Servicemen / Female / Transgender / Minorities / Economically Backward Class (EBC) | Rs. 250/- (Rupees Two Hundred and Fifty only) | Rs. 250/- fully refunded (deducting bank charges) |
RRB ALP Recruitment 2026 Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Date of Indicative Notice in Employment News | 21/03/2026 |
| Opening of Online Application Portal | 15-05-2026 (00:00 Hrs.) |
| Last Date for Online Application Submission | 14-06-2026 (upto 23:59 Hrs.) |
| Last Date for Application Fee Payment | 16-06-2026 (upto 23:59 Hrs.) |
| Modification Window for Application Corrections | 17-06-2026 to 26-06-2026 (upto 23:59 Hrs.) |
| Age Calculated As On | 01-07-2026 |
| CBT-1 / CBT-2 / CBAT Date | To be notified on official RRB websites |
RRB ALP Recruitment 2026 – Selection Process
The selection procedure for RRB ALP Recruitment 2026 includes five important stages: First Stage CBT (CBT-1), Second Stage CBT (CBT-2), Computer Based Aptitude Test (CBAT), Document Verification (DV), and Medical Examination (ME).
CBT-1 is conducted as a qualifying screening test, and the marks obtained in this stage are not considered while preparing the final merit list. The final selection of candidates is based on the combined performance in Part-A of CBT-2 and the CBAT, with both carrying 50% weightage each.
Candidates should note that a negative marking of 1/3rd mark will be deducted for every incorrect answer in both CBT-1 and CBT-2 examinations. However, no negative marking is applicable in the Computer Based Aptitude Test (CBAT).
Stage 1 – First Stage CBT (CBT-1) – Screening Only
| Details | Particulars |
|---|---|
| Duration | 60 Minutes |
| Total Questions / Marks | 75 Questions / 75 Marks (1 mark per question) |
| Type | Objective MCQ – Computer Based Test |
| Negative Marking | 1/3rd mark deducted per wrong answer |
| Minimum Qualifying Marks | UR & EWS: 40% | OBC (NCL): 30% | SC: 30% | ST: 25% |
| Shortlisting for CBT-2 | 15 times the vacancies notified per RRB (based on CBT-1 merit, RRB-wise) |
| Syllabus | Mathematics, Mental Ability (Reasoning), General Science (10th standard level) |
Stage 2 – Second Stage CBT (CBT-2)
| Part | Duration | Questions | Nature | Minimum Qualifying Marks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part-A | 90 Minutes | 100 Questions / 100 Marks | Competitive – marks counted for merit | UR & EWS: 40% | OBC (NCL): 30% | SC: 30% | ST: 25% |
| Part-B | 60 Minutes | 75 Questions / 75 Marks | Qualifying only – trade-specific | 35% for all candidates irrespective of category |
| Total Duration | 175 Questions / 2.5 Hours | |||
Part-A Syllabus (CBT-2): Mathematics, General Intelligence and Reasoning, Basic Science and Engineering (Engineering Drawing, Units, Measurements, Basic Electricity, Levers, IT Literacy, etc.)
Part-B Syllabus (CBT-2) – Trade-wise Qualifying Test:
| Sl. No. | Qualification of Candidate | Trade / Subject of Choice for Part-B |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Electrical Engineering (and combinations) | Electrician, Instrument Mechanic, Wireman, Armature & Coil Winder, Refrigeration and Air-conditioning Mechanic |
| 2 | Electronics Engineering (and combinations) | Electronics Mechanic, Mechanic (Radio & TV) |
| 3 | Mechanical Engineering (and combinations) | Fitter, Mechanic (Motor Vehicle), Tractor Mechanic, Mechanic (Diesel), Turner, Machinist, Refrigeration and Air-conditioning Mechanic, Heat Engine, Millwright/Maintenance Mechanic |
| 4 | Automobile Engineering (and combinations) | Mechanic (Motor Vehicle), Tractor Mechanic, Mechanic (Diesel), Heat Engine, Refrigeration and Air-conditioning Mechanic |
Stage 3 – Computer Based Aptitude Test (CBAT)
| Shortlisting for CBAT | 8 times the ALP vacancies per community/category per RRB (based on Part-A marks of CBT-2) |
| Qualifying Marks | Minimum T-score of 42 in each test battery separately (all candidates irrespective of category) |
| Language | English and Hindi only |
| Negative Marking | No negative marking |
Stage 4 & 5 – Document Verification (DV) and Medical Examination (ME)
Final merit list is prepared RRB-wise from candidates qualifying in CBAT, with 50% weightage to Part-A of CBT-2 marks and 50% weightage to CBAT scores. Candidates equal to the number of vacancies are shortlisted for DV and Medical Examination. In case of a tie, the older candidate is preferred; if age is also equal, alphabetical order of given name (A to Z) is applied.
Tie-Breaking Rules
| 1st Tie-Break | Seniority of age (older candidate preferred) |
| 2nd Tie-Break | Alphabetical order (A to Z) of given name (not surname) |
RRB ALP Recruitment 2026 – Medical Standards
The Assistant Loco Pilot (ALP) post comes under the A-1 Medical Standard category, which requires candidates to meet strict physical and eyesight fitness conditions prescribed by the Railway Recruitment Boards (RRBs). Applicants must be medically fit in all aspects, especially in terms of vision standards required for railway safety operations.
Candidates who have undergone Lasik surgery or any other type of corrective eye surgery are not eligible to apply for the ALP post. In addition, candidates are required to submit a Self-Screening Medical Declaration Report during the CBAT examination process. Part-A of the declaration must be signed by a General Physician, while Part-B must be certified by an Eye Specialist from a Central/State Government Hospital or Medical College.
| Medical Standard | General Fitness | Vision Standards |
|---|---|---|
| A-1 | Physically fit in all respects | (i) Distant Vision: 6/6, 6/6 without glasses with fogging test (must not accept +2D); (ii) Near Vision: Sn: 0.6, 0.6 without glasses; (iii) Must pass tests for Colour Vision, Binocular Vision, Field of Vision, Night Vision, Mesopic Vision, etc. |
