The Railway Recruitment Board (RRB) has officially released the RRB ALP Notification 2026 under CEN 01/2026 for the recruitment of 11,127 Assistant Loco Pilots (ALP) across various railway zones nationwide. Over 8 lakh candidates have successfully submitted their applications and are now eagerly awaiting the announcement of the CBT 1 exam date.
RRB ALP Recruitment 2026: Overview Table
| RRB ALP 2026- Key Highlights | |
|---|---|
| Conducting Body | Railway Recruitment Board (RRB) |
| Post Name | Assistant Loco Pilot (ALP) |
| Advt No. | CEN 01/2026 |
| Total Vacancies | 11,127 |
| Mode of Application | Online |
| Exam Date | To be notified |
| Education Qualification | Education- 10th pass + SSLC /ITI |
| Age Limit | 18 to 30 years |
| Pay Level | Level-2 (7th CPC) |
| Initial Pay | Rs. 19900 |
| Selection process | CBT 1, CBT 2, CBAT, DV, DME |
| Job Location | Across India |
| Official website | https://www.rrbcdg.gov.in/ |
| Official Notification | Download PDF |
RRB ALP CBT 2 Admit Card 2026 Out - Click to Download
Latest Update: The RRB ALP online application window is now officially closed, with a total of 840,944 candidates registered. The official RRB ALP CBT 1 Exam Date will be announced shortly.
840944 Applications Filled for RRB ALP CEN 01/2026- Check Zone-wise Data
RRB ALP 2026 Important Dates
| Events | Important Dates |
|---|---|
| Detailed Notification | 14th May 2026 |
| Online Application Starts | 15th May 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply | 14th June 2026 (11:59 pm) |
| Last Date to Pay Fee | 16th June 2026 |
| Application Modification Window | To be notified |
| RRB ALP Application Status 2026 | July 2026 |
| CBT 1 City Intimation | 10 days before exam |
| CBT 1 Admit Card | 4 days before exam |
| CBT 1 Exam Date | To be notified |
| CBT 2 Exam Date | To be notified |
| CBAT Date | To be notified |
| Document Verification | To be notified |
RRB ALP 2026 Vacancy Details
The Railway Recruitment Board has announced 11,127 Assistant Loco Pilot vacancies across all 21 RRBs and 17 railway zones under CEN 01/2026. Candidates are permitted to apply to only one specific RRB. Before proceeding, applicants must verify their chosen railway zone, eligibility criteria, medical standards, and trade requirements.
RRB Launches Single Portal For All Railway Recruitment- Click to Check
The comprehensive category-wise and zone-wise breakdown is provided below.
RRB ALP Vacancy (Category-wise)
| Category | Vacancies |
|---|---|
| UR | 4860 |
| SC | 1746 |
| ST | 919 |
| OBC | 2598 |
| EWS | 1004 |
| Total | 11127 |
| ExSM | 1115 |
RRB ALP Vacancy (Zone-wise)
| RRB | Zones | Total | UR | SC | ST | OBC | EWS | EsSM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ahmedabad | WR | 147 | 62 | 22 | 11 | 38 | 14 | 15 |
| Ajmer | NWR | 600 | 262 | 97 | 59 | 142 | 40 | 60 |
| WCR | 118 | 56 | 18 | 0 | 32 | 12 | 12 | |
| Prayagraj | NCR | 457 | 284 | 37 | 27 | 65 | 44 | 46 |
| NR | 153 | 62 | 23 | 11 | 42 | 15 | 15 | |
| Bengaluru | SWR | 200 | 80 | 31 | 15 | 54 | 20 | 20 |
| Bhopal | WCR | 423 | 194 | 74 | 23 | 117 | 15 | 42 |
| WR | 30 | 15 | 8 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 3 | |
| Bhubaneshwar | ECoR | 801 | 548 | 70 | 36 | 48 | 99 | 80 |
| Bilaspur | CR | 322 | 187 | 77 | 52 | 0 | 6 | 32 |
| SECR | 200 | 84 | 29 | 14 | 53 | 20 | 20 | |
| Chandigarh | NR | 187 | 56 | 39 | 23 | 49 | 20 | 19 |
| Chennai | SR | 186 | 93 | 24 | 14 | 41 | 14 | 19 |
| Gorakhpur | NER | 105 | 28 | 11 | 37 | 17 | 12 | 10 |
| Guwahati | NFR | 676 | 272 | 109 | 63 | 164 | 68 | 68 |
| Jammu | NR | 400 | 158 | 58 | 30 | 110 | 44 | 40 |
| Kolkata | ER | 344 | 135 | 53 | 35 | 89 | 32 | 34 |
| SER | 497 | 280 | 101 | 52 | 40 | 24 | 50 | |
| Malda | ER | 270 | 109 | 41 | 20 | 73 | 27 | 27 |
| SER | 289 | 117 | 43 | 22 | 78 | 29 | 29 | |
| Mumbai | CR | 1078 | 290 | 207 | 99 | 344 | 138 | 108 |
| SCR | 78 | 32 | 7 | 4 | 26 | 9 | 8 | |
| WR | 37 | 14 | 5 | 3 | 10 | 5 | 4 | |
| Muzaffarpur | ECR | 42 | 18 | 6 | 3 | 11 | 4 | 4 |
| Patna | ECR | 103 | 41 | 16 | 8 | 28 | 10 | 10 |
| Ranchi | ECR | 555 | 224 | 83 | 42 | 150 | 56 | 56 |
| SER | 745 | 248 | 150 | 63 | 213 | 71 | 74 | |
| Secunderabad | ECoR | 824 | 387 | 119 | 57 | 228 | 33 | 82 |
| SCR | 596 | 238 | 90 | 45 | 162 | 61 | 61 | |
| Siliguri | NFR | 600 | 243 | 90 | 46 | 161 | 60 | 60 |
| Trivandrum | SR | 64 | 43 | 8 | 5 | 7 | 1 | 7 |
| Total | 11127 | 4860 | 1746 | 919 | 2598 | 1004 | 1115 | |
Also Check- RRB Technician Notification 2026 Out for 6565 Posts
RRB ALP Vacancy Trend (Last 4 years)
| Year | Vacancies |
|---|---|
| 2026 | 11.127 |
| 2025 | 10,970 |
| 2024 | 18,799 |
| 2018 | 27,795 |
Major Changes in RRB ALP 2026 Exam
Feature RRB ALP 2025 RRB ALP 2026 Final Merit Weightage CBT 2- 70%
CBAT- 30%CBT 2- 50%
CBAT- 50%General Awareness in CBT 1 Included Removed Total Vacancies 10,970 11,127
RRB ALP 2026 Eligibility Criteria
Candidates aspiring to apply for the RRB ALP 2026 recruitment must ensure they satisfy all mandatory educational qualifications and age limit requirements stipulated by the Railway Recruitment Board. Review the details below.
Educational Qualification
Applicants must fulfill at least one of the following criteria:
- Matriculation / SSLC + ITI (NCVT/SCVT) in trades: Armature & Coil Winder, Electrician, Electronics Mechanic, Fitter, Heat Engine, Instrument Mechanic, Machinist, Mechanic Diesel, Mechanic Motor Vehicle, Millwright Maintenance Mechanic, Mechanic Radio & TV, Refrigeration & AC Mechanic, Tractor Mechanic, Turner, Wireman
- Matriculation / SSLC + Course Completed Act Apprenticeship in the trades above
- Three-year Diploma in Mechanical / Electrical / Electronics / Automobile
- Engineering from a recognised institution
Age Limit (as on 01 July 2026)
- Minimum Age- 18 years
- Maximum Age- 30 years
Check Age Limit Relaxation and Complete Eligibility
RRB ALP Application Form
The online registration window for the RRB ALP application form is active at www.rrbapply.gov.in, allowing eligible candidates to submit their forms. The final deadline to complete the RRB ALP Apply Online process is 14th June 2026—ensure you submit your application well before the last date.
RRB ALP Apply Online 2026 Link- Click Here
Important: Applying for more than one RRB will lead to disqualification. Choose carefully.
RRB ALP 2026 Application Fee
Applicants are required to remit the specified application fee while submitting the RRB ALP Application Form 2026. Failure to complete the fee payment will lead to the immediate rejection of the application.
- Fee Payment Modes: Credit Card, Debit Card, Net Banking, UPI, or E-Challan (offline mode).
| Category | Application Fee |
| Rs. 250 |
| For All Other Candidates | Rs. 500 |
Is Application Fee Refund?
Yes on appearing For CBT, the amount is refunded as
- Gen/ OBC/ EWS: Rs. 400/-
- SC/ ST/ EBC/ Female/ Transgender: Rs. 250/-
- Pay the Examination Fee Through Credit Card, Debit Card, Net Banking/ Pay Offline Through E-Challan.
RRB ALP 2026 Selection Process
Candidate selection will be conducted through a rigorous multi-stage procedure in accordance with the RRB ALP CEN 01/2026 guidelines. Railway zone and RRB-specific vacancy distributions have been published alongside the notification. Candidates are allowed to select only one RRB.
| Stages | Test | Nature |
| Stage 1 | CBT 1 (First Stage Computer-Based Test) | Screening — marks not counted in final merit |
| Stage 2 | CBT 2 (Second Stage CBT) | Merit-based — 50% weightage in final merit |
| Stage 3 | CBAT (Computer-Based Aptitude Test) | Merit-based — 50% weightage in final merit |
| Stage 4 | Document Verification (DV) | Qualifying |
| Stage 5 | Medical Examination (DME) | Qualifying |
Final Merit Formula: 50% marks from CBT-2 Part A + 50% marks from CBAT. CBT 1 marks are not counted in the final merit list.
Shortlisting for CBT 2: 15 times the vacancies per RRB, based on CBT 1 merit (normalised across shifts).
RRB ALP Exam Pattern & Syllabus
The updated RRB ALP 2026 exam pattern is detailed below. The comprehensive recruitment process comprises three computer-based stages—CBT 1, CBT 2, and CBAT—followed by Document Verification and a thorough Medical Examination.
CBT 1 Exam Pattern (Updated 2026)
The RRB ALP Exam Pattern 2026 features notable revisions. CBT 1 now comprises 75 questions, with General Awareness officially removed. Questions will focus on Mathematics, General Intelligence & Reasoning, and General Science. Please note that CBT 1 serves exclusively as a screening test, and its marks are excluded from the final merit compilation.
| Subjects | No. of Questions | Marks | Duration | Qualifying Marks |
| 75 | 75 | 1 hour | UR & EWS - 40%, OBC (NCL) - 30% SC - 30% ST - 25% |
Marking Scheme: +1 for correct answer | −⅓ for each incorrect answer.
CBT 1 marks are NOT counted in final merit — it is a screening test only.
CBT 2 Exam Pattern
CBT 2 is administered online with a total duration of 2 hours and 30 minutes. It is structured into two parts: Part A (scoring and merit-based) and Part B (trade-specific and strictly qualifying in nature).
Marking Scheme: +1 for correct | −⅓ for incorrect (Part A). Part B is qualifying only — minimum 35% marks required.
| Sections | No. of Questions | Marks | Duration |
| Part A | |||
| Mathematics | 100 | 100 | 90 minutes |
| General Intelligence & Reasoning | |||
| General Science | |||
| Part B | |||
| Relevant Trade | 75 | 75 | 60 minutes |
| Total | 175 | 175 | 2 hours 30 minutes |
Computer-Based Aptitude Test (CBAT)
Candidates who successfully clear CBT 1 and CBT 2 will advance to the third stage, the Computer-Based Aptitude Test (CBAT), following which the final merit list is prepared. There is no negative marking applicable during the Computer-Based Aptitude Test (CBAT) round.
| Detail | Information |
| Applicable For | ALP posts only |
| Negative Marking | No |
| Language | Bilingual (English & Hindi) |
| Weightage in Final Merit | 50% (increased from 30% in 2025) |
| What It Tests | Memory, Following Directions, Concentration, Perceptual Speed, Information Ordering |
| Minimum Score to Qualify | 42 out of 70 in each test battery |
CBAT Preparation Tip: With CBAT now carrying 50% of final merit, treat it as seriously as your CBT 2. Practice psychometric test batteries daily.
Q. How many attempts are allowed for RRB ALP exam?
Ans.- There is no limit on the number of attempts for RRB ALP until and unless they falls within the prescribed age limit of 18 to 30 years (with applicable relaxations).
RRB ALP Syllabus 2026 (CBT 1 & 2)- Click to Check
RRB ALP 2026 Salary & Pay Scale
Candidates appointed to the Assistant Loco Pilot position will receive an attractive salary package alongside various lucrative perks and allowances, including HRA, DA, and Running Allowances. The ALP position falls under Level 2 of the 7th CPC pay matrix.
| Component | Details |
| Pay Level | Level-2 (7th CPC) |
| Initial Basic Pay | Rs. 19.900 |
| In-hand Salary (approx.) | Rs. 25,000 – Rs. 35,000/month |
| House Rent Allowance (HRA) | 8% – 24% of basic pay (varies by city) |
| Dearness Allowance (DA) | As revised by the Government |
| Running Allowance | Based on km travelled |
| Transport Allowance | 10% deduction from basic + DA |
| New Pension Scheme (NPS) | 10% deduction from basic + DA |
RRB ALP Career Growth Path
The Assistant Loco Pilot position provides a structured and rewarding career growth trajectory within Indian Railways:
Assistant Loco Pilot (Entry Level) → Loco Pilot (Goods) ~2 years → Loco Pilot (Mail/Express) ~5 years → Senior Loco Pilot ~ 10 years→ Loco Supervisor/Inspector ~ 15+ years
RRB ALP Previous Year Cut-Off Marks
Alongside the final results, the Railway Recruitment Board (RRB) will also publish the category-wise cut-off marks for the Assistant Loco Pilot recruitment. Aspirants can review previous years' cut-off trends to gauge the expected difficulty level of the upcoming RRB ALP Examination.
| RRB ALP CBT 1 Cut Off 2024-25 | ||||||
| Zone | Category | UR | SC | ST | OBC | EWS |
| Ajmer | Open | 54.33 | 36.19 | 27.99 | 39.27 | 40.18 |
| EXSM | 40.56 | 55.46 | -- | 31.53 | -- | |
| Chandigarh | Open | 40.09 | 30.01 | 25.02 | 30.01 | -- |
| EXSM | 41.97 | 40.71 | -- | 36.11 | -- | |
| Mumbai | Open | 57.17 | 36.68 | 30.48 | 44.08 | 40.17 |
| EXSM | 40.21 | 40.26 | -- | 31.25 | -- | |
| Malda | Open | 63.06 | 41.57 | 39.81 | 55.98 | 49.80 |
| EXSM | 42.99 | 37.46 | -- | 32.85 | -- | |
| Ranchi | 61.61 | 39.67 | 31.05 | 48.47 | 40.44 | |
| 41.03 | -- | 46.23 | 31.03 | -- | ||
| Guwahati | Open | 59.91 | 37.48 | 26.24 | 49.18 | 40.11 |
| EXSM | 42.56 | 38.41 | -- | 46.84 | -- | |
| Bilaspur | Open | 58.41 | 40.68 | 30.39 | 46.14 | 40.00 |
| EXSM | 40.24 | 31.37 | -- | 30.08 | 41.17 | |
| Thiruvananthapuram | Open | 48.93 | 30.06 | 31.49 | 48.90 | 40.09 |
| EXSM | 41.36 | -- | -- | 30.49 | -- | |
| Chennai | Open | 49.51 | 34.42 | 25.07 | 39.35 | 40.15 |
| EXSM | 41.41 | 31.47 | -- | 30.06 | -- | |
| Kolkata | Open | 63.44 | 45.73 | 34.71 | 46.82 | 40.05 |
| EXSM | 41.20 | 34.70 | -- | 31.09 | -- | |
| Gorakhpur | Open | 63.90 | 44.13 | 25.24 | 51.37 | 40.09 |
| EXSM | 49.03 | 35.65 | -- | 35.62 | -- | |
| Ahmedabad | Open | 54.54 | 36.01 | 28.67 | 41.38 | 40.01 |
| EXSM | 42.67 | -- | 32.76 | 32.56 | -- | |
| Patna | Open | 67.59 | 49.65 | 25.23 | 62.71 | 55.43 |
| EXSM | 45.88 | 62.48 | -- | 30.65 | 41.28 | |
| Bengaluru | Open | 58.49 | 42.11 | 32.24 | 47.16 | 40.07 |
| EXSM | 40.25 | 45.24 | 43.64 | 31.96 | -- | |
| Prayagraj | Open | 59.58 | 48.81 | 25 | 54.51 | 40.09 |
| EXSM | 40.24 | 31.07 | -- | 31.05 | 49.52 | |
| Bhubaneswar | Open | 60.98 | 42.46 | 44.08 | 50.83 | 40.13 |
| EXSM | 40.02 | 34.24 | -- | 31.46 | -- | |
| Jammu-Srinagar | Open | 52.53 | 35.49 | 25.03 | 38.15 | 41.68 |
| EXSM | 52.54 | 51.37 | -- | -- | -- | |
| Bhopal | Open | 45.53 | 31.53 | 27.59 | 38.90 | 40.02 |
| EXSM | 40.84 | -- | -- | 30.59 | -- | |
| Secunderabad | Open | 56.20 | 38.27 | 32.32 | 43.81 | 40.09 |
| EXSM | 30.42 | 30.42 | 30.42 | 30.42 | 30.42 | |
| Muzzafapur | Open | 72.08653 | 50.45285 | 32.10956 | 66.25954 | 56.30216 |
| EXSM | 43.18830 | -- | -- | 33.60804 | -- | |
RRB Normalisation Method & Formula 2026 Out- Click to Check
Participating RRBs for RRB ALP 2026 Exam
Through the RRB ALP 2026 recruitment drive, candidates will be selected as Assistant Loco Pilots across 21 participating Railway Recruitment Boards, as outlined in the official CEN 01/2026 notification.
| RRB ALP 2026 Participating RRBs | |
| RRB Regions | Official website |
| Ahmedabad | www.rrbahmedabad.gov.in |
| Ajmer | www.rrbajmer.gov.in |
| Bengaluru | www.rrbbhopal.gov.in |
| Bhopal | www.rrbbhopal.gov.in |
| Bhubaneshwar | www.rrbbbs.gov.in |
| Bilaspur | www.rrbbilashpur.gov.in |
| Chandigarh | www.rrbccdg.gov.in |
| Chennai | www.rrbchenna.gov.in |
| Gorakhpur | www.rrbgkp.gov.in |
| Guwahati | www.rrbguwahati.gov.in |
| Jammu Srinagar | www.rrbjammu.nic.in |
| Kolkata | www.rrbkolkata.gov.in |
| Malda | www.rrbmalda.gov.in |
| Mumbai | www.rrbmumbai.gov.in |
| Muzaffarpur | www.rrbmuzaffarpur.gov.in |
| Patna | www.rrbpatna.gov.in |
| Prayagraj | www.rrbald.gov.in |
| Ranchi | www.rrbranchi.gov.in |
| Secunderabad | www.rrbsecunderabad.gov.in |
| Siliguri | www.rrbsiliguri.gov.in |
| Thiruvananthapuram | www.rrbthiruvanthapuram.gov.in |
FAQs
Yes, the detailed RRB ALP Notification 2026 (CEN 01/2026) was officially released on 14th May 2026 by the Railway Recruitment Board (RRB) across all regional RRB websites, advertising 11,127 vacancies.
Assistant Loco Pilot → Loco Pilot (Goods) → Loco Pilot (Mail/Express) → Senior Loco Pilot → Loco Supervisor / Loco Inspector.
The prescribed age limit for RRB ALP 2026 is 18 to 30 years as of 1st July 2026. Age relaxations are applicable for SC/ST (5 years), OBC-NCL (3 years), PwBD, and Ex-Servicemen categories as per railway guidelines.
A total of 11,127 Assistant Loco Pilot (ALP) vacancies have been announced under CEN 01/2026, distributed across 17 Railway Zones and all 21 participating RRBs.
The online application process commenced on 15th May 2026, with the final deadline to apply being 14th June 2026 (11:59 PM). Candidates must submit their applications exclusively through the official portal at rrbapply.gov.in.
A significant modification in RRB ALP CEN 01/2026 is the revised merit weightage: CBT-2 Part A accounts for 50% weightage, while the CBAT accounts for the remaining 50%. In the previous 2025 recruitment cycle, the weightage distribution was 70% for CBT-2 and 30% for CBAT.
RRB ALP CBT 1 consists of 75 multiple-choice questions to be completed within 60 minutes, covering Mathematics, General Intelligence & Reasoning, and General Science. A negative marking scheme of 1/3rd mark applies for every incorrect response. Minimum qualifying percentages are 40% for UR/EWS, 30% for OBC/SC, and 25% for ST categories.
An Assistant Loco Pilot works under the guidance of a Loco Pilot to ensure the safe and efficient operation of trains. Core duties include monitoring signals, observing locomotive instruments like speedometers and pressure gauges, conducting pre-departure brake tests, and checking engine oil, fuel, and water levels.
The final deadline to submit applications for RRB ALP 2026 is 14th June 2026, whereas the last date for successful application fee payment is 16th June 2026.
Recommended Reads
- RRB ALP CEN 01/2026: 8.4 Lakh Applications Received – Check Zone-wise Competition
- RRB ALP Application Status 2026: Check CEN 01/2026 Acceptance Status Online
- RRB ALP CBT 2 City Intimation Slip 2025 Released: Check Exam City & Shift Timings
- RRB ALP CBAT Exam Date 2025 Announced: Psycho Test Scheduled for 31 August
- RRB ALP CBT 2 Exam Date 2025 Revised: Check New Schedule and Admit Card Details
- RRB ALP CBT 1 Result 2025 Out: Download Merit List, Scorecard, and Cut-Off Marks
- RRB ALP Preparation Strategy 2026: Master CBT 1, CBT 2 & CBAT
- RRB ALP Notification 2026: 11,127 Vacancies, Exam Dates, Syllabus & Online Form
- RRB ALP Eligibility Criteria 2026: Age Limit, Educational Qualification & Standards
- RRB ALP CBT 1 Result 2026: Direct Link to Zone-wise Merit List & Cut-Off PDF
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