RRB ALP Recruitment 2026: Complete Guide to 11,127 Assistant Loco Pilot Vacancies

The Railway Recruitment Boards (RRBs), under the Ministry of Railways, have released Centralised Employment Notice (CEN) No. 01/2026 for the recruitment of Assistant Loco Pilots (ALP) across Indian Railways. With 11,127 vacancies notified across 21 RRBs and multiple railway zones, this is one of the largest railway recruitment drives of 2026 — and a golden opportunity for ITI, diploma, and engineering degree holders aiming for a career on the footplate of Indian Railways.

If you've been waiting for the next big railway exam, this is it. Here's everything you need to know.

Quick Snapshot

Important Dates to Mark

Missing a deadline here means missing the next big railway opportunity. Save these:

• Online application opens: 15 May 2026 (00:00 hrs)
• Online application closes: 14 June 2026 (23:59 hrs)
• Last date for fee payment: 16 June 2026 (23:59 hrs)
• Modification window: 17 June 2026 to 26 June 2026 (with ₹250 modification fee per occasion)

Note that details entered in the "Create an Account" form (including mobile number and email ID) and the chosen RRB cannot be modified later — so fill them with extreme care.

Vacancy Distribution Across RRBs

The 11,127 vacancies are distributed across 21 RRBs and multiple railway zones. Here are the top recruiters in this CEN:

• Mumbai (CR/SCR/WR): 1,193 vacancies (CR alone has 1,078)
• Secunderabad (ECoR/SCR): 1,420 vacancies
• Ranchi (ECR/SER): 1,300 vacancies
• Bhubaneshwar (ECoR): 801 vacancies
• Guwahati (NFR): government exam 676 vacancies
• Ajmer (NWR/WCR): 718 vacancies
• Siliguri (NFR): 600 vacancies
• Kolkata (ER/SER): 841 vacancies

Category-wise totals (all RRBs combined): UR – 4,860 | SC – 1,746 | ST – 919 | OBC – 2,598 | EWS – 1,004 | ExSM – 1,115 (horizontally reserved within total).

Important: You can apply to only one RRB and submit only one application. Multiple applications will lead to disqualification and lifetime debarment from RRB/RRC exams.

Eligibility Criteria

Age Limit (as on 01-07-2026)

• Minimum: 18 years
• Maximum: 30 years

Age relaxation:

• SC/ST: 5 years
• OBC (NCL): 3 years
• Ex-Servicemen: 3 to 8 years (depending on category, after deducting length of service)
• Female (widowed/divorced/judicially separated): up to 40 years (varies by category)
• Serving Railway Group C/erstwhile Group D staff with 3+ years service: up to 45 years (varies)

Educational Qualification

Candidates must possess one of the following as on the closing date (14.06.2026):

Option A: Matriculation/SSLC plus ITI from NCVT/SCVT-recognised institutions in any of these trades — 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, or Refrigeration & Air-Conditioning Mechanic.

OR

Matriculation/SSLC plus Course Completed Act Apprenticeship in the trades above.

Option B: Matriculation/SSLC plus a three-year Diploma in Mechanical / Electrical / Electronics / Automobile Engineering (or a combination of these streams) from a recognised institution.

A Degree in Engineering in the above disciplines is also acceptable in lieu of Diploma.

Candidates awaiting final results are NOT eligible.

Medical Standard A-1 — The Strictest Bar

The post of ALP carries one of the toughest medical standards in Indian India Post GDS Railways because you'll be operating locomotives. Key requirements:

• Distant Vision: 6/6 in both eyes without glasses (with fogging test, must not accept +2D)
• Near Vision: Sn 0.6, 0.6 without glasses
• Must pass tests for colour vision, binocular vision, field of vision, night vision, and mesopic vision
• Candidates who have undergone LASIK or any other refractive eye surgery are NOT eligible

A Self-Screening Medical Declaration is built into the online application. If you can't honestly tick all the boxes — speech, hearing, vision (no LASIK), mental fitness, no diabetes/hypertension, no psychoactive substance use — reconsider applying. Medical reports signed by a General Physician and Eye Specialist (Annexure VIII A & B) must be carried to the CBAT exam.

Application Fee

• General/OBC/EWS: ₹500 (₹400 refunded after appearing in CBT-1)
• SC/ST/Ex-Servicemen/Female/Transgender/Minorities/EBC: ₹250 (fully refundable after appearing in CBT-1, minus bank charges)

Payment is online only — net banking, debit/credit cards, or UPI. Refunds are credited to the Aadhaar-seeded bank account only, so make sure yours is linked and operational.

EBC ≠ OBC ≠ EWS — these are three distinct categories. EBC candidates (family income below ₹50,000/year) get only the fee concession, not job reservation.

The Selection Process: 5 Stages

Stage 1: First Stage CBT (CBT-1) — Screening Only

• Duration: 60 minutes
• Questions: 75 (1 mark each)
• Negative marking: 1/3 mark per wrong answer
• Sections: Mathematics, Mental Ability, General Science (10th standard level)
• Qualifying %: UR/EWS – 40%, OBC-NCL – 30%, SC – 30%, ST – 25%

Marks of CBT-1 are not counted in the final merit. Only 15 times the vacancies per RRB get shortlisted for CBT-2.

Stage 2: Second Stage CBT (CBT-2)

• Total Duration: 2 hours 30 minutes
• Total Questions: 175 Assistant
• Part A: 90 minutes, 100 questions — Mathematics, General Intelligence & Reasoning, Basic Science & Engineering
• Part B: 60 minutes, 75 questions — Trade-specific (qualifying only, 35% needed)
• Negative marking: 1/3 mark in both parts

Only Part A marks count towards the final merit (provided you clear Part B with 35%).

Stage 3: Computer Based Aptitude Test (CBAT)

• Conducted in English and Hindi only
• No negative marking
• Must score a minimum T-score of 42 in each test battery to qualify
• 8 times the vacancies shortlisted per category from Part-A of CBT-2

Stage 4: Document Verification (DV)

Final merit is prepared with a 50:50 weightage between CBT-2 Part-A and CBAT scores. Tie-breaker: older candidate gets higher rank; if same age, alphabetical order of given name.

Stage 5: Medical Examination

Conducted by Railway Medical Authorities as per A-1 standards. If you fail and don't opt for a medical appeal in time, your candidature ends — no alternate appointment will be offered.

Language Options for the Exam

CBT-1 and CBT-2 will be available in 15 languages: English, Hindi, Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Kannada, Konkani, Malayalam, Manipuri, Marathi, Odia, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu, and Urdu. CBAT, however, is only in English and Hindi.

Choose your language carefully in the application — no change is allowed later.

Key Things to Remember Before You Apply

1. One RRB, one application. Multiple applications = lifetime debarment.
2. Authenticate with DigiLocker or Aadhaar during account creation for smoother verification.
3. Live photo capture is built into the application — no uploading old photos. Wear dark/non-white clothing, no cap/mask/glasses, neutral expression.
4. Signature in running handwriting only — no block, capital, or disjointed letters. Same signature must be used at every stage.
5. Medium of exam, RRB choice, and Government Jobs "Create an Account" details cannot be changed later — even with the modification fee.
6. SC/ST candidates can avail free Sleeper Class railway pass for all exam stages by uploading the SC/ST certificate.
7. Serving employees (Central/State Govt, PSU, Railways) need an NOC at the time of DV.
8. Posting is on the allotted Zonal Railway, and no transfer is allowed for 5–10 years of service. Choose your RRB wisely.

What ALP Means as a Career

The Assistant Loco Pilot is the second-in-command in a locomotive cab, working alongside the Loco Pilot to operate passenger and freight trains across India's vast rail network. The role is technically demanding, carries serious safety responsibilities, and offers a clear promotion ladder — ALP → Senior ALP → Loco Pilot (Goods) → Loco Pilot (Passenger) → Loco Pilot (Mail/Express).

The starting pay of ₹19,900 (Level-2, 7th CPC) plus DA, HRA, running allowance, and other railway benefits makes it a respected and financially stable government job. Selected candidates undergo mandatory training during which only a stipend is paid.

Where to Apply

Applications must be submitted online only through the official website of the RRB you choose. The 21 participating RRBs are: Ahmedabad, Ajmer, Bhopal, Bhubaneswar, Bilaspur, Chandigarh, Chennai, Gorakhpur, Guwahati, Jammu-Srinagar, Kolkata, Malda, Mumbai, Muzaffarpur, Patna, Prayagraj, Ranchi, Bengaluru, Secunderabad, Siliguri, and Thiruvananthapuram.

Helpline: rrb.help@csc.gov.in | 0172-565-3333 | 9592001188 (10 AM – 5 PM, working days)

Beware of fake websites and touts. RRBs never appoint agents or coaching centres. Selection is purely on merit.

Final Word

The RRB ALP 2026 recruitment is a substantial opportunity — 11,127 vacancies, a stable Group C job with clear career progression, and entry into one of the world's largest railway systems. But with stringent medical standards, a three-stage exam process, and a single-application rule, preparation needs to be both physical and academic.

Start with the basics: confirm your eligibility, build a study plan around the CBT-1 and CBT-2 syllabi, get familiar with the trade-specific Part-B questions, and — most importantly — make sure your eyes and overall health meet the A-1 standard before you spend months preparing.

The application window opens 15 May 2026. Mark your calendar, gather your documents, and apply early to avoid last-minute server rushes.

All the best for CEN 01/2026!

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