RRB ALP: syllabus, exam pattern & eligibility

Railway Recruitment Boards Assistant Loco Pilot (Centralised Employment Notice, Level 2). Recruitment of Assistant Loco Pilot (ALP), Pay Level 2 (7th CPC, initial pay Rs 19,900), in the zones and production units of Indian Railways, through the Railway Recruitment Boards (RRBs). The notice covers every RRB; a candidate applies to one RRB only. ALP is a safety-critical running-staff post with the strictest vision standard (Medical Standard A-1) and is not open to PwBD candidates.

Category
Railways
Conducted by
Railway Recruitment Boards (RRBs), under the Railway Board, Ministry of Railways, Government of India
Level
Recruitment
Frequency
Irregular: a new Centralised Employment Notice is issued when the zones send vacancies (CEN 01/2025 in April 2025, CEN 01/2026 in May 2026)
Mode
CBT
Languages
English, Hindi, Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Kannada, Konkani, Malayalam, Manipuri, Marathi, Odia, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu, Urdu
Application fee
Rs 500 for all candidates except the concessional group (Rs 400 of it is refunded, less bank charges, on appearing in CBT-1); Rs 250 for SC, ST, ex-servicemen, women, transgender, minorities and EBC candidates (refunded, less bank charges, on appearing in CBT-1). Modification window fee Rs 250 per occasion. CEN 01/2026 notice.

Eligibility

Exam pattern

CBT-1 (First Stage)

60 min · 75 questions · 75 marks

CBT-2 Part A (merit)

90 min · 100 questions

CBT-2 Part B (qualifying trade test)

60 min · 75 questions

Computer Based Aptitude Test (CBAT)

Syllabus

Mathematics (CBT-1 and CBT-2 Part A)

Mathematics

Mental Ability / General Intelligence and Reasoning (CBT-1 and CBT-2 Part A)

Reasoning

General Science (CBT-1)

10th standard science

Basic Science and Engineering (CBT-2 Part A)

Basic Science and Engineering

Trade syllabus (CBT-2 Part B, qualifying)

Electrical Engineering (and combinations), Electronics Engineering (and combinations), Mechanical Engineering (and combinations), Automobile Engineering (and combinations)

Important dates (CEN 01/2025 (stages completed so far; CBAT pending))

Selection process

CBT-1 (screening, RRB-wise, 15 times vacancies) -> CBT-2 (Part A ranks, Part B must be cleared at 35%; 8 times vacancies per category go to CBAT) -> CBAT (T-score of at least 42 in each battery) -> merit list from CBT-2 Part A and CBAT scores (50:50 in CEN 01/2026; 70:30 in CEN 01/2025) with zone preferences -> Document Verification and Medical Examination (Medical Standard A-1) for as many candidates as there are vacancies. Ties are broken by age (older ranks higher), then alphabetical order of the given name. RRBs only recommend names; offers of appointment come from the zonal railways.

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Frequently asked questions

What is RRB ALP?

RRB ALP stands for Railway Recruitment Boards Assistant Loco Pilot (Centralised Employment Notice, Level 2). Recruitment of Assistant Loco Pilot (ALP), Pay Level 2 (7th CPC, initial pay Rs 19,900), in the zones and production units of Indian Railways, through the Railway Recruitment Boards (RRBs). The notice covers every RRB; a candidate applies to one RRB only. ALP is a safety-critical running-staff post with the strictest vision standard (Medical Standard A-1) and is not open to PwBD candidates. It is conducted by Railway Recruitment Boards (RRBs), under the Railway Board, Ministry of Railways, Government of India. Level: Recruitment.

Who is eligible for RRB ALP?

Education: Matriculation/SSLC plus ITI from an NCVT/SCVT-recognised institution in one 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 those trades; OR Matriculation/SSLC plus a three-year Diploma in Mechanical/Electrical/Electronics/Automobile Engineering (or a combination of these) in lieu of ITI. A Degree in these engineering disciplines is also accepted in lieu of the Diploma. Candidates awaiting final results cannot apply (CEN 01/2026, Annexure A). Age limit: 18 to 30 years as on 01-07-2026 (date of birth between 02-07-1996 and 01-07-2008 for UR/EWS). Relaxation in the upper limit: SC/ST 5 years, OBC-NCL 3 years, ex-servicemen 3/6/8 years (UR-EWS/OBC-NCL/SC-ST) after deducting service, serving Railway Group C/erstwhile Group D staff with 3 years' service up to 40/43/45 years (UR-EWS/OBC-NCL/SC-ST), widowed/divorced/judicially separated women up to 35/38/40 years, Course Completed Act Apprentices as per para 5.1 of the notice. Relaxations are not cumulative. Nationality: Citizen of India, or a citizen of Nepal, or a subject of Bhutan, or a Tibetan refugee who came to India before 01-01-1962, or a person of Indian origin who migrated from Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka or specified East African countries or Vietnam to settle in India. Nepal, Bhutan, Tibetan and migrant categories need a certificate of eligibility from the Government of India.

What is the exam pattern of RRB ALP?

CBT-1 (First Stage): 60 minutes, 75 questions, 75 marks. CBT-2 Part A (merit): 90 minutes, 100 questions. CBT-2 Part B (qualifying trade test): 60 minutes, 75 questions. Mode: CBT.

How often is RRB ALP held?

Irregular: a new Centralised Employment Notice is issued when the zones send vacancies (CEN 01/2025 in April 2025, CEN 01/2026 in May 2026).

When is RRB ALP held?

CEN 01/2025 (stages completed so far; CBAT pending) cycle: Notification (CEN 01/2025) and application opens 2025-04-12; Application closes (extended from 11-05-2025 by Corrigendum 1) 2025-05-19; Application modification window 2025-05-22 to 2025-05-31; CBT-1 2026-02-13 to 2026-02-18 (13, 16, 17 and 18 February; some centres rescheduled by special notices); Vacancies raised from 9,970 to 10,970 (Corrigendum 2) 2026-05-21; CBT-1 result and cut-off 2026-06-12.

How are candidates selected through RRB ALP?

CBT-1 (screening, RRB-wise, 15 times vacancies) -> CBT-2 (Part A ranks, Part B must be cleared at 35%; 8 times vacancies per category go to CBAT) -> CBAT (T-score of at least 42 in each battery) -> merit list from CBT-2 Part A and CBAT scores (50:50 in CEN 01/2026; 70:30 in CEN 01/2025) with zone preferences -> Document Verification and Medical Examination (Medical Standard A-1) for as many candidates as there are vacancies. Ties are broken by age (older ranks higher), then alphabetical order of the given name. RRBs only recommend names; offers of appointment come from the zonal railways.

What is the application fee for RRB ALP?

Rs 500 for all candidates except the concessional group (Rs 400 of it is refunded, less bank charges, on appearing in CBT-1); Rs 250 for SC, ST, ex-servicemen, women, transgender, minorities and EBC candidates (refunded, less bank charges, on appearing in CBT-1). Modification window fee Rs 250 per occasion. CEN 01/2026 notice.

Compiled from public sources, last checked 2026-10-04. Dates, fees and rules change, so confirm with the official website before you apply.