The Railway Recruitment Board (RRB) has officially released the notification (CEN 01/2026) for 11,127 Assistant Loco Pilot (ALP) posts across Indian Railways. Online applications are open from 15 May 2026 to 14 June 2026 on the official portal rrbapply.gov.in.
This is one of the biggest railway technical recruitment drives of 2026. Candidates with ITI, Diploma, or Engineering Degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Electronics, or Automobile streams can apply. Read below for full details on eligibility, exam pattern, vacancies, salary, and how to apply.
RRB ALP Recruitment 2026 — Overview
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Exam Name | RRB Assistant Loco Pilot Recruitment 2026 |
| Notification Number | CEN 01/2026 |
| Conducting Authority | Railway Recruitment Board (RRB) |
| Post Name | Assistant Loco Pilot (ALP) |
| Total Vacancies | 11,127 Posts |
| Application Start Date | 15 May 2026 (00:00 Hrs) |
| Last Date to Apply | 14 June 2026 (23:59 Hrs) |
| Application Mode | Online Only |
| Selection Process | CBT 1 → CBT 2 → CBAT → Document Verification → Medical Test |
| Starting Salary | ₹19,900 (Level 2, 7th CPC Pay Matrix) |
| CBT-1 Duration | 60 Minutes |
| CBT-2 Duration | 150 Minutes (Part A: 90 min + Part B: 60 min) |
| Negative Marking | 1/3 mark deducted for every wrong answer |
| Official Website | rrbapply.gov.in |
RRB ALP Vacancy 2026
A total of 11,127 vacancies have been distributed across 19 RRB zones covering all Indian Railway regions. The table below shows the zone-wise breakdown by category.
Zone-wise Vacancy Distribution
| RRB Zone | UR | OBC | SC | ST | EWS | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mumbai (CR / SCR / WR) | 336 | 380 | 219 | 106 | 152 | 1193 |
| Secunderabad (ECOR / SCR) | 625 | 390 | 209 | 102 | 94 | 1420 |
| Bhubaneshwar (ECOR) | 370 | 176 | 120 | 58 | 77 | 801 |
| Ranchi (ECR / SER) | 472 | 363 | 233 | 105 | 127 | 1300 |
| Kolkata (ER / SER) | 415 | 129 | 154 | 87 | 56 | 841 |
| Prayagraj (NCR / NR) | 346 | 107 | 60 | 38 | 59 | 610 |
| Ahmedabad (WR) | 62 | 38 | 22 | 11 | 14 | 147 |
| Bhopal (WCR / WR) | 209 | 123 | 82 | 23 | 16 | 453 |
| Bilaspur (CR / SECR) | 215 | 140 | 77 | 38 | 52 | 522 |
| Chandigarh (NR) | 56 | 49 | 39 | 23 | 20 | 187 |
| Chennai (SR) | 93 | 41 | 24 | 14 | 14 | 186 |
| Gorakhpur (NER) | 28 | 17 | 11 | 37 | 12 | 105 |
| Guwahati (NFR) | 272 | 164 | 109 | 63 | 68 | 676 |
| Jammu-Srinagar (NR) | 158 | 110 | 58 | 30 | 44 | 400 |
| Malda (ER / SER) | 226 | 151 | 84 | 42 | 56 | 559 |
| Muzaffarpur (ECR) | 18 | 11 | 6 | 3 | 4 | 42 |
| Patna (ECR) | 41 | 28 | 16 | 8 | 10 | 103 |
| Siliguri (NFR) | 243 | 161 | 90 | 46 | 60 | 600 |
| Thiruvananthapuram (SR) | 28 | 22 | 8 | 5 | 1 | 64 |
| All India Total | 4611 | 2828 | 1767 | 913 | 1008 | 11,127 |
RRB ALP Salary 2026
Selected candidates will be placed at Level 2 of the 7th CPC Pay Matrix with a basic pay of ₹19,900 per month, along with the following allowances:
| Post | Pay Level | Basic Pay |
|---|---|---|
| Assistant Loco Pilot (ALP) | Level 2 | ₹19,900/month |
Additional Allowances
- ✔ Dearness Allowance (DA)
- ✔ House Rent Allowance (HRA)
- ✔ Transport Allowance (TA)
- ✔ Railway Medical Benefits
- ✔ Running Mileage Allowance (based on duty hours)
- ✔ Free Sleeper Class Travel Passes
Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Application Opens | 15 May 2026 (00:00 Hrs) |
| Last Date to Apply Online | 14 June 2026 (23:59 Hrs) |
| Fee Payment Deadline | 16 June 2026 (23:59 Hrs) |
| Correction / Edit Window | 17 June – 26 June 2026 |
| Exam City Intimation | 10 days before exam date |
| Admit Card Download | 4 days before exam date |
Eligibility Criteria
1. Educational Qualification
| Route | Required Qualification |
|---|---|
| ITI / Apprenticeship | Matriculation (10th pass) + ITI in relevant trade from NCVT/SCVT (Fitter, Electrician, Diesel Mechanic, Electronics Mechanic, Instrument Mechanic, Turner, Machinist, Wireman, etc.) OR Completed Act Apprenticeship (CCAA). |
| Diploma | Matriculation (10th pass) + 3-year Diploma in Mechanical, Electrical, Electronics, or Automobile Engineering. |
| Degree | B.E. / B.Tech in Mechanical, Electrical, Electronics, or Automobile Engineering (accepted in place of Diploma). |
2. Age Limit (as on 01 July 2026)
| Post | Minimum Age | Maximum Age |
|---|---|---|
| Assistant Loco Pilot (ALP) | 18 Years | 30 Years |
3. Age Relaxation
| Category | Relaxation |
|---|---|
| OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) | 3 Years |
| SC / ST | 5 Years |
| Ex-Servicemen (UR / EWS) | 3 years after deducting service length |
4. Medical Standard — A1 (Mandatory)
| Parameter | Required Standard |
|---|---|
| General Fitness | Physically fit in all respects |
| Distant Vision | 6/6 in each eye — without glasses (no fogging, no +2D acceptance) |
| Near Vision | Sn: 0.6, 0.6 — without glasses |
| Refractive Surgery | Candidates with LASIK or any refractive eye surgery history are not eligible |
Exam Pattern
Stage 1 — CBT-1 (Screening)
| Subject | Questions | Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Intelligence & Reasoning | 75 | 75 | 60 min |
| Mathematics | |||
| General Science | |||
| Total | 75 | 75 | 60 min |
- Mode: Computer-based objective test (MCQ)
- Negative marking: 1/3 mark deducted per wrong answer
- CBT-1 is only a screening test — its marks do NOT count in the final merit
Stage 2 — CBT-2 (Merit)
| Part | Questions | Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|---|
| Part A (counts for final merit) | 100 | 90 min | Mathematics, General Intelligence & Reasoning, Basic Science & Engineering |
| Part B (qualifying only — 35% minimum) | 75 | 60 min | Trade-specific technical syllabus as per DGT guidelines |
Stage 3 — CBAT (Aptitude Test)
Candidates shortlisted from CBT-2 appear for the Computer-Based Aptitude Test (CBAT). No negative marking in CBAT.
Key Changes in RRB ALP 2026
- No General Awareness in CBT-1: The new pattern removes the General Awareness section entirely. CBT-1 now tests only Mathematics, Reasoning, and General Science.
- 50:50 Merit Weightage: Final merit is based equally on CBT-2 Part A (50%) and CBAT (50%). This gives equal importance to technical knowledge and aptitude.
Previous Year Cut-Off Reference
| RRB Zone | Previous Cut-Off (UR) | MockGrow Target Estimate (CBT-1) |
|---|---|---|
| Muzaffarpur | 72.08 | 70 – 75 |
| Patna | 67.59 | 65 – 72 |
| Kolkata | 63.44 | 62 – 70 |
| Bhopal | 45.53 | 50 – 58 |
| Chandigarh | 40.09 | 48 – 55 |
Application Fee
| Category | Fee | Refund after CBT-1 Appearance |
|---|---|---|
| General / OBC / EWS | ₹500 | ₹400 refunded (after bank charges) |
| SC / ST / Female / Minorities / Ex-SM / EBC | ₹250 | Full ₹250 refunded |
How to Apply Online
- Visit the official portal: rrbapply.gov.in
- Click "Create an Account" to register, or log in if you have existing credentials from 2024/2025 RRB applications.
- Complete identity verification using Aadhaar or DigiLocker.
- Take a live photo — sit upright, look straight at the camera, wear dark-coloured clothes against a non-white background.
- Upload your signature scanned on white paper with a black-ink pen. File size: 30KB–49KB in JPG format.
- Choose your preferred RRB zone(s).
- Pay the application fee online and save the confirmation receipt.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. How many vacancies are there in RRB ALP 2026?
A total of 11,127 vacancies have been announced under CEN 01/2026 across all Indian Railway zones.
Q2. What is the last date to apply?
The last date for online application is 14 June 2026 (till 23:59 hours). Fee payment can be done up to 16 June 2026.
Q3. Is there negative marking in RRB ALP 2026?
Yes. A penalty of 1/3 mark applies for every wrong answer in CBT-1 and CBT-2. There is no negative marking in CBAT.
Q4. What is the selection process for RRB ALP?
The process has five stages: CBT-1 → CBT-2 → CBAT → Document Verification → Medical Examination.
Q5. Can final year students apply for RRB ALP 2026?
No. Candidates who are still waiting for their results are not eligible. The qualifying certificate must be obtained before the closing date of the application.
Q6. Is LASIK-operated candidate eligible for ALP?
No. Candidates with a history of LASIK or any refractive eye surgery are completely ineligible for Assistant Loco Pilot posts due to the A1 medical standard requirement.
Join MockGrow Community
Stay updated with the latest exam notifications, study material, and preparation tips.
