RRB ALP Recruitment 2026 notification has been officially released by the Railway Recruitment Boards (RRBs) under the Government of India, Ministry of Railways vide Centralised Employment Notice (CEN) No. 01/2026. Through this notification, RRBs have invited online applications from eligible Indian citizens for the post of Assistant Loco Pilot (ALP). A total of 11,127 vacancies are available across all RRBs pan-India. Online applications can be submitted from 15 May 2026 (00:00 Hrs) to 14 June 2026 (23:59 Hrs). This is one of the biggest Railway recruitment opportunities of 2026 and a golden chance for ITI/Diploma holders looking for a stable central government railway job. The pay level for the ALP post is Level-2 (₹19,900 initial pay) in the 7th CPC pay matrix.
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RRB ALP Recruitment 2026 Overview – CEN 01/2026 Assistant Loco Pilot 11127 Vacancies
| Particular | Details |
| Organization | Railway Recruitment Boards (RRBs), Ministry of Railways, Government of India |
| CEN No. | 01/2026 |
| Post Name | Assistant Loco Pilot (ALP) |
| Total Vacancies | 11,127 |
| Pay Level (7th CPC) | Level-2 (Initial Pay ₹19,900/-) |
| Medical Standard | A-1 (Stringent – No Lasik Surgery allowed) |
| Age Limit (as on 01.07.2026) | 18 to 30 Years |
| Educational Qualification | Matriculation/SSLC + ITI (relevant trade) / Diploma in Engineering / Degree in Engineering |
| Application Mode | Online (through respective RRB official websites) |
| Application Start Date | 15 May 2026 (00:00 Hrs) |
| Last Date to Apply | 14 June 2026 (23:59 Hrs) |
| Last Date for Fee Payment | 16 June 2026 (23:59 Hrs) |
| Application Modification Window | 17 June 2026 to 26 June 2026 (23:59 Hrs) |
| Exam Stages | CBT-1 → CBT-2 → CBAT → Document Verification → Medical Examination |
| Negative Marking | 1/3rd mark for each wrong answer in CBT-1 and CBT-2 (No negative marking in CBAT) |
| Indicative Notice Date | 21 March 2026 (Employment News) |
| Official Helpline | rrb.help@csc.gov.in | 0172-565-3333 | 9592001188 |
RRB ALP Recruitment 2026 is one of the most highly anticipated Railway jobs notifications for 2026. The Assistant Loco Pilot is a Group C post under Level-2 of the 7th CPC Pay Matrix. Candidates selected for ALP will undergo prescribed training (only stipend will be paid during training) and will be posted in the Zonal Railway under which the chosen RRB falls. No transfer request to another Railway will be registered until the newly appointed candidate completes at least 5 to 10 years of service.
RRB ALP 2026 – RRB-wise and Zone-wise Vacancy Details (All 20 RRBs)
The total 11,127 vacancies for RRB ALP Recruitment 2026 are distributed across 20 RRBs and multiple Railway Zones. Below is the complete RRB-wise and zone-wise vacancy breakup:
| RRB | Railway Zone | UR | SC | ST | OBC | EWS | Total | ExSM |
| Ahmedabad | WR | 62 | 22 | 11 | 38 | 14 | 147 | 15 |
| Ajmer | NWR + WCR | 318 | 115 | 59 | 174 | 52 | 718 | 72 |
| Prayagraj | NCR + NR | 346 | 60 | 38 | 107 | 59 | 610 | 61 |
| Bengaluru | SWR | 80 | 31 | 15 | 54 | 20 | 200 | 20 |
| Bhopal | WCR + WR | 209 | 82 | 23 | 123 | 16 | 453 | 45 |
| Bhubaneswar | ECoR | 548 | 70 | 36 | 48 | 99 | 801 | 80 |
| Bilaspur | CR + SECR | 271 | 106 | 66 | 53 | 26 | 522 | 52 |
| Chandigarh | NR | 56 | 39 | 23 | 49 | 20 | 187 | 19 |
| Chennai | SR | 93 | 24 | 14 | 41 | 14 | 186 | 19 |
| Gorakhpur | NER | 28 | 11 | 37 | 17 | 12 | 105 | 10 |
| Guwahati | NFR | 272 | 109 | 63 | 164 | 68 | 676 | 68 |
| Jammu-Srinagar | NR | 158 | 58 | 30 | 110 | 44 | 400 | 40 |
| Kolkata | ER + SER | 415 | 154 | 87 | 129 | 56 | 841 | 84 |
| Malda | ER + SER | 226 | 84 | 42 | 151 | 56 | 559 | 56 |
| Mumbai | CR + SCR + WR | 336 | 219 | 106 | 380 | 152 | 1193 | 120 |
| Muzaffarpur | ECR | 18 | 6 | 3 | 11 | 4 | 42 | 4 |
| Patna | ECR | 41 | 16 | 8 | 28 | 10 | 103 | 10 |
| Ranchi | ECR + SER | 472 | 233 | 105 | 363 | 127 | 1300 | 130 |
| Secunderabad | ECoR + SCR | 625 | 209 | 102 | 390 | 94 | 1420 | 143 |
| Siliguri | NFR | 243 | 90 | 46 | 161 | 60 | 600 | 60 |
| Thiruvananthapuram | SR | 43 | 8 | 5 | 7 | 1 | 64 | 7 |
| Grand Total | 4860 | 1746 | 919 | 2598 | 1004 | 11,127 | 1115 | |
Note: Vacancies are provisional and may increase or decrease as per the actual requirement of the Railway Administration concerned. Candidates can apply to only one RRB and submit only one online application. Multiple applications will lead to rejection and permanent debarment.
RRB ALP Recruitment 2026 – Educational Qualification for Assistant Loco Pilot Post
Candidates must possess one of the following minimum educational qualifications as on the closing date of application submission (14 June 2026). Those awaiting results of final examination are NOT eligible to apply.
| Option | Minimum Educational Qualification |
| Option A | Matriculation/SSLC (10th Pass) PLUS ITI from a recognised institution (NCVT/SCVT) in any of the following 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, Refrigeration & Air-Conditioning Mechanic. OR Matriculation/SSLC PLUS Course Completed Act Apprenticeship in the trades mentioned above. |
| Option B | 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: A Degree in the above Engineering disciplines will also be acceptable in lieu of a Diploma in Engineering. |
Important: The post of ALP is NOT suitable for Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD). Candidates who have undergone Lasik Surgery or any other corrective eye surgery are NOT eligible for the post of ALP.
RRB ALP 2026 – Age Limit and Category-wise Age Relaxation (As on 01.07.2026)
| Category | Age Relaxation | Effective Maximum Age |
| Unreserved (UR) / EWS | Nil | 30 Years |
| OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) | 3 Years | 33 Years |
| SC / ST | 5 Years | 35 Years |
| Ex-Servicemen (UR/EWS) | 3 Years (after deduction of length of service) | – |
| Ex-Servicemen (OBC-NCL) | 6 Years (after deduction of length of service) | – |
| Ex-Servicemen (SC/ST) | 8 Years (after deduction of length of service) | – |
| Serving Railway Staff (Group C/D) – UR/EWS (min. 3 yrs service) | Up to 40 years of age | 40 Years |
| Serving Railway Staff (Group C/D) – OBC-NCL (min. 3 yrs service) | Up to 43 years of age | 43 Years |
| Serving Railway Staff (Group C/D) – SC/ST (min. 3 yrs service) | Up to 45 years of age | 45 Years |
| Widowed / Divorced Women (UR/EWS) | Up to 35 years of age | 35 Years |
| Course Completed Act Apprentices | Relaxed to the extent of Apprentice Training undergone under Apprenticeship Act 1961 | – |
| Minimum Age (All Categories) | – | 18 Years |
Date of Birth Range: For UR/EWS candidates — not born before 02.07.1996 and not born after 01.07.2008. For OBC-NCL — not born before 02.07.1993. For SC/ST — not born before 02.07.1991. Age relaxation on multiple grounds is not cumulative — only the maximum applicable relaxation is given.
RRB ALP 2026 – Examination Fee Details
| Category | Examination Fee | Refund on Appearing in CBT-1 |
| All candidates (General/UR/OBC/EWS etc.) | ₹500/- | ₹400/- refunded (after deducting bank charges) on appearing in CBT-1 |
| SC / ST / Ex-Servicemen / Female / Transgender / Minorities / EBC | ₹250/- | Full ₹250/- refunded (after deducting bank charges) on appearing in CBT-1 |
Fee must be paid online only through Internet Banking, Debit/Credit Cards, or UPI. Cash payment or offline fee payment is not accepted. Applications received without fee will be summarily rejected. Refund will be credited only to the bank account linked (seeded) with Aadhaar. EBC (Economically Backward Class) — annual family income below ₹50,000/- — are eligible for concessional fee of ₹250/-. Note: EBC is distinct from EWS — EBC candidates get fee concession only, not job reservation.
RRB ALP 2026 – Medical Standard A-1 (Stringent Vision Requirements)
| Medical Standard | General Fitness | Vision Standards |
| A-1 | Physically fit in all respects | Distant Vision: 6/6, 6/6 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 |
Critical Medical Notes: Candidates who have undergone Lasik Surgery or any other surgical procedure to correct refractive error are NOT eligible for ALP. There is no alternative appointment in case a candidate fails the medical test. If a candidate fails the initial medical exam, they may prefer a Medical Appeal (final opportunity only). The ALP post has the most stringent medical standard (A-1) in railway recruitment — candidates must self-screen before applying.
RRB ALP 2026 – Complete Recruitment Process and Exam Pattern
The selection for RRB ALP Recruitment 2026 will consist of the following stages:
Stage 1 – First Stage CBT (CBT-1):
| Parameter | Details |
| Duration | 60 Minutes |
| Total Questions / Marks | 75 Questions / 75 Marks (1 mark per question) |
| Negative Marking | 1/3rd mark per wrong answer |
| Subjects | Mathematics, Mental Ability (Reasoning), General Science |
| Minimum Pass % | UR/EWS – 40% | OBC-NCL – 30% | SC – 30% | ST – 25% |
| Purpose | Screening only (marks NOT counted for final panel) |
| Shortlisting for CBT-2 | 15 times the vacancies notified for each RRB |
Stage 2 – Second Stage CBT (CBT-2):
| Parameter | Details |
| Total Duration | 2 Hours 30 Minutes |
| Part-A | 90 Minutes | 100 Questions | Mathematics, General Intelligence & Reasoning, Basic Science & Engineering |
| Part-B | 60 Minutes | 75 Questions | Trade-specific qualifying test (35% minimum for all categories) |
| Negative Marking | 1/3rd mark per wrong answer in Part-A |
| Minimum Pass % in Part-A | UR/EWS – 40% | OBC-NCL – 30% | SC – 30% | ST – 25% |
| Merit for shortlisting | Only Part-A marks count (provided candidate qualifies Part-B with 35%) |
| Shortlisting for CBAT | 8 times the ALP vacancies for each category |
Stage 3 – Computer Based Aptitude Test (CBAT): Conducted in English and Hindi only. No negative marking. Each test battery/section must be cleared separately. Minimum qualifying T-score of 42 marks in each test battery. Self Screening Medical Declaration Report (Annexure VIII A & VIII B, signed by Eye Specialist and General Physician from any Central/State Govt Hospital or Medical College) must be produced on CBAT day.
Stage 4 – Document Verification (DV): Final merit list is prepared combining Part-A of CBT-2 marks (50% weightage) + CBAT score (50% weightage). In case of tie, older candidate is ranked higher. If same age, alphabetical order of given name is used.
Stage 5 – Medical Examination (ME): Candidates must pass A-1 medical standard. No alternative appointment is provided on failure.
RRB ALP Recruitment 2026 Important Dates
| Indicative Notice in Employment News | 21 March 2026 |
| Online Application Start Date | 15 May 2026 (00:00 Hrs) |
| Last Date for Online Application Submission | 14 June 2026 (23:59 Hrs) |
| Last Date for Fee Payment | 16 June 2026 (23:59 Hrs) |
| Application Modification Window | 17 June 2026 to 26 June 2026 (23:59 Hrs) |
| Modification Fee | ₹250/- per occasion (non-refundable) |
| CBT-1 Date | To be notified on official RRB websites |
| CBT-2 Date | To be notified on official RRB websites |
| CBAT Date | To be notified on official RRB websites |
| E-Call Letter Download | Approx. 4 days before exam (city information 10 days before) |
How to Apply for RRB ALP Recruitment 2026 – Step by Step Online Application Guide
- Visit the official website of your chosen RRB (refer to RRB website list below)
- Click on the link for CEN No. 01/2026 – ALP Recruitment
- If you already have an account from previous RRB CENs (2024/2025), use the same credentials. Otherwise, create a new account with your active mobile number and valid email ID (cannot be changed later)
- Authenticate identity using Aadhaar/DigiLocker (strongly recommended for smoother processing)
- Fill in the online application form carefully — name, date of birth, category, trade/qualification, RRB choice, zone preferences etc.
- Complete the Self-Screening Medical Declaration — answer all questions regarding vision (no Lasik), hearing, mental fitness, diabetes, hypertension etc.
- Capture a Live Photograph through webcam/mobile front camera (no pre-existing photo upload — live capture only)
- Upload your Signature in JPG/JPEG format (30–49 KB; running handwriting in black ink; not capital/block letters)
- Pay the examination fee online through Internet Banking/Debit Card/Credit Card/UPI
- Submit the application and note your Registration Number for future reference
Critical Reminders: Apply to only ONE RRB. Multiple applications across RRBs or to the same RRB will result in permanent debarment. RRB choice once submitted cannot be changed at any stage. Details entered in “Create an Account” (including mobile number and email ID) cannot be modified later under any circumstances.
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RRB ALP 2026 – Official Websites of All 20 Participating RRBs
| RRB | Official Website | RRB | Official Website |
| Ahmedabad | rrbahmedabad.gov.in | Ajmer | rrbajmer.gov.in |
| Bhopal | rrbbhopal.gov.in | Bhubaneswar | rrbbbs.gov.in |
| Bilaspur | rrbbilaspur.gov.in | Chandigarh | rrbcdg.gov.in |
| Chennai | rrbchennai.gov.in | Gorakhpur | rrbgkp.gov.in |
| Guwahati | rrbguwahati.gov.in | Jammu-Srinagar | rrbjammu.nic.in |
| Kolkata | rrbkolkata.gov.in | Malda | rrbmalda.gov.in |
| Mumbai | rrbmumbai.gov.in | Muzaffarpur | rrbmuzaffarpur.gov.in |
| Patna | rrbpatna.gov.in | Prayagraj | rrbald.gov.in |
| Ranchi | rrbranchi.gov.in | Secunderabad | rrbsecunderabad.gov.in |
| Siliguri | rrbsiliguri.gov.in | Thiruvananthapuram | rrbthiruvananthapuram.gov.in |
RRB ALP Recruitment 2026 Important Links
| Action | Link |
| Apply Online (Choose your RRB website) | Click Here |
| Official Notification PDF (CEN 01/2026) | Download |
| Indian Railways Official Website | indianrailways.gov.in |
| Helpline Email | rrb.help@csc.gov.in |
| Helpline Phone | 0172-565-3333 | 9592001188 |
FAQs – RRB ALP Recruitment 2026 (CEN 01/2026)
Q1. How many vacancies are there in RRB ALP Recruitment 2026?
RRB ALP Recruitment 2026 (CEN No. 01/2026) has a total of 11,127 vacancies for the post of Assistant Loco Pilot across all 20 Railway Recruitment Boards. The vacancies are distributed across multiple Railway Zones — Secunderabad RRB has the highest at 1,420, followed by Mumbai at 1,193 and Ranchi at 1,300. Category-wise: UR – 4,860, SC – 1,746, ST – 919, OBC – 2,598, EWS – 1,004.
Q2. What is the last date to apply for RRB ALP Recruitment 2026?
The last date for online application submission for RRB ALP 2026 is 14 June 2026 (23:59 Hrs). The last date for fee payment is 16 June 2026 (23:59 Hrs). A modification window is available from 17 June to 26 June 2026 for corrections (modification fee of ₹250/- per occasion). Candidates are strongly advised to apply well before the deadline.
Q3. What is the qualification required for RRB ALP 2026?
The minimum qualification for RRB ALP 2026 is Matriculation/SSLC (10th pass) plus ITI in relevant trades (Fitter, Electrician, Mechanic etc.) from NCVT/SCVT, OR Course Completed Act Apprenticeship in relevant trades, OR a 3-year Diploma in Mechanical/Electrical/Electronics/Automobile Engineering. A Degree in these engineering disciplines is also acceptable in lieu of Diploma. Those awaiting results are NOT eligible.
Q4. What is the age limit for RRB ALP Recruitment 2026?
The age limit for RRB ALP 2026 is 18 to 30 years as on 01 July 2026 for UR/EWS candidates. OBC-NCL gets 3 years relaxation (33 years), SC/ST gets 5 years relaxation (35 years). Serving Railway staff with minimum 3 years’ service get up to 40/43/45 years relaxation based on category. Ex-Servicemen get relaxation based on length of service deduction plus additional years.
Q5. What is the examination fee for RRB ALP 2026?
The exam fee for RRB ALP 2026 is ₹500/- for General/UR/OBC/EWS candidates — out of which ₹400/- is refunded (after bank charges) on appearing in CBT-1. For SC/ST/Ex-Servicemen/Female/Transgender/Minorities/EBC candidates, the fee is ₹250/- — fully refunded (after bank charges) on appearing in CBT-1. Fee is paid online only through Internet Banking/Debit Card/Credit Card/UPI.
Q6. What is the exam pattern for RRB ALP 2026?
RRB ALP 2026 selection has 5 stages — CBT-1 (75 Qs, 60 mins, screening only), CBT-2 with Part-A (100 Qs, 90 mins — counts for merit) and Part-B (75 Qs, 60 mins — qualifying only with 35%), CBAT (Computer Based Aptitude Test — minimum T-score 42 in each battery, no negative marking), Document Verification, and Medical Examination (A-1 standard). Final merit = 50% CBT-2 Part-A + 50% CBAT.