Railway Recruitment Boards · Assistant Loco Pilot (Level 2) in the zonal railways
RRB ALP: Syllabus, Exam Pattern, Eligibility, CBAT & Mock Tests
The Assistant Loco Pilot recruitment is for 10th pass candidates with an ITI or apprenticeship in a listed trade, or an engineering diploma or degree. It has two computer based tests, a trade test and an aptitude test, and a strict A-1 medical standard.
RRB ALP latest updates
New RRB ALP notifications, admit cards, answer keys and results appear here as soon as they are posted. Browse Govt Jobs →
Important dates
Dates for the next RRB ALP cycle (notification, last date, admit card, exam and result) appear here when they are announced. See the exam calendar →
Check your eligibility
- ✓Assistant Loco Pilot (ITI route)Age 18–30 +3
- ✓Assistant Loco Pilot (diploma route)Age 18–30 +3
RRB ALP vacancies
Total, category-wise and post-wise vacancies appear here when the RRB ALP notification is released.
Eligibility and age limit
| Posts | Qualification | Age |
|---|---|---|
| Assistant Loco Pilot (ITI route) | 10th plus ITI (NCVT/SCVT) or course-completed Act Apprenticeship in 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 | 18–30 |
| Assistant Loco Pilot (diploma route) | 10th plus a three-year diploma in Mechanical, Electrical, Electronics or Automobile Engineering (or a combination); a degree in these disciplines is also accepted | 18–30 |
| Category | Age relaxation |
|---|---|
| OBC (non-creamy layer) | 3 years |
| SC / ST | 5 years |
| Ex-servicemen (UR & EWS / OBC / SC & ST) | 3 / 6 / 8 years after deducting service |
| Serving railway staff with 3 years’ service (UR & EWS / OBC / SC & ST) | Up to 40 / 43 / 45 years of age |
| Widowed, divorced or judicially separated women (UR & EWS / OBC / SC & ST) | Up to 35 / 38 / 40 years of age |
| Course-completed Act Apprentices | By the length of apprenticeship training |
Age is counted as on 1 July 2026.
Holding only 10th pass is not enough: an ITI, apprenticeship, diploma or degree from the list is required by the closing date.
The post is not open to PwBD candidates.
Candidates who have had LASIK or other surgery to correct refractive error are not eligible. Eye and general physician reports must be produced on CBAT day.
Medical standard A-1: distant vision 6/6, 6/6 without glasses, and tests for colour, binocular, field, night and mesopic vision.
Application fee
Selection process
- 1CBT-175 questions · 60 minutes · screening only, marks not counted in the final panel
- 2CBT-2Part-A 100 questions (merit) · Part-B 75 questions on your trade (qualifying, 35%)
- 3CBATAptitude test · 8 times the vacancies called · T-score 42 in each battery
- 4Document verification & medicalMerit: 50% CBT-2 Part-A + 50% CBAT
RRB ALP exam pattern
CBT-1 (screening) 60 minutes · 75 questions · 75 marks · −1/3 per wrong answer
| Subject | Covers |
|---|---|
| Mathematics | Number system to pipes & cistern |
| Mental Ability | Analogies, series, coding, syllogism, data interpretation |
| General Science | Physics, Chemistry and Life Sciences of 10th level |
CBT-2 2 hours 30 minutes · 175 questions · −1/3 per wrong answer
| Part | Subjects | Questions | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Part-A | Mathematics; General Intelligence & Reasoning; Basic Science & Engineering | 100 | 90 min |
| Part-B (qualifying, 35%) | Trade syllabus as prescribed by DGT | 75 | 60 min |
CBT-1 and CBT-2 Part-A minimum marks: UR and EWS 40%, OBC 30%, SC 30%, ST 25%. Only Part-A marks count; Part-B must be passed with 35% by everyone. CBAT is in English and Hindi only, has no negative marking, and needs a T-score of 42 in each test battery. The notice does not give a section-wise question split.
RRB ALP syllabus
Subject by subject. The number on a topic is how many practice questions we have for it.
Mathematics
CBT-1 and CBT-2 Part-AGeneral Intelligence & Reasoning
CBT-1 (Mental Ability) and CBT-2 Part-AGeneral Science
CBT-1 · 10th levelBasic Science & Engineering
CBT-2 Part-ATrade (Part-B)
CBT-2 Part-B · qualifyingRRB ALP cut-offs
Year-wise official cut-offs for every category appear here once they are published.
RRB ALP salary by post
| Pay level | Posts | Basic pay (7th CPC) |
|---|---|---|
| Level 2 | Assistant Loco Pilot (initial pay ₹19,900) | ₹19,900 – ₹63,200 |
Pay scales are from the 7th Pay Commission. In-hand pay depends on the city (HRA) and current dearness allowance.
RRB ALP mock tests and previous year papers
Exams with a similar syllabus
Your ALP preparation already covers most of these exams.
RRB ALP articles
Preparation strategy, syllabus breakdowns and cut-off analysis for RRB ALP are on the way. Read the blog →
RRB ALP frequently asked questions
How many vacancies are there in RRB ALP 2026?
11,127 under CEN 01/2026, spread over 21 RRBs. The previous notice, CEN 01/2025, had 9,970.
Can a 10th pass candidate apply for RRB ALP?
Only with an ITI or course-completed apprenticeship in a listed trade, or with a three-year engineering diploma or degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Electronics or Automobile Engineering.
What is the age limit for RRB ALP 2026?
18 to 30 years as on 1 July 2026. OBC candidates get 3 more years and SC and ST candidates 5. The post is not open to PwBD candidates.
What changed in the ALP exam in 2026?
CEN 01/2026 has CBT-1 (75 questions, screening), CBT-2 with Part-A (100 questions) and a qualifying trade Part-B (75 questions), then the aptitude test. The final merit is 50% CBT-2 Part-A marks and 50% CBAT score.
Can I apply for ALP after LASIK surgery?
No. The notice says candidates who have had LASIK or any other surgery to correct refractive error are not eligible for ALP.
Is there negative marking in RRB ALP?
Yes, one third of a mark per wrong answer in CBT-1 and CBT-2. There is no negative marking in the CBAT.
When is the RRB ALP 2026 exam?
Applications closed on 14 June 2026 and application status was released on 25 August 2026. The CBT-1 date had not been announced on 14 September 2026.
Sources: RRB CEN 01/2026 (ALP) notice · CEN 01/2026 FAQs · CEN 01/2026 application status notice (25-08-2026) · RRB CEN 01/2025 (ALP) notice (checked 14 Sept 2026). Always confirm in the official notice before applying.