RRB ALP
Recruits Assistant Loco Pilots (Pay Level 2, ₹19,900 basic) who assist in running trains and progress to Loco Pilot posts in Indian Railways.
Eligibility
Class 10 plus ITI (or course-completed Act Apprenticeship) in trades such as Fitter, Electrician, Electronics Mechanic, Diesel Mechanic, Instrument Mechanic, Wireman, Turner, Machinist and similar; or a three-year Diploma or B.E./B.Tech in Mechanical, Electrical, Electronics or Automobile Engineering in place of ITI. Age 18-30 years as on 1 July 2026 for CEN 01/2026, with relaxation of 5 years for SC/ST and 3 years for OBC-NCL. Candidates must meet the A1 medical standard, including strict vision requirements without glasses.
Age limit: 18-30 years as on 1 July 2026 (CEN 01/2026); category relaxations apply
Exam pattern
Three-stage computer-based selection followed by document verification and A1 medical examination. CBT 1 has 75 questions in 60 minutes on Mathematics, Mental Ability, General Science and General Awareness. CBT 2 Part A has 100 questions in 90 minutes (Mathematics, Mental Ability, Basic Science and Engineering, Current Affairs); Part B has 75 trade-related questions in 60 minutes and is only qualifying (minimum 35%). Negative marking is 1/3 mark per wrong answer in all CBTs. Shortlisted candidates then take the Computer Based Aptitude Test (CBAT), with a minimum T-score of 42 in each test battery and no negative marking; the final merit uses 70% weight for CBT 2 Part A and 30% for CBAT.
Syllabus at a glance
Mathematics, reasoning and mental ability cover arithmetic, algebra, geometry, mensuration, series, coding, puzzles and analytical reasoning. General Science is at Class 10 level, and Basic Science and Engineering includes engineering drawing, units, measurements, mass-weight-density, work-power-energy, heat and temperature, basic electricity, levers, IT literacy and environmental education. Part B tests the candidate's own ITI trade syllabus (e.g. Fitter, Electrician), and CBAT tests memory, attention, perceptual speed and depth perception.
Upcoming dates
| Event | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|
| CEN 01/2026 (11,127 posts) exam city and date intimation slip | About 10 days before exam (around 24 Oct 2026) | expected |
| CEN 01/2026 e-call letter (admit card) | 4 days before each candidate's exam date (from about 30 Oct 2026) | expected |
| CEN 01/2026 CBT 1 | 3-5 Nov 2026 (tentative schedule notified by RRBs) | confirmed |
| CBT 1 answer key and result | Dec 2026 - Jan 2027 | expected |
| CBT 2 and CBAT | Early-mid 2027 | expected |
| Next ALP notification (2027 cycle) | Early-mid 2027 | expected |
Expected dates follow the usual calendar; confirm on the official notification before planning.
Free prep material
Standard books
- RRB ALP and Technician Stage I and II Guide - Arihant Experts (Arihant)
- Lucent's General Science - Lucent Publications
- Fast Track Objective Arithmetic - Rajesh Verma (Arihant)
- A Modern Approach to Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning - R.S. Aggarwal (S. Chand)
- Objective ITI trade books (Fitter / Electrician) - Arihant or Kiran Prakashan
- Basic Science and Engineering for RRB ALP - Kiran Prakashan
How toppers play it
- CBT 1 gives only 60 minutes for 75 questions; practise full mocks under that time limit and stay disciplined about the 1/3 negative marking, as screening cut-offs are tight.
- CBT 2 Part B (trade) is qualifying at 35%, but failing it eliminates you; revise your ITI trade theory alongside Part A rather than leaving it for the last week.
- Basic Science and Engineering in Part A rewards concept clarity in units, work-power-energy, heat, electricity and engineering drawing basics; use NCERT Class 9-10 and diploma notes.
- CBAT carries 30% of final merit and has a 42 minimum per battery; practise memory, depth perception and speed tests on free psycho-test simulators well before results.
- Check A1 medical standards (distant vision 6/6 without glasses, colour vision) before investing a year; failing the medical after selection is a common disappointment.