Eligibility

Class 10 (Matriculation) plus an ITI certificate in a specified trade (fitter, electrician, mechanic, machinist, wireman etc.), or Matriculation plus a Diploma/Degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Electronics or Automobile Engineering. Age limit is 18-30 years with 3-year relaxation for OBC and 5-year for SC/ST. Candidates must meet the stringent A1 medical standard — perfect distant vision (6/6 without glasses) and colour vision are mandatory.

Age limit: 18-30; +3 years OBC, +5 years SC/ST

Exam pattern

Three computer-based stages plus an aptitude test, all with normalisation. Computer-Based Test 1 (CBT 1): 75 questions in 60 minutes across Mathematics, Reasoning, General Science and General Awareness — qualifying in nature, used to shortlist 15 times the vacancies. CBT 2 has two parts on the same day: Part A (100 questions, 90 minutes — Maths, Reasoning, Basic Science & Engineering, Current Affairs) counts for merit; Part B (75 questions, 60 minutes on the candidate's trade syllabus) is qualifying at 35 per cent. Wrong answers in CBT 1 and CBT 2 Part A cost one-third of a mark. Then comes the Computer-Based Aptitude Test (CBAT) — five test batteries, minimum 42 in each, no negative marking — followed by document verification and medical. From CEN 01/2026 the final merit is 50 per cent CBT 2 Part A plus 50 per cent CBAT (revised from the earlier 70:30 split).

Syllabus at a glance

CBT 1 covers Class 10-level maths (number system, ratio, percentage, mensuration, time-work, trigonometry), reasoning (analogies, series, syllogism, coding-decoding, Venn diagrams), general science (Class 10 physics and chemistry) and current affairs. CBT 2 Part A adds Basic Science & Engineering: engineering drawing, units and measurements, mass-weight-density, work-power-energy, speed-velocity, heat and temperature, basic electricity, levers and simple machines, occupational safety. Part B follows the prescribed syllabus of the candidate's ITI trade or engineering discipline.

Upcoming dates

Expected dates follow the usual calendar; confirm on the official notification before planning.

Free prep material

Standard books

• Lucent's General Science — Ravi Bhushan
• Fast Track Objective Arithmetic — Rajesh Verma (Arihant)
• A Modern Approach to Verbal & Non-Verbal Reasoning — R.S. Aggarwal
• Basic Science & Engineering for RRB ALP CBT 2 — GKP/Disha Experts
• Kiran's RRB ALP & Technician CBT Previous Year Solved Papers — Kiran Publications
• Handbook of your ITI trade theory (NIMI pattern) for CBT 2 Part B

How toppers play it

• CBT 1 is only qualifying, but the 15-times shortlist cut-off is high — treat it as a speed test at under 48 seconds per question, banking easy science and reasoning marks first.
• From CEN 01/2026 the final merit is 50 per cent CBT 2 Part A + 50 per cent CBAT — the aptitude test now carries as much weight as the written merit paper, so Basic Science & Engineering and CBAT battery practice both deserve serious, early hours.
• Part B is qualifying at 35 per cent but in your own trade: revise NIMI/ITI trade theory question banks rather than degree-level texts, because questions come at ITI level.
• Start CBAT preparation early — memory, following-directions and spatial batteries need a minimum of 42 each with no second chance, and with the new 50 per cent weightage a high CBAT score can outrank hundreds of candidates; free practice batteries are available on RRB sites from previous cycles.
• Confirm you meet the A1 vision standard (6/6 unaided, normal colour vision) before investing months of preparation; medical rejection at the last stage is common and final.