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Railways | RRB

RRB ALP Latest notified cycle

Safety-category recruitment for locomotive crew, with two Computer Based Tests, a trade-specific qualifying paper, a psychological aptitude test and the strictest medical standard in the railways.

Awaiting notification5 stages

Overview

Conducting body
RRBwww.rrbapply.gov.in
Age limit
18 years and above, upper limit varies by post
Application fee
₹250 to ₹500
Vacancies
To be announced
First stage duration
1 hr
Negative marking
1/3 mark per wrong answer

Railway Recruitment Board Recruitment of Assistant Loco Pilots is conducted by Railway Recruitment Boards, under the Railway Recruitment Control Board. Selection runs through 5 stages: Computer Based Test 1, Computer Based Test 2 Part A, Computer Based Test 2 Part B, Computer Based Aptitude Test, Document Verification and Medical Examination.

  1. Clear CBT 1, a 75-mark screening paper whose marks do not carry forward.
  2. Sit CBT 2, where Part A of 100 marks determines merit and Part B of 75 marks is qualifying at 35% with no category relaxation.
  3. Qualify the Computer Based Aptitude Test, scoring at least 42 in each battery with no relaxation.
  4. The final merit combines CBT 2 Part A and the aptitude test in a 70:30 ratio.
  5. Clear Document Verification and the A1 standard medical examination before appointment.

Important dates

Important dates
EventDateStatus
Centralised Employment Notice release

ALP notices appear when zonal railways report crew requirements rather than on a fixed annual calendar.

To be announcedNot announced
Online application window

Usually open for about a month from the notice date.

To be announcedNot announced
Computer Based Test 1

Held across many shifts, with scores normalised.

To be announcedNot announced
Computer Based Test 2To be announcedNot announced
Computer Based Aptitude TestTo be announcedNot announced
Document Verification and Medical ExaminationTo be announcedNot announced
Final result and panelTo be announcedNot announced

Eligibility

Educational qualification

A pass in class 10 together with an ITI certificate in a relevant trade from an institution recognised by the NCVT or an SCVT, or a Course Completed Act Apprenticeship in a relevant trade. A diploma or degree in mechanical, electrical, electronics or automobile engineering is accepted in place of the ITI requirement.

The relevant trades are listed exhaustively in the notice, and an ITI in a trade outside that list does not qualify you even if it appears related. Because CBT 2 Part B is set on your trade, the trade you enter at application determines the paper you sit, so it cannot be treated as a formality.

Age

18 to 30 years as on the cut-off date stated in the official notification.

Upper age relaxation

  • SC and ST+5 years
  • OBC (non-creamy layer)+3 years
  • Persons with Benchmark Disability (UR)+10 years
  • Persons with Benchmark Disability (OBC)+13 years
  • Persons with Benchmark Disability (SC and ST)+15 years
  • Ex-servicemen, after deducting service rendered+3 years
  • Serving railway employees, as specified in the notice+5 years

Nationality

A candidate must be one of the following:

  • A citizen of India
  • A subject of Nepal or Bhutan
  • A Tibetan refugee who came to India before 1 January 1962 intending to settle permanently
  • A person of Indian origin who has migrated from Pakistan, Myanmar, Sri Lanka or specified East African countries intending to settle permanently in India

Application fee

CategoryFee
General, OBC and EWS

Rupees 400 is refunded after you appear in CBT 1, net of bank charges.

₹500
SC, ST, ex-servicemen, PwBD, women, transgender, minorities and economically backward class

The full amount is refunded after you appear in CBT 1, net of bank charges.

₹250

Exam pattern

Stage by stage structure with question counts, marks, timing and the marking scheme.

Stage 1: Computer Based Test 1

Computer based testQualifying only
SectionQuestionsMarks
Mathematics2020
Mental Ability and Reasoning2525
General Science2020
General Awareness on Current Affairs1010
Total7575

Duration: 1 hr|Negative marking: 1/3 mark per wrong answer

  • 75 questions for 75 marks in a composite 60 minutes, extended for candidates eligible for a scribe.
  • Minimum qualifying marks are 40% for UR and EWS, 30% for OBC and SC, and 25% for ST.
  • Purely a screening test. CBT 1 marks do not count towards the final merit, and candidates are shortlisted for CBT 2 at a multiple of the vacancies.

Stage 2: Computer Based Test 2 Part A

Computer based test
SectionQuestionsMarks
Mathematics2525
General Intelligence and Reasoning2525
Basic Science and Engineering4040
General Awareness on Current Affairs1010
Total100100

Duration: 1 hr 30 min|Negative marking: 1/3 mark per wrong answer

  • 100 questions for 100 marks in a composite 90 minutes.
  • Basic Science and Engineering is the largest section at 40 marks and covers engineering drawing, units, mechanics, work power and energy, speed and velocity, heat and temperature, basic electricity, levers and simple machines, occupational safety and environment education.
  • This is the paper that decides your merit position, carrying 70% weight against the aptitude test's 30%.

Stage 3: Computer Based Test 2 Part B

Computer based testQualifying only
SectionQuestionsMarks
Trade-specific paper for the trade entered at application7575
Total7575

Duration: 1 hr|Negative marking: 1/3 mark per wrong answer

  • 75 questions for 75 marks in 60 minutes, set on the trade from your ITI or the discipline of your engineering qualification.
  • Qualifying only, with a minimum of 35% required for all categories and no relaxation for reserved categories.
  • The syllabus follows the relevant trade curriculum prescribed by the Directorate General of Training, so revise from your own trade syllabus rather than a general guide.

Stage 4: Computer Based Aptitude Test

Skill test

Duration: Varies|Negative marking: None

  • A psychological aptitude assessment made up of several test batteries, applied to ALP because of the safety-critical nature of driving a train.
  • You must score at least 42 marks in each individual battery, and there is no relaxation for any category.
  • There is no negative marking here.
  • Contributes 30% to the final merit, with CBT 2 Part A contributing the remaining 70%.
  • Candidates must have unaided distant vision meeting the A1 standard to be eligible to take this test.

Stage 5: Document Verification and Medical Examination

Document and medicalQualifying only

Duration: Varies|Negative marking: None

  • The A1 medical standard applies, which is the strictest in Indian Railways.
  • Requirements include normal colour vision, binocular vision and specified unaided distant and near visual acuity.
  • A significant number of candidates who clear every written stage are eliminated here, so an honest self-assessment of your eyesight before applying is worth more than any preparation advice.

Syllabus

Mathematics

  • Number system, BODMAS, decimals and fractions
  • LCM and HCF
  • Ratio and proportion
  • Percentage
  • Mensuration
  • Time and work
  • Time, speed and distance
  • Simple and compound interest
  • Profit and loss
  • Algebra at school level
  • Geometry and trigonometry
  • Elementary statistics
  • Square root, age calculations, calendar and clock, pipes and cistern

General Intelligence & Reasoning

  • Analogies
  • Alphabetical and number series
  • Coding and decoding
  • Mathematical operations
  • Relationships and blood relations
  • Syllogism
  • Jumbling
  • Venn diagrams
  • Data interpretation and sufficiency
  • Conclusions and decision making
  • Analytical reasoning
  • Classification, directions and statement with argument or assumption

General Science

  • Physics, Chemistry and Life Sciences at class 10 level for CBT 1
  • Basic Science and Engineering for CBT 2: engineering drawing, projections, views and drawing instruments
  • Units, measurements, mass, weight and density
  • Work, power and energy
  • Speed and velocity
  • Heat and temperature
  • Basic electricity: current, voltage, resistance, circuits and safety
  • Levers and simple machines
  • Occupational safety and health
  • Environment education and IT literacy
  • Trade-specific technical content for CBT 2 Part B, as per the DGT curriculum for your trade

Current Affairs

  • Science and technology developments
  • Sports and awards
  • Indian and world geography
  • Indian polity and constitution
  • Indian history and freedom struggle
  • Indian economy basics
  • Government schemes and flagship programmes
  • Culture, personalities and important days

How to apply

  1. Confirm you meet the A1 medical standard before you apply

    This is the single most important step for ALP. Get your unaided distant vision and colour vision checked first. Candidates routinely spend a year preparing and are then eliminated at the medical, which no amount of study prevents.

  2. Create your account on the centralised RRB portal

    Applications go through rrbapply.gov.in. Register once and enter your details carefully, since many fields cannot be edited later.

  3. Enter your trade accurately

    The trade you declare determines the CBT 2 Part B paper you will sit. It must match your ITI or engineering qualification and must appear on the notice's list of relevant trades.

  4. Choose your Railway Recruitment Board and preferences

    Merit is drawn board by board, so vacancy counts and cut-offs differ. Your board also determines the zone you are likely to serve in.

  5. Pay the fee and keep the receipt

    Most of the fee is refunded after you appear for CBT 1, so give accurate bank details and save the transaction record.

Documents to keep ready

  • Class 10 mark-sheet and pass certificate
  • ITI certificate in a relevant trade, or the Act Apprenticeship completion certificate, or the engineering diploma or degree relied on
  • Valid photo identity proof such as Aadhaar, PAN, passport, driving licence or voter ID
  • Caste or EWS certificate in the prescribed central government format, where applicable
  • PwBD certificate issued by the competent authority, where applicable
  • Ex-servicemen discharge certificate, where applicable
  • Recent passport-size photograph and signature matching the images uploaded
  • Bank account details for the fee refund

Salary and job profile

Pay and allowances

Pay scale:
Level 2 of the 7th Central Pay Commission pay matrix, with running staff allowances on top
Initial basic pay:
To be announced
Approximate in-hand:
To be announced

Allowances

  • Dearness Allowance revised periodically
  • House Rent Allowance based on the city classification of the posting
  • Running allowance based on kilometres operated, which is a substantial component for loco crew
  • Night duty allowance
  • Transport Allowance where applicable

Perks

  • Railway quarters, subject to availability
  • Free or concessional railway passes for self and family
  • Railway hospital and dispensary medical facilities
  • Pension under the National Pension System
  • Provident fund and gratuity
  • Running room facilities during outstation duty

Loco crew earn a running allowance linked to kilometres operated, so actual take-home pay is usually well above the basic Level 2 figure and varies with the link and division. Confirm the current rates from the applicable rules.

What the job involves

  • Assisting the Loco Pilot in operating a locomotive, initially on shunting and goods duties.
  • Checking the locomotive before departure and monitoring gauges, brakes and signals en route.
  • Observing and calling out signals, and maintaining the prescribed vigilance and communication protocols.
  • Logging journey details and reporting defects to the shed.
  • Irregular hours, night duty and outstation stays are inherent to the role.
  • Progression to Loco Pilot for goods, passenger and eventually mail and express trains through seniority, refresher courses and departmental examinations.

How to prepare for RRB ALP

  • Get your eyes tested before anything else. The A1 standard is the most common reason prepared ALP candidates fail, and it is knowable in advance.
  • Basic Science and Engineering is 40 of the 100 merit-bearing marks in CBT 2 Part A. It is the highest-return section and the one candidates from a general background most often underestimate.
  • Prepare Part B from your own trade syllabus as published by the Directorate General of Training. A generic railway exam book will not cover a specific trade curriculum to the required depth.
  • Practise aptitude test batteries under strict timing. The 42-mark floor applies to each battery separately, so a single weak area sinks an otherwise strong candidate.
  • CBT 1 only screens, so do not over-invest there. Clear it comfortably and shift your effort to Part A and the aptitude test, which are what actually decide the panel.

Frequently asked questions

Can I become an Assistant Loco Pilot if I wear spectacles?

Generally no. The A1 medical standard requires specified unaided distant visual acuity, so candidates who need distance correction are usually ineligible. Get tested before you invest time in preparation, because this eliminates candidates at the final stage regardless of their scores.

Do CBT 1 marks count towards the final selection?

No. CBT 1 is a screening test only. Merit is built from CBT 2 Part A and the Computer Based Aptitude Test in a 70:30 ratio.

What happens if I fail CBT 2 Part B?

Your candidature ends, even with a strong Part A score. Part B requires 35% for every category with no relaxation, so it deserves genuine preparation from your trade syllabus rather than being treated as a formality.

Is the aptitude test something I can prepare for?

Partly. The batteries test speed, accuracy, memory and judgement under time pressure, and familiarity with the format helps. What you cannot do is compensate for a weak battery, because the 42-mark minimum applies to each one separately with no relaxation.

How is ALP different from RRB Technician?

ALP is a safety category post that runs locomotives, requires the A1 medical standard and includes the aptitude test. Technician posts maintain equipment rather than operate trains, apply less stringent medical standards and have no aptitude test.

How does the running allowance affect pay?

Loco crew receive an allowance linked to kilometres operated, which typically makes actual earnings considerably higher than the Level 2 basic pay alone would suggest. The amount varies with the link and division you are posted to.

Last verified 28 July 2026(today, by editorial)

Not yet confirmed for this cycle: the schedule, the vacancy count, the upper age limit, basic pay, gross pay and in-hand pay. Where we have a figure from previous cycles we show it and label it as expected; where we do not, the page says "to be announced". Check the official source below before you rely on any of it.

Official sources

Found something out of date? Tell us and we will correct it, citing the source.