
The Railway Recruitment Board (RRB) has officially released the RRB ALP Notification 2026 (CEN 01/2026) for 11,127 Assistant Loco Pilot vacancies. Applications are open from May 15 to June 14, 2026. Check eligibility, exam pattern, and zone-wise vacancies here.
Registration Window
Closing Deadline
Is the RRB ALP Notification 2026 out with 11127 vacancies? Yes, my friend, it absolutely is! The Railway Recruitment Board (RRB) has officially released the highly anticipated, detailed notification PDF under CEN 01/2026 to recruit a massive 11 — and honestly, this is worth knowing —127 Assistant Loco Pilots (ALP) across various zonal railways. This is easily one of the biggest and most exciting announcements of the year for anyone searching for a secure, high-paying government job in Indian Railways. If you have been studying hard and waiting for your chance to drive those magnificent trains, the official application window has opened on May 15, 2026, and you can submit your form right now at https://www.rrbapply.gov.in/.
If you are wondering about how the selection works, let me break it down for you. You will have to go through five rigorous stages to secure your seat. First up is the CBT-1 exam, which is a screening round, followed by the highly competitive CBT-2 exam. After that, you will have to clear the Computer-Based Aptitude Test (CBAT) or psycho test — which surprised a lot of people — followed by Document Verification and a important Medical Examination to test your vision and overall physical fitness. This is a dream opportunity for 10th-pass candidates who also hold an ITI, SSLC, or an engineering diploma/degree. The initial basic salary starts at Rs. 19,900 under Level-2 of the 7th CPC Pay Matrix, but with all the allowances, your in-hand pay will be much higher! For instant updates on mobile, join the Result Guru Telegram Channel.
don't wait until the final hours because we all know how bad the official servers get when lakhs of aspirants try to apply at the last minute. The absolute last date to complete your online registration is June 14, 2026. Keep your scanned photographs, signature, and category certificates ready before you jump into the application form. we are going to look at the exact zone-wise vacancy distribution, step-by-step application process, syllabus changes, and physical fitness criteria so that you do not make a single mistake on your application form.
Look — Before we go any deeper into the syllabus and step-by-step application instructions, let us have a quick look at the core structure of the RRB ALP Notification 2026 exam so that you have all the basic facts in one place.
| Feature Details | Official Recruitment Specifications |
|---|---|
| Recruiting Organization | Railway Recruitment Board (RRB) |
| Post Name | Assistant Loco Pilot (ALP) |
| Advertisement Number | CEN 01/2026 |
| Total Vacancy Count | 11,127 Vacancies |
| Registration Mode | Online Only |
| Registration Dates | May 15, 2026 to June 14, 2026 |
| Educational Criteria | 10th Class Pass + ITI / Course Completed Act Apprenticeship / Diploma / Engineering Degree |
| Age Limit Required | 18 to 30 Years (As of July 1, 2026) |
| Pay Matrix Scale | Level-2 (7th Pay Commission) |
| Starting Basic Pay | Rs. 19,900 per month |
| Job Location | All Zonal Railways across India |
| Official Website Link | https://www.rrbcdg.gov.in/ |
Timing is everything when it comes to Indian Railway exams! The official timeline has been clearly laid out in the CEN 01/2026 advertisement.
If you want to avoid server issues, mark these dates on your calendar right away. Let us look at the full timeline below.
| Recruitment Event | Scheduled Dates (2026) |
|---|---|
| Release of Detailed Notification PDF | May 14, 2026 |
| Online Application Process Starts | May 15, 2026 |
| Last Date to Submit Online Form | June 14, 2026 (Till 11:59 PM) |
| Last Date to Pay Application Fee Online | June 16, 2026 |
| CBT-1 Exam Date (Expected) | To be announced soon |
Make sure you complete your payment before the fee submission window closes on June 16, 2026. Any application without a successful payment transaction will be rejected immediately by the system, and there are no manual corrections for missed payments.
The total vacancy for this year stands at 11,127 positions, which are distributed across the 21 participating Railway Recruitment Boards. This is an incredible number, and choosing the right zone is half the battle won! Let us first look at how these vacancies are split across different social categories:
Now, let us dive into the comprehensive zone-wise vacancy table so you can see exactly where the highest competition and the best chances lie.
Make sure you study this table carefully before picking your preferred RRB zone during registration!
| RRB Zone | Railway Region | UR | SC | ST | OBC | EWS | Total Vacancies | 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 |
| Bhubaneshwar | 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 | 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 |
| Trivandrum | SR | 43 | 8 | 5 | 7 | 1 | 64 | 7 |
| Grand Total | All Regions | 4860 | 1746 | 919 | 2598 | 1004 | 11127 | 1115 |
You can only apply to one single RRB zone! Don't try to submit multiple applications for different zones, as this will lead to immediate rejection of all your forms and a potential ban from future railway examinations.
Now let us look at the eligibility guidelines very closely. The eligibility standards are quite strict, especially when it comes to technical qualifications and medical fitness. Here is exactly what you need to possess to qualify for these posts.
You must have completed one of the following educational tracks from a recognized institution (NCVT or SCVT):
The general age bracket for candidates applying for the Assistant Loco Pilot posts is 18 to 30 years. However, if you belong to any reserved category, you are eligible for upper age relaxations as per government regulations:
Let us talk about the best part, the reward for all your hard work! The Assistant Loco Pilot post is categorized under Level-2 of the 7th CPC Pay Matrix.
While the initial basic pay looks modest at first glance, the actual allowances make this a highly lucrative career path.
After factoring in all these allowances and subtracting standard deductions like the New Pension Scheme (10% of basic pay + DA), your typical in-hand monthly salary as a newly joined ALP will range from Rs. 25,000 to Rs. 35,000. During high-running months, this can easily cross Rs. 40,000!
To secure this job, you must successfully navigate through five stages of testing. Let us look at each of these stages in detail so you can plan your daily study routine accordingly.
The CBT-1 is purely qualifying in nature. The marks you score here will not be added to your final merit list, but you must clear this round to qualify for CBT-2. Only 15 times the number of vacant posts per RRB will be shortlisted for the second stage.
This is the most critical exam of the entire selection process. It consists of two parts, Part A and Part B, and is conducted in a single continuous session lasting 2 hours and 30 minutes.
Candidates who clear both Part A and Part B of CBT-2 will be shortlisted for the CBAT psycho test. In this round, there is absolutely no negative marking. The final merit list will be prepared by giving 70% weightage to your CBT-2 Part A marks and 30% weightage to your CBAT scores.
Ready to apply? Let us go through the exact step-by-step application process so that your form gets approved without any issues. Make sure you follow these instructions carefully:
You must pay the correct fee depending on your category.
The good news is that a major portion of this fee is refunded to your bank account once you actually appear for the CBT-1 exam!
To give you a clear idea of how much you need to score to clear the first hurdle, let us look at the official CBT-1 cut-off scores from the previous exam cycle. Use these numbers to set your target score during mock tests!
| RRB Zone | UR Cut Off | OBC Cut Off | SC Cut Off | ST Cut Off | EWS Cut Off |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ajmer | 54.33 | 39.27 | 36.19 | 27.99 | 40.18 |
| Mumbai | 57.17 | 44.08 | 36.68 | 30.48 | 40.17 |
| Kolkata | 63.44 | 46.82 | 45.73 | 34.71 | 40.05 |
| Patna | 67.59 | 62.71 | 49.65 | 25.23 | 55.43 |
| Bilaspur | 58.41 | 46.14 | 40.68 | 30.39 | 40.00 |
| Secunderabad | 56.20 | 43.81 | 38.27 | 32.32 | 40.09 |
As you can see, zones like Patna and Kolkata generally have much higher cut-offs due to intense competition, while zones like Ajmer and Bilaspur are relatively moderate. Keep this in mind when selecting your RRB zone!
With 11,127 vacancies up for grabs and the application window closing soon, are you going to start preparing today, or will you let someone else take your seat on the train?
Get the latest exam results, admit cards, and job notifications delivered straight to your inbox. No spam, ever.
Senior Content Specialist specializing in state-level recruitment and educational schemes. Dedicated to providing accurate and timely updates to students.

RRB NTPC Answer Key 2026 for Graduate Level (CEN 06/2025) is released today, 6th April. Over 40 lakh candidates can now check their response sheets and raise objections.

Railway Recruitment Board (RRB) has officially released the RRB Technician Grade-I Answer Key 2026. Candidates can now download their response sheets and raise objections against incorrect answers through the official portal.

RRB Paramedical Answer Key 2026 for CEN 03/2025 has been released on March 21, 2026. Candidates who appeared for the exam from March 11-13, 2026, can now download their response sheets and raise objections.

This guide is highly recommended for complete syllabus coverage.