The official notification for the RRB Assistant Loco Pilot (ALP) Recruitment 2026 has been announced, offering a significant opportunity with 11,127 vacancies across various Railway Zones in India.

Important Dates (Schedule)

Event	Date
Short Notification Release	March 16, 2026
Detailed Notification Release	May 14, 2026
Online Application Start	May 15, 2026
Application Deadline	June 14, 2026 (11:59 PM)

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for the ALP post, candidates must meet the following requirements:

• Age Limit: 18 to 30 years (as of July 1, 2026).
  • Note: Age relaxation applies for SC/ST/OBC/Ex-Servicemen as per government norms.
• Educational Qualifications: Candidates must have at least one of the following:
  • Matriculation/SSLC (10th Pass) PLUS ITI from a recognized NCVT/SCVT institute in trades such as Fitter, Electrician, Instrument Mechanic, Millwright/Maintenance Mechanic, Mechanic (Radio & TV), Electronics Mechanic, Mechanic (Motor Vehicle), Wireman, Tractor Mechanic, Armature & Coil Winder, Mechanic (Diesel), or Heat Engine.
  • 3-year Diploma in Mechanical, Electrical, Electronics, or Automobile Engineering.
  • A Degree in the engineering disciplines mentioned above is also acceptable in lieu of a diploma.

Salary and Benefits

• Pay Scale: Level 2 of the 7th CPC Pay Matrix.
• Basic Pay: Rs. 19,900 per month.
• Total In-hand Salary: Includes allowances like Dearness Allowance (DA), House Rent Allowance (HRA), Transport Allowance, and Running Allowance (specific to loco pilots), making the starting gross salary significantly higher.

Selection Process

The recruitment will be conducted in five distinct stages:

1. CBT-1 (First Stage Computer Based Test): Screening test to shortlist candidates.
2. CBT-2 (Second Stage Computer Based Test): Core merit-based exam.
3. CBAT (Computer Based Aptitude Test): Only for those who qualify CBT-2.
4. Document Verification (DV): Verification of original certificates.
5. Medical Examination: Candidates must meet the 'A-1' Medical Standard (specifically stringent vision requirements).

Application Fee

• General / OBC: Rs. 500 (A portion is refunded after appearing in CBT-1).
• SC / ST / Ex-Servicemen / Female / EBC: Rs. 250 (Full amount is generally refunded after CBT-1).

How to Apply

Applications will be accepted online only through the centralized portal: rrbapply.gov.in. You will need to register, select your desired RRB zone (such as RRB Patna or RRB Muzaffarpur for Bihar-based postings), upload your documents, and pay the fee starting from May 15.