RRB ALP Recruitment 2026 – 11,127 Vacancies, Apply Online

Key Highlights

Recruiting Body	Railway Recruitment Boards (RRBs) — Ministry of Railways, Govt. of India
Notification No.	CEN No. 01/2026
Post Name	Assistant Loco Pilot (ALP)
Total Vacancies	11,127
Pay Level	Level-2 (7th CPC) — Initial basic pay ₹19,900/month
Age Limit	18–30 years as on 01 July 2026
Minimum Qualification	Matriculation/SSLC + ITI (NCVT/SCVT) or Diploma/Degree in Engineering
Application Mode	Online only — rrbapply.gov.in
Apply Start Date	15 May 2026
Apply Last Date	14 June 2026
Short Notice Released	16 March 2026
Detailed CEN Release	Expected by 14 May 2026 (not yet published)
Application Fee	Not yet disclosed in official notification

Vacancy Details

A total of 11,127 vacancies have been announced for the post of Assistant Loco Pilot under CEN No. 01/2026. These posts are distributed across 21 participating Railway Recruitment Boards spanning all zonal railways and production units including Chittaranjan Locomotive Works (CLW). The participating RRBs include Ahmedabad, Ajmer, Bengaluru, Bhopal, Bhubaneswar, Bilaspur, Chandigarh, Chennai, Gorakhpur, Guwahati, Jammu-Srinagar, Kolkata, Malda, Mumbai, Muzaffarpur, Patna, Prayagraj, Ranchi, Secunderabad, Siliguri, and Thiruvananthapuram.

Category-wise and zone-wise vacancy distribution has not been released with the short notice. The complete break-up across UR, OBC, SC, ST, EWS, and PwBD sub-categories will be published in the detailed CEN 01/2026 on official RRB websites. Candidates should not rely on zone-wise figures circulating on unofficial platforms until that document is out.

Eligibility Criteria

Educational Qualification

As per the indicative notice, eligible candidates must satisfy one of the following qualification conditions:

Matriculation/SSLC from a recognised board plus ITI certificate from an NCVT/SCVT-recognised institution in relevant trades. Trades mentioned across official and semi-official sources include: Fitter, Electrician, Mechanic Diesel, Mechanic (Motor Vehicle), Electronics Mechanic, Instrument Mechanic, Wireman, Turner, Machinist, Heat Engine, Armature and Coil Winder, Refrigeration and AC Mechanic, and others. The final list of eligible trades will be in the detailed CEN.
Matriculation/SSLC plus a completed Act Apprenticeship certificate in the above trades.
Matriculation/SSLC plus a 3-year Diploma in Mechanical, Electrical, Electronics, or Automobile Engineering (or a combination of these disciplines) from a recognised institution.
A Degree in Engineering in the above disciplines is also acceptable in place of a Diploma.

Important: The post-wise qualifying trades and disciplines will be governed exclusively by the detailed CEN 01/2026. Candidates must verify their specific trade against the official list before applying.

Age Limit

The minimum age is 18 years and the maximum age is 30 years, calculated as on 01 July 2026. This means candidates must have been born between 02 July 1996 and 01 July 2008 (both dates inclusive) to fall within the general (UR) category age bracket.

Age relaxation will be applicable as per Railway Rules for reserved categories. Standard government norms allow: OBC (NCL) — 3 years; SC/ST — 5 years; PwBD — 10 years; Ex-Servicemen — as per applicable rules. The exact relaxation details for all categories, including J&K domicile and others, will be specified in the detailed notification.

Medical Standards

Candidates must meet prescribed medical fitness standards. Vision requirements for ALP posts are stringent — candidates are tested on colour vision, binocular vision, field of vision, night vision, and mesopic vision. Colour blindness, defective vision, or hearing impairment may render a candidate ineligible. The detailed medical standard applicable (Vision Standard A1 or A2) will be confirmed in the full CEN.

Salary and Pay

The Assistant Loco Pilot post is placed at Pay Level-2 of the 7th Central Pay Commission Pay Matrix with an initial basic pay of ₹19,900 per month. In addition to basic pay, selected candidates are entitled to allowances including Dearness Allowance (DA), House Rent Allowance (HRA), Travel Allowance (TA), and Running Allowance — which is specific to loco running staff. With all allowances, the total monthly emoluments are reported to range between ₹30,000 and ₹35,000, though exact in-hand figures vary based on posting city, HRA classification, and DA revisions. Benefits also include railway pass facilities, medical coverage, and pension under the National Pension System (NPS).

Selection Process

The selection for ALP posts under CEN 01/2026 is a multi-stage process:

CBT Stage 1 (First Stage Computer Based Test): A screening examination. Marks scored in Stage 1 are not counted in the final merit. The test covers Mathematics, General Intelligence and Reasoning, General Science, and General Awareness on Current Affairs. There is negative marking of 1/3 mark for each wrong answer.
CBT Stage 2 (Second Stage Computer Based Test): Consists of two parts. Part A covers Mathematics, General Intelligence and Reasoning, General Science, and General Awareness; marks in Part A are used for merit ranking. Part B covers trade/technical subjects relevant to the candidate’s ITI or Engineering discipline and is qualifying in nature.
CBAT (Computer Based Aptitude Test): Candidates who qualify Stage 2 are called for this psychometric and aptitude test. It is mandatory for the ALP post.
Document Verification (DV): Shortlisted candidates must produce original academic, identity, and reservation documents.
Medical Examination: Final medical fitness assessment as per the prescribed vision and physical standards for ALP.

Important Dates

Short Notice Released	16 March 2026
Detailed CEN 01/2026 Expected	On or before 14 May 2026 (not yet published)
Online Application Opens	15 May 2026
Online Application Closes	14 June 2026 (23:59 hrs)
Application Modification Window	Up to 10 days after closing date (approx. 24 June 2026) — against a fee
CBT Stage 1 Date	Not mentioned in the official notification

Application Fee

The application fee for CEN 01/2026 has not been disclosed in the short notice released on 16 March 2026. Fee details will be published in the detailed notification before the application window opens. Candidates are advised not to act on fee figures circulating on third-party websites, as these are estimates based on previous RRB cycles and are not official.

A modification/correction fee of ₹250 (non-refundable) is applicable if candidates wish to edit their submitted application during the correction window. This figure is widely reported across multiple sources consistent with standard RRB practice, but should be confirmed from the detailed CEN before payment.

How to Apply

Applications for RRB ALP 2026 will be accepted exclusively through the centralised online portal. Candidates can apply to only one RRB; applying to multiple RRBs will lead to disqualification. Before applying, ensure your Aadhaar details — name, date of birth, photograph, and biometrics (fingerprint and iris) — are updated and match your 10th class certificate.

Visit the official application portal: www.rrbapply.gov.in (active from 15 May 2026).
Click on the link for CEN 01/2026 (Assistant Loco Pilot).
Register by creating an account using your name, mobile number, email ID, and Aadhaar details. Set a password combining uppercase letters, lowercase letters, special characters, and numbers.
Log in using your registered mobile number/email and password.
Select the RRB to which you wish to apply and fill in personal, educational, and trade details in the application form.
Upload scanned copies of your photograph, signature, and any required certificates (SC/ST certificate if applicable) as per specifications in the form.
Pay the application fee through the available online payment modes.
Review the complete form, submit, and download or print the acknowledgement/confirmation page for future reference.
Candidates may also visit their respective regional RRB website for region-specific updates and information.

Documents Required

Aadhaar card (with updated photo, biometrics, name, and date of birth matching 10th certificate)
Class 10/SSLC marksheet and passing certificate
ITI certificate (NCVT/SCVT) or Act Apprenticeship certificate or Diploma/Degree in Engineering
Caste certificate — OBC (NCL), SC, or ST (if applicable), issued by competent authority
EWS income and asset certificate (if claiming EWS reservation)
PwBD certificate from a competent medical authority (if applicable)
Ex-Serviceman discharge certificate (if applicable)
Recent passport-size colour photograph and scanned signature as per format specifications

The detailed CEN will specify exact file formats, sizes, and any additional documents required. Candidates should keep both originals and scanned copies ready well before 15 May 2026.

Offer / Notice Verification and Scam Warning

All official RRB notifications for CEN 01/2026 are published exclusively on the 21 regional RRB websites (e.g., rrbcdg.gov.in, rrbchennai.gov.in) and the centralised portal rrbapply.gov.in. No recruitment communication is sent via Telegram groups, WhatsApp forwards, or private SMS. The RRBs have formally warned candidates to disregard any information circulating on social media and to ignore touts or individuals claiming to secure railway jobs through influence or payment.

Do not pay any amount to any person or agency claiming to facilitate or guarantee selection. No RRB collects fees outside the official online portal. If you encounter suspicious offers or fake websites, report them to the helpline of your regional RRB. Always verify CEN numbers, official websites, and notification PDFs before taking any action.

Official Links

Apply Online (active from 15 May 2026): www.rrbapply.gov.in
Indian Railways Official Site: indianrailways.gov.in
RRB Chandigarh: rrbcdg.gov.in
RRB Chennai: rrbchennai.gov.in
RRB Mumbai: rrbmumbai.gov.in
RRB Kolkata: rrbkolkata.gov.in
RRB Secunderabad: rrbsecunderabad.gov.in
RRB Bengaluru: rrbbnc.gov.in
Detailed CEN 01/2026 PDF: To be published on all RRB websites by 14 May 2026. No link available yet — check official RRB sites directly.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1. How many vacancies have been announced in RRB ALP Recruitment 2026?

A total of 11,127 vacancies have been announced for the Assistant Loco Pilot post under CEN No. 01/2026. Zone-wise and category-wise distribution will be available in the detailed notification.

Q2. When will the online application for RRB ALP 2026 start and end?

The online application window opens on 15 May 2026 and closes on 14 June 2026 at 23:59 hrs. Applications are accepted only through rrbapply.gov.in.

Q3. Can a candidate apply to more than one RRB under CEN 01/2026?

No. Each candidate may apply to only one RRB. Submitting applications to multiple RRBs will result in disqualification from the entire recruitment process.

Q4. What is the salary of an RRB ALP after selection?

The initial basic pay is ₹19,900 per month under Pay Level-2 of the 7th CPC Pay Matrix. Additional allowances — DA, HRA, TA, and Running Allowance — are payable as per applicable rules and posting location.

Q5. Is the CEN 01/2026 detailed notification PDF available as of 18 March 2026?

No. Only the short/indicative notice has been released as of this date. The detailed CEN — which will contain the final eligibility trades, reservation details, fee structure, and zone-wise vacancies — is expected on official RRB websites on or before 14 May 2026.

Q6. What happens if Aadhaar details do not match the 10th class certificate at the time of application?

As per the short notice, candidates whose Aadhaar name and date of birth do not match their 10th certificate will face special detailed scrutiny at every stage of the recruitment process. Updating Aadhaar before applying is strongly advised to avoid delays or rejection.