RRB ALP Applications 2026: Key Update
The RRB ALP Recruitment 2026 has reportedly received 8,40,944 applications for 11,127 Assistant Loco Pilot posts.
As a result, about 76 candidates are competing for each vacancy at the overall level.
The online application process has ended. Therefore, applicants are now waiting for the RRB ALP CBT 1 exam date 2026.
This article covers the application count, competition ratio, important dates, zone-wise vacancies, exam pattern, eligibility, fee, salary and selection process.
Important: The official notification lists zone-wise vacancies. However, it does not list zone-wise application numbers.
RRB ALP Applications 2026: Overview
| Particular | Details |
|---|
| Recruiting authority | Railway Recruitment Boards |
| Post name | Assistant Loco Pilot |
| Notification number | CEN 01/2026 |
| Reported applications | 8,40,944 |
| Total vacancies | 11,127 |
| Applicants per vacancy | About 76 |
| Application dates | 15 May to 14 June 2026 |
| Initial basic pay | ₹19,900 |
| Pay level | Level 2 |
| Age limit | 18 to 30 years |
| Medical standard | A-1 |
| CBT 1 exam date | To be announced |
| Selection stages | CBT 1, CBT 2, CBAT, DV and Medical Test |
RRB opened the application window on 15 May 2026. The board accepted online forms until 14 June 2026.
After that, candidates could pay the application fee until 16 June 2026. In addition, RRB opened the correction window from 17 to 26 June 2026.
How Many Applications Did RRB ALP 2026 Receive?
According to the reported data, 8,40,944 candidates submitted forms for RRB ALP CEN 01/2026.
Meanwhile, the official notification lists 11,127 vacancies.
The overall calculation is as follows:
Applications:
8,40,944
Vacancies:
11,127
Applicants per post:
About 75.58
Rounded ratio:
About 1:76
Vacancies compared with applications:
About 1.32%
Therefore, nearly 76 candidates are competing for each available post.
However, this figure only gives a broad view of the competition. It does not predict the cutoff or a candidate’s selection chance.
The actual competition may change according to:
- The selected RRB
- Railway zone
- Reservation category
- Number of candidates who attend CBT 1
- Normalisation of marks
- Regional cutoff
- CBT 2 performance
- CBAT score
- Medical fitness
- Document eligibility
Moreover, RRB has not released board-wise application totals. For this reason, candidates cannot calculate an exact regional competition ratio.
RRB ALP Important Dates 2026
| Event | Date |
|---|
| Indicative notice released | 21 March 2026 |
| Detailed notification released | 14 May 2026 |
| Online application started | 15 May 2026 |
| Last date to apply | 14 June 2026 |
| Last date to pay the fee | 16 June 2026 |
| Correction window | 17 to 26 June 2026 |
| Age calculation date | 1 July 2026 |
| CBT 1 exam date | To be announced |
| CBT 2 exam date | To be announced |
| CBAT date | To be announced |
| Document Verification | To be announced |
RRB will publish the exam schedule on its regional websites.
In addition, candidates may receive updates through their registered mobile number and email address. Therefore, applicants should keep both active.
Has RRB Announced the ALP CBT 1 Exam Date?
As of 15 July 2026, RRB has not announced the CBT 1 exam date for CEN 01/2026.
Therefore, candidates should avoid unofficial exam-date claims on social media, YouTube or other websites.
Once RRB confirms the schedule, the board will publish details about:
- Exam date
- Exam city
- Shift timing
- Reporting time
- E-call letter
- Examination centre
- Exam-day instructions
Usually, RRB issues the exam-city slip before the e-call letter. Still, candidates should wait for the official notice before booking travel.
RRB ALP Category-Wise Vacancy 2026
| Category | Vacancies |
|---|
| Unreserved | 4,611 |
| Scheduled Caste | 1,767 |
| Scheduled Tribe | 913 |
| OBC-NCL | 2,828 |
| EWS | 1,008 |
| Total | 11,127 |
| Ex-servicemen allocation | 1,114 |
The Ex-servicemen allocation comes under horizontal reservation. Therefore, it already forms part of the total vacancy count.
RRB ALP Zone-Wise Vacancy 2026
RRB divided the 11,127 posts among different boards and railway zones.
| RRB | Railway Zone | Vacancies |
|---|
| Ahmedabad | WR | 147 |
| Ajmer | NWR | 600 |
| Ajmer | WCR | 118 |
| Prayagraj | NCR | 457 |
| Prayagraj | NR | 153 |
| Bengaluru | SWR | 200 |
| Bhopal | WCR | 423 |
| Bhopal | WR | 30 |
| Bhubaneswar | ECoR | 801 |
| Bilaspur | CR | 322 |
| Bilaspur | SECR | 200 |
| Chandigarh | NR | 187 |
| Chennai | SR | 186 |
| Gorakhpur | NER | 105 |
| Guwahati | NFR | 676 |
| Jammu-Srinagar | NR | 400 |
| Kolkata | ER | 344 |
| Kolkata | SER | 497 |
| Malda | ER | 270 |
| Malda | SER | 289 |
| Mumbai | CR | 1,078 |
| Mumbai | SCR | 78 |
| Mumbai | WR | 37 |
| Muzaffarpur | ECR | 42 |
| Patna | ECR | 103 |
| Ranchi | ECR | 555 |
| Ranchi | SER | 745 |
| Secunderabad | ECoR | 824 |
| Secunderabad | SCR | 596 |
| Siliguri | NFR | 600 |
| Thiruvananthapuram | SR | 64 |
| Total | — | 11,127 |
The railway zones may revise these figures if their staffing needs change. Therefore, candidates should check the latest notice before Document Verification.
RRBs With the Highest Vacancies
| RRB | Combined Vacancies |
|---|
| Secunderabad | 1,420 |
| Ranchi | 1,300 |
| Mumbai | 1,193 |
| Kolkata | 841 |
| Bhubaneswar | 801 |
| Ajmer | 718 |
| Guwahati | 676 |
| Prayagraj | 610 |
| Siliguri | 600 |
Main Vacancy Highlights
- Secunderabad has 1,420 vacancies across ECoR and SCR.
- Ranchi has 1,300 posts across ECR and SER.
- Mumbai has 1,193 posts across CR, SCR and WR.
- Kolkata has 841 vacancies across ER and SER.
- Bhubaneswar has 801 posts under ECoR.
- Mumbai–Central Railway has 1,078 vacancies.
- Muzaffarpur–ECR has 42 vacancies.
- Thiruvananthapuram–SR has 64 posts.
Although some RRBs offer more vacancies, they may also receive more applications. Therefore, a larger vacancy count does not always lead to a lower cutoff.
RRB ALP Selection Process 2026
RRB will select candidates through five stages:
CBT 1
CBT 2
Computer-Based Aptitude Test
Document Verification
Medical Examination
Applicants must clear each stage to move forward.
Stage 1: CBT 1
RRB uses CBT 1 as a screening test.
The board uses these marks to shortlist candidates for CBT 2. However, CBT 1 marks do not count toward the final merit list.
Stage 2: CBT 2
CBT 2 includes Part A and Part B.
- Part A affects the final merit list.
- Part B checks technical trade knowledge.
Candidates must score at least 35% in Part B. This rule applies to every category.
Stage 3: CBAT
Candidates who clear CBT 2 must take the Computer-Based Aptitude Test.
RRB conducts CBAT in Hindi and English. Moreover, the test does not include negative marking.
Still, candidates must qualify in every test battery.
Stages 4 and 5
Next, RRB calls successful candidates for Document Verification.
After that, applicants must pass the Railway Medical Examination.
Finally, the board appoints candidates who meet the merit, document and medical rules.
RRB ALP Final Merit List 2026
RRB will use marks from two stages to prepare the final merit list.
| Selection Stage | Weightage |
|---|
| CBT 2 Part A | 50% |
| CBAT | 50% |
Thus, CBT 2 Part A and CBAT carry equal weight.
CBT 1 marks do not affect the final merit score. Similarly, CBT 2 Part B only remains a qualifying section.
Therefore, candidates should prepare seriously for both CBT 2 Part A and CBAT.
How Many Candidates Will RRB Shortlist?
RRB may use the following shortlisting ratio:
Up to 15 times the RRB-wise vacancies for CBT 2
Up to eight times the relevant vacancies for CBAT
Candidates equal to the vacancy count for Document Verification
However, the board may change these limits when needed.
For example, RRB may call more candidates if several applicants score the same marks near the cutoff.
RRB ALP CBT 1 Exam Pattern 2026
| Particular | Details |
|---|
| Total questions | 75 |
| Maximum marks | 75 |
| Duration | 60 minutes |
| Marks per correct answer | 1 |
| Negative marking | One-third mark per wrong answer |
| Purpose | Screening for CBT 2 |
CBT 1 Subjects
The paper includes:
- Mathematics
- Mental Ability
- General Science
General Science covers basic Physics, Chemistry and Life Science topics at about Class 10 level.
Minimum Qualifying Marks
| Category | Minimum Percentage |
|---|
| UR and EWS | 40% |
| OBC-NCL | 30% |
| SC | 30% |
| ST | 25% |
Candidates must reach the minimum qualifying percentage.
However, these marks alone do not guarantee shortlisting. Applicants must also clear the RRB-wise normalised cutoff.
RRB ALP CBT 2 Exam Pattern 2026
CBT 2 contains two parts.
| Section | Questions | Duration | Purpose |
|---|
| Part A | 100 | 90 minutes | Merit-based |
| Part B | 75 | 60 minutes | Qualifying |
| Total | 175 | 150 minutes | — |
CBT 2 Part A Subjects
Part A covers:
- Mathematics
- General Intelligence and Reasoning
- Basic Science and Engineering
RRB uses Part A marks while preparing the final merit list.
CBT 2 Part B
Part B checks the candidate’s technical trade knowledge.
Applicants must score at least 35% in this section.
In addition, RRB applies one-third negative marking for each wrong answer in both parts.
RRB ALP CBAT Exam Pattern
CBAT plays a major role in the final result.
Candidates should note the following rules:
- RRB conducts the test in Hindi and English.
- CBAT does not include negative marking.
- Applicants must clear every test battery.
- Each battery requires a minimum T-score of 42.
- CBAT carries 50% weight in the final merit list.
As a result, candidates should not treat CBAT as a simple qualifying test.
Instead, they should practise concentration, memory, speed and direction-based tasks from the start.
RRB ALP Eligibility Criteria 2026
Applicants must meet the age, education and medical rules.
Age Limit
Candidates must fall within the following age range as of 1 July 2026:
Minimum age: 18 years
Maximum age: 30 years
However, eligible reserved categories can claim age relaxation under government rules.
Educational Qualification
Candidates must hold one of these qualifications:
- Matriculation or SSLC with an NCVT- or SCVT-approved ITI in a notified trade
- Matriculation or SSLC with a completed Act Apprenticeship
- Matriculation or SSLC with a three-year diploma in Mechanical Engineering
- Matriculation or SSLC with a three-year diploma in Electrical Engineering
- Matriculation or SSLC with a three-year diploma in Electronics Engineering
- Matriculation or SSLC with a three-year diploma in Automobile Engineering
- A recognised engineering degree in an accepted field
Applicants who were still waiting for their final technical result on the closing date could not apply.
Therefore, candidates had to complete the required qualification before the deadline.
Medical Standard
The Assistant Loco Pilot post requires the A-1 medical standard.
Candidates must meet strict rules for:
- General physical fitness
- Distant vision
- Near vision
- Colour vision
- Binocular vision
- Field of vision
- Night vision
- Mesopic vision
RRB will not offer another post under this recruitment to a candidate who fails the ALP medical test.
Therefore, applicants should review the medical rules before preparing for the later stages.
RRB ALP Application Fee 2026
| Candidate Category | Fee |
|---|
| SC, ST, Ex-servicemen, female, transgender, minority and EBC candidates | ₹250 |
| All other candidates | ₹500 |
Application Fee Refund
Candidates who attend CBT 1 may receive a refund after bank charges.
Applicants who paid ₹500 may receive ₹400.
Applicants who paid ₹250 may receive ₹250.
However, candidates who skip CBT 1 will not receive the refund.
Also, EBC and EWS are different categories. EBC candidates may receive a fee benefit, but EBC status alone does not provide reservation.
RRB ALP Salary 2026
| Salary Component | Details |
|---|
| Pay level | Level 2 |
| Initial basic pay | ₹19,900 |
| Pay commission | 7th Central Pay Commission |
| Allowances | As per railway rules |
The official notification confirms the starting basic pay of ₹19,900.
In addition, selected candidates may receive eligible railway allowances.
However, the final in-hand salary will depend on the posting place, duty payments, allowances and deductions.
Can Candidates Apply to More Than One RRB?
No. Each candidate could select only one RRB.
Applicants also had to submit only one form.
Multiple applications may cause:
- Rejection of all forms
- Removal from the recruitment process
- A ban from future RRB or RRC exams
Moreover, candidates cannot change their selected RRB after submitting the form.
What Should Candidates Do Next?
Candidates should now focus on CBT 1 preparation.
First, review the full syllabus.
Next, create a daily study plan.
Applicants should also:
- Revise Class 10-level General Science.
- Practise Mathematics every day.
- Solve Mental Ability questions with a timer.
- Take full-length mock tests.
- Review mistakes after every test.
- Keep registration details safe.
- Check the official RRB website regularly.
- Ignore unofficial exam-date claims.
Meanwhile, candidates should begin basic CBT 2 and CBAT preparation.
This early start will help because the later stages include more technical and aptitude-based questions.
Official RRB ALP Resources
Candidates should use official RRB websites for all updates.
| Official Resource | Purpose |
|---|
| CEN 01/2026 recruitment page | Check recruitment notices |
| Detailed notification | Review vacancies and rules |
| Application FAQ page | Read application guidance |
| Regional RRB website | Check exam dates and e-call letters |
Bookmark your regional RRB website. In addition, check it regularly after the board announces the exam schedule.
RRB ALP Applications 2026 FAQs
How many applications did RRB ALP 2026 receive?
According to the reported data, candidates submitted 8,40,944 applications for CEN 01/2026.
How many RRB ALP vacancies are available?
The official notification lists 11,127 Assistant Loco Pilot vacancies.
What is the RRB ALP competition ratio?
The overall competition ratio is about 1:76.
However, the real ratio may differ by RRB and category.
Does CBT 1 affect the final merit list?
No. RRB uses CBT 1 only to shortlist candidates for CBT 2.
How will RRB prepare the final merit list?
RRB will give 50% weight to CBT 2 Part A and 50% weight to CBAT.
What is the starting RRB ALP salary?
The initial basic pay is ₹19,900 under Pay Level 2.
Does the exam include negative marking?
Yes. RRB deducts one-third mark for each wrong answer in CBT 1 and CBT 2.
However, CBAT does not include negative marking.
Conclusion
The RRB ALP Recruitment 2026 reportedly received 8,40,944 applications for 11,127 Assistant Loco Pilot posts.
Therefore, about 76 candidates are competing for each vacancy at the overall level.
Applicants should now focus on CBT 1 and follow only official RRB websites for exam updates.
Finally, bookmark this page for the latest RRB ALP exam date 2026, exam-city slip and e-call letter news. Also, share it with other Assistant Loco Pilot candidates.
