RRB ALP 2026 (CEN 01/2026): Exam Date, Syllabus, Pattern, Mock Tests and Cut Off
Railway Recruitment Boards recruit Assistant Loco Pilots (Level 2) through CEN 01/2026, with 11,127 posts. ALP drives the locomotive under the Loco Pilot and is one of the largest technical recruitments in the Railways.
Selection is CBT 1 (screening), CBT 2 (Part A merit + Part B qualifying trade test), CBAT (aptitude batteries), document verification and the A-1 medical examination. Final merit is 50% CBT 2 Part A and 50% CBAT.
- Recruiting body
- Railway Recruitment Boards
- Post
- Assistant Loco Pilot, Level 2 (initial pay ₹19,900)
- Vacancies
- 11,127 (CEN 01/2026, Annexure B)
- Qualification
- ITI in a notified trade, or Act Apprenticeship, or diploma/degree in engineering (as specified in the CEN)
- Age limit
- 18-30 years as on 01.07.2026
- Selection
- CBT 1 → CBT 2 → CBAT → document verification → A-1 medical
Latest RRB ALP notification and updates
CBT 1 under CEN 01/2026 is scheduled for 3 to 5 November 2026; the city intimation slip was released on 24 October 2026. Do not confuse this cycle with CEN 01/2025, whose CBT 2 result came on 1 October 2026 and whose merit ratio was 70:30.
Source: RRB CEN 01/2026 (ALP), Para 12
Official website: rrb.indianrailways.gov.in. Always confirm dates and eligibility in the official notice before applying.
RRB ALP key dates (official)
Only dates published by Railway Recruitment Boards. Anything not yet announced is marked "Awaited".
- CEN 01/2026 detailed notificationDone14 May 2026
- City intimation slip (CBT 1)Done24 October 2026
- CBT 1Upcoming3 to 5 November 2026
- CBT 2AwaitedAwaitedNot announced
- CBATAwaitedAwaitedNot announced
| Event | Date | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| CEN 01/2026 detailed notification | 14 May 2026 | Done | RRB CEN 01/2026 (ALP), Para 12 |
| City intimation slip (CBT 1) | 24 October 2026 | Done | RRB CEN 01/2026 (ALP), Para 12 |
| CBT 1 | 3 to 5 November 2026 | Upcoming | RRB CEN 01/2026 (ALP), Para 12 |
| CBT 2 | Awaited | Awaited | Not announced |
| CBAT | Awaited | Awaited | Not announced |
RRB ALP exam pattern
RRB ALP CBT 1 Exam Pattern (CEN 01/2026)
| Section | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Mathematics, Mental Ability and General Science (no fixed split in the CEN) | 75 | 75 |
| Total | 75 | 75 |
- 60 minutes. 1/3 mark is deducted for each wrong answer.
- CBT 1 is screening only: its marks are not counted in the final panel. RRB-wise, up to 15 times the vacancies of that RRB are shortlisted for CBT 2.
- The CEN lists no General Awareness section in CBT 1. Marks are normalised when the exam runs in several shifts.
Source: RRB CEN 01/2026 (ALP), Para 12
RRB ALP CBT 2 and CBAT Pattern (CEN 01/2026)
| Part | Questions | Marks | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| CBT 2 Part A | 100 | 100 | 90 min |
| CBT 2 Part B (trade test, qualifying) | 75 | 75 | 60 min |
| CBAT (aptitude test batteries) | — | — | As scheduled |
- CBT 2 Part A covers Mathematics, General Intelligence and Reasoning, Basic Science and Engineering, and General Awareness and Current Affairs. Part B is the trade-specific test for your ITI trade; you must score 35% in it, but its marks do not count for merit.
- Final merit is 50% CBT 2 Part A + 50% CBAT. The older CEN 01/2025 used 70:30 — do not mix the two cycles.
- You must also clear every CBAT test battery separately (minimum T-score 42 in each) and the A-1 medical standard.
Source: RRB CEN 01/2026 (ALP), Para 12
RRB ALP free mock tests
17 tests: 0 full mocks, 0 sectional, 16 topic-wise, 1 mini mocks and 0 previous year papers.
RRB ALP 2026: FAQs
When is the RRB ALP CBT 1 in 2026?
3 to 5 November 2026, under CEN 01/2026.
How many vacancies are there in RRB ALP 2026?
11,127 Assistant Loco Pilot posts under CEN 01/2026.
What is the RRB ALP selection process?
CBT 1 (screening), CBT 2 (Part A + qualifying Part B), CBAT aptitude batteries, document verification and the A-1 medical examination.
How is RRB ALP merit calculated in 2026?
50% CBT 2 Part A + 50% CBAT. CBT 1 marks do not count. The older CEN 01/2025 used 70:30.
Is there General Awareness in RRB ALP CBT 1?
No. CBT 1 covers Mathematics, Mental Ability and General Science only. General Awareness appears in CBT 2 Part A.
What is the qualifying mark in CBT 2 Part B?
35%. Part B is the trade-specific test; its marks do not count for merit, but failing it ends the attempt.
What is the medical standard for ALP?
A-1: distant vision 6/6 without glasses, plus colour, binocular, field, night and mesopic vision tests.
Is there a separate RRB ALP cut-off for each zone?
Cut-offs are published RRB-wise. No zone-wise cut-off values for the live cycle are published on this site, because the result has not been declared; the cut-off note explains where the official PDFs appear.
