RRB ALP Recruitment 2026: Railways Reduces Assistant Loco Pilot Vacancies; Recruitment to Now be Held for 10,970 Posts..
There is significant news for young aspirants dreaming of becoming Assistant Loco Pilots in the Railways. The Railway Recruitment Board (RRB) recently announced a massive recruitment drive for Assistant Loco Pilot positions, for which the application process is currently underway. However, a major change has now been made to the recruitment numbers, as the RRB has reduced the total number of vacancies. In this regard, the RRB has issued a new revised notice; while the overall number of vacancies has decreased, the number of posts has actually been increased in certain railway zones. This development could certainly benefit some candidates who have been diligently preparing to secure a government job in the Railways.
Specifically, the Railway Recruitment Board had issued the notification for the ALP recruitment on April 12, 2025. At that time, recruitment was announced for a total of 11,127 posts; however, according to the revised notice, Assistant Loco Pilots will now be recruited for 10,970 posts. The RRB has stated that there are 17 railway zones where no changes have been made to the number of vacancies.
**In Which Railway Zones Have the Seats Increased?**
The railway zones where the number of vacancies has been increased include RRB Bhubaneswar, RRB Bilaspur, and RRB Secunderabad. RRB Bhubaneswar, which previously had 928 seats, has now seen its count increased to 1,355; similarly, RRB Bilaspur's seat count has risen from 568 to 1,068. Likewise, the number of posts in RRB Secunderabad has been increased from the original figure of 533 to 606.
**Application Process is Ongoing**
The application process for the RRB Assistant Loco Pilot recruitment commenced on May 15 and will continue until June 14, 2026, while the deadline for the submission of the application fee has been set for June 16, 2026. Candidates are advised to complete their application process within the stipulated timeframe.
**Who Can Apply?** Educational Qualification: Candidates applying for the Assistant Loco Pilot positions are required to possess an Industrial Training Institute (ITI) certificate or an Engineering Diploma in a relevant discipline.
Age Limit: The minimum age to apply for these positions is 18 years, while the maximum age limit is 30 years as of July 1, 2026. However, candidates belonging to reserved categories will be granted relaxation in the upper age limit in accordance with government norms.
What is the Selection Process?
The selection process for these positions comprises several stages, including Computer-Based Test (CBT)-1, Computer-Based Test (CBT)-2, a Computer-Based Aptitude Test, Document Verification, and a Medical Examination. CBT-1 will consist of 75 objective-type questions covering Mathematics, Reasoning, General Science, and General Awareness; the duration of the examination will be 60 minutes. This examination will also feature negative marking, wherein one-third of a mark will be deducted for every incorrect answer.
Meanwhile, CBT-2 is divided into two parts: the first part will contain 100 questions, while the second part will consist of 75 questions related to the specific technical trade. Candidates are required to secure a minimum of 35 percent marks in the second part. Following CBT-2, selected candidates must appear for the Computer-Based Aptitude Test (CBAT), in which it is mandatory to obtain a minimum T-score of 42 in each test battery. The final merit list will be prepared by assigning equal weightage (50:50) to the marks obtained in Part A of CBT-2 and the performance in the CBAT.
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