RRB ALP 2026 Notification, Exam Pattern, Syllabus, Vacancies and Free Mock Tests

The four filters, in order

• CBT 1 — a short screening paper of mathematics, mental ability, general science and current affairs.
• CBT 2 Part A — the merit-counting paper — mathematics, reasoning, basic science and engineering, and general awareness.
• CBT 2 Part B — trade-specific and qualifying. Technical, and drawn from your ITI or diploma trade.
• Computer-based aptitude test — psychological suitability for train operation, with a minimum standard in every battery and no relaxation available.

Qualification, from Annexure A

• ITI route — Class 10 or SSLC plus ITI from an NCVT or SCVT institution in Fitter, Electrician, Instrument Mechanic, Millwright or Maintenance Mechanic, Mechanic (Radio and TV), Electronics Mechanic, Mechanic (Motor Vehicle), Wireman, Tractor Mechanic, Armature and Coil Winder, Mechanic (Diesel), Heat Engine, Turner, Machinist, or Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Mechanic.
• Apprenticeship route — Class 10 or SSLC plus a Course Completed Act Apprenticeship in the trades above.
• Diploma or degree route — Class 10 or SSLC plus a three-year diploma in Mechanical, Electrical, Electronics or Automobile Engineering, or a combination of those streams, from a recognised institution; a degree in the same disciplines is accepted in lieu of the diploma.

Medical standard A-1 and other conditions

• Vision — Distant vision 6/6, 6/6 without glasses with the fogging test (must not accept +2D); near vision Sn 0.6, 0.6 without glasses; normal colour vision, binocular vision, field of vision, night vision and mesopic vision. Candidates who have had LASIK or other refractive surgery are not eligible and sign a declaration to that effect.
• General fitness — Physically fit in all respects; no speech impediment, hearing impairment, psychiatric or neurological disorder, diabetes or the other conditions in the self-screening declaration that is certified by an eye specialist and produced at the CBAT.
• Fee — The examination fee is ₹500 for general candidates, of which ₹400 is refunded (less bank charges) to those who appear in the first CBT; SC, ST, ex-servicemen, PwBD, female, transgender, minority and Economically Backward Class candidates pay ₹250, refunded in full on appearing. The refund goes only to the bank account seeded with the candidate’s Aadhaar, so the account has to be linked before the application is submitted.
• One RRB — Apply to one RRB and rank its zones and posts; multiple applications are all rejected.

The RRB ALP process, from account to appointment

1. Create an account on rrbapply.gov.in One account serves every RRB notification: mobile number, e-mail, name, parents’ names and date of birth exactly as on the matriculation certificate, and Aadhaar verification. Details in the account form — and the RRB chosen — cannot be changed later, even in the paid modification window, so they must be right at this step.
2. Choose one RRB and rank the posts You apply to one Railway Recruitment Board only, and are examined and considered against that RRB’s vacancies; a second application to any RRB cancels all of them. Inside the chosen RRB you rank every post and zone you are eligible for and willing to join — posts left without a preference are treated as declined, and preferences are final.
3. Fill the form with a live photograph The form asks for qualification, category and the certificates you will produce at verification, captures a live photograph through the webcam or phone camera at the time of application, and takes uploads of the photograph, signature and any category certificates to the CEN’s specification.
4. Pay the fee The examination fee is ₹500 for general candidates, of which ₹400 is refunded (less bank charges) to those who appear in the first CBT; SC, ST, ex-servicemen, PwBD, female, transgender, minority and Economically Backward Class candidates pay ₹250, refunded in full on appearing. The refund goes only to the bank account seeded with the candidate’s Aadhaar, so the account has to be linked before the application is submitted.
5. Use the modification window if you must A ten-day window opens after applications close in which any field other than the account details and the chosen RRB can be corrected on payment of ₹250 per occasion, which is not refunded.
6. Application status, city intimation, then the e-call letter The RRBs publish a notice for checking whether your application was accepted. About ten days before your date the exam city and date, and the travel authority for SC and ST candidates, become visible in the login; the e-call letter itself is released about four days before the examination. Aadhaar-linked biometric authentication is done at the centre, so carry the original Aadhaar card and the same photo identity document named in the application, and keep Aadhaar biometrics unlocked.
7. The computer-based test Objective questions in the language chosen at application, with a separate scribe-eligible duration. There is no sectional timing; the whole paper is one clock. Mock tests to familiarise candidates with the interface are put on the RRB website before the examination.
8. Results, scores and the objection tracker After each CBT the question paper, responses and provisional answer key are opened in the login with an objection window; results are published RRB by RRB as PDF lists of roll numbers with category-wise normalised cut-offs, and individual scores can be viewed in the login for a limited period.
9. CBT 1 result and the 15-times shortlist Each RRB publishes the roll numbers shortlisted for CBT 2 — 15 times its vacancies, RRB- and community-wise on normalised marks, above the minimum qualifying percentage — with category cut-offs; ties at the cut-off are all shortlisted. Candidates who used a reservation are considered only in that category thereafter.
10. CBT 2: Part A counts, Part B must be passed Part A and Part B are held in one sitting of two and a half hours. Only Part A marks shortlist for the CBAT and count in the merit, provided the candidate scores 35 per cent in Part B, which is set from the DGT syllabus of the trade chosen at application.
11. CBAT with the medical self-declaration Eight times the vacancies per community are called on Part A marks. Bring the self-screening medical declaration (Annexures VIII A and B) certified by an eye specialist, without which entry is refused. Every battery must be cleared separately at a T-score of 42; there is no negative marking and no relaxation.
12. Merit, verification, medical and zone allotment The merit list is drawn RRB-wise from CBAT qualifiers with CBT 2 Part A and CBAT weighted 50:50; ties go to the older candidate, then alphabetical order of first name. Candidates equal to the vacancies are called with originals and undergo the A-1 medical examination; zones and production units are allotted by merit and the preferences given at application.

A six-month plan

1. Months 1–2: CBT 1 breadth Arithmetic and the mental ability families to speed; class-10 science; a current affairs routine. Sit a 75-question, 60-minute mock at the end of month one.
2. Months 3–4: Part A depth and Part B revision Basic Science and Engineering topic by topic — engineering drawing projections and views, units, density, work and power, heat, basic electricity, levers, safety, environment, IT literacy — with mathematics and reasoning at Part A level; revise the DGT syllabus of your trade for Part B.
3. Month 5: full mocks A CBT 1 mock every second day and a CBT 2 mock every week on the 90 + 60 minute format, scored with a third off per error, and an error log. Read the RDSO CBAT guidelines and practise each battery format weekly.
4. Month 6: revision, eyes and the examination Revise from notes and the error log; get the A-1 vision check done and the self-screening declaration ready; taper mocks in the last ten days.

What the pattern means for the attempt

• Part A: 100 questions in 90 minutes — Fifty-four seconds each with a third off per error; attempt what you are sure of and leave the rest.
• Part B: pass it, do not chase it — Thirty-five per cent qualifies and the marks are not counted; time spent beyond a safe pass is better spent on Part A.
• CBAT: practice the formats — Memory, following directions, depth perception, concentration and perceptual speed batteries reward familiarity, and a T-score of 42 in each is mandatory.

Official documents

CEN 01/2026 — Assistant Loco Pilot detailed notification (14 May 2026) CEN 01/2026 frequently asked questions (14 May 2026) CEN 01/2026 application status notice (25 August 2026) CEN 01/2025 corrigendum 2 — vacancies raised to 10,970 (21 May 2026) CEN 01/2025 CBT 1 cut-off marks, RRB Chandigarh (12 June 2026) CEN 01/2025 CBT 2 schedule (1 July 2026) RDSO — psychological test guidance for candidates RRB portal — notices, results and e-call letters RRB application portal