Introduction to RRB Assistant Loco Pilot Recruitment 2025

The Railway Recruitment Boards (RRBs), under the Ministry of Railways, Government of India, have announced a major recruitment drive through the Centralised Employment Notice (CEN) No. 01/2025. This notification invites online applications from eligible candidates for the post of Assistant Loco Pilot (ALP). A total of 9970 vacancies are available across various RRBs. Interested candidates should ensure they meet the eligibility criteria and submit their applications online between April 12, 2025, and May 11, 2025.

Organization Details

Hiring Organization: Railway Recruitment Boards (RRBs), Ministry of Railways, Government of India.
Post Name: Assistant Loco Pilot (ALP).
Total Vacancies: 9970 (Provisional, may increase or decrease).
Job Location: Across various Railway Zones in India (Candidates select one RRB).

Vacancy Breakdown for RRB Assistant Loco Pilot (ALP) Recruitment 2025

A total of 9970 vacancies have been notified for the Assistant Loco Pilot post across all participating RRBs. The detailed RRB-wise, Railway Zone-wise distribution of these vacancies is provided in the table below –

RRB	Zone	Total Vacancy
AHMEDABAD	WR	497
AJMER	NWR	679
AJMER	WCR	141
PRAYAGRAJ	NR	80
PRAYAGRAJ	NCR	508
BHOPAL	WR	46
BHOPAL	WCR	618
BHUBANESWAR	ECOR	928
BILASPUR	SECR	568
CHANDIGARH	NR	433
CHENNAI	SR	362
GORAKHPUR	NER	100
GUWAHATI	NFR	30
JAMMU-SRINAGAR	NR	8
KOLKATA	SER	262
KOLKATA	ER	458
MALDA	ER	410
MALDA	SER	24
MALDA	SCR	22
MUMBAI	CR	376
MUMBAI	WR	342
MUZAFFARPUR	ECR	89
PATNA	ECR	33
RANCHI	ECR	578
RANCHI	SER	635
SECUNDERABAD	SCR	967
SECUNDERABAD	ECOR	533
SILIGURI	NFR	95
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM	SR	148

Eligibility Criteria for RRB ALP 2025

Candidates must ensure they fulfill all eligibility conditions regarding nationality, age, educational qualifications, and medical standards as of the closing date for online application submission (11-05-2025).

Educational Qualification:
- A) Matriculation / SSLC plus ITI from recognised institutions of NCVT/SCVT in the trades of Fitter, Electrician, Instrument Mechanic, Millwright/Maintenance Mechanic, Mechanic (Radio & TV), Electronics Mechanic, Mechanic (Motor Vehicle), Wireman, Tractor Mechanic, Armature & Coil Winder, Mechanic (Diesel), Heat Engine, Turner, Machinist, Refrigeration & Air- Conditioning Mechanic. (OR) Matriculation / SSLC plus Course Completed Act Apprenticeship in the trades mentioned above (OR)
- B) Matriculation / SSLC plus three years Diploma in Mechanical / Electrical / Electronics / Automobile Engineering (OR) combination of various streams of these Engineering disciplines from a recognised Institution in lieu of ITI. Note: Degree in the Engineering disciplines as above will also be acceptable in lieu of Diploma in Engineering.
Age Limit (as on 01-07-2025):
- Minimum Age: 18 years.
- Maximum Age: 30 years.
- Age Relaxation: Applicable for reserved categories as per government norms:
  - SC/ST: 5 years.
  - OBC (Non-Creamy Layer): 3 years.
  - Ex-Servicemen: 3 years (UR/EWS), 6 years (OBC-NCL), 8 years (SC/ST) after deduction of service length.
  - Other relaxations apply for specific categories like Widows/Divorced Women, Railway Staff, Act Apprentices, etc. (Refer to Para 5.1 of the notification).
- The Date of Birth mentioned in the application must match the Matriculation/SSLC certificate.
Medical Standards:
- Candidates must meet the A-1 Medical Standard as per the Indian Railway Medical Manual.
- This includes being physically fit in all respects, Distant Vision: 6/6, 6/6 without glasses (with fogging test), Near Vision: Sn 0.6, 0.6 without glasses, and passing tests for Colour Vision, Binocular Vision, Field of Vision, Night Vision, and Mesopic Vision.
- Crucial: Candidates who have undergone LASIK surgery or any other surgical procedure to correct refractive error are NOT eligible for the ALP post.
Nationality: Must be a Citizen of India, or subject of Nepal/Bhutan, or Tibetan refugee (settled before 01.01.1962), or a person of Indian origin migrated from specified countries with the intention of permanently settling in India (subject to eligibility certificate).

Important Dates for RRB ALP Recruitment 2025

Event	Date
Indicative Notice Date	29-03-2025
Online Application Start Date	12-04-2025
Online Application Closing Date	11-05-2025 (23:59 hrs)
Last Date for Online Fee Payment	13-05-2025 (23:59 hrs)
Modification Window (with fee)	14-05-2025 to 23-05-2025
CBT-1, CBT-2, CBAT, DV Dates	To be announced later

Salary & Benefits of Assistant Loco Pilot in Indian Railways

Pay Level: Level-2 of the 7th Central Pay Commission (CPC) matrix.
Initial Pay: Rs. 19,900/-.
Other Allowances: As admissible under Railway rules (DA, HRA, Transport Allowance, etc.).
Training: Selected candidates will undergo mandatory training, during which only a stipend will be paid.
Free Travel Facility: SC/ST candidates can opt for free Sleeper Class Railway Pass for attending CBTs, CBAT, DV, and Medical Examination.

Selection Process of Assistant Loco Pilot by RRB

The recruitment process for the ALP post involves the following stages:

First Stage Computer Based Test (CBT-1): An initial screening test. Marks will be normalized. Shortlisting for CBT-2 will be RRB-wise, 15 times the vacancies, based on CBT-1 merit.
Second Stage Computer Based Test (CBT-2): Comprises Part A and Part B (relevant trade). Marks will be normalized.
Computer Based Aptitude Test (CBAT): This is applicable only for the ALP post and is qualifying in nature. There is no negative marking in CBAT.
Document Verification (DV): Candidates provisionally shortlisted based on CBT-2 (Part A) and CBAT performance will be called for DV. Original documents related to eligibility (education, age, caste, etc.) will be verified.
Medical Examination: Candidates clearing DV must pass the requisite A-1 medical fitness test conducted by the Railway Administration. Failure to meet the medical standard will lead to non-empanelment.

Negative Marking: There will be a negative marking of 1/3rd mark for each wrong answer in both CBT-1 and CBT-2.

How to Apply for RRB Assistant Loco Pilot Recruitment 2025

Applications must be submitted ONLINE only through the official websites of the participating RRBs.

Visit Official RRB Website: Go to the official website of the RRB you wish to apply for or visit rrbapply.gov.in
Find CEN 01/2025 Link: Click on the link for “Recruitment of Assistant Loco Pilot (ALP) – CEN No. 01/2025”.
Create Account/Login:
- If you created an account for any RRB CEN in 2024 (before April 2025), use the same credentials to log in.
- Otherwise, click on ‘Create an Account’. Fill in basic details like Name, DOB, Father’s Name, Mother’s Name, Mobile Number, Email ID, Matriculation details etc., very carefully. These details, once submitted during account creation, CANNOT be modified later.
- Use an active mobile number and valid personal Email ID for OTP verification and future communication.
- Aadhaar authentication during account creation or application submission is advisable for a smoother process.
Fill Online Application: Log in and complete the online application form with accurate details. Choose your preferred Railway Zones under the selected RRB.
Upload Documents: Upload scanned copies of your recent photograph (not older than 2 months ), signature (running handwriting, black ink ), and other required documents (like caste certificate, if applicable) as per specifications.
Pay Application Fee: Pay the prescribed fee online using Internet Banking, Debit/Credit Card, or UPI.
Submit Application: Review the application thoroughly before final submission.
Print Application: Take a printout of the submitted application form for future reference.

Important Notes:

Apply to ONLY ONE RRB. Multiple applications will lead to rejection and debarment.
Submit the application well before the closing date (11-05-2025) to avoid last-minute issues.

Application Fees for RRB ALP 2025

For all candidates (except categories below): Rs. 500/-.
- Refund: Rs. 400/- will be refunded after appearing in CBT-1, deducting bank charges.
For SC, ST, Ex-Servicemen, Female, Transgender, Minorities, Economically Backward Class (EBC) candidates: Rs. 250/-.
- Refund: The entire Rs. 250/- will be refunded after appearing in CBT-1, deducting bank charges.
Mode of Payment: ONLINE only (Net Banking, Credit/Debit Card, UPI).
Fee Refund: Refund is processed only for candidates who appear in CBT-1. Correct bank details must be provided in the application for refund.
Modification Fee: Rs. 250/- (non-refundable) for each instance of modifying application details (except basic registration details and chosen RRB) during the modification window.

Note on EBC: Economically Backward Class (EBC) candidates (annual family income < Rs. 50,000 ) need a valid Income Certificate/BPL Card/Izzat MST for fee concession. EBC is different from OBC/EWS and only provides fee concession, not job reservation.