The Railway Recruitment Boards (RRBs) have officially announced the schedule for the much-anticipated Assistant Loco Pilot (ALP) 2025 recruitment examination. The first computer-based test (CBT 1) is now confirmed to be held over a three-day window from February 16 to February 18, 2026. This recruitment drive is a significant opportunity, aiming to fill a total of 9,970 ALP vacancies across the various zones of Indian Railways.
Key Dates and Admit Card Information
According to the detailed official notification, the process for candidates to access their exam city details and admit cards will be staggered. The exam city intimation slip will be activated on the respective RRB websites 10 days before a candidate's final exam date. Specifically for candidates belonging to the Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) categories, the facility to download their travel authority will also go live at the same time.
Clarifying the subsequent step, the RRB notice stated that the actual e-call letters (admit cards) will be available for download approximately four days prior to the exam date mentioned in the city intimation. Candidates are urged to regularly check the official RRB portals relevant to their application for these crucial updates.
Exam Day Protocol and Selection Stages
The RRB has issued an important advisory regarding identification for a smooth exam day process. Candidates must ensure that their Aadhaar remains unlocked in the UIDAI system before reporting to the examination centre. The authorities will use Aadhaar-based verification to facilitate entry and registration at the venue.
The RRB ALP CBT 1 will be an objective-type examination consisting of 75 questions carrying a total of 75 marks. Candidates will have a duration of 60 minutes to complete the test. The paper is designed to assess foundational knowledge across sections including mathematics, general intelligence, reasoning, basic science, and general awareness.
A Multi-Stage Recruitment Process
Aspirants should note that the selection for the Assistant Loco Pilot post involves multiple rigorous stages. Success in the CBT 1 is the first hurdle, which will lead to shortlisting for the CBT 2 examination. This will be followed by a Computer-Based Aptitude Test (where applicable) and culminates in the final document verification round.
Given the competitive nature of the exam for nearly 10,000 posts, candidates are strongly advised to plan a meticulous and stage-wise preparation strategy. Focusing on the syllabus for each level—CBT 1, CBT 2, and the Aptitude Test—will be crucial for improving the chances of final selection in the RRB ALP recruitment 2025 cycle.
