The Railway Recruitment Board (RRB) establishes the official eligibility standards for the RRB ALP exam. For candidates aspiring to build a career in the Indian Railways, understanding these criteria is vital. With a total of 11,127 Assistant Loco Pilot (ALP) vacancies open, aspirants must carefully verify their qualifications, age limits, and medical fitness before applying.
To help you stay ahead in your preparation journey for RRB 2026, it is essential to keep track of important examination milestones. Once you have confirmed your eligibility, you can check your qualification status and marks using the RRB ALP Result 2026 Out (CEN 01/2025)- Click to Check page. Additionally, keeping tabs on the RRB ALP Cut Off 2026 Out (CEN 01/2026)- Click to Check will guide your target scores for subsequent stages.
RRB ALP Eligibility Criteria Parameters & Checklists
Aspirants must satisfy several mandatory parameters set by the board. Review the checklist below to ensure you meet every primary guideline:
RRB ALP Eligibility Criteria Parameters
- Age Limit
- Educational Qualification
- Nationality
- Medical Standards
RRB ALP Nationality Criteria
Eligible nationalities include:
- A Tibetan refugee who travelled to India before January 1, 1962, to permanently live in India
- A person of Indian origin who has permanently settled in India after migrating from Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka, East African countries of Kenya, Uganda, the United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Zaire, Ethiopia, or Vietnam
- A citizen of India
- Nepali and Bhutanese subjects
RRB ALP Age Limits and Relaxations 2026
The age limit for candidates applying for the RRB ALP exam is 18 to 30 years as of 1/07/2026. However, upper age relaxations apply for reserved categories such as SC, ST, OBC, Ex-Servicemen, PWD, and departmental railway staff.
| Minimum Age | Maximum Age |
|---|---|
| 18 years | 30 years |
| Category | Age Relaxation (Years) |
|---|---|
| Ex-Servicemen (UR & EWS) candidates who have put in more than 6 months of service after attestation | 3 years (after deduction of service length from age) |
| Ex-Servicemen (OBC & NCL) candidates who have put in more than 6 months of service after attestation | 6 years (after deduction of service length from age) |
| Ex-Servicemen (SC & ST) candidates who have put in more than 6 months of service after attestation | 8 years (after deduction of service length from age) |
| Persons with Disabilities (PWD) UR | 10 |
| PWD OBC Non-Creamy Layer | 13 |
| PWD SC/ST | 15 |
| Candidates have ordinarily been domiciled in the State of Jammu & Kashmir during the period from 01.01.1980 to 31.12.1989 | 5 |
| OBC | 3 |
| SC | 5 |
| ST | 5 |
| Candidates who are serving Group ‘C’ and Former Group ‘D’ Railway Staff, Casual Labor, and Substitutes in Railways who have put in a minimum of three years’ service (continuous or in broken spells) of UR Category. | 40 |
| Candidates who are serving Group ‘C’ and Former Group ‘D’ Railway Staff, Casual Labor, and Substitutes in Railways who have put in a minimum of three years’ service (continuous or in interrupted spells) of OBC-NCL (Non-Creamy Layer) Category. | 43 |
| Candidates who are serving Group ‘C’ and Former Group ‘D’ Railway Staff, Casual Labor, and Substitutes in Railways who have put in a minimum of three years service (continuous or in interrupted spells) of SC/ST Category. | 45 |
| Candidates working in quasi-administrative offices of the railway organization, such as railway canteens, cooperative societies, and institutes. | Up to the period of service provided (or) 5 years, whichever is less. |
| Women candidates who are bereaved, divorced, or judicially separated from their husbands but have not remarried in the UR Category | 35 |
| Women candidates who are widowed, divorced, or judicially separated from their husbands but have not remarried from the OBC-NCL (Non-Creamy Layer) Category | 38 |
| Women candidates who are bereaved, divorced, or judicially separated from their husbands but have not remarried from the SC/ST category | 40 |
| Course Completed Act Apprentices are applying for positions that need a minimum qualification of ITI/Course Completed Act Apprenticeship. | Shall be relaxed to the extent of their apprenticeship training under the Apprentice Act of 1961. |
| Candidates who are Course Completed Act Apprentices under the Apprenticeship Act before reaching the age of 25 years in the UR Category | 35 |
| Candidates who are Course Completed Act Apprentices under the Apprenticeship Act before achieving the age of 25 years in the OBC-NCL (Non-Creamy Layer) Category | 38 |
| Candidates who are Course Completed Act Apprentices under the Apprenticeship Act before reaching the age of 25 years in the SC/ST Category | 40 |
Educational Qualifications for RRB ALP
Applicants must have passed the 10th grade (Matriculation/SSLC) alongside an ITI certification or a Diploma in Engineering (or course-completed act apprenticeship). The table below outlines the department-wise breakdown:
| Department | Qualifications |
|---|---|
| Electrical | Matriculation / SSLC plus ITI from recognized institutions of NCVT/SCVT OR Matriculation / SSLC plus a course-completed act apprenticeship OR A 3-year diploma in Electrical Engineering OR A combination of various streams of these engineering disciplines from a recognised institution instead of ITI. |
| Mechanical | Matriculation / SSLC plus ITI from recognized institutions of NCVT/SCVT OR Matriculation / SSLC plus a course-completed act apprenticeship OR 3-year diploma in Mechanical Engineering A combination of various streams of these engineering disciplines from a recognised institution instead of ITI. |
Medical Fitness Standards
Shortlisted candidates during document verification must clear a medical fitness test. The required medical standards are categorized into A-1, B-1, B-2, and C-1 as detailed below:
| Medical Standard | General Fitness | Visual Acuity |
|---|---|---|
| A-1 | Physically fit in all respect | Distance Vision: 6/6, 6/6 without glasses with fogging test (cannot accept +2D). Near Vision: Sn: 0.6,0.6 without glasses; must pass exams for colour vision, binocular vision, the field of vision, night vision, mesopic vision, and so forth. |
| B-1 | Physically fit in all respect | Distance Vision: 6/9, 6/12 with or without glasses (lens power not to exceed 4D). Near Vision: Sn: 0.6, 0.6 with or without glasses when reading or doing close work, and must pass tests for colour vision, binocular vision, night vision, mesopic vision, and so on. |
| B-2 | Physically fit in all respect | Distance Vision: 6/9, 6/12 with or without glasses (lens power not to exceed 4D). Near Vision: Sn: 0.6, 0.6 with or without glasses for reading or doing close work, and must pass the Binocular Vision test, among other requirements. |
| C-1 | Physically fit in all respect | Distance Vision: 6/12, 6/18 (with or without glasses). Near Vision: Sn: 0.6, either with or without glasses, when reading or doing near work. |
Next Steps for Candidates
Once you confirm your eligibility and successfully clear your computer-based tests, make sure to plan your travel and logistics well in advance. To check your exam venue details, view the RRB ALP CBT 2 City Intimation Slip 2026 Out- Click to Check. Furthermore, download your entry pass ahead of time through the RRB ALP CBT 2 Admit Card 2026- Click to Download portal to ensure hassle-free entry on test day.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
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