RRB ALP CBT 2 Exam 2026: Exam Date, Admit Card, Selection Process, CBAT, Salary & Complete Recruitment Guide

Latest Update – RRB ALP CBT 2 Examination is being conducted on 28 July 2026 in two shifts (Shift 1 reporting: 7:30 AM; Shift 2 reporting: 12:30 PM). Admit cards have already been released on the respective regional RRB websites. The City Intimation Slip was released around 18 July 2026, and admit cards followed around 24 July 2026. Candidates should download both documents only from their regional RRB’s official website.

The RRB ALP CBT 2 Exam 2026 is being held today, 28th July 2026, across multiple exam centres in India, in two shifts. This is the second stage of the Assistant Loco Pilot recruitment under CEN 01/2025, and it is one of the most decisive stages of the entire selection process.

Admit cards for RRB ALP CBT 2 have already been released on the respective regional RRB websites. Candidates appearing today must carry their admit card (printed copy) along with a valid original photo ID proof (Aadhaar Card, PAN Card, Voter ID, or similar) to the exam centre – entry will not be permitted without these documents.

CBT 2 is a critical filter in the RRB ALP recruitment process because the marks scored here (specifically in Part A) directly feed into the final merit list. Once CBT 2 concludes, candidates who clear it will move to the Computer-Based Aptitude Test (CBAT), followed by Document Verification and Medical Examination, before a final merit list is prepared for appointment.

This guide covers everything about RRB ALP CBT 2 2026 — the exam pattern, selection process, syllabus, salary, CBAT, medical standards, expected post-CBT 2 timeline, and answers to the most common candidate questions.

RRB ALP 2025-26 Recruitment Overview

What is RRB ALP?

Assistant Loco Pilot (ALP) is a technical, safety-critical post under Indian Railways. An ALP works directly alongside the Loco Pilot in operating and monitoring locomotives, and is responsible for:

• Assisting the Loco Pilot in the safe operation of trains
• Monitoring signals and ensuring compliance with railway safety protocols
• Supporting locomotive operations during the journey
• Basic maintenance support and identifying technical faults in the locomotive
• Ensuring passenger and cargo safety through vigilant, disciplined duty

It is considered an entry point into the Loco Running cadre, with a defined path of promotion to Loco Pilot (Goods), Loco Pilot (Passenger), and eventually Loco Pilot (Mail/Express).

RRB ALP Selection Process

The RRB ALP 2025-26 recruitment follows a five-stage selection process:

Stage 1: CBT 1

• Purpose: Screening test to shortlist candidates for CBT 2
• Subjects: Mathematics, General Intelligence & Reasoning, General Science (General Awareness has reportedly been removed as per the latest pattern — verify with official notice)
• Questions/Marks: 75 questions for 75 marks
• Duration: 60 minutes
• Qualifying in nature — CBT 1 marks are NOT counted in the final merit list

Stage 2: CBT 2 (Current Stage)

• Held on 28 July 2026
• Consists of Part A and Part B
• Part A marks are used for merit list preparation; Part B is qualifying in nature
• This is the current, most important stage under discussion in this article

Stage 3: CBAT (Computer-Based Aptitude Test)

• Conducted only for ALP posts (not for Technician posts under the same CEN)
• No negative marking
• Candidates must secure a minimum qualifying score of 42 marks (T-score) in each test battery
• Tests psychological aptitude – concentration, alertness, observation, and decision-making ability relevant to the ALP role
• No category-wise relaxation is given at this stage

Stage 4: Document Verification (DV)

• Candidates shortlisted after CBAT are called for verification of educational certificates, category certificates, identity proof, and other original documents

Stage 5: Medical Examination

• Conducted as per Railway medical standards applicable to Loco Running Staff
• Includes vision standards, physical fitness, and overall medical fitness checks

CBT 1 Explained

• Subjects: Mathematics, General Intelligence & Reasoning, General Science
• Exam Pattern: 75 questions, 75 marks, 60 minutes
• Negative Marking: 1/3rd mark deducted for every wrong answer
• Difficulty Level: Moderate; based on 10th standard CBSE-level syllabus
• Cutoff: Category and normalisation-based; varies by RRB zone (check official RRB ALP CBT 1 result notice for exact cutoffs)
• Purpose: Purely a screening exam – CBT 1 marks do not carry forward to the final merit list

CBT 2 Explained

RRB ALP CBT 2 is divided into two parts:

Part A

• Subjects: Mathematics, General Intelligence & Reasoning, Basic Science and Engineering
• Questions: 100
• Duration: 90 minutes
• Marks from Part A are used in the final merit list

Part B

• Subject: Trade/Technical knowledge relevant to the candidate’s engineering discipline
• Questions: 75
• Duration: 60 minutes
• Qualifying in nature – candidates must score a minimum of 35% to qualify (some sources cite category-wise minimums of 40% UR / 30% OBC / 30% SC / 25% ST – please verify against the official notice, as these figures differ across sources)
• Part B marks do not count toward the final merit list, but qualifying is mandatory to proceed

Negative Marking: 1/3rd mark deducted for each incorrect answer in both Part A and Part B

Importance: CBT 2 Part A is the single biggest determinant of a candidate’s final merit ranking alongside CBAT.

What Happens After CBT 2?

Once the RRB ALP CBT 2 exam concludes today, the process moves forward as follows:

1. Result Declaration – RRB will release the CBT 2 result/scorecard on the official regional websites (date to be announced)
2. CBAT – Candidates equal to approximately 8 times the number of ALP vacancies per category, shortlisted based on CBT 2 Part A performance, will be called for CBAT
3. Document Verification – Candidates who clear CBAT proceed to DV
4. Medical Examination – DV-cleared candidates undergo the prescribed railway medical test
5. Final Merit List – Prepared based on CBT 2 Part A and CBAT performance
6. Appointment – Provisional appointment letters issued to selected candidates
7. Training – Selected candidates undergo mandatory training as per Railway norms
8. Joining – Candidates join their allotted railway zone/division as Assistant Loco Pilot

CBT 2 Exam Day Guidelines

Carry to the exam centre:

• Printed RRB ALP CBT 2 Admit Card
• One valid original photo ID proof (Aadhaar Card preferred)
• One passport-size photograph (same as uploaded during application, if specified in admit card)

Reporting Time: As mentioned on the individual admit card (typically 2 hours before shift start — e.g., Shift 1 candidates reporting around 7:30 AM, Shift 2 around 12:30 PM)

Dress Code: Light clothing is recommended; avoid heavy jewellery, footwear with thick soles, or clothing with metallic buttons/embellishments, as these may cause delays during security checks

Items Prohibited: Mobile phones, smartwatches, calculators, bags, wallets, geometry boxes, and any electronic devices inside the exam hall

RRB ALP Exam Pattern (Overview Table)

RRB ALP Syllabus

CBT 1 Syllabus

• Mathematics
• General Intelligence & Reasoning
• General Science

CBT 2 Syllabus

Part A:

• Mathematics
• General Intelligence & Reasoning
• Basic Science and Engineering (up to 10th standard level)

Part B:

• Trade/Technical subject as per the candidate’s relevant engineering/diploma discipline (candidates must select the trade matching their qualification, as per the official trade-mapping list in the notification)

RRB ALP Salary

• Basic Pay: ₹19,900 per month
• Pay Level: Level 2 of the 7th Central Pay Commission (CPC) Pay Matrix
• Grade Pay (pre-7th CPC equivalent): ₹1,900

Allowances:

• Dearness Allowance (DA)
• House Rent Allowance (HRA) – city-classification dependent
• Transport Allowance
• Running Allowance (unique to loco running staff, based on kilometres operated)
• Night Duty Allowance
• Medical benefits and pension under NPS

In-Hand Salary: Approximately ₹28,000 to ₹35,000 per month (varies with posting location, Running Allowance kilometres, and applicable DA rate – figures should be verified against the latest DA notification at time of publishing)

Career Growth: ALP → Senior ALP → Loco Pilot (Goods) → Loco Pilot (Passenger) → Loco Pilot (Mail/Express), with basic pay rising through Levels 5, 6, and 7 respectively over the course of a career.

Job Profile

Responsibilities:

• Assisting the Loco Pilot in operating locomotives safely
• Monitoring instrument panels, signals, and track conditions
• Performing basic troubleshooting and maintenance checks
• Maintaining logbooks and adhering to safety protocols

Working Conditions:

• Involves long working hours, night duties, and outstation halts
• Physically and mentally demanding due to safety-critical nature of the role

Promotion:

• Based on seniority, departmental exams, and vacancy availability in higher Loco Pilot grades

Departments:

• Mechanical/Electrical/Diesel/Traction departments depending on zone and trade

Medical Standards

• Vision: Specific visual acuity standards apply (colour vision and distance vision are strictly tested, as ALPs must read signals accurately)
• Physical Fitness: General fitness test as per Railway medical standards for safety-category posts
• Medical Categories: ALP falls under a special medical category applicable to Loco Running Staff — candidates are advised to check the exact medical standards (A-2/A-3 category) in the official notification

Expected Timeline After CBT 2

Participating RRBs

The RRB ALP CEN 01/2025 recruitment covers all 21 Regional Railway Recruitment Boards across India, including:

RRB Ahmedabad, RRB Ajmer, RRB Allahabad (Prayagraj), RRB Bangalore, RRB Bhopal, RRB Bhubaneswar, RRB Bilaspur, RRB Chandigarh, RRB Chennai, RRB Gorakhpur, RRB Guwahati, RRB Jammu-Srinagar, RRB Kolkata, RRB Malda, RRB Mumbai, RRB Muzaffarpur, RRB Patna, RRB Ranchi, RRB Secunderabad, RRB Siliguri, and RRB Thiruvananthapuram.

Documents Required

• RRB ALP CBT 2 Admit Card (printout)
• Original valid photo ID proof (Aadhaar Card/PAN/Voter ID/Passport)
• Passport-size photograph (if specified)
• Category certificate (for later stages: DV)
• Educational qualification certificates (for DV stage)
• Medical fitness documents (for medical examination stage)

Important Dates

FAQs

Q1. What is RRB ALP?
RRB ALP (Assistant Loco Pilot) is a technical railway post responsible for assisting the Loco Pilot in the safe operation of trains.

Q2. Is RRB ALP CBT 2 qualifying in nature?
CBT 2 Part B is qualifying in nature, but marks scored in CBT 2 Part A are counted toward the final merit list.

Q3. What happens after CBT 2?
Candidates who qualify CBT 2 proceed to the CBAT, followed by Document Verification and Medical Examination, before the final merit list is prepared.

Q4. Is CBAT compulsory for all RRB ALP candidates?
Yes, CBAT is compulsory and applicable only to candidates for the ALP post; there is no relaxation or exemption.

Q5. Is there negative marking in RRB ALP CBT 2?
Yes, 1/3rd mark is deducted for every incorrect answer in both Part A and Part B of CBT 2.

Q6. What is the RRB ALP salary?
The starting basic pay is ₹19,900 per month under Pay Level 2 of the 7th CPC, with in-hand salary typically ranging between ₹28,000 to ₹35,000 including allowances.

Q7. Is the RRB ALP exam conducted every year?
No, RRB ALP recruitment is conducted periodically whenever a new CEN is released by the Railway Recruitment Boards, not necessarily on an annual basis.

Q8. How many stages are there in RRB ALP selection?
There are five stages: CBT 1, CBT 2, CBAT, Document Verification, and Medical Examination.

Q9. Is medical examination compulsory for RRB ALP?
Yes, clearing the prescribed medical standards is mandatory for final selection.

Q10. When will the RRB ALP CBT 2 result be announced?
The official date has not yet been announced; candidates should check the respective regional RRB website regularly for updates.

Q11. How many questions are asked in RRB ALP CBT 2?
CBT 2 has a total of 175 questions — 100 in Part A and 75 in Part B.

Q12. Is RRB ALP an All India recruitment?
Yes, RRB ALP recruitment under CEN 01/2025 is conducted across all RRB zones in India.

Q13. What documents are required on RRB ALP CBT 2 exam day?
Candidates must carry the printed admit card and a valid original photo ID proof.

Q14. What is the difference between CBT 1 and CBT 2?
CBT 1 is a screening test whose marks are not counted in the final merit list, while CBT 2 Part A marks directly contribute to the final merit list.

Q15. Can candidates choose any RRB while applying for ALP?
No, candidates apply to specific RRB zone(s) as per their preference during the application process; they cannot switch zones after applying.

The RRB ALP Recruitment 2026 offers an excellent opportunity for candidates aspiring to build a career with the Indian Railways. As the CBT 2 examination marks an important milestone in the selection process, candidates should stay updated on every subsequent stage, including the CBAT, result, document verification, medical examination, and final merit list. To ensure you never miss any important announcement, bookmark Manabadi and visit regularly for the latest RRB ALP news, official notifications, answer key updates, exam analysis, results, cut-offs, and recruitment guidance.

At Manabadi, we are committed to providing timely, accurate, and comprehensive updates to help you stay ahead throughout your railway recruitment journey.