Railway Assistant Loco Pilot Recruitment 2025
The Indian Railways, through its Railway Recruitment Boards (RRBs), invites online applications for the direct recruitment of Assistant Loco Pilot (ALP). This recruitment drive, announced under Centralised Employment Notice (CEN) No.: 01/2025, aims to fill 9970 vacancies across various railway zones.
This article provides a clear summary of the key details from the official notification, including eligibility, application steps, and the selection process.
| Feature | Details |
| Organization | Railway Recruitment Boards (RRBs), Ministry of Railways |
| Post(s) | Assistant Loco Pilot (ALP) |
| Vacancies | 9970 (Tentative, across all RRBs) |
| Recruitment Type | Direct Recruitment |
| Application Mode | Online Only |
| Application Start | 12-04-2025 |
| Application End | 11-05-2025 (23:59 hours) |
| Official Website | Respective RRB websites (See Section 10) |
| Pay Scale/Level | Level-2, 7th CPC (Initial Pay: Rs. 19,900) |
| Job Location | Various Railway Zones across India |
Eligibility Criteria for Railway Assistant Loco Pilot Recruitment:
Candidates must meet all eligibility criteria as of the closing date for online application submission (11-05-2025), unless otherwise specified (like age limit). Candidates awaiting final results are not eligible.
- Educational Qualification (As on 11-05-2025): Must possess one of the following:
- Matriculation/SSLC plus ITI (NCVT/SCVT) in specified trades (Fitter, Electrician, Instrument Mechanic, etc. – see notification for full list).
- Matriculation/SSLC plus Course Completed Act Apprenticeship (CCAA) in the specified ITI trades.
- Matriculation/SSLC plus 3-year Diploma in Mechanical / Electrical / Electronics / Automobile Engineering.
- Note: A Degree in the above Engineering disciplines is also acceptable in lieu of a Diploma.
- Age Limit (As on 01-07-2025):
- 18 to 30 years.
- Permissible date of birth ranges:
| Category | Not Born Before | Not Born After |
| :——————— | :————– | :————- |
| UR & EWS | 02.07.1995 | 01.07.2007 |
| OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) | 02.07.1992 | 01.07.2007 |
| SC & ST | 02.07.1990 | 01.07.2007 |
- Age Relaxation:
- Upper age limit relaxation is available for reserved categories: SC/ST (5 years), OBC-NCL (3 years), Ex-Servicemen (as per rules), and others as specified in the notification.
- Relaxation is generally non-cumulative and not applicable if applying against UR vacancies. Refer to the notification for detailed rules.
- Nationality:
- Must be a Citizen of India, or subject of Nepal/Bhutan, or specific Tibetan refugees/migrants as per government rules (refer to notification for details).
- Medical Standards:
- This is critical: Candidates must pass the A-1 (Aye-One) Medical Standard.
- Requires being physically fit in all respects.
- Vision: 6/6 distant vision (without glasses), Sn 0.6 near vision (without glasses), must pass tests for colour vision, binocular vision, field of vision, night vision, and mesopic vision.
- Crucial Note: Candidates who have undergone LASIK surgery or any other corrective eye surgery are NOT eligible for the ALP post.
Application Process for Railway Assistant Loco Pilot Recruitment:
- How to Apply:
- Visit the official website of any one RRB.
- Use the link for CEN 01/2025 to ‘Create an Account’ (provide accurate basic details; these cannot be changed later). Use existing 2024 credentials if available. An active mobile number and email are essential.
- Log in and select only ONE RRB to apply for. This choice is final.
- Fill the online application form carefully.
- Upload scanned recent Photograph, Signature, and SC/ST certificate (if claiming travel pass), adhering strictly to specifications in the notification.
- Pay the examination fee online.
- Review the application thoroughly before final submission.
- Important: Submitting more than one application will lead to rejection and debarment.
- Application Fee:
- Rs. 500/-: For all others (Rs. 400/- refundable on appearing in CBT-1).
- Rs. 250/-: For SC, ST, Ex-Servicemen, Female, Transgender, Minorities, EBC (Fully refundable on appearing in CBT-1).
- Payment Mode: Online only (Net Banking, Card, UPI).
- Refund: Requires appearing in CBT-1 and providing correct bank details in the application.
- Documents Required (During Application – Scanned):
- Recent Passport-size Photograph (as per specs).
- Signature (as per specs).
- SC/ST Certificate (PDF, if requesting travel pass).
Selection Procedure for Railway Assistant Loco Pilot Recruitment:
The selection involves the following stages:
- First Stage CBT (CBT-1):
- Purpose: Screening test (marks not used for final merit).
- Pattern: 60 mins, 75 MCQs (Maths, Mental Ability, General Science, General Awareness).
- Marking: +1 for correct, -1/3 for wrong. Normalization applies.
- Qualifying: Min pass percentages apply (UR/EWS 40%, OBC 30%, SC 30%, ST 25%).
- Shortlisting: Candidates 15 times the RRB’s vacancies (community-wise) shortlisted for CBT-2 based on CBT-1 merit.
- Second Stage CBT (CBT-2):
- Structure: Two parts (A & B) in one session. Total Duration: 2.5 hours, 175 questions. Negative marking (-1/3) applies to both parts. Normalization used.
- Part A (Merit): 90 mins, 100 Qs (Maths, Gen. Intelligence & Reasoning, Basic Science & Engineering). Marks count towards final merit (if Part B is qualified). Min pass % apply.
- Part B (Qualifying): 60 mins, 75 Qs (Relevant Trade Syllabus – DGT). Must score 35% to qualify, irrespective of category.
- Computer Based Aptitude Test (CBAT):
- Eligibility: Shortlisted based on CBT-2 Part A marks (8 times vacancies), provided Part B is qualified.
- Requirement: Must produce original Vision Certificate (prescribed format) during CBAT.
- Nature: Test battery for ALP. Must qualify each battery separately (min T-Score 42).
- Language: English & Hindi only. No negative marking.
- Final Merit: Calculated based on 70% weightage to CBT-2 Part A marks + 30% weightage to CBAT scores.
- Document Verification (DV):
- Candidates equal to vacancies called based on merit (CBT-2 Part A + CBAT).
- Requires producing all original documents + 2 sets of photocopies + prior upload of scanned originals.
- Medical Examination (ME):
- Conducted post-DV.
- Must pass A-1 Medical Standard. Failure leads to rejection.
Pay Scale / Salary Details:
- Level: Level-2 of 7th CPC Pay Matrix.
- Initial Pay: Rs. 19,900/- per month.
- Allowances: Plus Dearness Allowance, House Rent Allowance, Transport Allowance, Running Allowance, etc., as admissible.
Vacancy Breakdown for Railway Assistant Loco Pilot Recruitment:
- Total: 9970 (UR: 4116, SC: 1716, ST: 858, OBC-NCL: 2289, EWS: 991).
- Ex-Servicemen: 1004 (Horizontally reserved within the total).
- Refer to Annexure-B of the notification for the detailed RRB-wise and Zone-wise vacancy distribution. Vacancies are provisional.
Important Dates for Railway Assistant Loco Pilot Recruitment:
| Event | Date(s) |
| Online Application Start Date | 12-04-2025 |
| Online Application End Date | 11-05-2025 (23:59 hrs) |
| Fee Payment End Date | 13-05-2025 (23:59 hrs) |
| Application Modification Window (paid) | 14-05-2025 to 23-05-2025 |
| CBTs / CBAT / DV / ME Dates | To be announced later |
Key Links & Contact:
- Official Websites: www.rrbahmedabad.gov.in .
- Official notification: RRB Recruitment
- Technical Helpline:
- Email: rrbhelp@csc.gov.in
- Phone: 0172-565-3333 / 9592001188 (10 AM – 5 PM, working days)
- Caution: Rely ONLY on official RRB websites for information.
The RRB recruitment for 9970 Assistant Loco Pilots (CEN 01/2025) is a major employment opportunity. Success requires meeting stringent eligibility criteria (especially medical standards) and navigating a multi-stage selection process. Ensure you understand all requirements by reading the official notification thoroughly on an RRB website. Apply online well before the 11th May 2025 deadline.
