Significant Increase in Railway Assistant Loco Pilot Vacancies for 2026 Recruitment
Overview of the Recruitment Update
The Railway Assistant Loco Pilot (ALP) recruitment for 2026 has undergone a significant revision. Initially, the announcement indicated 11,127 vacancies, but this number has now been raised to 14,627, adding 3,500 new positions. A new notification has been released to reflect these updates, which were prompted by requests from various railway zones to expand the number of available posts. Below is a detailed breakdown of the vacancy distribution across different zones.
Effects on Cut-off Marks
The increase in vacancies greatly enhances the selection opportunities for candidates. The addition of over 3,000 positions is expected to impact the final merit list and the cut-off scores positively. This development is particularly encouraging for young individuals aspiring to secure government jobs.
Detailed Vacancy Distribution for RRB ALP Recruitment
Vacancy Breakdown:
| Category | Number of Posts |
|---|---|
| General | 6,032 |
| OBC | 3,662 |
| SC | 2,309 |
| EWS | 1,365 |
| ST | 1,259 |
| Ex-Servicemen | 1,461 |
Zone-wise Vacancy Allocation
Vacancies by Zone:
1. Secunderabad (South Central Railway): Approximately 2,039 posts
2. Ranchi (South Eastern Railway and East Central Railway): 1,856 posts
3. Mumbai: 1,193 posts
4. Bilaspur: Over 400 posts
5. Kolkata: More than 700 posts under Eastern Railway and South Eastern Railway
6. Bhubaneswar: Over 1,250 posts under East Coast Railway
7. Additional allocations across regions including Gorakhpur, Guwahati, Ajmer, Patna, Bengaluru, Chennai, Allahabad/Prayagraj, Chandigarh, Bhopal, Malda, Siliguri, and Thiruvananthapuram.
Changes in Recruitment Process
Several modifications have been introduced in this recruitment process. Notably, the criteria for the final merit list have been revised. The Computer-Based Test 2 (CBT-2) and the Computer-Based Aptitude Test (CBAT) will now carry equal weight. Additionally, candidates must submit a self-screening medical declaration during the application process. The tie-breaking rule has also been updated; previously, older candidates were prioritized, but now, if ages are the same, the ranking will be determined based on the alphabetical order of candidates' names.