The RRB has increased ALP vacancies to 18,799 from the initial 5,696 in CEN 01/2024, responding to heightened demand from Zonal Railways. This expansion addresses growing operational needs within Indian Railways, offering enhanced career opportunities. The increased vacancies, spanning all 16 Railway Recruitment Board zones, present a valuable early application opportunity.

The RRB ALP 2024 application process closed on 19 February 2024, following its commencement on 20 January. Eligible candidates, aged 18-33 years with applicable age relaxations for reserved categories, had the opportunity to apply. The upcoming Computer-Based Test 1 (CBT 1) is scheduled between June and August 2024, marking a crucial phase in the recruitment process.

Recruitment of Assistant Loco Pilots (ALPs) Timeline:

1. The first stage of the ALP recruitment process CBT 1, is tentatively scheduled between June and August 2024.

2. CBT 2 is scheduled for September 2024.

3. Successful candidates from CBT 2 will proceed to the Aptitude Test (CBAT) in November 2024.

4. Document Verification is scheduled for November to December 2024.

RRB ALP Vacancy Revised:
Detailed distribution of newly updated vacancies for RRB ALP 2024 are listed below:

Zonal Railway	Vacancy allocated	Increased Vacancy
Central Railway	535	1786
East Central Railway	76	76
East Coast Railway	479	1595
Eastern Railway	415	1382
North Central Railway	241	802
North Eastern Railway	43	143
Northeast Frontier Railway	129	428
Northern Railway	150	499
North Western Railway	228	761
South Central Railway	585	1949
South East Railway	1192	3973
South Eastern Railway	300	1001
Southern Railway	218	726
South Western Railway	473	1576
West Central Railway	219	729
Western Railway	413	1376

With the RRB ALP 2024 vacancies increasing to 18,799 from 5,696, the expanded number of positions significantly enhances the prospects for aspiring candidates. This substantial rise in vacancies improves the chances of selection for applicants across various categories and regions. Consequently, candidates have a better opportunity to secure an Assistant Loco Pilot position in the upcoming recruitment cycle.

Selection Process:
The recruitment process for RRB ALP 2024 includes five stages: First Stage CBT (CBT-1), Second Stage CBT (CBT-2), Computer-Based Aptitude Test (CBAT), Document Verification (DV), and Medical Examination (ME). The Railway Recruitment Board has completed one stage, with many candidates having already submitted their applications. The upcoming step is the CBT-1, for which the RRB ALP Admit Card 2024 will be released around 10 days before the exam.

Exam Stage	Duration/Question/ Marking	Syllabus	Key Point
First Stage (CBT-1)	60 minutes,75 questions,75 marks, 1/3 mark per wrong answer	Mathematics, Mental Ability, General Science, General Awareness	Normalized marks used for merit; do not count for the final selection
Second Stage (CBT-2)	Part A: 90 minutes, 100 questions, 100 marks Part B: 60 minutes, 75 questions, 75  marks 1/3 marks per wrong answer	Part-A: Mathematics, General Intelligence and Reasoning, Basic Science and Engineering Part-B: Trade-specific syllabus as per DGT	Part-A: Only marks from Part-A count for merit; a minimum of 35% in Part-B is required for further stages Part-B: Trade-specific; see DGT website for details; Degree/Diploma candidates choose a relevant trade

 Candidates up to eight times the ALP vacancies per community/category will be shortlisted for the CBAT based on their Part-A CBT-2 marks and reservation rules, provided they qualify for Part-B. They must present a valid Vision Certificate in the prescribed format to participate. The CBAT, conducted in English and Hindi without negative marking, requires a minimum T-score of 42 in each section of the CBAT for qualification.

Candidates will be shortlisted for Document Verification based on their merit in Part-A of CBT-2, qualifying Part-B, and scores in CBAT. In case of tied scores, older candidates will be prioritized. Final appointment depends on passing the Medical Fitness Test, document, and character verification, with RRBs recommending candidates to Railway Zones for appointment offers.

For detailed notice and overview, you can visit the official website of RRB-
https://indianrailways.gov.in/railwayboard/view_section.jsp?lang=0&id=0,7,1281

Reservation policies:

People belonging to the backward classes in RRB ALP 2024 include categories like Economically Weaker Sections (EWS), Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), and Other Backward Classes (Non-Creamy Layer) (OBC-NCL). EWS candidates qualify based on an annual family income below Rs.8 lakhs, excluding specified assets. SC and ST candidates benefit from reservation as recognized by the Government of India. OBC-NCL candidates must hold valid non-creamy layer certificates. General Category (UR) candidates compete for UR vacancies without any age, qualification, or mark relaxation.

Horizontal reservation in RRB ALP 2024 is dedicated to Ex-Servicemen(ExSM), offering them age relaxation and fee exemptions. This category includes retired Army, Navy, or Air Force personnel due to various reasons like medical grounds or downsizing. Eligibility extends to Territorial Army and Army Postal Service members, contingent upon meeting specified educational and medical standards outlined in the Indian Railway Medical Manual (IRMM) Volume I.

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