Assistant Loco Pilot (ALP) and Technician are both technical railway posts recruited by the Railway Recruitment Boards (RRBs), and many ITI and diploma holders consider both. They are not interchangeable. The 2026 notices show different qualifications, selection stages, medical standards and, for one Technician grade, a different pay level.
This guide compares the two using the current notices, CEN No. 01/2026 (Assistant Loco Pilot) and CEN No. 02/2026 (Technician categories), then gives a decision table to help you work out which you are eligible for and which suits you.
Checked against the detailed notices and RRB schedule notices on 9 October 2026. Read the full notices on the official RRB website before applying to any future cycle.
The two 2026 notices at a glance
| Assistant Loco Pilot (CEN 01/2026) | Technician (CEN 02/2026) | |
|---|---|---|
| Posts | ALP | Technician Grade I Signal; 24 Technician Grade III categories |
| Vacancies (all RRBs) | 11,127 | 6,557 (323 Grade I Signal; 6,234 Grade III) |
| Pay level (7th CPC) and initial pay | Level 2, ₹19,900 | Grade I Signal: Level 5, ₹29,200. Grade III: Level 2, ₹19,900 |
| Age on 1 July 2026 | 18–30 years | Grade I Signal: 18–33. Grade III: 18–30 |
| Medical standard | A-1 | Grade I Signal: B-1. Grade III: varies by post (for example A-3, B-1, B-2 or C-1) |
| Application window | 15 May to 14 June 2026 | 30 June to 29 July 2026 |
| Selection stages | CBT-1, CBT-2, Computer Based Aptitude Test (CBAT), document verification, medical | One CBT per pay level, document verification, medical |
| Exam schedule (tentative) | CBT-1: 3–5 November 2026 | CBT: 6–9 October 2026 |
Age limits are before category relaxations, which both notices list in detail. The exam dates come from RRB schedule notices dated 21 September 2026 (ALP) and 10 September 2026 (Technicians).
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As the title suggests, an Assistant Loco Pilot works on locomotives. The notice reflects the demands of that role: it sets the A-1 medical standard, adds a Computer Based Aptitude Test, and refers candidates to the psychology pages of RDSO, the Railways' research and standards organisation, for information about that test.
Technician posts in the 2026 notice are spread across departments, including Signal and Telecommunication, Engineering (such as track machines and bridges), Mechanical (such as carriage and wagon and diesel sheds), Electrical, and workshops and production units. Grade I Signal sits at Level 5; the Grade III posts sit at Level 2. Some Grade III categories are "merged post categories" that group several designations with identical requirements, so you can be posted to any designation within the category you chose.
Qualifications: the biggest difference
ALP (CEN 01/2026) accepts any of the following:
- Matriculation or SSLC plus ITI (NCVT/SCVT) in one of the listed trades, including Fitter, Electrician, Instrument Mechanic, Millwright/Maintenance Mechanic, Mechanic (Radio & TV), Electronics Mechanic, Mechanic (Motor Vehicle), Wireman, Tractor Mechanic, Armature & Coil Winder, Mechanic (Diesel), Heat Engine, Turner, Machinist and Refrigeration & Air-Conditioning Mechanic;
- Matriculation plus Course Completed Act Apprenticeship in those trades; or
- Matriculation plus a three-year diploma in Mechanical, Electrical, Electronics or Automobile Engineering (or a combination of these) in place of ITI. A degree in these disciplines is also accepted in place of the diploma.
Technician Grade I Signal requires a B.Sc. in Physics, Electronics, Computer Science, Information Technology or Instrumentation (or a combination of these streams), or a three-year diploma or a degree in engineering in those streams.
Technician Grade III posts require Matriculation plus ITI or Course Completed Act Apprenticeship in the trade specified for each post. The notice states that a diploma or degree in engineering is not accepted in place of ITI or apprenticeship for Level 2 Technician posts unless the post says otherwise.
All qualifications must be held by the closing date; candidates awaiting results are not eligible.
How selection differs
ALP: three tests before verification
- CBT-1 (screening): 75 questions, 75 marks, 60 minutes, covering Mathematics, Mental Ability and General Science. Its marks are not used in the final panel. Shortlisting for CBT-2 is RRB-wise, up to 15 times the vacancies.
- CBT-2: 175 questions in 2 hours 30 minutes. Part A has 100 questions in 90 minutes (Mathematics, Reasoning, Basic Science and Engineering). Part B has 75 questions in 60 minutes on your trade and is qualifying at 35% for everyone.
- CBAT: up to 8 times the vacancies are called. There is no negative marking, the test is only in English and Hindi, and every candidate must score a T-score of at least 42 in each test battery.
- Final merit: Part A of CBT-2 and the CBAT score are weighted 50:50.
CBT-1 and CBT-2 carry negative marking of one-third of a mark per wrong answer. Minimum pass percentages in CBT-1 and Part A are 40% for UR and EWS, 30% for OBC (NCL) and SC, and 25% for ST.
ALP candidates must also bring a self-screening medical declaration, signed by an eye specialist and a general physician, to the CBAT. Its checklist includes unaided 6/6 vision in both eyes, no spectacles or contact lenses, no LASIK and no colour blindness. Read it early, because it can decide whether ALP is realistic for you at all.
Technician: one CBT per pay level
Technicians face a single CBT of 100 questions in 90 minutes, with one-third negative marking and the same minimum pass percentages. Candidates are then called for document verification in numbers equal to the vacancies.
| Indicative CBT split | Grade I Signal | Grade III |
|---|---|---|
| General Awareness | 10 | 10 |
| General Intelligence and Reasoning | 15 | 25 |
| Basics of Computers and Applications | 20 | – |
| Mathematics | 20 | 25 |
| Basic Science and Engineering | 35 | – |
| General Science | – | 40 |
The notice calls this split "merely indicative". You must submit a separate application, and pay a separate fee, for each pay level you apply to.
Decision table: which can you apply for?
These are illustrative profiles checked against the 2026 notices. Your own trade or branch must match the notice wording.
| Your qualification | ALP | Technician Grade I Signal | Technician Grade III |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th + ITI Fitter | Yes (Fitter is a listed trade) | No | Yes, for posts that specify Fitter |
| 10th + three-year diploma in Electrical Engineering | Yes (diploma accepted in place of ITI) | Only if your branch counts as one of the listed streams or a combination of them | No, unless the post accepts a diploma |
| B.Sc. Physics, no ITI or engineering diploma | No | Yes | No |
| B.Tech in Electronics | Yes (degree accepted in place of diploma) | Yes | No, unless the post accepts it |
If you qualify for more than one, consider three practical points:
- Medical fitness. ALP's A-1 standard and the self-screening checklist are strict. Technician posts carry other standards (such as B-1 or C-1), and each notice's medical section explains what every standard requires. Compare them before you choose, and get your eyes tested by a qualified specialist.
- Preparation load. ALP requires preparation for CBT-1, both parts of CBT-2 and the CBAT. Technician candidates prepare for one CBT per pay level.
- Pay level. Grade I Signal starts at Level 5; ALP and Grade III start at Level 2. Pay is only one factor: duties, working pattern and posting matter too.
A worked scoring example
Illustrative only. In ALP CBT-2 Part A (100 questions), you answer 82: 70 right and 12 wrong.
- Raw score: 70 − (12 × 1/3) = 70 − 4 = 66.
- The UR pass line is 40% of 100 = 40, so you qualify on Part A, provided you also clear 35% in Part B.
- Being shortlisted for the CBAT still depends on merit within your RRB and category.
Before the next cycle
Notice number and post I am targeting:
My trade or branch, copied exactly from my certificate:
Does it appear in the notice's qualification list? (Y/N)
Medical standard for the post:
Eye test done by a qualified specialist (date):
Practice focus (CBT-1 / Part A / Part B trade / CBAT):
Date I last checked the RRB website:
For a broader view of railway recruitment routes, see our guide to reading RRB notices.
Frequently asked questions
Can I apply for both ALP and Technician?
They are separate notices with separate applications. Within the Technician notice, you need a separate application for each pay level, and you can choose only one RRB per pay level.
Does the ALP CBT-1 score count in the final merit?
No. CBT-1 is screening only. The final merit uses Part A of CBT-2 and the CBAT in a 50:50 ratio.