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Exam comparison · from official notices

RRB ALP vs RRB JE: salary, eligibility, exam pattern and syllabus

  • RRB ALP is conducted by RRB; RRB JE is conducted by RRB.
  • Qualification — RRB ALP: Matriculation / SSLC plus ITI (NCVT/SCVT) in a listed trade, or plus Course Completed Act Apprenticeship in those trades. RRB JE: JE posts: three-year diploma in the engineering branch(es) listed for the post in Annexure A, or a combination of sub-streams of those basic streams; B.E./B.Tech in the same discipline is accepted in lieu of the diploma.
  • Age limit — RRB ALP: 18–30 years (as on 1 July 2026). RRB JE: 18–33 years (as on 1 January 2027).
  • Pay levels printed — RRB ALP: Level 2. RRB JE: Level 6.
  • RRB ALP has 3 stages in its printed pattern; RRB JE has 2.

RRB ALP vs RRB JE: side by side

Each cell is copied from the exam's latest official notice. Always confirm in the notice before applying.

FactRRB ALPRRB JE
Conducting body
  • RRB
  • rrb.indianrailways.gov.in
  • RRB
  • rrb.indianrailways.gov.in
Latest notice
  • CEN No. 01/2026 – Recruitment of Assistant Loco Pilot (ALP) (published 21 March 2026 (indicative notice in Employment News))
  • CEN No. 04/2026 – Recruitment for various posts of Junior Engineer, Depot Material Superintendent and Chemical & Metallurgical Assistant (title as amended by Corrigendum-1) (published 13 August 2026 (RRB websites); Corrigendum-1 dated 18 August 2026)
Application status
  • Applications closed on 14 June 2026.
  • Applications closed on 13 September 2026.
Posts
  • Assistant Loco Pilot (ALP), Level-2 of 7th CPC Pay Matrix, initial pay ₹19,900
  • Medical standard A-1; not suitable for Persons with Benchmark Disability
  • Various posts of Junior Engineer (37 post categories with DMS), Depot Material Superintendent (DMS) and Chemical & Metallurgical Assistant (CMA)
  • All posts: Level 6 of the 7th CPC Pay Matrix, initial pay ₹35,400
  • Medical standard and PwBD suitability differ by post (Annexure A)
Pay (as printed)
  • Assistant Loco Pilot (ALP), Level-2 of 7th CPC Pay Matrix, initial pay ₹19,900

Pay Level 2 →

  • All posts: Level 6 of the 7th CPC Pay Matrix, initial pay ₹35,400

Pay Level 6 →

Age limit
  • 18–30 years (as on 1 July 2026)
  • 18–33 years (as on 1 January 2027)
Qualification
  • Matriculation / SSLC plus ITI (NCVT/SCVT) in a listed trade, or plus Course Completed Act Apprenticeship in those trades
  • Or Matriculation / SSLC plus 3-year diploma in Mechanical / Electrical / Electronics / Automobile Engineering (or a combination of these); a degree in these branches is accepted in lieu of the diploma
  • Must be held by the closing date, 14 June 2026; candidates awaiting results are not eligible
  • JE posts: three-year diploma in the engineering branch(es) listed for the post in Annexure A, or a combination of sub-streams of those basic streams; B.E./B.Tech in the same discipline is accepted in lieu of the diploma
  • Depot Material Superintendent: three-year diploma in engineering in any discipline (B.E./B.Tech accepted in lieu)
  • Chemical & Metallurgical Assistant (Corrigendum-1): B.Sc. in Physics and Chemistry with at least 45% marks, as detailed in the corrigendum
  • Must be held by the closing date, 13 September 2026; candidates awaiting final results are not eligible
Selection stages
  • CBT-1 (screening) (60 minutes)
  • CBT-2 (2 hours 30 minutes (Part-A 90 minutes, Part-B 60 minutes))
  • CBAT (aptitude test) (See notice)
  • CBT-1 (screening) (90 minutes (120 minutes for scribe-eligible candidates))
  • CBT-2 (120 minutes (160 minutes for scribe-eligible candidates))
Negative marking
  • CBT-1 (screening): Negative marking: 1/3 mark per wrong answer.
  • CBT-2: Negative marking: 1/3 mark per wrong answer.
  • CBAT (aptitude test): No negative marking.
  • Negative marking: 1/3 mark per wrong answer.
Vacancies
  • 11,127 (all RRBs), including 1,115 for Ex-Servicemen
  • 4,029 (all RRBs) after Corrigendum-1 (CEN printed 3,993; Corrigendum-1 added 1 JE/Electrical/TRS and 35 CMA posts). Ex-Servicemen posts are included in these totals.
Application fee
  • ₹500 (General); ₹250 (SC/ST/Ex-Servicemen/Female/Transgender/Minorities/EBC)
  • No category is exempt; ₹400 of the ₹500 fee and the full ₹250 fee are refunded, less bank charges, only to candidates who appear in CBT-1, into the Aadhaar-seeded bank account.
  • ₹500 (general); ₹250 (SC/ST/Ex-Servicemen/PwBD/Female/Transgender/Minorities/EBC)
  • No category is exempt; ₹400 of the ₹500 fee and the full ₹250 fee are refunded, less bank charges, only to candidates who appear in CBT-1, into the Aadhaar-seeded bank account.
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RRB ALP

RRB JE

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between RRB ALP and RRB JE eligibility?

RRB ALP: age 18–30 years as on 1 July 2026; Matriculation / SSLC plus ITI (NCVT/SCVT) in a listed trade, or plus Course Completed Act Apprenticeship in those trades. Or Matriculation / SSLC plus 3-year diploma in Mechanical / Electrical / Electronics / Automobile Engineering (or a combination of these); a degree in these branches is accepted in lieu of the diploma. Must be held by the closing date, 14 June 2026; candidates awaiting results are not eligible. RRB JE: age 18–33 years as on 1 January 2027; JE posts: three-year diploma in the engineering branch(es) listed for the post in Annexure A, or a combination of sub-streams of those basic streams; B.E./B.Tech in the same discipline is accepted in lieu of the diploma. Depot Material Superintendent: three-year diploma in engineering in any discipline (B.E./B.Tech accepted in lieu). Chemical & Metallurgical Assistant (Corrigendum-1): B.Sc. in Physics and Chemistry with at least 45% marks, as detailed in the corrigendum. Must be held by the closing date, 13 September 2026; candidates awaiting final results are not eligible. Both from the latest official notices.

What is the salary of RRB ALP vs RRB JE?

As printed in the notices — RRB ALP: Assistant Loco Pilot (ALP), Level-2 of 7th CPC Pay Matrix, initial pay ₹19,900. RRB JE: All posts: Level 6 of the 7th CPC Pay Matrix, initial pay ₹35,400. Allowances are paid on top; in-hand pay is not estimated here.

How is the selection process of RRB ALP different from RRB JE?

RRB ALP: CBT-1: screening test (marks not counted in the final panel); CBT-2: Part-A (counted for merit) and Part-B trade test (qualifying); 15 times RRB-wise vacancies shortlisted from CBT-1; CBAT: computer-based aptitude test; 8 times community-wise vacancies shortlisted from CBT-2 Part-A; Document verification and medical examination (A-1 standard). RRB JE: CBT-1: screening test common to all posts (normalised score used only to shortlist for CBT-2); CBT-2: 15 times the community-wise vacancies of each RRB shortlisted from CBT-1; Document verification: candidates equal to the number of vacancies, on CBT-2 merit and options; Medical examination to the medical standard of the allotted post.

How many vacancies are there in RRB ALP and RRB JE?

RRB ALP: 11,127 (all RRBs), including 1,115 for Ex-Servicemen. RRB JE: 4,029 (all RRBs) after Corrigendum-1 (CEN printed 3,993; Corrigendum-1 added 1 JE/Electrical/TRS and 35 CMA posts). Ex-Servicemen posts are included in these totals.. As printed in each latest notice.

What is the application fee for RRB ALP and RRB JE?

RRB ALP: ₹500 (General); ₹250 (SC/ST/Ex-Servicemen/Female/Transgender/Minorities/EBC). RRB JE: ₹500 (general); ₹250 (SC/ST/Ex-Servicemen/PwBD/Female/Transgender/Minorities/EBC). Fee exemptions are listed in each notice.

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