RRB Assistant Loco Pilot (ALP) 2026 Free Guess Paper

The RRB ALP 2026 PYQ analysis in this article compares two exam cycles side by side. It uses the November 2024 shifts and the February 2026 shifts of CEN 01/2025. The comparison shows a clear shift in subject weight. This shift changes how a candidate must plan for the next CBT 1 under CEN 01/2026.

TL;DR

• Reasoning questions per shift rose from about 24 in 2024 to about 39 in February 2026, a jump of roughly 15 questions.
• Mathematics rose by about 5 questions per shift over the same period.
• General Science fell from about 20 questions per shift to about 8, a drop to 40% of its earlier share.
• General Awareness fell from about 10 questions to about 2.
• Math and Reasoning together made up about 65 of the 75 questions in the February 2026 papers, close to 87% of the full paper.
• CEN 01/2026 carries 11,127 Assistant Loco Pilot vacancies, with a starting pay of ₹19,900 per month.

Why the ALP Paper Changes Every Cycle

The RRB ALP paper changes more than any other Railway Recruitment Board exam. A topic added to one railway exam usually appears in ALP first. A topic dropped from another exam usually leaves ALP first. This pattern makes the exam hard to predict from memory alone. A candidate must check the most recent shifts, not just the official syllabus list, before setting a study plan.

Subject-Wise Shift in the 2024-2026 Papers

CEN 01/2025 ran CBT 1 in two rounds. The first round ran across 15 shifts from November 25 to 29, 2024, and covered about 1,125 questions. The second round ran across 10 shifts from February 13 to 18, 2026, and covered about 750 questions. A comparison of these two rounds shows a steady move away from General Science and General Awareness and toward Mathematics and Reasoning.

The Rise of Reasoning and Math

Reasoning carried the biggest change. It moved from about a third of the paper to more than half. Math also grew, though by a smaller margin. Together, these two subjects made up about 65 of the 75 marks in February 2026, against about 45 of 75 in November 2024. A candidate who skips daily reasoning practice now loses access to more than half the paper.

The Fall of Science and General Awareness

General Science dropped from about 20 questions to about 8, a fall to 10% of the full paper. General Awareness dropped from about 10 questions to about 2. This pattern held across all 10 shifts of the February 2026 round, not just one or two. A steady pattern across every shift points to a planned change in weight, not a random swing.

What This Means for the Next CBT 1

Official listings for CEN 01/2026 still mark the CBT 1 date as “to be notified” as of this writing, though preparation groups have circulated a date near the first week of November 2026. Candidates must confirm the final date on their regional RRB website. Whatever the confirmed date, the subject split from February 2026 gives the clearest guide available for study planning, since RRB does not fix a subject-wise mark split for ALP CBT 1 the way it does for some other posts.

Because the split can move again, a safe plan treats Math, Reasoning, and Science as close to equal in study time, while giving Reasoning slightly more weight based on the last two rounds. General Awareness needs only light revision, given its small and shrinking share.

Vacancy and Fee Snapshot for CEN 01/2026

CEN 01/2026 carries 11,127 Assistant Loco Pilot vacancies across railway zones, based on 10th pass plus ITI or a matching diploma. The application fee is ₹500 for General, OBC, and EWS candidates, and ₹250 for SC, ST, women, and PwBD candidates. RRB refunds part of this fee after a candidate appears for CBT 1: ₹400 for General, OBC, and EWS, and ₹250 for SC and ST candidates. The age limit runs from 18 to 30 years, counted as of July 1, 2026, with standard relaxation for reserved categories.

Salary the Post Pays After Selection

A selected Assistant Loco Pilot starts at Level 2 of the 7th Central Pay Commission matrix, with a basic pay of ₹19,900 per month. Once dearness allowance, house rent allowance, and other allowances are added, the in-hand salary runs from about ₹25,000 to ₹35,000 per month, depending on the posting city. The post also carries a defined pension scheme, medical cover, and railway travel passes.

A Focused CBT 1 Study Plan

A candidate with limited weeks before CBT 1 gains more from a narrow, repeated plan than from a wide, scattered one.

• Reasoning first. Since Reasoning now carries the largest single share, work through every reasoning chapter using recent previous-year questions. Number series, coding-decoding, and puzzle-based sets deserve daily practice.
• Math close behind. Speed matters more than range. Drill calculation shortcuts for topics that repeat often, such as time-speed-distance, mixtures, percentages, and mensuration.
• Science in short bursts. Since Science now carries a smaller share, cover it through short daily sessions rather than long study blocks. Class 10 level Physics, Chemistry, and Biology cover most of what appears.
• General Awareness on a light schedule. Read current railway and general knowledge updates for 10 to 15 minutes a day. Do not give this subject more time than its small share earns.
• Daily mock tests. Take one full mock test each day in the final month. Review every wrong answer and every guess, not only the wrong answers.

Common Questions

How many questions appear in RRB ALP CBT 1? CBT 1 carries 75 questions for 75 marks, to be finished in 60 minutes.

Which subject carries the highest weight now? Based on the February 2026 shifts, Reasoning carries the highest share, followed by Mathematics.

Does CBT 1 still test General Awareness? Yes, but the February 2026 shifts show only about 2 questions per shift from this subject, well below its earlier share.

What is the RRB ALP salary after selection? The post starts at ₹19,900 basic pay under Level 2, with an in-hand salary of about ₹25,000 to ₹35,000 per month after allowances.

What is the RRB ALP CBT 1 application fee? ₹500 for General, OBC, and EWS candidates, and ₹250 for SC, ST, women, and PwBD candidates, with part of this amount refunded after the candidate appears for CBT 1.

Closing Analysis

The RRB ALP paper no longer splits close to evenly across Math, Reasoning, Science, and General Awareness. Reasoning and Math now decide most of the CBT 1 score, and this trend held across every shift of the most recent round. A candidate who studies all four subjects in equal measure spends time on a shrinking part of the paper. A candidate who matches study time to the current weight, while staying ready for a further shift, holds the stronger position going into the next CBT 1.