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Eligibility must be checked against CEN 01/2026, including the 1 July 2026 age cut-off and the prescribed qualification deadline. A general 12th-pass claim is insufficient.
Eligibility at a glance
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Age | 18–30 on 1 July 2026, with eligible relaxations |
| Technical qualification | Specified ITI/apprenticeship or engineering route |
| Medical standard | A1; read the full conditions |
| Application window | Closed |
What changed from ALP 2025?
The two detailed notices contain material differences. CEN 01/2025 gives CBT II Part A and CBAT a 70:30 final-merit weighting. CEN 01/2026 paragraph 12.4 specifies 50:50. Do not carry the old ratio into 2026 preparation advice.
The 2025 CBT I syllabus includes General Awareness as a separate heading. The 2026 CBT I list names Mathematics, Mental Ability and General Science. The 2026 notice also sets out self-screening medical reports in Annexures VIII A and VIII B for CBAT. Use the instructions for your own CEN; the older-cycle CBAT schedule instead refers to its prescribed vision certificate.
Official reference: 2025 notification, paragraphs 12.1 and 12.3.
Official reference: 2026 notification, paragraphs 12.1–12.4.
Eligibility: qualification, age and medical standard
The base age is 18–30 on 1 July 2026. The ordinary unreserved/EWS date-of-birth range is 2 July 1996–1 July 2008, inclusive. SC/ST upper-age relaxation is five years and OBC-NCL three years; other eligible groups have separate rules. Multiple relaxation grounds are not simply added together. Read paragraphs 5.1–5.2 for the category and post being claimed.
Annexure A accepts Matriculation/SSLC plus an approved listed ITI trade or completed Act Apprenticeship in those trades. The alternative is Matriculation/SSLC plus a three-year diploma in Mechanical, Electrical, Electronics or Automobile Engineering, or the specified combinations. An engineering degree in those disciplines can substitute for the diploma. Class 12 alone, or a diploma in an unrelated discipline, does not establish eligibility.
Listed trades include 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. Required results had to be available by the application deadline; candidates awaiting the prescribed qualification result were not eligible to apply.
The post uses medical standard A1 and is marked not suitable for PwBD in Annexure A. The notice excludes candidates who have undergone LASIK or other surgery to correct refractive error. Its medical declarations are provisional: the final Railway medical examination still applies. An unsuitable medical finding does not create a right to an alternative appointment. Read the official medical clauses rather than relying on a general “fit for government jobs” assumption.
Official reference: Paragraphs 3–6 and Annexure A.
Nationality and certificate requirements
Paragraph 4 permits Indian citizens and specified Nepalese/Bhutanese, Tibetan-refugee and persons-of-Indian-origin categories. Where required, a Government of India eligibility certificate must be produced at document verification. Read the exact country and migration-date conditions; nationality eligibility is not a blanket rule for all foreign citizens.
Official reference: Paragraph 4.
Documents to check against your application
Match your date of birth to the Matriculation/SSLC certificate, your qualification to Annexure A, and the claimed reservation to the prescribed certificate rules. Check result-declaration dates as well as certificate issue dates. Serving applicants should read the NOC rules. For the medical self-screening reports required at CBAT, use the exact official format and issuer conditions.
Preparation resources and previous cut-offs
Start with the stage-specific syllabus, take a timed diagnostic test and keep an error log by topic. Practise CBT I within 60 minutes, then review accuracy and negative-marking losses. For CBT II, allocate separate practice to Part A and your qualifying trade. Use official aptitude familiarisation for CBAT; general reasoning mocks do not reproduce every aptitude battery.
Read ALP eligibility, ALP exam pattern and ALP syllabus. For historical context, the 2025 Chandigarh CBT II cut-off concerns a different cycle and cannot forecast the 2026 threshold. Keep the year, stage and shift on every historical paper.
Frequently asked questions
Is ALP 2026 application still open?
The original window closed on 14 June 2026. The cited November schedule concerns CBT I, not fresh registration.
What is the latest verified CBT I window?
3–5 November 2026, expressly tentative in the 21 September notice. Your individual allotted date comes from the official candidate documents.
Is the final weighting still 70:30?
That is the 2025 rule. Paragraph 12.4 of CEN 01/2026 states 50:50 for CBT II Part A and CBAT.
Is a 2027 ALP cycle confirmed here?
No. This article covers CEN 01/2026. No 2027 vacancy or application date is inferred.
Official sources and review scope
- CEN 01/2026 detailed notification
- CEN 01/2025 detailed notification
- 21 September 2026: ALP CBT I schedule
Later official amendments take precedence. Regional results are identified as Chandigarh records and must not be treated as the outcome for every RRB. This guide does not determine an individual candidate’s eligibility or selection.