RRB ALP 2025 Exam Date, Will ALP Take Place Before or After Group D?

As Railway Recruitment Board (RRB) candidates eagerly await updates, a big question looms: When will the RRB ALP 2025 CBT 1 exam take place?
In a recent discussion on the PW (Physics Wallah) platform, educators addressed major doubts regarding RRB ALP, Technician, and Group D exams.
Here’s a full summary of what was shared and what candidates can realistically expect in the coming months.

RRB ALP 2025 Exam Date Update: Complete Breakdown

The RRB ALP (Assistant Loco Pilot) and Technician exams for 2025 are the first major recruitments Railway will focus on once ongoing processes conclude.
According to updates, all 2024 recruitment cycles—including JE, Technician, and NTPC (Graduate and 12th level)—are nearly completed. The only pending processes are NTPC Typing/CBT 2 and the Group D case currently in court.

Once this legal issue is resolved, the ALP CBT 1 will be the next exam in line.

Group D Case Impact on RRB ALP Exam Schedule

The Group D recruitment process is under legal review, and the CAT (Central Administrative Tribunal) has reserved its judgment.
Railway authorities had tentatively planned the Group D exam for 17th November 2025, but city intimation links have not been released yet.
This delay indicates that the Railway may wait for the court’s verdict before finalizing any Group D exam schedules.

If the verdict comes soon, Group D exams will likely begin between 17th November and December 2025.
However, if the decision is delayed further, Railway will not remain idle — it may proceed with the ALP and Technician exams first.

Expected Exam Dates: RRB ALP & Technician 2025

Based on current patterns and Railway’s internal timelines:

Railway generally gives only 15–20 days’ prior notice before exams. So, candidates should not expect long gaps or extended preparation time once dates are announced.

RRB ALP Exam Pattern And Marking Scheme 2025

The RRB ALP CBT 1 exam will have a non-technical pattern with 75 questions, while Technician exams may carry up to 100 marks.

Highlights:

• CBT 1: 75 questions (no negative marking details yet)
  
  

• CBT 2: Includes technical theory; minimum qualifying marks – 35%
  
  

• Psychometric test (5 battery test system) mandatory for final selection
  
  

• Candidates must qualify in each stage to move ahead
  
  

Don’t rely on long exam gap assumptions — focus on consistent preparation for CBT 1 and CBT 2 together.

Why RRB ALP 2025 Could Be the First Major Railway Exam

With TCS conducting RRB exams, most 2024 recruitments have concluded, and Railway’s next logical focus is ALP and Technician hiring.
The Assistant Loco Pilot post is always prioritized due to operational requirements in train services, making ALP recruitment a top agenda for 2025.

So, even if Group D experiences further legal delays, ALP CBT 1 will likely be scheduled soon after November.

Advice for RRB ALP Aspirants

Candidates should:

• Continue focused preparation for CBT 1 and CBT 2.
  
  

• Avoid waiting for official exam notifications.
  
  

• Expect only 15–20 days’ notice before exams.
  
  

• Target strong fundamentals in Maths, Reasoning, and Technical sections.
  
  

• Keep track of official RRB regional websites for updates.
  
  

As one educator put it, “Railway won’t sit idle — ALP and Technician will start first.”