New Delhi: Indian Railways has announced the successful recruitment of 43,230 personnel across various categories during the current financial year 2025-26, marking a significant enhancement in employment opportunities in the country. This recruitment drive includes critical positions such as technicians, junior engineers, paramedical staff, sub-inspectors and constables within the Railway Protection Force (RPF), and assistant loco pilots.
Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw shared this information in the Rajya Sabha, noting that the recruitment process is ongoing and strategically aligned with operational requirements, technological advancements, and staff retirements.
For the Assistant Loco Pilots (ALP) position, 18,799 vacancies were advertised in 2024, with 15,873 candidates already empanelled. In 2025, an additional 9,970 vacancies were announced, for which the first stage of Computer Based Tests (CBTs) has been completed. Looking ahead to 2026, 11,127 more ALP positions have been listed under the annual recruitment calendar.
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The Railways emphasized that recruitment remains a continuous process, with over 154,213 vacancies currently under recruitment across the years 2024, 2025, and 2026. The establishment of an Annual Calendar since 2024 has introduced greater transparency and predictability in the exam process, leading to expedited recruitment cycles for candidates.
In 2024 alone, 92,116 vacancies were announced across multiple categories. CBT examinations were conducted for over 35.8 million candidates across more than 150 cities in 15 languages. Subsequent assessment phases, including second-stage CBTs, aptitude tests, and skill tests, have also been successfully completed for lakhs of candidates.
The Railways has assured the public that this large-scale recruitment initiative has been executed transparently, with no reported instances of paper leaks or any form of malpractice.
Beyond generating employment, Indian Railways is also focused on enhancing the working conditions for loco pilots. Notably, over 2,800 locomotives have been retrofitted with waterless urinals, thereby improving on-duty convenience and hygiene for the crew members.
The government reiterated that strengthening manpower is essential for ensuring the safe and efficient operation of passenger and freight trains, asserting that recruitment efforts will persist in alignment with future operational needs.
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