RRB ALP Vs SSC CGL
Railway Recruitment Board Assistant Loco Pilot and Staff Selection Commission Combined Graduate Level are the two most prominent government examinations. Both are graduate-level examinations but RRB ALP recruits candidates from engineering backgrounds and while in SSC CGL any discipline graduate can appear for the examination. Through RRB ALP, candidates are posted in the Indian Railways while through SSC CGL candidates are posted in government departments/ministries on various posts. This blog will provide you with a detailed analysis of the RRB ALP Vs SSC CGL.
RRB ALP
The Railway Recruitment Board annually conducts the recruitment for the post of Assistant Loco Pilots in the Indian Railways. Aspiring candidates must be keen to know the job description, requirements, and salary of the ALPs. So, we have mentioned below the important details regarding the recruitment like eligibility criteria, exam pattern, job profile, and salary which will provide them with a broader aspect.
Eligibility Criteria
The eligibility criteria for RRB ALP is based on three factors
- Age
- Educational Qualification
- Nationality
The three points are discussed in detail below
Age Limit
- Minimum: 18 years
- Maximum: 33 years
The age limit criteria will be considered as of 01/07/2024.
We have mentioned below the category-wise upper limit of date of birth for the candidates.
| Categories | Upper Limit of Date of Birth |
| UR & EWS | 02.07.1991 |
| OBC (NCL) | 02.07.1988 |
| SC & ST | 02.07.1986 |
Educational Qualification
| Post | Educational Qualification |
| RRB Assistant Loco Pilot | Matriculation / SSLC Plus ITI/ Course Completed Act Apprentices or Diploma/ Degree in Engineering. |
Exam Pattern
The RRB ALP exam pattern consists of the following phases
- CBT Stage- 1
- CBT Stage- 2 ( Part A and Part B)
- CBAT (Computer Based Aptitude Test)
- Document Verification
CBT Stage -1
| Subjects | No. of Qs |
| Maths | 20 |
| General Intelligence & Reasoning | 25 |
| General Science | 20 |
| General Awareness on Current Affairs | 10 |
The candidates will have a duration of 60 minutes to complete the test.
CBT Stage -2
| Parts | Subjects | No. of Questions | Duration |
| Part A | Maths General Intelligence & Reasoning Basic Science & Engineering General Awareness of Current Affairs | 100 | 90 Mins |
| Part B | Relevant Trade | 75 | 60 Mins |
| Total | 175 | 2 Hours 30 Mins |
Job Description
Candidates who have applied for the RRB ALP must know about the job profile. Following are the duties of the RRB ALP
- Help the Loco Driver in tuning the Locomotive.
- Maintaining the productivity of the Locomotive by increasing sectional average speed, punctuality, safety & security.
- Keep an eye on the signal & indicate it further.
- Repairing the Locomotive (if required).
- Noticing track defect through jerk or lurch.
- Checking the efficiency of the locomotive
Salary
The Railway Recruitment Board provides a good amount of salary along with various allowances and benefits to their employees. Assistant Loco Pilots also enjoy various perks along with their salary. We have mentioned below the salary structure for the RRB ALP.
| Particulars | Details |
| Grade Pay | 1900/- |
| Pay Scale | 19,900/- |
| Assistant Loco Pilot Salary | Gross 35,000/- |
SSC CGL
The Staff Selection Commission Combined Graduate Level (SSC CGL) examination is a highly competitive test in India, attracting graduates for various government positions. With a four-tier structure, including Tier I and Tier II exams, followed by a descriptive paper and a computer proficiency test, SSC CGL aims to select competent individuals for Group B and C posts in government departments and ministries. Candidates must have a proper understanding of recruitment to choose a better job in RRB ALP Vs SSC CGL.
Eligibility Criteria
Though there are different criteria for each of the posts filled by the SSC CGL exam, the essential eligibility criteria for this exam are as follows.
Nationality/citizenship
The candidate must be an Indian citizen or of Indian origin or a subject of Nepal/Bhutan, or a Tibetan refugee.
Age limit
Minimum Age Limit:18 and Maximum Age Limit: 32 years.
| Post | Department | Age Limit |
| Assistant Audit Officer | Under C&AG | Not exceeding 30 years. |
| Assistant Accounts Officer | Under C&AG | Not exceeding 30 years. |
| Assistant Section Officer | Central Secretariat Service | 20-30 years |
| Assistant Section Officer | Intelligence Bureau | Not exceeding 30 years. |
| Assistant Section Officer | Ministry of Railway | 20-30 years |
| Assistant Section Officer | Ministry of External Affairs | 20-30 years |
| Assistant Section Officer | AFHQ | 20-30 years |
| Assistant Section Officer | Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology | Not exceeding 30 years. |
| Assistant / Assistant Section Officer | Other Ministries/ Departments/ Organizations | Not exceeding 30 years. |
| Inspector of Income Tax | CBDT | Not exceeding 30 years |
| Inspector, (Central Excise) | CBIC | Not exceeding 30 years |
| Inspector (Preventive Officer) | CBIC | Not exceeding 30 years |
| Inspector (Examiner) | CBIC | Not exceeding 30 years |
| Assistant Enforcement Officer | Directorate of Enforcement, Department of Revenue | Up to 30 years |
| Sub Inspector | Central Bureau of Investigation | 20-30 years |
| Inspector Posts | Department of Post, Ministry of Communication | Not exceeding 30 years |
| Inspector | Central Bureau of Narcotics, Ministry of Finance | Not exceeding 30 years |
| Assistant | Other Ministries/ Departments/ Organizations | Not exceeding 30 years |
| Divisional Accountant | Offices under C&AG | Not exceeding 30 years |
| Sub Inspector | NIA) | Up to 30 years |
| Sub-Inspector/ Junior Intelligence Officer | (MHA) | Not exceeding 30 years |
| Junior Statistical Officer | Ministry of Statistics&Programme Implementation. | Up to 32 years |
| Auditor | Offices under C&AG | 18-27 years |
| Auditor | Offices under CGDA | 18-27 years |
| Auditor | Other Ministry/Departments | 18-27 years |
| Accountant | Offices under C&AG | 18-27 years |
| Accountant | Controller General of Accounts | 18-27 years |
| Accountant/ Junior Accountant | Other Ministry/ Departments | 18-27 years |
| Postal Assistant/ Sorting Assistant | Department of Post, Ministry of Communication | 18-27 years |
| Senior Secretariat Assistant/ Upper Division Clerks | Central Govt. Offices/ Ministries are other than CSCS cadres. | 18-27 years |
| Senior Administrative Assistant | Military Engineering Services, Ministry of Defence | 18-27 years |
| Tax Assistant | CBDT | 18-27 years |
| Tax Assistant | CBIC | 18-27 years |
| Sub-Inspector | Central Bureau of Narcotics, Ministry of Finance | 18-27 years |
| Upper Division Clerks | Dte.Gen Border Road Organisation (MoD) (Only for male Candidates) | 18-27 years |
Educational Qualification
Essential Educational Qualifications for various posts include :
All other Posts except Assistant Audit Officer/Assistant Accounts Officer and JSO
Bachelor’s Degree from a recognized University or equivalent.
The candidates who have appeared in the final year of their graduation can also apply, however, they must possess Essential qualifications on or before the cut-off date.
SSC CGL Exam Pattern
SSC CGL has 2 phases: Tier- 1, and Tier- 2 according to the new exam pattern.
SSC CGL Tier 1 Exam Pattern
| Subject | Questions | Maximum Marks |
| General Intelligence & Reasoning | 25 | 50 |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 25 | 50 |
| General English | 25 | 50 |
| General Awareness | 25 | 50 |
Note: Total Duration of Tier 1 Exam is 60 minutes
SSC CGL Tier 2 Exam Pattern
In this phase, two exams are conducted on the same day, the details of the Tier-II exams are listed below. The merit list will be prepared based on the overall performance of candidates in the Tier-II Examination only. Total time duration is 2 hours 15 minutes for Paper – 1 and 2 hours for Paper – 2 and 3 each.
| Paper | Session | Section | Subject | Questions | Marks |
| I | I (2 hours and 15 minutes) | I (1 hour ) | Module I – Mathematical abilities Module II – Reasoning and General Intelligence | 3030Total – 60 | 60 x 3= 180 |
| II (1 hour ) | Module I – English Language ComprehensionModule II – General Awareness | 4525 Total = 70 | 70 x 3 =210 | ||
| III (15 minutes) | Module – I – Computer Knowledge module | 20 | 20 x 3 = 60 | ||
| II (15 minutes) | III | Module – II : Data Entry Speed Test | One data entry task | ||
| II | 2 hours | Statistics (Paper I & II as above) | 100 | 100 x 2= 200 | |
| III | 2 hours | General Studies (Paper I & II as above) (Finance & Economics) | 100 | 100 x 2= 200 | |
| Total | 500 | 850 |
Salary
The salary structure of SSC CGL varies from 25,500 to 1,51,000. In addition to the basic pay, the SSC CGL post also offers allowances in the form of a dearness allowance, HRA, travel allowance, etc.
Pay Levels of SSC CGL
| Pay Levels | Pay Scale |
| 4 | 25,500-81,100 |
| 5 | 29,200-92,300 |
| 6 | 35400-1,12,400 |
| 7 | 44,900-1,42,400 |
| 8 | 47,600-1,51,100 |
What is the SSC CGL Increment Per Year?
The following is the increment in the SSC CGL posts every year
- Twice DA hikes at the rate of 1% or 2% at the end of every 6 months. 1% means 500 and 2% means 1000.
SSC CGL Perks and Allowances
Apart from the basic salary, the candidates also receive certain benefits and allowances. The list of such allowances is as follows:
- Dearness Allowance ( 31% as per the latest update)
- HRA ( 8-24% depends on the location of posting)
- Transport Allowance
- LTC
RRB ALP Vs SSC CGL 2024
Comparing RRB ALP and SSC CGL jobs is challenging as they serve different purposes and have distinct responsibilities.
- RRB ALP: Primarily involves assisting in the operation and maintenance of trains, ensuring their safety and efficiency. It’s more operation-oriented and hands-on.
- SSC CGL: Offers a wide range of administrative and managerial roles in various government departments. It includes jobs like income tax inspector, auditor, and assistant in ministries, providing diverse career paths.
The “better” job depends on your interests, career goals, and the type of work you find fulfilling. Consider the nature of the work, your skills, and the long-term career prospects in making your decision. Both roles have their unique advantages and may appeal to different preferences.
We hope this blog gave you a better understanding of the detailed analysis of RRB ALP Vs SSC CGL. To read more such blogs, visit the Oliveboard website!
- RRB ALP Previous Year Question Papers, Download the PDF
- RRB ALP Previous Year Cut Off, Check the Previous Cut Off
- RRB ALP Result 2024, Check the Detailed Information
- RRB ALP Answer Key 2024, Direct Link to Download
- RRB ALP Salary & Job Profile 2024, Check In hand Salary, Perks
- RRB ALP Syllabus 2024 for Assistant LOCO Pilot CBT 1 & CBT 2
RRB ALP Vs SSC CGL – Frequently Asked Questions
Ans. Candidates can check the detailed analysis of the RRB ALP Vs SSC CGL mentioned in this blog.
Ans. Candidates must have a graduation degree in any discipline from a government-recognized university.
Hey everyone, I’m Vaishnavi Kumari, an edtech writer and a dedicated aspirant for government exams, including banking and SSC exams. Having worked with several edtech platforms, I am committed to providing you with essential and accurate information to ace these exams. With my experience as both a writer and an aspirant, I understand your needs and challenges, and my aim is to make your preparation journey smoother. I’ll focus on specific sections of the exams, compiling comprehensive and helpful content that covers the crucial topics, tips, and strategies you need to succeed. Let’s conquer these exams together!
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