Railway Recruitment Boards have released CEN No. 03/2026 for the recruitment of 119 Section Controllers in different Zonal Railways. The position carries an initial salary of ₹35,400 under Pay Level 6, and applicants must possess a graduate degree from a recognized university or an equivalent qualification.
The online application process started on 15 July 2026 and will remain open until 14 August 2026 at 11:59 PM. Candidates must select only one RRB and submit a single application. Applying to more than one RRB can lead to rejection and debarment from future RRB and RRC examinations.
RRB Section Controller Recruitment 2026 Overview
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| Recruiting authority | Railway Recruitment Boards |
| Ministry | Ministry of Railways, Government of India |
| Notification number | CEN No. 03/2026 |
| Post name | Section Controller |
| Total vacancies | 119 |
| Pay level | Level 6 under the 7th CPC |
| Initial pay | ₹35,400 per month plus applicable allowances |
| Qualification | Graduate degree or equivalent |
| Age limit | 20 to 33 years |
| Age cut-off date | 1 July 2026 |
| Medical standard | A-2 |
| Application mode | Online |
| Application start date | 15 July 2026 |
| Last date to apply | 14 August 2026 |
| Job location | Various Zonal Railways across India |
| Selection process | CBT, CBAT, Document Verification and Medical Examination |
The official post-parameter table confirms that the Section Controller post is at Pay Level 6, carries initial pay of ₹35,400, requires the A-2 medical standard, and is open to graduates from recognised universities.
Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Indicative notification date | 27 June 2026 |
| Online application begins | 15 July 2026 at 12:00 AM |
| Last date to submit application | 14 August 2026 at 11:59 PM |
| Last date for fee payment | 16 August 2026 |
| Application correction window | 17 August to 26 August 2026 |
| Window to submit scribe details | 27 August to 31 August 2026 |
| CBT date | To be announced |
| CBAT date | To be announced |
RRBs will announce the CBT, CBAT and subsequent recruitment-stage dates through their official websites.
Vacancy and Eligibility Details
| Post | Vacancies | Qualification | Age | Pay |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Section Controller | 119 | Graduate degree from a recognised university or equivalent | 20–33 years as on 1 July 2026 | Level 6, initial pay ₹35,400 |
Candidates awaiting the final result of the prescribed graduation qualification are not eligible. The required qualification must be completed by the application closing date.
Category-Wise Vacancies
| Category | Vacancies |
|---|---|
| Unreserved | 50 |
| Scheduled Caste | 19 |
| Scheduled Tribe | 12 |
| OBC-NCL | 29 |
| EWS | 9 |
| Total | 119 |
| Ex-Servicemen included horizontally | 5 |
| PwBD-LD notified vacancies | 0 |
Although no separate PwBD vacancy has been notified, candidates belonging to the specified locomotor-disability categories may apply against their respective community vacancies, subject to suitability and the conditions stated in the notification.
RRB and Zone-Wise Vacancy Distribution
| RRB | Zone | Total |
|---|---|---|
| Ahmedabad | WR | 11 |
| Ajmer | WCR | 1 |
| Prayagraj | NCR | 2 |
| Prayagraj | NR | 2 |
| Bengaluru | SWR | 8 |
| Bhopal | WCR | 4 |
| Bhopal | WR | 2 |
| Bhubaneswar | ECR | 6 |
| Bilaspur | CR | 2 |
| Bilaspur | SECR | 2 |
| Chandigarh | NR | 6 |
| Chennai | SR | 9 |
| Gorakhpur | NER | 5 |
| Guwahati | NFR | 1 |
| Jammu-Srinagar | NR | 0 |
| Kolkata | ER | 4 |
| Kolkata | SER | 4 |
| Malda | ER | 3 |
| Malda | SER | 4 |
| Mumbai | CR | 6 |
| Mumbai | SCR | 0 |
| Muzaffarpur | ECR | 3 |
| Patna | ECR | 6 |
| Ranchi | ECR | 8 |
| Ranchi | SER | 6 |
| Secunderabad | SCR | 5 |
| Siliguri | NFR | 5 |
| Thiruvananthapuram | SR | 4 |
| Total | — | 119 |
Candidates must carefully select their RRB and arrange their Railway Zone preferences because the chosen RRB cannot be changed later. The RRB- and zone-wise figures are provisional and may increase or decrease according to Railway requirements.
Age Limit, Application Fee and Medical Standard
Age Limit
The normal age limit is 20 to 33 years as on 1 July 2026.
| Category | Relaxation |
|---|---|
| OBC-NCL | 3 years |
| SC/ST | 5 years |
| PwBD – UR/EWS | 10 years |
| PwBD – OBC-NCL | 13 years |
| PwBD – SC/ST | 15 years |
| Ex-Servicemen – UR/EWS | Service period deducted from age plus 3 years |
| Ex-Servicemen – OBC-NCL | Service period deducted from age plus 6 years |
| Ex-Servicemen – SC/ST | Service period deducted from age plus 8 years |
Widowed, divorced or judicially separated women who have not remarried may be eligible up to 35 years for UR/EWS, 38 years for OBC-NCL and 40 years for SC/ST.
Application Fee
| Candidate category | Fee | Refund after appearing in CBT |
|---|---|---|
| All candidates other than concession categories | ₹500 | ₹400 after deduction of bank charges |
| Female, transgender, Ex-Servicemen, SC, ST, minority, EBC and PwBD candidates | ₹250 | ₹250 after deduction of bank charges |
The fee must be paid online through internet banking, debit card, credit card or UPI. The refund applies only to candidates who appear in the CBT and is subject to the conditions given in the notification.
A-2 Medical Standard
The Section Controller post requires the strict A-2 medical standard.
| Medical requirement | Standard |
|---|---|
| General fitness | Physically fit in all respects |
| Distant vision | 6/9 and 6/9 without glasses |
| Near vision | Sn 0.6 and 0.6 without glasses |
| Additional tests | Colour vision, binocular vision, night vision and myopic vision |
Candidates who have undergone LASIK surgery or another surgical procedure to correct refractive error are not eligible for this post. A prescribed vision certificate must also be produced at the CBAT stage.
Selection Process, Exam Pattern and Syllabus
The recruitment process consists of:
- Single-stage Computer Based Test
- Computer Based Aptitude Test
- Document Verification
- Medical Examination
Candidates equal to eight times the number of vacancies may be shortlisted for CBAT based on their normalised CBT marks. Final merit will carry 70% weightage for CBT and 30% weightage for CBAT.
CBT Exam Pattern
| Section | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Analytical and Mathematical Capability | 60 | 60 |
| Logical Capability | 20 | 20 |
| Mental Reasoning | 20 | 20 |
| Total | 100 | 100 |
| Exam condition | Details |
|---|---|
| Duration | 120 minutes |
| Question type | Objective multiple-choice questions |
| Negative marking | One-third mark deducted for each wrong answer |
| Normalisation | Applicable when CBT is conducted in multiple shifts |
| Exam languages | English, Hindi and 13 listed regional languages |
The section-wise distribution is indicative, and the actual paper may contain some variation.
CBT Syllabus
| Section | Important topics |
|---|---|
| Mathematics | Number system, ratio and proportion, averages, percentages, profit, loss and discount, time-speed-distance, power and work, algebra, linear equations, arithmetic progression, LCM, HCF, geometry, area and volume, basic probability and statistics |
| Data Analysis and Interpretation | Analysis of text and tabular data, charts, graphs, scatter plots, pie charts, statistical curves, Venn diagrams, data sufficiency and data arrangement |
| Logical Reasoning | Binary logic, syllogism, clocks and calendars, assumptions, blood relations, family trees and logic-based puzzles |
| Reading Comprehension | English passages based on history, society, literature, science, environment, technology and culture; questions on main idea, supporting idea, application, structure and style |
| Mental Reasoning | Analogy, series completion, coding-decoding, ranking and arrangement problems |
The notification states that the listed syllabus topics are illustrative and not necessarily exhaustive.
Minimum CBT Qualifying Marks
| Category | Minimum qualifying percentage |
|---|---|
| UR | 40% |
| EWS | 40% |
| OBC-NCL | 30% |
| SC | 30% |
| ST | 25% |
CBAT Rules
- CBAT questions and answer options will be available in English and Hindi.
- Candidates must obtain a minimum T-score of 42 in each test battery.
- No category-based relaxation is allowed in the CBAT qualifying T-score.
- There is no negative marking in CBAT.
- Candidates must qualify in every test battery.
- The prescribed original vision certificate is mandatory for admission to CBAT.
How to Apply for RRB Section Controller Recruitment 2026
- Visit the official RRB application portal or the website of the RRB through which you want to apply.
- Open the application link for CEN No. 03/2026 – Section Controller.
- Sign in using an existing RRB account created for a 2024, 2025 or 2026 CEN, or create a new account.
- Enter your name, date of birth, mobile number and email address carefully.
- Authenticate your identity through Aadhaar or DigiLocker where possible.
- Select only one RRB and arrange the required Railway Zone preferences.
- Complete the educational, category and other application details.
- Capture your live photograph through the application module.
- Upload the prescribed signature and other applicable documents.
- Pay the examination fee online and submit the application.
- Download and retain the submitted application and payment confirmation.
The mobile number, email address and other details entered while creating the account cannot be modified later.
Documents and Image Requirements
Candidates do not need to upload a pre-existing photograph. The portal will capture a live photograph using a webcam or mobile front camera.
The signature must meet these specifications:
| Signature requirement | Specification |
|---|---|
| Ink and background | Black ink on white paper |
| Style | Running handwriting; not block or capital letters |
| File type | JPG or JPEG |
| File size | 30 KB to 49 KB |
| Minimum dimensions | 140 × 60 pixels |
| Minimum scan resolution | 100 DPI |
SC/ST candidates requesting a free train-travel pass must upload the prescribed caste certificate in PDF format.
Important Links
| Description | Link |
|---|---|
| Official RRB websites | Apply through the website of your selected RRB |
| Official notification | View Official Notification |
| CBAT information | RDSO Traffic and Psychology – Candidate’s Corner |
Important: Choose the RRB carefully. Only one application can be submitted, and the chosen RRB cannot be changed. Candidates should also confirm that they can meet the A-2 medical and vision standards before paying the fee.
