| Organisation | Railway Recruitment Boards (RRBs) — Ministry of Railways |
| Notification No. | CEN 03/2026 |
| Post Name | Section Controller |
| Total Vacancies | 119 Posts |
| Pay Level | Level 6 — ₹35,400/month (7th CPC) |
| Qualification | Any Graduate Degree from a recognised University |
| Age Limit | 20 – 33 years (as on 01 July 2026) |
| Medical Standard | A-2 (Strict vision standards — no Lasik candidates) |
| Application Start | 15 July 2026 (00:00 hrs) |
| Last Date to Apply | 14 August 2026 (23:59 hrs) |
| Fee Payment Last Date | 16 August 2026 |
| Application Fee | ₹500 (General) | ₹250 (Female/SC/ST/Ex-SM/PwBD/Minority/EBC) |
| Selection Process | CBT → CBAT → Document Verification → Medical |
| Apply Mode | Online — through official RRB websites |
| Official Website | rrbapply.gov.in |
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About RRB Section Controller Recruitment 2026
The Railway Recruitment Boards (RRBs) have released Centralised Employment Notification (CEN) No. 03/2026 for the recruitment of Section Controllers across various Zonal Railways of Indian Railways. A total of 119 vacancies have been notified. Section Controller is a critical operational role in Indian Railways, responsible for controlling train movement within designated sections to ensure safe, smooth and efficient train operations.
This is a Level 6 (7th CPC) post with an initial pay of ₹35,400/month. Any graduate aged 20–33 years is eligible. Online applications are open from 15 July to 14 August 2026. Selection involves a Computer Based Test (CBT) followed by a Computer Based Aptitude Test (CBAT) — both are mandatory.
📊 RRB & Zone-wise Vacancy Details — CEN 03/2026
| RRB | Railway Zone | UR | SC | ST | OBC | EWS | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ahmedabad | WR | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 11 |
| Ajmer | WCR | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Prayagraj | NCR | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Prayagraj | NR | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Bengaluru | SWR | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 8 |
| Bhopal | WCR | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 |
| Bhopal | WR | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| Bhubaneswar | ECR | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 6 |
| Bilaspur | CR | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| Bilaspur | SECR | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| Chandigarh | NR | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 6 |
| Chennai | SR | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 9 |
| Gorakhpur | NER | 4 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 7 |
| Guwahati | NFR | 2 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 8 |
| Jammu-Srinagar | NR | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Kolkata | ER | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 |
| Mumbai | CR | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 6 |
| Muzaffarpur | ECR | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| Patna | ECR | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 |
| Ranchi | SER | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5 |
| Secunderabad | SCR | 5 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 12 |
| Siliguri | NFR | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Thiruvananthapuram | SR | 4 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 11 |
| TOTAL | — | — | — | — | — | 119 | |
✅ Secunderabad RRB (SCR) has the highest vacancies — 12 posts — best choice for Telangana and AP candidates. Download official PDF for complete RRB-wise backlog and ExSM details.
🎓 Eligibility Criteria
Educational Qualification
- Graduate Degree from a recognised University or its equivalent
- Must hold the degree as on the closing date (14 August 2026)
- Candidates awaiting final year results are NOT eligible
Age Limit (as on 01 July 2026)
| Category | Age Limit | Date of Birth Range |
|---|---|---|
| UR / EWS | 20 – 33 years | 02 Jul 1993 to 01 Jul 2006 |
| OBC-NCL | 20 – 36 years (+3) | 02 Jul 1990 to 01 Jul 2006 |
| SC / ST | 20 – 38 years (+5) | 02 Jul 1988 to 01 Jul 2006 |
| PwBD (UR/EWS) | +10 years | Up to 43 years |
| Railway Group C Staff (min 3 yrs) | Up to 40 years (UR) | — |
Medical Standard — A-2
- Distant Vision: 6/9, 6/9 without glasses
- Near Vision: Sn 0.6, 0.6 without glasses
- Must pass Colour Vision, Binocular Vision, Night Vision and Myopia tests
- ⚠️ Lasik surgery / any refractive error correction surgery = NOT ELIGIBLE
- Vision Certificate (Annexure VI) must be produced in original at CBAT stage
💰 Pay & Benefits
| Pay Level | Level 6 of 7th CPC |
| Initial Pay | ₹35,400/month |
| Other Benefits | HRA, DA, Transport Allowance, Railway Travel Pass, Medical benefits, Pension |
| Job Location | Zonal Railways as allotted by RRB — choose railway zone preference during application |
📝 Selection Process — CEN 03/2026
Stage 1: Computer Based Test (CBT) — 120 Minutes
| Section | Questions | Marks | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Analytical & Mathematical Capability | 60 | 60 | — |
| Logical Capability | 20 | 20 | — |
| Mental Reasoning | 20 | 20 | — |
| Total | 100 | 100 | 120 min |
Negative marking: 1/3 mark deducted per wrong answer. Top 8x vacancies (per community) shortlisted for CBAT. Qualifying marks: UR/EWS — 40% | OBC — 30% | SC — 30% | ST — 25%.
Stage 2: Computer Based Aptitude Test (CBAT)
- Questions in English and Hindi only
- Minimum qualifying T-Score: 42 in each test battery — no relaxation for any category
- No negative marking in CBAT
- Vision Certificate in original (Annexure VI) is mandatory at CBAT centre — without it, entry denied
Final Merit
70% weightage to CBT marks + 30% weightage to CBAT marks → combined merit list for Document Verification (1:1 ratio of vacancies, RRB-wise).
Stage 3: Document Verification → Medical Examination
💸 Application Fee
| Category | Fee | Refund on appearing in CBT |
|---|---|---|
| General / OBC / EWS | ₹500 | ₹400 refunded |
| Female / Transgender / SC / ST / Ex-SM / Minority / EBC / PwBD | ₹250 | Full ₹250 refunded |
Fee refunded (minus bank charges) to Aadhaar-linked bank account after appearing in CBT. Online payment only.
📅 Important Dates — RRB Section Controller 2026
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Notification Published | 27 June 2026 |
| Online Application Opens | 15 July 2026 (00:00 hrs) |
| Last Date to Apply Online | 14 August 2026 (23:59 hrs) |
| Fee Payment Last Date | 16 August 2026 |
| Modification Window | 17 August – 26 August 2026 |
| Scribe Details Submission | 27 August – 31 August 2026 |
| CBT Date | To be notified on RRB websites |
📋 How to Apply — RRB Section Controller 2026
- Visit your chosen RRB’s official website (e.g., rrbsecunderabad.gov.in for Telangana/AP candidates) or the unified portal rrbapply.gov.in
- Click the link for CEN 03/2026 Section Controller
- Create an Account (if not already done for previous CENs) — use the same account if registered in 2024/2025/2026
- Fill in personal, educational, category and railway zone preference details
- Capture a live photograph through webcam/front camera as prompted (no pre-existing photos)
- Upload your signature (running handwriting, black ink, white paper — JPG format, 30–49 KB)
- Select your preferred Railway Zone(s) under the chosen RRB
- Pay the examination fee online
- Submit and note your Registration Number for future reference
• Apply to only ONE RRB — applying to multiple RRBs = disqualification and lifetime debarment
• Once RRB is chosen, it cannot be changed
• Candidates awaiting final exam results are not eligible
• Lasik surgery = ineligible for this post
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. What is the total vacancy for RRB Section Controller 2026?
119 vacancies across all RRBs and Railway Zones. Secunderabad RRB has the highest — 12 posts (SCR zone).
Q2. What is the last date to apply for RRB CEN 03/2026?
14 August 2026 (23:59 hrs). Fee payment closes on 16 August 2026.
Q3. What is the salary for Section Controller in Railways?
Pay Level 6 of 7th CPC — initial pay of ₹35,400/month plus HRA, DA, transport allowance and Railway Travel Pass benefits.
Q4. Can I apply for RRB Section Controller if I have had Lasik surgery?
No. Candidates who have undergone Lasik surgery or any surgical procedure to correct refractive error are not eligible for Section Controller (Medical Standard A-2).
Q5. Which RRB should Telangana and AP candidates apply to?
RRB Secunderabad — it covers the South Central Railway (SCR) zone and has 12 vacancies, the highest of any single RRB.
Q6. What is the CBAT in RRB Section Controller recruitment?
CBAT (Computer Based Aptitude Test) is a mandatory stage after CBT. It tests psychological/aptitude traits required for train control operations. Minimum T-Score of 42 in each test battery is required. No negative marking in CBAT. No relaxation for any category.
Q7. What is the age limit for RRB Section Controller 2026?
20 to 33 years for UR/EWS (as on 01 July 2026). Born between 02 July 1993 and 01 July 2006. OBC: up to 36 years. SC/ST: up to 38 years.
Q8. What qualification is required for RRB Section Controller?
Any graduate degree from a recognised University or its equivalent. No specific stream required.
Q9. How is the final merit calculated for Section Controller?
70% weightage to CBT marks + 30% weightage to CBAT marks. Only candidates qualifying CBAT (T-Score ≥ 42 in each battery) are included in the merit list.
Q10. Can I apply to more than one RRB for CEN 03/2026?
No. Applying to more than one RRB leads to rejection of all applications and permanent debarment from all future RRB/RRC exams.
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