RRB Section Controller 2026 (CEN 03/2026) — Notification, Eligibility, Exam Pattern

RRB Section Controller is a national-level recruitment conducted by the Railway Recruitment Boards (RRBs) under the Ministry of Railways to fill the post of Section Controller — a safety-category post in the Traffic / Operating Department that directs train movement in a control office. The current recruitment is notified under CEN 03/2026.

RRB Section Controller 2026 highlights

The post is filled through a single Computer Based Test (CBT) followed by a Computer Based Aptitude Test (CBAT) — the same psycho-aptitude test used for other safety-category posts — and then Document Verification and a Medical Examination. Because it is a safety post, the CBAT and the medical standard are an essential part of the selection.

Official notification

The full CEN 03/2026 notification is available as a free PDF — read the RRB Section Controller CEN 03/2026 notification. Applications are made online on the common RRB portal, rrbapply.gov.in.

RRB Section Controller Eligibility

To apply for RRB Section Controller (CEN 03/2026) a candidate must meet the education, age and nationality conditions below on the dates fixed in the notification.

Educational qualification

A Bachelor's degree in any discipline from a recognised university. Candidates holding only a Diploma, ITI or vocational qualification (without a degree) are not eligible for this post.

Age limit

The age limit is 20 to 33 years as on 01 July 2026. Upper-age relaxation applies as per rules — 5 years for SC/ST, 3 years for OBC-NCL, and further relaxation for PwBD, ex-servicemen and other notified categories.

Nationality & medical standard

The candidate must be an Indian national (or otherwise eligible as per the Railway rules). As Section Controller is a safety-category post, candidates must meet the prescribed medical standard at the Medical Examination stage. Always confirm the exact eligibility in the CEN 03/2026 notification.

RRB Section Controller Application Form

The RRB Section Controller application form is submitted online on the common RRB portal rrbapply.gov.in. For CEN 03/2026 the window was 15 July 2026 to 14 August 2026 and has closed; the CBT was held on 12–13 October 2026.

How to apply

1. Register on rrbapply.gov.in with your basic details to create an account (or use your existing RRB profile).
2. Log in, open the CEN 03/2026 (Section Controller) application and choose your preferred RRB.
3. Fill your personal, educational and category details, upload the photograph and signature in the prescribed format.
4. Pay the examination fee online, then submit and take a printout of the completed form.

Application fee

The RRB examination fee is ₹500 for the general/OBC category (with a large part refunded after appearing in the CBT) and ₹250 for SC/ST/PwBD/women/minority/EBC candidates (refunded after appearing in the CBT). Confirm the exact fee and refund rule in the CEN. ➜ Apply on the official website: rrbapply.gov.in.

RRB Section Controller Vacancy

RRB Section Controller CEN 03/2026 has a total of 119 vacancies across the participating Railway Recruitment Boards. The vacancies are distributed RRB-wise and category-wise (UR, EWS, OBC-NCL, SC, ST) in the notification, and a candidate applies to one RRB of choice.

The precise RRB-wise and community-wise break-up is given in the CEN 03/2026 notification — read it here. Vacancy numbers can be revised by the Railways during the recruitment; the final allocation is as per the panel published after the Medical Examination.

RRB Section Controller Selection Process

The RRB Section Controller selection has four stages, cleared in order:

1. Computer Based Test (CBT) — 100 questions in 120 minutes with 1/3 negative marking; scores are normalised and candidates are shortlisted for the CBAT.
2. Computer Based Aptitude Test (CBAT) — a psycho-aptitude test that must be qualified in each battery; required for this safety-category post and counted towards the merit as per the CEN.
3. Document Verification (DV) — verification of educational, category and identity documents against the original certificates.
4. Medical Examination (ME) — the candidate must meet the prescribed medical standard for the Section Controller post.

Only candidates who clear every stage are empanelled. See the CEN 03/2026 notification for the exact weightage and standards.

RRB Section Controller Salary & Job Profile

The Section Controller post is in Pay Level 6 of the 7th CPC pay matrix, with a basic pay of ₹35,400 per month. On top of the basic pay a selected candidate receives Dearness Allowance, House Rent Allowance (city-dependent), Transport Allowance and the usual railway allowances, so the gross in-hand pay is materially higher than the basic.

Job profile

A Section Controller works in a divisional control office and is responsible for regulating and monitoring the movement of trains over a section — issuing controls, managing crossings and precedence, coordinating with station masters and loco pilots, and handling disruptions safely. It is a responsible safety-category role with shift duties, and it carries a clear promotional path within the operating department of Indian Railways.