The Railway Recruitment Boards have announced the RRB Section Controller Recruitment 2026 for filling 119 tentative vacancies in different Zonal Railways across India. The recruitment is being conducted under Centralised Employment Notification CEN No. 03/2026.
This recruitment offers an excellent career opportunity for graduates interested in working in the Operating Department of Indian Railways. A Section Controller plays an important role in regulating train movements, maintaining punctuality, coordinating with railway stations and managing operational disruptions within an assigned railway section.
Selected candidates will receive an initial basic salary of ₹35,400 per month under Pay Level 6 of the Seventh Central Pay Commission, along with applicable Railway allowances and employment benefits.
According to the indicative notice, online applications are tentatively scheduled to begin on 15 July 2026. The expected last date to apply online is 14 August 2026 at 11:59 PM.
Candidates should note that the detailed CEN No. 03/2026 is awaited. The application fee, category-wise vacancies, detailed examination pattern and final selection rules will be confirmed after publication of the complete notification.
RRB Section Controller Recruitment 2026 Job Overview
| Recruitment Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Recruiting Organisation | Railway Recruitment Boards |
| Department | Ministry of Railways, Government of India |
| Advertisement Number | CEN No. 03/2026 |
| Post Name | Section Controller |
| Total Vacancies | 119 Tentative Posts |
| Job Location | Different Zonal Railways across India |
| Educational Qualification | Graduate degree from a recognised university |
| Age Limit | 20 to 33 Years |
| Age Calculation Date | 1 July 2026 |
| Pay Level | Level 6 |
| Initial Basic Pay | ₹35,400 per month |
| Medical Standard | A-2 |
| Application Mode | Online |
| Tentative Application Start Date | 15 July 2026 |
| Tentative Last Date | 14 August 2026 at 11:59 PM |
| Expected Selection Process | CBT, CBAT, document verification and medical examination |
| Application Website | rrbapply.gov.in |
RRB Section Controller Recruitment 2026 Notification Status
The Railway Recruitment Boards have initially released an indicative notice containing the basic details of the recruitment.
The following information has been announced through the indicative notice:
- Post name – Section Controller
- Total tentative vacancies – 119
- Pay level – Level 6
- Initial basic salary – ₹35,400 per month
- Educational qualification – Graduate degree
- Age limit – 20 to 33 years
- Age calculation date – 1 July 2026
- Medical standard – A-2
- Tentative application dates – 15 July to 14 August 2026
The full notification is expected to provide the category-wise vacancy distribution, fee-payment deadline, application correction dates, detailed syllabus, examination pattern and reservation rules.
RRB Section Controller Recruitment 2026 Full Job Description
A Section Controller works in the control office of a Railway Division and helps regulate the movement of passenger, express, freight and other trains within an assigned section.
The employee continuously monitors train movements and communicates with Station Masters, train crews, Loco Controllers, Power Controllers and other operating staff.
The main objective of a Section Controller is to ensure the safe, punctual and efficient movement of trains. The employee must make quick operational decisions when railway traffic is affected by congestion, accidents, signal failures, engineering blocks, adverse weather or locomotive problems.
Section Controllers maintain train-running records, monitor delays, coordinate the movement of trains and help restore normal services after operational disruptions.
The post carries a high level of responsibility because decisions made in a railway-control office directly affect passenger safety, train punctuality and the utilisation of railway tracks.
Selected candidates may be required to work in rotational shifts, including night shifts, weekends and public holidays.
RRB Section Controller Recruitment 2026 Post Name
Post Name: Section Controller
Only one post has been announced under CEN No. 03/2026. However, the vacancies are distributed among different Zonal Railways.
RRB Section Controller Recruitment 2026 Total Vacancies
The indicative notice announces a total of 119 tentative Section Controller vacancies.
The number of vacancies may be increased, reduced or redistributed when the detailed notification is published.
Category-wise vacancies for General, OBC-NCL, SC, ST and EWS candidates have not yet been announced.
RRB Section Controller Recruitment 2026 Railway Zone-Wise Vacancies
| Zonal Railway | Tentative Vacancies |
| Central Railway | 8 |
| East Coast Railway | 6 |
| East Central Railway | 17 |
| Eastern Railway | 7 |
| North Central Railway | 2 |
| North Eastern Railway | 5 |
| Northeast Frontier Railway | 6 |
| Northern Railway | 8 |
| South Central Railway, including South Coast Railway | 5 |
| South East Central Railway | 2 |
| South Eastern Railway | 14 |
| Southern Railway | 13 |
| South Western Railway | 8 |
| West Central Railway | 5 |
| Western Railway | 13 |
| Total | 119 |
The detailed notification may provide a separate RRB-wise and category-wise distribution within these Zonal Railways.
Candidates should select their Railway Recruitment Board and railway-zone preferences carefully because the chosen RRB may not be changed after final submission.
RRB Section Controller Recruitment 2026 Category-Wise Vacancies
The category-wise distribution of the 119 vacancies has not yet been released.
| Category | Vacancy Status |
| Unreserved | To be announced |
| OBC – Non-Creamy Layer | To be announced |
| Scheduled Caste | To be announced |
| Scheduled Tribe | To be announced |
| Economically Weaker Section | To be announced |
Reservation for eligible categories will be provided according to Government and Railway recruitment rules.
RRB Section Controller Recruitment 2026 Job Location
Selected candidates may be posted in the Operating Department of any Zonal Railway for which vacancies are notified.
The job location may include Divisional Railway Control Offices and other operational establishments within the allotted railway zone.
Candidates should understand that the name of the selected Railway Recruitment Board does not necessarily indicate the final posting location.
The post may carry transfer liability according to the operational requirements of Indian Railways.
RRB Section Controller Recruitment 2026 Salary Details
The Section Controller post carries Pay Level 6 under the Seventh Central Pay Commission.
| Salary Details | Information |
| Post Name | Section Controller |
| Pay Level | Level 6 |
| Initial Basic Pay | ₹35,400 per month |
| Pay Matrix | ₹35,400–₹1,12,400 |
| Medical Standard | A-2 |
Apart from basic pay, selected candidates may receive:
- Dearness Allowance
- House Rent Allowance or Railway accommodation
- Transport Allowance
- Night Duty Allowance, where admissible
- National Pension System benefits
- Railway medical facilities
- Railway passes and privilege-ticket facilities
- Paid leave and other benefits under Railway rules
The actual gross and in-hand salary will depend on the posting city, applicable allowances, deductions and availability of Railway accommodation.
RRB Section Controller Recruitment 2026 Job Description
The Section Controller performs operational-control duties from a Divisional Control Office.
The major responsibilities may include:
- Monitoring the movement of trains within the assigned Railway section.
- Coordinating with Station Masters and other operating employees.
- Regulating passenger, express, freight and special trains.
- Taking operational decisions to minimise delays and congestion.
- Planning train crossings and precedence on busy Railway routes.
- Monitoring engineering, signal and maintenance blocks.
- Coordinating train movements during signal failures, accidents, locomotive failures or adverse weather.
- Maintaining control charts, train-running records and operational logs.
- Communicating important instructions to stations and train-operating employees.
- Ensuring compliance with Railway safety rules and operating procedures.
- Assisting with the restoration of normal train services after disruption.
- Reporting significant operational incidents to senior Railway officers.
The job requires alertness, quick decision-making, communication skills, numerical ability and the capacity to work under pressure.
RRB Section Controller Recruitment 2026 Working Hours
Indian Railways operates continuously throughout the day and night. Section Controllers may therefore be required to work in rotational shifts.
The duty schedule may include:
- Morning shifts
- Evening shifts
- Night shifts
- Weekend duties
- Public-holiday duties
- Extended duties during operational emergencies
Candidates should be mentally and physically prepared for a safety-sensitive job involving continuous attention and responsibility.
RRB Section Controller Recruitment 2026 Age Limit
The prescribed age will be calculated as of 1 July 2026.
| Age Requirement | Limit |
| Minimum Age | 20 Years |
| Maximum Age | 33 Years |
| Age Calculation Date | 1 July 2026 |
The exact eligible date-of-birth range will be given in the detailed CEN No. 03/2026.
RRB Section Controller Recruitment 2026 Expected Age Relaxation
The age relaxation below is based on the rules normally followed in RRB recruitment. Candidates must confirm it from the detailed notification.
| Category | Expected Upper-Age Relaxation |
| Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe | 5 Years |
| OBC – Non-Creamy Layer | 3 Years |
| PwBD – Unreserved or EWS | 10 Years |
| PwBD – OBC-NCL | 13 Years |
| PwBD – SC or ST | 15 Years |
| Ex-Servicemen | As per Government rules |
| Eligible Railway or Government employees | As mentioned in the detailed CEN |
Candidates seeking age relaxation must possess valid certificates in the prescribed Central Government format.
RRB Section Controller Recruitment 2026 Educational Qualification
Candidates must possess a graduate degree from a recognised university or an equivalent qualification.
Graduates in Arts, Commerce, Science, Engineering, Technology, Management or another recognised discipline may apply, subject to the final conditions in the detailed notification.
The required qualification must normally be completed on or before the closing date of the online application.
Candidates awaiting their final graduation result should not apply unless the detailed notification specifically permits final-year students.
RRB Section Controller Recruitment 2026 Eligibility Criteria
Candidates should satisfy the following general requirements:
- The applicant must satisfy the nationality conditions mentioned in CEN No. 03/2026.
- The candidate must possess a graduate degree from a recognised university.
- The applicant must be between 20 and 33 years old as of 1 July 2026, subject to permitted relaxation.
- The educational qualification must be completed before the prescribed closing date.
- Candidates must satisfy the A-2 Railway medical standard.
- Applicants claiming reservation must possess valid category certificates.
- OBC candidates must belong to the Non-Creamy Layer and be included in the Central OBC list.
- EWS candidates must possess a valid Income and Asset Certificate.
- Serving Government or Railway employees may be required to produce a No Objection Certificate.
- Applicants must provide accurate personal, category and educational information.
- Candidates must be willing to serve in the Railway zone and location allotted after selection.
- Final appointment will be subject to document verification and medical fitness.
RRB Section Controller Recruitment 2026 A-2 Medical Standard
The Section Controller post has been classified under the A-2 medical standard.
A-2 is a strict Railway medical classification because the Section Controller post is connected with train operations and passenger safety.
Candidates may be examined for:
- Distance vision
- Near vision
- Colour vision
- Binocular vision
- Night vision
- Hearing ability
- General physical fitness
- Other Railway medical requirements
Candidates with eyesight or colour-vision concerns should carefully study the full medical standards before applying.
The decision of the Railway Medical Authority regarding medical fitness will be final.
RRB Section Controller Recruitment 2026 Expected Selection Process
The detailed selection process for CEN No. 03/2026 is awaited.
Based on the previous Section Controller recruitment, the selection process is expected to include:
- Computer-Based Test
- Computer-Based Aptitude Test
- Document Verification
- Railway Medical Examination
Candidates must qualify in every applicable stage to be considered for appointment.
RRB Section Controller Recruitment 2026 Expected CBT Exam Pattern
The examination pattern below is based on the previous Section Controller recruitment and must be reconfirmed after publication of CEN No. 03/2026.
| CBT Subject | Expected Questions | Expected Marks |
| Analytical and Mathematical Capability | 60 | 60 |
| Logical Capability | 20 | 20 |
| Mental Reasoning | 20 | 20 |
| Total | 100 | 100 |
Expected examination duration: 120 minutes
Expected negative marking: One-third of a mark for every incorrect answer
Marks may be normalised when the examination is held in multiple shifts.
RRB Section Controller Recruitment 2026 Expected CBT Syllabus
Analytical and Mathematical Capability
The syllabus may include:
- Number system
- Ratio and proportion
- Average
- Percentage
- Profit, loss and discount
- Time, speed and distance
- Time and work
- Algebra
- Linear equations
- Arithmetic progression
- LCM and HCF
- Geometry
- Area and volume
- Basic probability
- Basic statistics
- Data interpretation
- Graphs and charts
- Data sufficiency
- Data arrangement
Logical Capability
The syllabus may include:
- Binary logic
- Syllogism
- Clocks and calendars
- Assumptions
- Blood relations
- Family tree
- Logical puzzles
- Reading comprehension
- Main and supporting ideas
- Logical structure of passages
Mental Reasoning
The syllabus may include:
- Analogy
- Number and alphabet series
- Coding and decoding
- Ranking
- Arrangement-based problems
The final syllabus will be confirmed through the detailed notification.
RRB Section Controller Recruitment 2026 Expected CBT Qualifying Marks
| Category | Expected Minimum Qualifying Percentage |
| Unreserved | 40% |
| EWS | 40% |
| OBC – Non-Creamy Layer | 30% |
| Scheduled Caste | 30% |
| Scheduled Tribe | 25% |
Securing the minimum qualifying marks will not guarantee shortlisting. Selection will depend on merit, category and available vacancies.
RRB Section Controller Recruitment 2026 Expected CBAT Details
Candidates shortlisted through the CBT may be required to appear for the Computer-Based Aptitude Test.
Based on the previous Section Controller recruitment:
- Candidates up to approximately eight times the number of vacancies may be shortlisted.
- The examination may be conducted in English and Hindi.
- Candidates may have to secure a minimum T-score of 42 in every test battery.
- Category-wise relaxation may not be available in the minimum CBAT score.
- No negative marking is expected in CBAT.
- Candidates may have to produce a prescribed vision certificate before appearing for CBAT.
- Candidates must qualify in every test battery.
The final CBAT rules will be confirmed in CEN No. 03/2026.
RRB Section Controller Recruitment 2026 Expected Final Merit Calculation
Based on the previous recruitment, the final merit list may provide:
| Selection Stage | Expected Weightage |
| Computer-Based Test | 70% |
| Computer-Based Aptitude Test | 30% |
Only candidates qualifying in every CBAT test battery will be considered for the final merit list.
RRB Section Controller Recruitment 2026 Expected Application Fee
The application fee for CEN No. 03/2026 has not yet been confirmed.
The expected fee below is based on the previous official Section Controller recruitment.
| Candidate Category | Expected Fee | Expected Refund After Appearing in CBT |
| Candidates other than concession categories | ₹500 | ₹400 after deducting bank charges |
| SC and ST | ₹250 | ₹250 after deducting bank charges |
| Female Candidates | ₹250 | ₹250 after deducting bank charges |
| Transgender Candidates | ₹250 | ₹250 after deducting bank charges |
| Ex-Servicemen | ₹250 | ₹250 after deducting bank charges |
| PwBD Candidates | ₹250 | ₹250 after deducting bank charges |
| Minority Communities | ₹250 | ₹250 after deducting bank charges |
| Economically Backward Class | ₹250 | ₹250 after deducting bank charges |
The refundable amount is normally provided only to candidates who appear for the CBT.
Candidates should note that Economically Backward Class and Economically Weaker Section are different categories. EWS status does not automatically provide EBC fee concession.
RRB Section Controller Recruitment 2026 Important Dates
| Recruitment Event | Tentative Date |
| Indicative Notice | June 2026 |
| Detailed CEN No. 03/2026 | Expected before applications begin |
| Online Application Starting Date | 15 July 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply Online | 14 August 2026 at 11:59 PM |
| Fee-Payment Deadline | To be announced |
| Application Correction Window | To be announced |
| CBT Examination Date | To be announced |
| CBAT Date | To be announced |
Candidates must verify the dates after publication of the detailed notification.
RRB Section Controller Recruitment 2026 Documents Required
Candidates should keep the following documents ready:
- Class 10 certificate as proof of name and date of birth
- Class 12 certificate and marksheet
- Graduation degree certificate
- Graduation marksheets
- Aadhaar card
- Active mobile number
- Active personal email address
- Scanned signature
- Live photograph through the application portal
- SC or ST certificate, where applicable
- OBC-NCL certificate
- EWS Income and Asset Certificate
- EBC or minority certificate for fee concession
- PwBD certificate
- Ex-Servicemen documents
- No Objection Certificate for serving employees
- Bank-account details for fee refund
- Prescribed vision certificate for CBAT, where required
All documents should contain consistent information regarding the candidate’s name, date of birth and parents’ names.
How to Apply for RRB Section Controller Recruitment 2026
- Visit the official RRB application portal.
- Find the application link for CEN No. 03/2026 – Section Controller.
- Download and read the detailed notification before applying.
- Candidates who already created an RRB account should use their existing login credentials.
- New applicants must create an account using their mobile number, email address and identity details.
- Complete Aadhaar verification according to the portal instructions.
- Select the Railway Recruitment Board through which you want to apply.
- Enter personal, communication and educational information.
- Provide graduation qualification details.
- Select the preferred examination language.
- Enter Railway-zone preferences in the required order.
- Provide category, reservation and age-relaxation details.
- Capture the live photograph through the application portal.
- Upload the scanned signature and required certificates.
- Pay the applicable examination fee online.
- Enter correct bank-account details for receiving the fee refund.
- Review the complete application before final submission.
- Submit the online form before 14 August 2026 at 11:59 PM.
- Download the submitted application and payment receipt.
- Keep the registration details safely for future use.
Candidates should submit only one application through one selected RRB. Multiple applications may result in rejection.
RRB Section Controller Recruitment 2026 Important Links
| Important Resource | Details |
| Apply Online | rrbapply.gov.in |
| Detailed CEN No. 03/2026 | To be released on official RRB websites |
| RRB Chandigarh Website | rrbcdg.gov.in |
| Indian Railways Website | indianrailways.gov.in |
| Regional RRB Websites | Use only the official website of the selected RRB |
RRB Section Controller Recruitment 2026 Important Instructions
Candidates must read the complete CEN No. 03/2026 before submitting the application.
The current vacancy count and application dates are tentative and may be changed.
Applicants should verify the A-2 medical requirements before applying because the Section Controller post is a safety-sensitive Railway position.
Candidates must possess the required graduation qualification before the eligibility cut-off date.
The selected RRB may not be changed after final submission.
Applicants should enter their Railway-zone preferences carefully.
The registered email address and mobile number should remain active throughout the recruitment process.
Candidates should use only official RRB websites and the RRB Apply portal.
Railway Recruitment Boards do not appoint private agents or intermediaries.
Applicants should not share their password, OTP, Aadhaar information or bank details with unauthorised persons.
Updates relating to the application status, examination city, call letter, answer key, result, CBAT, document verification and medical examination will be published on official RRB websites.