Railway Recruitment Board Issues CEN 03/2026 Notification for Section Controller Positions
NEW DELHI — The Railway Recruitment Boards (RRBs), operating under the Ministry of Railways, Government of India, have officially issued the Centralised Employment Notification (CEN) No. 03/2026. This latest recruitment drive aims to fill a tentative total of 119 vacancies for the post of Section Controller across various Zonal Railways of Indian Railways.
The comprehensive notification has been made available across official regional RRB portals. Indian nationals holding a valid graduation degree from a recognized institution are invited to submit their applications through the formal online registration portal.
RRB Section Controller Recruitment 2026: Strategic Overview
Prospective candidates seeking employment within the Indian Railways can review the primary details of the recruitment drive summarized below:
| Organization | Railway Recruitment Board (RRB), Ministry of Railways |
| Post Name | Section Controller |
| CEN Number | 03/2026 |
| Total Vacancies | 119 (Tentative) |
| Application Mode | Online Only |
| Registration Timeline | July 15, 2026, to August 14, 2026 |
| Selection Process | Single Stage CBT, CBAT, Document Verification, Medical Examination |
| 7th CPC Pay Scale | Level 6 |
| Initial Base Pay | Rs. 35,400/- |
| Age Limit | 20 to 33 years (as of July 1, 2026) |
| Official Web Portal | rrb.indianrailways.gov.in (and respective regional RRB sites) |
Important Operational Timelines and Dates
The Ministry of Railways has established a strict schedule for the recruitment workflow. Candidates are advised to note the closing dates and adjustment windows to avoid last-minute complications.
- Indicative Notice Release Date: June 27, 2026
- Commencement of Online Applications: July 15, 2026 (at 00:00 Hrs)
- Final Date for Submitting Online Applications: August 14, 2026 (at 23:59 Hrs)
- Deadline for Online Fee Payment: August 16, 2026
- Application Modification Window (Fee Applicable): August 17, 2026, to August 26, 2026
- Window for Submitting Scribe Details: August 27, 2026, to August 31, 2026
Note: The specific dates for the Computer Based Test (CBT) and subsequent evaluation stages are yet to be finalized. These schedules will be announced independently on the official RRB web portals in due course.
Comprehensive Vacancy Breakdown and Zonal Allocation
A total of 119 vacancies are distributed horizontally and vertically among different reservation categories and regional boards. Among the regional distributions, Ahmedabad RRB (Western Railway) leads with the highest volume at 11 openings. Chennai RRB (Southern Railway) follows with 9 allocations, while Ranchi RRB (East Central Railway) features 8 vacancies.
The full category-wise vacancy segregation includes:
- Unreserved (UR): 50 vacancies
- Other Backward Classes (OBC): 29 vacancies
- Scheduled Caste (SC): 19 vacancies
- Scheduled Tribe (ST): 12 vacancies
- Economically Weaker Sections (EWS): 9 vacancies
- Total Posts: 119 vacancies
- Ex-Servicemen (ExSM) – Horizontal Reservation: 5 vacancies
- Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD) – Horizontal Reservation: 0 vacancies
Detailed zone-wise distributions encompassing boards like Ajmer, Prayagraj, Bengaluru, Bhopal, Bhubaneswar, Bilaspur, Chandigarh, Gorakhpur, Guwahati, Kolkata, Malda, Mumbai, Muzaffarpur, Patna, Secunderabad, Siliguri, and Thiruvananthapuram are fully documented within Annexure-B of the official PDF notification.
Eligibility Criteria: Academic, Age, and Medical Mandates
Candidates must fully satisfy the comprehensive eligibility requirements regarding their education, age brackets, and physical wellness standards before initiating their registration.
Educational Qualification
Applicants must possess a valid University Degree or its recognized equivalent from an authorized Board, University, or Institute. Individuals who are still awaiting their final academic results are explicitly declared ineligible and should not apply.
Age Limit (As of July 1, 2026)
The basic permissible age bracket is set between 20 and 33 years. Upper age relaxations apply strictly in accordance with government regulations:
- OBC (Non-Creamy Layer): 3 years relaxation
- SC / ST Candidates: 5 years relaxation
- Additional relaxations are granted to Ex-Servicemen, PwBD applicants, and other legally eligible classes under standard Government of India directives.
Medical Fitness Standard
Because of the operational responsibilities associated with traffic control, selected personnel must meet the rigorous A-2 medical standard. Key requirements include:
- Distant vision score of 6/9, 6/9 achieved completely without the aid of glasses.
- Near vision score of Sn 0.6, 0.6 without glasses.
- Complete clearance in colour, binocular, night, and myopic vision assessments.
- Candidates who have undergone Lasik surgery or alternative corrective eye surgical procedures are strictly disqualified from appointment.
Online Application Fees and Refund System
The registration fee must be processed exclusively through online banking systems, including internet banking, credit/debit cards, or unified payments interfaces (UPI).
- General and Unreserved Categories: Rs. 500/- (A partial refund of Rs. 400/- will be issued back to the candidate’s account upon appearing in the single-stage CBT).
- Concession Categories: Rs. 250/- (Fully refunded upon appearing in the CBT). This fee bracket applies to Female applicants, Transgender individuals, Ex-Servicemen, SC, ST, Minority Communities, Economically Backward Class (EBC), and PwBD candidates.
A Detailed Step-by-Step Breakdown of the Selection Process
The hiring path relies on a comprehensive five-stage vetting architecture to ensure competitive meritocracy.
Stage 1: Single Stage Computer Based Test (CBT)
This foundational exam presents 100 questions to be solved within a strict 120-minute timeline. The question matrices target Analytical and Mathematical Capability, Logical Capability, and Mental Reasoning. A penalty system enforces a 1/3rd mark deduction for each incorrect answer. The minimum qualifying scores are:
- UR & EWS: 40%
- OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) & SC: 30%
- ST: 25%
Stage 2: Shortlisting for CBAT
Based on the performance metrics achieved in the baseline CBT, candidates equal to eight times the declared vacancy count per individual RRB will be shortlisted for the specialized aptitude round.
Stage 3: Computer Based Aptitude Test (CBAT)
Shortlisted candidates must secure a baseline minimum T-Score of 42 marks in every individual test battery to remain in the selection pool. There is no negative marking during the CBAT round.
Stage 4: Document Verification (DV)
The board will compile a cumulative merit ranking by applying a weighted formula: 70% weightage to CBT scores and 30% weightage to CBAT scores. Candidates matching the absolute vacancy count will be summoned for certificate verification according to strict merit and their indicated zonal preferences.
Stage 5: Final Medical Examination
Prior to formal onboarding, candidates undergo extensive clinical evaluations conducted by designated Railway Medical Authorities to confirm compliance with the baseline A-2 physical mandates.
FAQs
Q1. When does the online application process for RRB Section Controller 2026 start?
The online registration window opens on July 15, 2026, and the final date to submit your application is August 14, 2026.
Q2. How many vacancies are available under the RRB CEN 03/2026 notification?
The Railway Recruitment Boards (RRBs) have announced a tentative total of 119 vacancies for the Section Controller post across various Zonal Railways.
Q3. What is the educational qualification required for the RRB Section Controller post?
Candidates must hold a completed University Degree (graduation) or its equivalent from a recognized board or university. Candidates currently awaiting their final results are not eligible to apply.
Q4. What is the age limit to apply for the Railway Section Controller jobs?
Applicants must be between 20 to 33 years of age as of July 1, 2026. Upper age relaxation is applicable for reserved categories, including 3 years for OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) and 5 years for SC/ST candidates.
Q5. Can candidates who have had Lasik surgery apply for this post?
No. Candidates who have undergone Lasik surgery or any other corrective eye surgical procedures are strictly not eligible. The position requires candidates to meet the rigorous A-2 medical standard.
Q6. What is the application fee for the RRB Section Controller recruitment?
The application fee is Rs. 500/- for general candidates (with Rs. 400/- refunded after appearing in the CBT). For Female, Transgender, Ex-Servicemen, SC, ST, Minority, EBC, and PwBD candidates, the fee is Rs. 250/-, which is fully refunded upon appearing in the CBT.
Q7. What is the selection process for the Section Controller position?
The recruitment process consists of four main stages:
Single Stage Computer Based Test (CBT)
Computer Based Aptitude Test (CBAT)
Document Verification (DV)
Medical Examination (A-2 Standard)
Q8. What is the salary of an RRB Section Controller?
Selected candidates are placed under Level 6 of the 7th Central Pay Commission (CPC) pay matrix, which offers an initial basic pay of Rs. 35,400/-.
