Introduction
Introduction A career as a Section Controller is one of the more demanding but rewarding technical roles within Indian Railways, and the RRB Section Controller Recruitment 2026 notification has just opened this door for graduates across the country. Released under Centralised Employment Notification (CEN) No. 03/2026 by the Railway Recruitment Boards, this drive invites applications for 119 vacancies, including opportunities specifically under RRB Guwahati and RRB Siliguri for candidates from Assam and the Northeast.
A Section Controller works from the divisional control office and is responsible for regulating train movement across an entire railway section — a role that comes with real operational responsibility, which is also why the medical and vision standards for this post are among the strictest in Railway recruitment. For graduates in Assam considering a stable central government career with Level 6 pay, this recruitment cycle is worth serious attention.
Table of Contents
RRB Section Controller Recruitment 2026 – Highlights
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Conducting Body | Railway Recruitment Boards (RRBs), Ministry of Railways |
| Notification Number | CEN No. 03/2026 |
| Post Name | Section Controller |
| Total Vacancies | 119 |
| Pay Level | Level 6, 7th CPC |
| Initial Pay | ₹35,400 per month |
| Application Mode | Online |
| Job Location | Various Zonal Railways across India |
Important Dates of RRB Section Controller Recruitment 2026
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Date of Indicative Notice | 27 June 2026 |
| Apply Start Date | 15 July 2026 (00:00 Hrs) |
| Apply End Date | 14 August 2026 (23:59 Hrs) |
| Last Date for Fee Payment | 16 August 2026 |
| Modification Window | 17 – 26 August 2026 |
| Scribe Detail Submission Window | 27 – 31 August 2026 |
| CBT Date | To be notified separately by RRBs |
Vacancy Details (RRB & Zone-wise)
The 119 vacancies under this RRB Section Controller Recruitment 2026 drive are distributed across 20 RRBs and their respective Zonal Railways. Candidates from Assam and the Northeast will be particularly interested in RRB Guwahati and RRB Siliguri, both of which fall under the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) zone.
| RRB | Zone | Vacancies |
|---|---|---|
| Guwahati | NFR | 1 |
| Siliguri | NFR | 5 |
| Ahmedabad | WR | 11 |
| Chennai | SR | 9 |
| Ranchi | ECR + SER | 14 |
| Bengaluru | SWR | 8 |
| Others (Ajmer, Prayagraj, Bhopal, Bhubaneswar, Bilaspur, Chandigarh, Gorakhpur, Kolkata, Malda, Mumbai, Muzaffarpur, Patna, Secunderabad, Thiruvananthapuram) | Various | 71 |
| Total | 119 |
Note: Candidates must choose only one RRB and cannot change this selection later. Applying to more than one RRB, or submitting more than one application to the same RRB, leads to rejection of all applications and debarment from future RRB and RRC examinations.
Category-wise Vacancy Distribution
| Category | Vacancies |
|---|---|
| UR | 50 |
| SC | 19 |
| ST | 12 |
| OBC | 29 |
| EWS | 9 |
| ExSM (horizontal) | 5 |
| Total | 119 |
Eligibility Criteria for RRB Section Controller Recruitment 2026
Educational Qualification
A Graduate Degree from a recognized university, or an equivalent qualification, held on or before the closing date of application (14 August 2026). In simple terms: if you already hold your degree in hand — not just an awaited result — you meet the basic educational requirement. Candidates still awaiting their final year result are not eligible and should not apply.
Age Limit
20 to 33 years, reckoned as on 1 July 2026.
| Category | Date of Birth (Not Earlier Than) |
|---|---|
| UR & EWS | 2 July 1993 |
| OBC-NCL | 2 July 1990 |
| SC/ST | 2 July 1988 |
| All categories (lower limit) | 1 July 2006 |
Age Relaxation
| 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) | 3 years (after service deduction) |
| Widow/Divorced Women (UR) | Up to 35 years |
Important: No age relaxation is allowed to SC, ST, or OBC-NCL candidates applying against unreserved (UR) vacancies.
Medical Standard and Vision Requirement
This is one of the most demanding aspects of RRB Section Controller Recruitment 2026, since the post carries Medical Standard A-2:
- Distant Vision: 6/9, 6/9 without glasses (no fogging test permitted)
- Near Vision: Sn 0.6, 0.6 without glasses
- Must also clear tests for colour vision, binocular vision, night vision, and myopic vision
Candidates who have undergone LASIK or any other corrective refractive eye surgery are not eligible for this post. A vision certificate from an eye specialist (Annexure VI or VI-A format) must be submitted in original on the day of the CBAT.
Salary Details
- Pay Level: Level 6, 7th CPC
- Initial Pay: ₹35,400 per month
- Allowances: Dearness Allowance (DA), House Rent Allowance (HRA), Travel Allowance (TA), and other Central Government allowances as applicable
Selection Process
Selection for RRB Section Controller Recruitment 2026 involves a single-stage Computer Based Test, followed by an Aptitude Test, Document Verification, and Medical Examination:
- Computer Based Test (CBT) — 100 questions, 120 minutes, 1/3 negative marking per wrong answer
- Computer Based Aptitude Test (CBAT) — Qualifying nature; no negative marking
- Document Verification (DV)
- Medical Examination
CBT Exam Pattern
| Section | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Analytical & Mathematical Capability | 60 | 60 |
| Logical Capability | 20 | 20 |
| Mental Reasoning | 20 | 20 |
| Total | 100 | 100 |
Minimum Qualifying Marks: UR & EWS – 40%, OBC-NCL & SC – 30%, ST – 25%
CBAT (Aptitude Test)
Candidates equal to 8 times the vacancies (RRB-wise, community-wise) are shortlisted for CBAT based on normalized CBT scores. A minimum T-Score of 42 in each test battery is required to qualify — this applies to every candidate regardless of category, with no relaxation permitted. The final merit list gives 70% weightage to CBT marks and 30% weightage to CBAT marks.
Application Fee
| Category | Fee | Refund on Appearing in CBT |
|---|---|---|
| General/Others | ₹500 | ₹400 |
| SC/ST/ExSM/PwBD/Female/Transgender/Minority/EBC | ₹250 | ₹250 |
Payment is accepted online only, through net banking, debit/credit card, or UPI. The refund is credited only to a bank account seeded with the candidate’s Aadhaar number.
Documents Required
- Live photograph (captured during application — no pre-existing photo upload allowed)
- Scanned signature (JPG/JPEG, 30–49 KB, black ink, running handwriting)
- SC/ST certificate (PDF, under 400 KB) — only if applying for free travel pass
- Aadhaar for identity verification (strongly recommended over alternate photo ID)
How to Apply for RRB Section Controller Recruitment 2026 (Step by Step)
- Visit the official application portal at rrbapply.gov.in.
- If you already created an account for any RRB CEN in 2024, 2025, or 2026, log in using the same credentials — a new account is not required.
- If applying for the first time, click “Create an Account” and enter your name and date of birth exactly as recorded in your Matriculation certificate. These details cannot be changed later.
- Authenticate your identity using DigiLocker or Aadhaar at this stage — this significantly reduces scrutiny delays at later stages compared to using alternate photo IDs.
- Select your RRB (for Assam/Northeast candidates, this would typically be RRB Guwahati or RRB Siliguri) and set your Railway Zone preference order. This choice is final and cannot be changed.
- Fill in your educational qualification, category, and personal details carefully.
- Capture your live photograph through webcam or front camera when prompted — wear dark, non-white clothing for contrast, and do not wear glasses or a cap.
- Upload your scanned signature in the specified format and size.
- Pay the application fee online and save the confirmation received via SMS and email.
- Review your complete application before final submission, since corrections after submission require a separate modification fee.
Why You Should Apply
- Central Government Job Security under the Ministry of Railways
- Stable Pay Structure with Level 6 pay and regular allowances
- Pension and Retirement Benefits as per Central Government service rules
- Regional Opportunity — with dedicated vacancies under RRB Guwahati and RRB Siliguri, this is a rare Railway recruitment cycle offering direct entry points for Northeast candidates without needing to relocate through a different zone’s RRB
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. How many vacancies are there in RRB Section Controller Recruitment 2026?
A total of 119 vacancies have been notified under CEN No. 03/2026, of which RRB Guwahati has 1 vacancy and RRB Siliguri has 5 vacancies under the Northeast Frontier Railway.
2. What is the last date to apply for RRB Section Controller Recruitment 2026?
Online applications close at 23:59 hrs on 14 August 2026, and the fee for submitted applications can be paid up to 16 August 2026.
3. What is the salary of a Section Controller in Indian Railways?
The post carries Level 6 of the 7th CPC with an initial pay of ₹35,400 per month, along with applicable Railway allowances.
4. Can I apply to more than one RRB for CEN 03/2026?
No. Only one application to one RRB is permitted. Applying to more than one RRB leads to rejection of all applications and debarment from future RRB and RRC examinations.
5. Is the RRB Section Controller CBT available in Assamese?
Yes. The CBT is available in English, Hindi, and 13 regional languages including Assamese, though the CBAT is conducted only in English and Hindi.
6. What is the age limit for this recruitment?
20 to 33 years as on 1 July 2026, with age relaxation applicable for reserved categories as per the table above.
7. Is there negative marking in the exam?
Yes, in the CBT — 1/3 mark is deducted for each wrong answer. There is no negative marking in the CBAT.
8. Can LASIK surgery candidates apply for this post?
No. Candidates who have undergone LASIK or any other corrective refractive eye surgery are not eligible for the Section Controller post due to its A-2 medical standard.
Important Links
Important Links of RRB Section Controller Recruitment
| Application Form | Click Here |
| Official Notification (CEN No. 03/2026) | Click Here |
| Official Website (RRB Guwahati) | Click Here |
More Updates
| NGEL Recruitment 2026 | Click Here |
| Official Forms & Syllabus Links | Click Here |
| Official Links – AssamJobUpdate | Click Here |
| RRB NTPC CBT/ST Result 2026 | Click Here |
Disclaimer
Candidates are strongly advised to carefully read the official CEN No. 03/2026 notification available on the official RRB website before applying. This article is intended to help candidates understand the recruitment in simple language; however, for final and authentic information regarding eligibility, dates, fee, or any other detail, candidates must always refer to the official notification and website. AssamJobUpdate.com is not responsible for any changes made by RRB after publication of this article.
Prakash Powrel is the Founder & Editor of Assam Job Update. He is dedicated to helping students and job seekers across Assam and Northeast India by publishing verified Government Jobs, Private Jobs, Admissions, Results, Scholarships, and Career updates based on official notifications and trusted sources.
