RRB Section Controller 2026: CBT Dates, Vacancies and Exam Pattern
The Railway Recruitment Boards (RRBs) scheduled the Computer Based Test for Section Controller under CEN 03/2026 on 12 and 13 October 2026. The drive offers 119 vacancies across all RRBs. What sets this post apart from most railway exams is the aptitude test that follows the written stage.
Key Details at a Glance
- Notification: CEN 03/2026 for Section Controller
- Vacancies: 119 across all RRBs
- Pay: Level 6 of the 7th CPC, with an initial pay of Rs 35,400
- Qualification: a university degree or its equivalent
- Age: 20 to 33 years as on 01.07.2026, with relaxations for reserved categories
- Medical standard: A-2
Application Timeline
An indicative notice came out on 27 June 2026. Online applications opened on 15 July 2026 and closed on 14 August 2026 at 23:59 hours. Candidates could pay the application fee until 16 August 2026.
A correction window ran from 17 to 26 August 2026, with a non-refundable modification fee of Rs 250 for each change. Each candidate could apply to only one RRB. The chosen RRB and the details in the Create an Account form could not be changed.
Application Fee
Most candidates paid Rs 500, of which Rs 400 is refunded after bank charges once they appear in the CBT. Female, transgender, ex-servicemen, SC, ST, minority, EBC, and PwBD candidates paid Rs 250. That amount is also refunded, after bank charges, on appearing in the CBT. All refunds go only to a bank account seeded with the candidate’s Aadhaar number.
Selection Process
The recruitment has four stages: a single-stage CBT, a Computer Based Aptitude Test (CBAT), document verification, and a medical examination.
Computer Based Test
The CBT has 100 questions to be solved in 120 minutes. Every wrong answer costs one-third of a mark, and scores are normalised if the test runs in multiple shifts. Questions appear in English, Hindi, and 13 regional languages, including Tamil.
The indicative split is 60 questions on analytical and mathematical capability, 20 on logical capability, and 20 on mental reasoning. Minimum qualifying marks are 40 per cent for UR and EWS, 30 per cent for OBC-NCL and SC, and 25 per cent for ST.
CBAT
Based on CBT scores, candidates equal to eight times the number of vacancies are shortlisted from each community. They must carry an original vision certificate, or they will not be allowed to sit the test. To qualify, a candidate needs a minimum T-score of 42 in every test battery, and no category gets a relaxation. The CBAT has no negative marking, and its questions appear in English and Hindi.
Merit List and Final Stages
The merit list gives 70 per cent weightage to the CBT and 30 per cent to the CBAT, and it includes only those who qualify in the CBAT. Candidates equal to the number of vacancies are then called for document verification, followed by the medical examination.
Candidates who have undergone Lasik or any other surgery to correct refractive error are not eligible for this post.
Exam City Slip and E-Call Letter
The exam city intimation comes about 10 days before the test, and the e-call letter about four days before. Candidates must carry the e-call letter and a valid original photo ID to the exam hall. Dates for the later stages will be announced on the RRB websites, and recruitment messages will reach candidates by SMS and email.
Age Limit and Relaxations
The age is reckoned as on 01.07.2026. A candidate must be born on or before 01.07.2006. For the upper limit, the date of birth should not be earlier than 02.07.1993 for UR and EWS, 02.07.1990 for OBC-NCL, and 02.07.1988 for SC and ST. The date of birth must match the Matriculation, SSLC, or Class 10 certificate.
The notification allows these relaxations in the upper age limit:
- OBC-NCL: 3 years
- SC and ST: 5 years
- PwBD: 10 years for UR and EWS, 13 years for OBC-NCL, and 15 years for SC and ST
- Ex-servicemen: 3, 6, or 8 years by category, after deducting the length of service
No age relaxation is given to SC, ST, and OBC-NCL candidates who apply against unreserved vacancies.
CBT Syllabus
The CBT questions are objective type and have three broad areas. The topic list in the notification is illustrative, not exhaustive.
- Analytical and Mathematical Capability: number system, ratio and proportion, averages, percentages, profit and loss, time, speed and distance, algebra, geometry, basic probability and statistics, and data analysis and interpretation
- Logical Capability: logical reasoning (syllogism, blood relations, clocks and calendars, puzzles) and reading comprehension in English
- Mental Reasoning: analogy, series completion, coding-decoding, and ranking and arrangement problems
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Official Links
- Official notification: https://rrbranchi.gov.in/upload/files/pdf/03_04_51pm8da0793f1e5d5a782468721df3738234.pdf
- Official RRB website: https://rrb.indianrailways.gov.in/
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