RRB Section Controller Eligibility 2026: Age and Qualification

RRB Section Controller eligibility under CEN No. 03/2026 rests on four checks: a graduate degree, an age of 20 to 33 years as on 1 July 2026, Indian nationality (or an eligible equivalent), and the A-2 medical standard. The Railway Recruitment Boards apply these rules across all Zonal Railways, so they are the same whichever RRB you choose.

Two dates matter. Age is counted as on 1 July 2026, and your degree had to be complete by the closing date, 14 August 2026. This page covers each condition, the age relaxation table, the medical rules that often catch candidates out, and the common reasons applicants are found ineligible.

Table of Contents

• Eligibility at a glance

• Educational qualification

• Age limit and relaxation

• Medical standard

• Nationality and other conditions

• Who is not eligible

• Fee and documents

RRB Section Controller Eligibility at a Glance

Educational Qualification

You need a university degree or equivalent from a recognised body. The notification does not restrict the subject, so a graduate in any stream can apply. It does not set a minimum percentage either.

• Result deadline: The degree must be held on 14 August 2026. Candidates who were still awaiting final results on that date are not eligible.

• Late certificates: If your degree certificate is dated after the closing date, bring the consolidated mark sheet showing the result declaration date, or an equivalent document, to document verification.

• Recognition: The university or institution must be recognised. A degree from an unrecognised body will be rejected at verification.

Age Limit and Relaxation

The prescribed age is 20 to 33 years as on 1 July 2026. The date-of-birth limits below are both inclusive.

• Highest single relaxation: If you qualify on more than one ground, only the highest relaxation applies.

• UR vacancies: SC, ST and OBC (NCL) candidates applying against UR vacancies get no community age relaxation.

• Date of birth proof: Your date of birth must match the Class 10 or equivalent certificate.

The notice states there is no PwBD vacancy in this CEN, so the PwBD relaxation applies only if a PwBD candidate applies against another vacancy and meets the suitability rules.

Medical Standard A-2

Section Controllers work in train control, so the vision standard is strict. You must be physically fit in all respects and meet the following.

• Distant vision: 6/9, 6/9 without glasses, with no fogging test.

• Near vision: Sn 0.6, 0.6 without glasses.

• Other tests: You must pass colour vision, binocular vision, night vision and myopic vision tests.

• Refractive surgery: Candidates who have had LASIK or any other surgery to correct refractive error are not eligible, and a self-declaration is taken at document verification.

• Vision certificate: Bring an original vision certificate in the format given in the notification to the CBAT.

Get your eyes checked before you invest months in preparation. Candidates who clear the written stages but fail the medical cannot be appointed.

Nationality and Other Conditions

• Nationality: Citizen of India, or a subject of Nepal or Bhutan, or a person of Indian origin who migrated from a listed country, with a certificate of eligibility from the Government of India for the last two groups.

• One RRB only: You could submit one application to one RRB. Applying to more than one RRB rejects all applications and leads to debarment from future RRB and RRC exams.

• Crucial date for claims: Category, age relaxation and other claims are judged as on the closing date, 14 August 2026.

• Number of attempts: The notification does not set an attempt limit. Your age is the only limit.

Who Is Not Eligible

• Final-year students: Anyone whose degree result was not declared by 14 August 2026.

• Age outside the window: Anyone born before or after the limits for their category.

• LASIK cases: Anyone who has had refractive surgery on the eyes.

• Vision below A-2: Anyone who needs glasses to reach 6/9 distant or Sn 0.6 near vision.

• Multiple applicants: Anyone who applied to more than one RRB for this post.

Fee and Documents

The fee was Rs. 500 for general candidates, with Rs. 400 refunded after appearing in the CBT. It was Rs. 250, fully refundable after the CBT less bank charges, for SC, ST, ex-servicemen, PwBD, female, transgender, minority and EBC candidates. At document verification, carry original certificates for age, qualification, category and any relaxation claimed.

Read the official CEN 03/2026 notification for the complete conditions.