RRB Section Controller Cut off 2026: The Railway Recruitment Board (RRB) conducts recruitment for the post of Section Controller (Level-6, 7th CPC) through Computer Based Test (CBT), followed by Computer Based Aptitude Test (CBAT), Document Verification (DV), and Medical Examination (A-2 standard).
A new notification under CEN 03/2026 has been released for 119 vacancies. Online applications are open from 15 July 2026 to 14 August 2026. The CBT exam date is yet to be announced. Selection gives 70% weightage to CBT marks and 30% to CBAT marks (only candidates qualifying CBAT are considered for the final merit list).
The previous major recruitment was under CEN 04/2025 (368 vacancies). The CBT was held on 11–12 February 2026. Zone-wise and category-wise cut-offs for shortlisting to CBAT were released on 8 May 2026 (out of 100 marks, after normalisation). These serve as the key previous-year reference, as this was effectively the first large-scale recruitment for the post in recent years.
RRB Section Controller Cut off 2026: Factors Affecting Cutoff
- Number of vacancies (fewer vacancies generally push cut-offs higher)
- Number of applicants and competition level
- Exam difficulty and number of shifts (normalisation applied)
- Category-wise reservation
- Zone-wise vacancy distribution and candidate preference
Minimum qualifying marks in CBT (for eligibility): UR/EWS – 40%, OBC/SC – 30%, ST – 25%. Actual cut-offs for shortlisting are much higher.
Previous Year Cut Off (CEN 04/2025 – CBT for Shortlisting to CBAT)
Cut-offs are out of 100 marks. Dashes (—) indicate no vacancy or insufficient candidates in that category for the zone. Data compiled from official zone-wise releases reported across reliable sources:
| RRB Zone | General (UR) | SC | ST | OBC | EWS | ESM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RRB Chandigarh | 98.35 | 92.93 | — | 95.73 | 96.22 | — |
| RRB Prayagraj | 97.31 | 90.98 | 81.31 | 95.29 | 96.34 | 74.68 |
| RRB Ajmer | 97.31 | 92.14 | 91.25 | 95.71 | 96.27 | 73.83 |
| RRB Muzaffarpur | 96.33 | 86.20 | 79.61 | 95.47 | 95.67 | 76.61 |
| RRB Kolkata | 96.30 | 92.21 | 75.76 | 94.33 | 94.88 | 66.79 |
| RRB Thiruvananthapuram | 96.18 | 88.80 | 85.22 | 95.67 | 93.09 | 67.77 |
| RRB Gorakhpur | 96.12 | 87.67 | 80.47 | 93.67 | 94.66 | 69.35 |
| RRB Bengaluru | 95.80 | 86.15 | 81.14 | 93.15 | 93.52 | 60.29 |
| RRB Ranchi | 95.55 | 84.86 | — | 94.45 | 93.33 | 73.94 |
| RRB Secunderabad | 94.82 | 86.62 | 84.40 | 93.10 | 91.46 | 60.85 |
| RRB Guwahati | 94.64 | 86.67 | 82.29 | 91.19 | 92.29 | 59.86 |
| RRB Malda | 94.61 | 90.15 | 80.47 | 94.28 | — | 60.94 |
| RRB Mumbai | 94.19 | 87.87 | 86.02 | 91.45 | 92.36 | 61.95 |
| RRB Siliguri | 93.98 | 85.52 | — | 92.14 | 90.37 | 60.61 |
| RRB Bhopal | 93.87 | 87.28 | — | 92.26 | — | — |
| RRB Jammu-Srinagar | 93.87 | 83.74 | 83.50 | 89.10 | — | 65.75 |
| RRB Bilaspur | 93.69 | 84.92 | 77.00 | 91.84 | 92.00 | 59.94 |
| RRB Chennai | 93.67 | — | 72.00 | 93.28 | — | — |
| RRB Ahmedabad | 93.43 | 88.00 | 76.00 | 88.87 | 88.85 | 68.28 |
| RRB Patna | 92.59 | 75.76 | — | 90.26 | — | — |
| RRB Bhubaneswar | 91.67 | 80.62 | 79.44 | 89.67 | — | 70.54 |
Highest cut-offs were seen in Chandigarh, Prayagraj, and Ajmer (UR above 97). Lowest among major zones was Bhubaneswar (UR ~91.67). Ex-Servicemen (ESM) cut-offs were significantly lower.
Expected Cut Off for RRB Section Controller 2026 (CEN 03/2026)
With only 119 vacancies (substantially fewer than 368), competition is expected to be higher. Cut-offs for CBT shortlisting to CBAT are likely to remain high or increase slightly in popular zones, depending on the exact difficulty level and number of applicants.
Category-wise expected range (out of 100, approximate for CBT shortlisting):
| Category | Expected Cut Off Range |
|---|---|
| General (UR) | 92 – 98 |
| OBC | 90 – 96 |
| EWS | 90 – 96 |
| SC | 80 – 92 |
| ST | 75 – 90 |
| ESM | 60 – 75 |
Zone-wise expected trends (UR category, indicative):
- High competition zones (Chandigarh, Prayagraj, Ajmer, Kolkata, etc.): 95–98+
- Moderate zones (Mumbai, Bengaluru, Secunderabad, etc.): 93–96
- Relatively lower zones (Bhubaneswar, Patna, some eastern/northeastern): 90–94
A safe score is generally 5–8 marks above the expected zone/category cut-off. Aim for 95+ (UR) in most zones for a comfortable margin, given the reduced vacancies.
Key Points for Candidates
- Cut-offs are released zone-wise on the respective regional RRB websites along with results/scorecards.
- Normalisation is applied if the exam is held in multiple shifts.
- Only candidates who clear the CBT cut-off appear for CBAT. Final ranking uses the 70:30 weightage formula.
- Always verify the latest official PDFs on your RRB regional website (or the central portal rrb.indianrailways.gov.in / rrbapply.gov.in), as figures can have minor variations in reporting.
FAQs
1. Is the RRB Section Controller Cut Off 2026 released?
For the new CEN 03/2026 cycle: No (exam not yet held). For the previous CEN 04/2025 cycle: Yes – CBT cut-offs released around 8 May 2026 with shortlisting for CBAT; further CBAT/final lists around late June 2026.
2. Are cut-offs the same for all zones and categories?
No. They are strictly zone-wise and category-wise (UR, SC, ST, OBC, EWS, ESM, etc.). Higher in zones with more competition or fewer vacancies.
3. What is a safe score for RRB Section Controller 2026?
Generally 5–8 marks above the expected zone cut-off. For General category, many analyses suggest targeting 75–85+ (adjust based on recent high cut-offs of 91–98 in the prior cycle). Reserved categories have relatively lower thresholds.
4. What are the minimum qualifying marks?
UR/EWS: 40%; OBC (NCL)/SC: 30%; ST: 25%. These are eligibility floors; actual cut-offs are usually much higher.
5. How is the final merit prepared?
70% weightage to CBT marks + 30% to CBAT marks (among those who qualify CBAT). Only candidates clearing CBAT (T-score typically ≥42) enter the merit pool.
6. Will cut-offs be higher in 2026 due to fewer vacancies (119 vs previous ~368)?
Likely yes in many zones, all else equal. Monitor official regional RRB sites after the CBT for exact figures.
7. Where to check official cut-offs and results?
Visit the respective regional RRB websites (e.g., rrbcdg.gov.in, rrbbnc.gov.in, rrbranchi.gov.in, etc.) or the central portal. Results/cut-offs appear as PDFs with roll numbers and category-wise marks. Scorecards are usually available via login links.
8. Is there previous-year data before the 2025–26 cycle?
Limited or none specifically for Section Controller as a standalone post in earlier cycles; the CEN 04/2025 figures serve as the primary recent benchmark.
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