🗓️Last Updated: June 2026

RPF Constable & Sub-Inspector 2026: Railway Protection Force — Complete Guide

Railway Protection Force (RPF) protects railway passengers, railway property, and ensures safe travel on Indian Railways. This guide covers both RPF Constable (10th pass, Pay Level 3) and Sub-Inspector (graduate, Pay Level 6) recruitment — eligibility, Physical Efficiency Test (PET) and Physical Measurement Test (PMT) standards, CBT exam pattern, medical requirements, and the complete application process.

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Verified by NagrikIQ Research Team
Sources: Official .gov.in portals only · Updated June 2026
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🔗RPF — rpf.indianrailways.gov.in — Official Portal →

📋 Overview

Railway Protection Force (RPF) is a Central Armed Police Force under the Ministry of Railways, Government of India. RPF is responsible for the security of railway passengers, protection of railway property, anti-trespassing measures, and escorting mail/express trains. RPF personnel carry arms and are authorised to make arrests under the Railways Act. RPF recruits two categories of personnel: RPF Constable (Pay Level 3): Basic pay ₹21,700–₹69,100 under 7th Pay Commission. Minimum qualification: 10th pass (Matriculation) from a recognised board. Age: 18–25 years. Constables are the frontline force — posted at railway stations, trains, goods sheds, and railway premises for security and anti-crime duties. RPF Sub-Inspector (Pay Level 6): Basic pay ₹35,400–₹1,12,400 under 7th Pay Commission. Minimum qualification: Graduation degree from a recognised university. Age: 20–25 years. Sub-Inspectors are supervisory officers overseeing RPF Constables and managing security operations at stations and divisions. Both posts are open to male and female candidates. Female candidates are recruited for specific RPF female units. Physical Efficiency Test (PET) — Mandatory for all candidates: The PET is a key differentiator — candidates must meet specific running, long jump, and high jump standards: Male RPF Constable: - 1600 metres run: must complete within 5 minutes 45 seconds - Long Jump: minimum 14 feet (4.27 metres) in one attempt - High Jump: minimum 4 feet (1.22 metres) in one attempt Female RPF Constable: - 800 metres run: must complete within 3 minutes 40 seconds - Long Jump: minimum 9 feet (2.74 metres) in one attempt - High Jump: minimum 3 feet (0.91 metres) in one attempt Male RPF Sub-Inspector: - 1600 metres run: must complete within 6 minutes 30 seconds - Long Jump: minimum 13 feet (3.96 metres) in one attempt - High Jump: minimum 3.9 feet (1.19 metres) in one attempt Female RPF Sub-Inspector: - 800 metres run: must complete within 4 minutes - Long Jump: minimum 9 feet (2.74 metres) in one attempt - High Jump: minimum 3 feet (0.91 metres) in one attempt Physical Measurement Test (PMT): - Male: Height minimum 165 cm (relaxed to 160 cm for candidates from hill regions, tribal areas, Gorkha, Marathas, Dogra, and certain other specified communities) - Female: Height minimum 157 cm (relaxed to 152 cm for hill/tribal candidates) - Chest (Males only): Unexpanded minimum 80 cm, expanded minimum 85 cm (5 cm expansion mandatory) - No chest measurement for female candidates Medical Examination: Good overall physical and mental health. Distant vision: 6/6 in one eye and 6/9 in the other (with or without glasses). No colour blindness. Good hearing. No flat foot, knock-knee, or other disability. Candidates must be mentally and physically fit for armed police duties. Exam Pattern (Computer Based Test): Both Constable and SI exams follow a CBT mode: 120 questions, 90 minutes — General Awareness (50 questions), Arithmetic (35 questions), General Intelligence & Reasoning (35 questions). Negative marking: 1/3 per wrong answer. CBT merit determines shortlisting for PET/PMT. Application is made through rpf.indianrailways.gov.in or the Railway Recruitment portal. Check the official site for current notification and vacancy details.

✅ Eligibility

  • ✓RPF Constable: 10th pass (Matriculation) from a recognised board. Age 18–25 years. SC/ST +5 years, OBC (NCL) +3 years, Ex-Servicemen as per central government rules. Note: the upper age limit is 25 — lower than most other railway exams. Apply early in your career
  • ✓RPF Sub-Inspector: Bachelor's degree (graduation) in any discipline from a recognised university. Age 20–25 years. Same community age relaxation applies. Ex-Servicemen relaxation as per central government norms
  • ✓Physical Measurement Test (PMT): Male candidates must be minimum 165 cm tall (160 cm for hill/tribal communities) with chest 80 cm (unexpanded) and 85 cm (expanded). Female candidates must be minimum 157 cm tall (152 cm for hill/tribal). PMT is checked before PET — failing PMT means elimination
  • ✓Physical Efficiency Test (PET): Male Constable — 1600m run in 5:45, long jump 14ft, high jump 4ft. Female Constable — 800m run in 3:40, long jump 9ft, high jump 3ft. Male SI — 1600m run in 6:30, long jump 13ft, high jump 3.9ft. Female SI — 800m run in 4:00, long jump 9ft, high jump 3ft. All events are mandatory — failing any one event causes elimination
  • ✓Medical fitness: Good mental and physical health required for armed police duties. Distant vision 6/6 in one eye and 6/9 in the other (with or without corrective glasses). No colour blindness — Ishihara test. No flat foot, knock-knee, or permanent disability affecting police duties. Good hearing in both ears
  • ✓Nationality: Indian citizens only. Candidates with criminal history or adverse police records are typically disqualified — RPF is an armed force with powers of arrest

📁 Documents Required

▸10th pass certificate and marksheet (for Constable) — serves as date-of-birth and education proof
▸Graduation degree and all semester marksheets (for Sub-Inspector posts)
▸Community/Caste certificate from Tehsildar/SDM in central government format (for OBC/SC/ST candidates)
▸Aadhaar card — primary photo identity proof for registration and document verification
▸Recent passport-size photograph (white background, taken within 6 months) and signature scan as per RPF notification specifications
▸Height, weight, and chest measurement certificate (if required — some notifications ask for this at PMT stage, but most check on the day)
▸EWS income and asset certificate from Tehsildar/SDM (for Economically Weaker Section candidates)
▸Ex-Servicemen discharge certificate with service details and community record
▸Domicile/residence certificate (some zones require it for local candidate preference — check zone-specific notification)
▸Active mobile number and email ID — used for admit card and all official communication

💰Fees & Processing Time

Fee
General/OBC/EWS candidates: ₹500 (refundable on appearing in CBT). SC/ST/Ex-Servicemen/Women/Transgender/PwD/Minorities/EBC candidates: ₹250 (refundable on appearing in CBT). Fee is paid online via net banking, UPI, debit/credit card. Refund is processed after CBT results are published.
Processing Time
Typically 8–14 months from notification to final appointment for RPF — CBT → PET/PMT → Document Verification → Medical Examination → Training at RPF Training Centre → Posting. Training period for RPF is approximately 9 months (combined basic training and field training). Check rpf.indianrailways.gov.in for current notification schedule.

🖥️ How to Apply Online

  1. 1Visit the official RPF recruitment portal at rpf.indianrailways.gov.in or the Railway Recruitment portal — look for the active RPF Constable or Sub-Inspector notification
  2. 2Click 'New Registration' and enter your name, date of birth, mobile number, and email. Save your Registration Number and Password
  3. 3Log in and complete the application form: select post (Constable or SI), personal details, educational qualifications, community category, and gender
  4. 4Select your preferred exam zone/region — RPF posting is generally zone-specific (e.g., Southern Railway, Western Railway, etc.)
  5. 5Upload passport-size photograph (white background, recent, within specified file size) and signature scan
  6. 6Review all filled details — post-submission corrections may not be possible
  7. 7Pay the application fee online and save the payment confirmation
  8. 8Submit and download/print the final application form with your Registration Number
  9. 9Download your CBT Admit Card from the same portal — usually released 10–15 days before exam date
  10. 10After CBT: shortlisted candidates receive PET/PMT call letter → appear for PMT (height/chest) first → if cleared, appear for PET (run/jump) → Document Verification → Medical Examination → Training → Posting

🏢 How to Apply Offline

  1. 1No offline application mode. All RPF applications are submitted online via rpf.indianrailways.gov.in. The CBT is conducted online at designated exam centres. PET/PMT and Medical Examination are conducted in person at Railway-designated venues. Training after selection is at RPF Training Centres (Lucknow, Bangalore, Gorakhpur, etc.).

⚠️Common Problems & Solutions

✗Rejected at PMT (Physical Measurement Test) for height — just below minimum
→Height measurement is done with shoes off on the day of PMT. There is no grace margin — if you are below the minimum (165 cm for male general, 160 cm for hill/tribal communities, 157 cm for female), you are eliminated at that stage. If you belong to a hill region, tribal community, Gorkha, Maratha, Dogra, or other specified community entitled to relaxed height norms, ensure you carry the relevant community certificate. If rejected, you can apply when the next RPF notification is released — height cannot be artificially increased after adulthood.
✗Failed PET — one of the three events (run/long jump/high jump) not cleared
→All three PET events are mandatory — failing even one means elimination in that cycle. There is no retest in the same cycle. If you failed the run, focus on building cardiovascular stamina (daily distance running). If you failed long jump or high jump, focus on sprint and plyometric training. RPF PET standards are attainable with 2–3 months of dedicated physical preparation. Start training well before the PET date is announced.
✗Documents incomplete at Document Verification — rejected
→Document Verification requires original documents plus self-attested photocopies of each. The most common rejection reasons are: caste certificate not in central government format (must be issued by Tehsildar/SDM, not lower officers), graduation certificate without year-wise marksheets, photographs not matching application photo, or domicile certificate in wrong format. Prepare your document file well in advance — check the notification for the exact list of required documents and formats.
✗Confused about whether to apply for Constable or Sub-Inspector
→RPF Constable requires 10th pass (age 18–25), while Sub-Inspector requires graduation (age 20–25). If you are a graduate, you can apply for both posts if the notification allows simultaneous applications. SI has a higher pay (Level 6 vs Level 3) and supervisory responsibilities. If you are only 10th pass, you can only apply for Constable. After joining as Constable, merit-based promotion to Head Constable and eventually SI is possible through departmental exams.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

Q.Is RPF different from RPSF (Railway Protection Special Force)?

Yes. RPF (Railway Protection Force) handles day-to-day security of passengers and railway property at stations and in trains. RPSF (Railway Protection Special Force) is a specialised battalion force within the RPF structure, deployed for high-security situations, anti-Naxal operations, and major event security. Recruitment for both ultimately comes through RPF channels. Most civilian recruitment is for RPF Constable and SI — RPSF is largely filled by existing RPF personnel.

Q.Can women apply for RPF Constable and Sub-Inspector?

Yes, women can apply for both RPF Constable and Sub-Inspector posts. There are separate PET/PMT standards for female candidates (lower run time, lower height minimum, no chest measurement). Female RPF personnel are particularly important for duties involving women passengers, security of women's compartments, and anti-crime operations requiring female officers. Check the notification for the percentage of female vacancies in each recruitment cycle.

Q.What weapons training do RPF personnel receive?

RPF personnel undergo basic arms training at RPF Training Centres. This includes training on standard issue weapons (typically .303 rifle and revolver/pistol), drill, unarmed combat (self-defence), law training (Railways Act provisions), and security procedures. After initial training, periodic refresher training and range firing are mandatory. RPF personnel on duty carry arms while on railway premises and train escort duties.

Q.What is the transfer and posting policy for RPF?

RPF is a central armed police force under the Ministry of Railways. Postings are within the zonal railway you are recruited into (e.g., Northern Railway, Southern Railway). Transfers within the zone are routine. Inter-zonal transfers are possible but not routine. Postings include railway stations (large junctions, divisional headquarters), goods sheds, railway tunnels, important bridges, and escort duties on mail/express trains. Accommodation in Railway quarters is available at most postings, subject to availability.

Q.What is the take-home pay for RPF Constable and SI with DA included?

Pay scales are as per the 7th Pay Commission. RPF Constable (Pay Level 3): basic pay ₹21,700. With current Dearness Allowance (DA), HRA (city-dependent), Transport Allowance, and other allowances, gross monthly earnings are typically ₹35,000–₹45,000. RPF Sub-Inspector (Pay Level 6): basic pay ₹35,400, with gross monthly earnings approximately ₹55,000–₹70,000 depending on city and allowances. Both posts also receive free/subsidised railway passes for self and family, which is a significant benefit.

📞Helpline & Support

  • ▸RPF Official Portal: rpf.indianrailways.gov.in
  • ▸Indian Railways Enquiry: 139 (toll-free, 24x7)
  • ▸Ministry of Railways Grievances: pgportal.gov.in — select Ministry of Railways
  • ▸Railway Protection Force HQ: Contact details listed at rpf.indianrailways.gov.in
  • ▸Zone-specific RPF queries: Contact the zonal railway's RPF DIG office — contact details on zonal railway websites
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