Official reports confirm that the Staff Selection Commission (SSC) will now lead the national-level RPF (Railway Protection Force) examination process to recruit eligible candidates for Constable and Sub-Inspector vacancies. Both male and female candidates are encouraged to apply for the RPF Recruitment 2026 cycle.
RPF Notification 2026
The official notification for Sub-Inspector (Exe.) and Constable (Exe.) positions within the RPF/RPSF will be hosted on the official portal, www.ssc.gov.in. Minimum eligibility includes a 10th-grade pass for Constable roles and a Bachelor's degree for SI posts. You can review the updated recruitment rules via the link provided below.
RPF Recruitment 2025-26: View New Revised Rules Here
RPF Recruitment 2026- Highlights
Comprehensive details, including essential registration timelines for the Railway RPF Recruitment 2026, are outlined in the detailed notification. Interested candidates can find a structured overview of the recruitment drive based on the latest official press releases.
| RPF Recruitment 2026- Highlights | |
| Organization | Staff Selection Commission (SSC) |
| Posts | Constable/ Sub-Inspector (SI) |
| Advt No. | To be notified |
| Vacancies | To be notified |
| Category | Govt Jobs |
| Selection Process | Computer Based Test Physical Efficiency Test and Physical Measurement Test Document Verification |
| Salary/ Pay Scale | Constable- Rs. 21,700 SI- Rs. 35,400 |
| Job Location | All India |
| Official Website | www.ssc.gov.in, www.rpf.indianrailways.gov.in |
Check RPF Constable Final Result 2025 Here
RPF Recruitment 2026- Important Dates
The RPF is set to release an official notification specifying the key dates for the 2026 recruitment cycle. We will provide real-time updates as soon as they are announced.
| Events | Dates |
| Detailed Notification | -- |
| Start of RPF Online Application | -- |
| Closing of Online Application | -- |
| Dates for Modification window for corrections in application form with payment of modification fee | -- |
| RPF SI Exam Date | -- |
Railway RPF Vacancy 2026
A total of 4,660 vacancies have been announced for the Railway RPF 2026 examination, comprising 4,208 Constable posts and 452 Sub-Inspector positions. A 15% reservation quota is allocated to female candidates for both roles. Please refer to the detailed vacancy breakdown in the official notification.
| RPF Vacancy 2025 for Constable and SI | |
| Position | Vacancies |
| Constable | 4208 |
| Sub Inspector | 450 |
| Total Vacancies | 4660 |
RPF Constable Vacancy 2025
| Category | Males | Females |
| UR | 1450 | 256 |
| SC | 536 | 95 |
| ST | 268 | 47 |
| OBC | 966 | 170 |
| EWS | 357 | 63 |
| Total | 3577 | 631 |
RPF SI Vacancy 2025
| Category | Males | Females |
| UR | 157 | 28 |
| SC | 57 | 10 |
| ST | 28 | 05 |
| OBC | 104 | 18 |
| EWS | 38 | 07 |
| Total | 384 | 68 |
RPF Recruitment 2026 Eligibility Criteria
Candidates must strictly adhere to the age and educational eligibility requirements. Applicants for the Constable position must have passed at least the 10th grade, while those applying for Sub-Inspector roles are required to hold a recognized Bachelor's degree.
RPF Education Qualification
The mandatory educational qualifications for the RPF 2026 recruitment for Sub-Inspector (SI) and Constable are detailed below:
| RPF Education Qualification | |
| Posts | Education Qualification |
| Sub Inspector | Candidates need a Bachelor's degree from a recognized university. The specific educational qualifications may vary depending on the recruitment notification and position. |
| Constable | Candidates must have completed at least 10th class (SSLC or equivalent) from a recognized board or institution |
RPF Age Limit [as on 01/07/2024]
The age limit criteria for SI and Constable positions vary; specific requirements as set by the recruitment board are provided below.
Age Requirements for Constables
- Minimum Age: 18 years
- Maximum Age: 28 years
Age Requirements for Sub-Inspectors
- Minimum Age: 20 years
- Maximum Age: 28 years
Age Relaxation
| RPF Constable & SI Age Relaxation | |
| Category | Age Limit |
| SC/ST | 5 years |
| OBC | 3 years |
| Candidates who had ordinarily been domiciled in the UT of JK & Ladakh during the period of 1st Jan 1980 to 31st Dec 1989 | UR/EWS- 5 years OBC- 8 years SC/ST- 10 years |
| Only for the post of SI: Central Govt. employees other than ex-servicemen, who have rendered not less than 3 years of regular and continuous service on the date of reckoning | UR/EWS- 5 years OBC- 8 years SC/ST- 10 years |
| Widows, divorced women and women judicially separated from husbands but not remarried | UR/EWS- 2 years OBC- 5 years SC/ST- 7 years |
RPF Recruitment 2026 Selection Process
The Railway Protection Force (RPF) selection process consists of multi-stage testing to ensure only the most qualified candidates are selected. These stages, managed by the Railway Recruitment Board (RRB), include the following:
Phase 1: Computer-Based Test (CBT)- The initial stage involves a CBT assessing proficiency in General Awareness, Arithmetic, and General Intelligence and Reasoning.
Phase 2: Physical Efficiency Test (PET)- Qualified candidates proceed to the PET, which includes physical tasks such as running, long jump, and high jump. Standards are adjusted based on candidate gender.
Phase 3: Physical Measurement Test (PMT)- Candidates who clear the PET must undergo a physical measurement verification to ensure compliance with official health and fitness standards.
Phase 4: Document Verification- Finalists must present all required credentials, including educational certificates and identity proof, to confirm their eligibility for the force.
RPF Application Fees
Applicants must pay the non-refundable application fee; failure to do so will result in an incomplete application. The fee is Rs. 500/- for General and OBC candidates. A reduced fee of Rs. 250/- applies to SC/ST/Female/Ex-Servicemen and EBC categories.
| RPF Application Fees 2026 | |
| Category | Application Fees |
| General and OBC [Out of the fee of Rs. 500/-, Rs. 400/- will be refunded after deducting applicable bank charges after appearing in CBT.] | Rs. 500/- |
| SC, ST, Ex-Servicemen, Female, Minorities or Economically Backward Class (EBC) [This Rs. 250/- fee will be refunded after deduction of bank charges upon CBT appearance.] | Rs. 250/- |
Steps to Apply Online for RPF Recruitment 2026
Prior to submitting your application, thoroughly review the eligibility criteria in the official notification, ensuring you meet all specified age and educational requirements.
Step 1- Access the official website: Submit your application online via the official Railway Protection Force portal at www.rpf.indianrailways.gov.in.
Step 2- Registration: Register on the portal by entering your basic credentials. You will receive a unique registration ID and password for future access.
Step 3- Filling out the Form: Log in with your credentials and complete the application form, ensuring all personal and educational details are accurate.
Step 4- Upload Documents: Upload scanned copies of your photograph and signature. Confirm that all files adhere to the specified format and size guidelines.
Step 5- Payment: Pay the required application fee using the preferred online payment modes, such as debit/credit cards or net banking.
Step 6- Final Submission: Carefully review your application for accuracy before submitting it.
Exam Pattern for SI and Constable Posts
The exam format for both Constable and SI remains identical in structure—consisting of 120 questions—though the difficulty level scales according to the role (Matriculation for Constables vs. Graduation for SI). Here are the details of the RPF Recruitment process.
RRB RPF CBT Exam Pattern
Negative Marking: One-third of a mark will be deducted for every incorrect answer. Unanswered questions do not incur a penalty.
Time Duration: Candidates have 90 minutes (1 hour 30 minutes) to complete the Computer-Based Test.
Question Distribution: The 120-question paper includes 50 marks for General Awareness, 35 for Arithmetic, and 35 for General Intelligence and Reasoning.
Type of Questions: All questions are Objective/Multiple-Choice based.
Exam Mode: The RPF 2026 CBT will be conducted in an online format.
Qualifying Marks: For SI and Constable posts: 35% for UR/EWS/OBC-NCL, and 30% for SC & ST candidates.
| RPF CBT Exam Pattern 2026 | |||
| Sections | Number of Questions | Maximum Marks | Duration |
| General Awareness | 50 | 50 | 90 mins |
| Arithmetic | 35 | 35 | |
| General Intelligence & Reasoning | 35 | 35 | |
| Total | 120 | 120 | |
RPF PET (Physical Efficiency Test)
The Physical Efficiency Test is mandatory for all candidates to advance further in the RPF 2026 recruitment process.
PET Standards: Constable
| Category | 1600 metres run | 800 metres run | Long Jump | High Jump |
| Constable Male | 5 min 45 sec | - | 14 feet | 4 feet |
| Constable Female | - | 3 min 40 sec | 9 feet | 3 feet |
PET Standards: Sub-Inspector
| Category | 1600 metres run | 800 metres run | Long Jump | High Jump |
| SI Male | 6 min 30 sec | - | 12 feet | 3 feet 9 inch |
| SI Female | - | 4 min | 9 ft | 3 ft |
RPF Physical Measurement Test (PMT)
Common Physical Requirements
| RPF Physical Measurement Test (PMT) | ||||
| Category | Height in cms | Chest (in cms) {only for male} | ||
| UR/OBC | 165 | 157 | 80 | 85 |
| SC/ST | 160 | 152 | 76.2 | 81.2 |
| For Garhwalis, Gorkhas, Marathas, Dogras, Kumaonese and other categories specified by Govt. | 163 | 155 | 80 | 85 |
RPF Document Verification
Document Verification is the final stage of the recruitment. Selected candidates must present an NOC from their current employer, if applicable; failure to do so will result in disqualification.
Download RPF Constable Previous Year Papers Here
View Previous Year RPF SI Cut-Offs
RPF Recruitment 2026 Syllabus
The RPF syllabus varies based on the post. Below is a general overview of the critical topics covered in the exam.
| RPF SI and Constable Syllabus | |
| Subject | Topics |
| General Awareness |
|
| Arithmetic |
|
| General Intelligence & Reasoning |
|
Get RPF Constable Syllabus 2026 Here
RPF Salary Structure
The Railway Recruitment Board (RRB) has outlined the starting pay scales for both roles as follows:
Constable- Pay Level 3 (7th CPC), with a starting salary of Rs. 21,700/-.
Sub-Inspector- Pay Level 6 (7th CPC), with a starting salary of Rs. 35,400/-.
Stay tuned to this page for the latest announcements from the Railway Recruitment Board regarding the 2026 exams.
Detailed RPF SI Salary & Career Growth Structure
Detailed RPF Constable Salary & Career Growth Structure
RPF Admit Card 2026
The RRB will release application status updates and admit cards prior to the CBT. The RPF Admit Card is mandatory for entry into the examination hall. Candidates should download it from their respective regional portals.
FAQs
Ans. The recruitment process includes 4 phases: CBT, PET, PMT, and Document Verification.
Ans. RPF Recruitment 2026 includes vacancies for both Sub-Inspector and Constable posts.
Ans. Details are available on the official websites: www.ssc.gov.in and www.rpf.indianrailways.gov.in.
Also Read:
- RPF Revised Recruitment Rules 2025: New Age Limit, Physical Standards, and SSC Selection Process
- RPF Constable Salary 2025: Pay Scale, In-Hand Salary, Job Profile & Career Growth
- RPF Admit Card 2025: Download Constable Hall Ticket (CEN 02/2024) @ RRB Official Link
- RPF Constable Exam Date 2025 Announced: Schedule for March 2–18
- RPF SI Exam Date 2024 Declared: Check CBT Schedule and Lucknow Exam Rescheduling Updates
- RPF Constable Physical Test 2025: PET & PST Schedule, Requirements & Guidelines