Notification Highlights
Important Examination & Application Dates
| Recruitment Event / Milestone | Official Date / Schedule |
|---|---|
| Official Centralized Notice Published | 28 September 2026 |
| Online Application Portal Opens | 28 September 2026 |
| Last Date for Online Registration | 28 October 2026 (23:59 Hrs) |
| Online Fee Payment Deadline | 29 October 2026 |
| Application Modification Window | 31 October to 04 November 2026 |
| Computer Based Test (CBT) Tentative Dates | December 2026 – January 2027 |
Application Fee by Reservation Category
| Candidate Category | Prescribed Fee |
|---|---|
| General / OBC / EWS Male Candidates | ₹500 (₹400 refunded after appearing in CBT) |
| Female Candidates (All Categories) | ₹250 (Full ₹250 refunded after appearing in CBT) |
| SC / ST / Ex-Servicemen / EBC Candidates | ₹250 (Full ₹250 refunded after appearing in CBT) |
| Payment Gateways | Internet Banking, Debit/Credit Card, UPI |
Post-Wise Vacancy & Pay Scale Breakdown
| Post Name | Department | Pay Scale | Vacancies |
|---|---|---|---|
| Constable (Executive) - Male | Railway Protection Force (RPF / RPSF) | Level 3 (₹21,700 – ₹69,100) | 3,577 |
| Constable (Executive) - Female | Railway Protection Force (RPF / RPSF) | Level 3 (₹21,700 – ₹69,100) | 631 |
| Sub-Inspector (Executive) - Male & Female | Railway Protection Force (RPF) | Level 6 (₹35,400 – ₹1,12,400) | 452 |
Selection Process & Stages
120 Multiple Choice Questions (35 Arithmetic, 35 General Intelligence & Reasoning, 50 General Awareness) for 120 marks in 90 minutes. Negative marking 1/3rd mark.
Constable: 1600m in 5m 45s (Male) / 800m in 3m 40s (Female). SI: 1600m in 6m 30s (Male) / 800m in 4m 00s (Female). Mandatory Long Jump and High Jump.
Verification of 10th/Graduation certificates, category certificates, followed by B-1 category eye vision and fitness test in Railway hospitals.
Examination Pattern, Subjects & Negative Marking
Detailed section-wise question distribution, marks allocation, and penalty rules:
| Subject / Test Module | Questions | Max Marks | Duration | Negative Marking Penalty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basic Arithmetic & Numerical Ability | 35 | 35 | 90 Minutes (Combined) | 1/3rd (0.33 mark) |
| General Intelligence & Logical Reasoning | 35 | 35 | 90 Minutes (Combined) | 1/3rd (0.33 mark) |
| General Awareness & Indian Railways GK | 50 | 50 | 90 Minutes (Combined) | 1/3rd (0.33 mark) |
Official Examination Syllabus & Section-Wise Topics
Curated subject topics based on official recruitment notifications and past pattern distribution:
- Indian History, Art & Culture, Freedom Struggle
- Geography of India & Railway Networks
- Indian Constitution & Fundamental Rights
- General Science (Physics, Chemistry, Life Sciences up to 10th standard)
- National & International Current Events, Sports & Awards
- Number Systems, Whole Numbers, Decimals & Fractions
- Percentages, Ratio & Proportion, Averages
- Simple & Compound Interest, Profit and Loss
- Time and Distance, Time and Work, Menstruation 2D
- Use of Tables and Graphs, Data Interpretation
- Analogies, Spatial Visualization & Orientation
- Problem Solving, Analysis, Judgment & Decision Making
- Visual Memory, Discriminating Observation, Relationship Concepts
- Arithmetical Reasoning, Figural Classification & Arithmetic Number Series
- Coding and Decoding, Statement Conclusion & Syllogistic Reasoning
Previous Cycle Qualifying Cut-Off Benchmarks
Historical normalized qualifying marks across reservation categories to gauge target scores and safe attempt targets:
| Cycle / Exam Stage | General (UR) | OBC-NCL | EWS | SC | ST | Total Marks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 Group D/RPF | 83.20 | 78.40 | 76.50 | 69.80 | 64.20 | 120 |
| 2022 RPF Constable | 79.80 | 75.30 | 73.10 | 66.50 | 61.40 | 120 |
| 2019 RPF SI | 94.50 | 88.20 | 86.00 | 81.30 | 75.60 | 120 |
Profile Match & Application Advisory
- Indian citizens with Graduation (for Sub-Inspector) or 10th Pass (for Constable) meeting Ministry of Railways CEN RPF 01/2026 & 02/2026 requirements.
- Candidates fulfilling physical measurement standards (Male UR/OBC: 165 cm height, 80-85 cm chest; Female UR/OBC: 157 cm height) with 3-year age relaxation.
- Candidates unable to meet minimum physical height criteria (relaxation only applicable for Garhwalis, Gorkhas, Marathas, Dogras, and ST).
- Candidates with color blindness or failing Railway Medical Category B-1 standards.
Common Application Mistakes & Scrutiny Pitfalls
- Selecting the incorrect Railway zone or language preference for the Computer Based Test.
- Uploading live webcam selfies instead of clear, front-facing passport photos with neutral expressions.
- Submitting state-specific caste certificates lacking Central Government format certification.
Documents to Keep Ready Before Applying
- 10th Matriculation certificate (mandatory DOB and Constable qualification proof)
- Graduation Degree Certificate (mandatory for RPF Sub-Inspector)
- Central OBC-NCL / SC / ST / EWS Certificate
- Valid Government Photo ID (Aadhaar Card preferred)
- Scanned signature and clear passport photograph
Strategic Examination Preparation Blueprint
Actionable study guidelines, speed drills, and score defense tactics curated by GovIndiaNews editorial board:
Focus heavily on NCERT Class 9 and 10 General Science fundamentals (Physics numericals, Chemical reactions, and Human anatomy).
Practice daily non-verbal reasoning questions including mirror images, paper folding, and embedded figure recognition.
Familiarize yourself with TCS exam interface shortcuts to rapidly navigate between answered, unread, and flagged questions.
Under the 1/3rd negative deduction rule, skip questions where you cannot eliminate at least two plausible distractor options.
Build endurance for Computer Based Tests through uninterrupted 90-minute full mock exam simulations.
Interactive Candidate Utilities Suite
Statutory software calculators and document specification checkers for this notification
Frequently Asked Questions (Ministry of Railways (Railway Protection Force & RPSF))
What is the age relaxation for RPF Constable and SI in 2026?
The Ministry of Railways granted a statutory 3-year one-time age relaxation beyond normal limits due to recruitment delays. As a result, Constable upper age is 28 years and SI upper age is 28 years for UR/EWS, with an extra 3 years for OBC (31 years) and 5 years for SC/ST (33 years).
Is there negative marking in the RPF Computer Based Test?
Yes, 1/3rd (0.33) of the marks allocated to each question are deducted for every incorrect response. There is no penalty for unattempted questions.
Can 10th pass candidates apply for the Sub-Inspector post?
No. Sub-Inspector requires a completed Bachelor’s degree in any discipline from a UGC recognized university. 10th Pass candidates can apply for Constable (Executive).
What is the examination pattern for RPF Sub-Inspector & Constable CBT?
The Computer Based Test (CBT) consists of 120 multiple choice questions carrying 120 marks for 90 minutes: General Awareness (50 Qs), Arithmetic (35 Qs), and General Intelligence & Reasoning (35 Qs). A negative marking of 1/3rd mark applies for every wrong answer.
What are the physical efficiency benchmarks for RPF Sub-Inspector?
For Male SI: 1600m run in 6 minutes 30 seconds, Long Jump 12 feet, High Jump 3 feet 9 inches. For Female SI: 800m run in 4 minutes, Long Jump 9 feet, High Jump 3 feet. PET is qualifying in nature.
Is 3-year age relaxation applicable for RPF Recruitment 2026?
Yes! The Ministry of Railways granted a one-time 3-year upper age relaxation across all categories (UR up to 28 for Constable, up to 28 for SI before category concessions) due to the COVID-19 pandemic hiatus.
What is the monthly in-hand salary for RPF Sub-Inspector in 2026?
RPF SI is appointed in 7th CPC Pay Matrix Level 6 (Starting Basic Pay ₹35,400). With 50% DA (₹17,700), HRA (₹9,558 in X cities), Transport Allowance, and Ration Money, gross monthly salary is ₹69,500+, with net in-hand pay approximately ₹62,000.
Primary Gazette Source Notice
Notice Title: Railway Protection Force / Railway Recruitment Board
Verified on: 02 Oct 2026
This notice was audited by the GovIndiaNews Editorial Desk against primary gazette releases and official portal bulletins. Review sign-off conducted under our transparent Fact-Checking Policy. Found a discrepancy? Submit a notice revision via our public Corrections Desk.