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Railway Protection Force (RPF)
Last Updated: 15 April 2026
RPF Constable 2026 — Railway Protection Force Complete Guide
The Railway Protection Force (RPF) recruits Constables to protect railway property, passengers, and railway operations across India's extensive rail network. RPF Constables are Central Government servants under the Ministry of Railways and are deployed across all 18 Railway Zones.
RPF Constable 2026 is one of the most popular railway government jobs as it requires only 10th pass qualification for a secure central government career.
RPF Constable 2026 — At a Glance
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Recruiting Body | Railway Protection Force (RPF) / Railway Recruitment Boards (RRB) |
| Post Name | Constable (Executive) |
| Expected Vacancies | 8,000–10,000+ |
| Minimum Qualification | 10th Pass (Matriculation) |
| Selection Stages | CBT → PET → PMT → Document Verification → Medical |
| Official Website | indianrailways.gov.in |
RPF Constable 2026 — Important Dates
| Event | Expected Date |
|---|---|
| Notification Release | April 2026 |
| Online Application Start | April 15, 2026 |
| Application Last Date | May 31, 2026 |
| Admit Card Download | July 2026 |
| CBT (Written Exam) | August–September 2026 |
| CBT Result | October 2026 |
| PET / PMT (Physical Tests) | November–December 2026 |
| Document Verification | January 2027 |
| Medical Examination | February 2027 |
| Final Joining | April–May 2027 |
RPF Constable 2026 — Eligibility Criteria
Educational Qualification
- Minimum: Class 10th (Matriculation/SSLC) Pass from any recognized Board
- No specific stream required for Constable post
Age Limit (as on specified date in notification — approximately July 1, 2026)
| Category | Minimum | Maximum |
|---|---|---|
| General / EWS | 18 | 28 |
| OBC (NCL) | 18 | 31 (+3) |
| SC | 18 | 33 (+5) |
| ST | 18 | 33 (+5) |
| PwBD (General) | 18 | 38 (+10) |
| Ex-Servicemen (General) | 18 | 28 + service period |
Physical Standard Test (PMT) — Height and Chest
| Category | Male Height | Male Chest (Unexpanded/Expanded) | Female Height |
|---|---|---|---|
| General / OBC / SC | 165 cm | 80.5 / 85 cm (5 cm expansion) | 157 cm |
| ST | 162.5 cm | 76.2 / 81.2 cm | 152 cm |
| Candidates from Garhwal, Kumaon, Gorkha, Dogra, Marathas, and Sikkimese regions | 162.5 cm | 80 / 85 cm | 155 cm |
Weight: Proportionate to height as per medical standards.
Other Requirements
- Must be an Indian citizen
- Knowledge of the official language of the state/UT of the Railway Zone applied for is advantageous
RPF Constable 2026 — Exam Pattern (CBT)
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Mode | Online (Computer Based Test) |
| Total Questions | 120 MCQs |
| Total Marks | 120 (1 mark per question) |
| Duration | 90 Minutes |
| Negative Marking | −1/3 mark (0.33) per wrong answer |
| Language | Hindi, English, and 13 regional languages |
Subject-wise Distribution:
| Subject | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| General Awareness | 50 | 50 |
| Arithmetic | 35 | 35 |
| General Intelligence & Reasoning | 35 | 35 |
| Total | 120 | 120 |
RPF Constable 2026 — Detailed Syllabus
General Awareness (50 Questions)
Indian History (High Priority):
- Ancient India: Harappan civilization, Vedic period, Maurya Empire, Gupta Age
- Medieval India: Delhi Sultanate, Mughal Empire, Bhakti/Sufi movement
- Modern India: British East India Company, 1857 revolt, freedom struggle, independence (1947)
- Key personalities: Mahatma Gandhi, Netaji Bose, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, Bhagat Singh
Indian Geography:
- Physical features: Himalayas, Indo-Gangetic Plain, Deccan Plateau, Coastal Plains
- Rivers: Ganga, Yamuna, Brahmaputra, Godavari, Krishna, Narmada, Cauvery
- States and capitals (all 28 states + 8 UTs)
- Major National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries
- Climate of India
Indian Polity:
- Indian Constitution — Preamble, Fundamental Rights, Directive Principles
- Parliament — Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha, their functions
- President, Prime Minister, Governor, Chief Minister
- Panchayati Raj System
Indian Economy:
- GDP, National Income basics
- Five Year Plans → NITI Aayog
- Indian Banking: RBI, nationalised banks
- GST basics, Union Budget highlights
Railway-Specific (Important for RPF):
- History of Indian Railways (1853 onwards — first train Mumbai–Thane)
- Indian Railway zones and their headquarters (18 zones)
- Railway Minister and Railway Board
- RPF Act, 1957 — powers and duties of RPF
- Famous railway bridges, stations, and projects (Vande Bharat, RRTS, Bullet Train project)
General Science:
- Physics: Motion, Force, Light, Sound, Electricity basics
- Chemistry: Elements, Compounds, Acids & Bases, periodic table basics
- Biology: Human body organs, diseases, nutrition
- Everyday science applications
Current Affairs:
- Last 6–12 months: Government schemes, national events, Indian defence, sports
- Railway achievements: New train launches, electrification milestones, new stations
Arithmetic (35 Questions)
| Chapter | Topics |
|---|---|
| Number System | Natural numbers, integers, fractions, BODMAS |
| HCF & LCM | Finding HCF/LCM, word problems |
| Percentage | Percentage calculation, change, increase/decrease |
| Profit & Loss | CP, SP, Profit%, Loss%, Discount |
| Simple & Compound Interest | SI formula, CI formula, difference-based problems |
| Ratio & Proportion | Direct and inverse proportion, Unitary Method |
| Average | Simple average, weighted average |
| Time & Work | Work problems, pipes and cisterns |
| Time & Distance | Speed, distance, relative speed, boats & streams |
| Mensuration | Area (square, rectangle, triangle, circle), Volume (cube, cylinder) |
| Data Interpretation | Reading tables, bar graphs, pie charts |
General Intelligence & Reasoning (35 Questions)
| Type | Topics |
|---|---|
| Verbal Reasoning | Analogies, Classification (Odd One Out), Series Completion (Number + Letter), Coding-Decoding, Blood Relations, Directions, Syllogism |
| Non-Verbal Reasoning | Figure Matrix, Mirror Image, Water Image, Paper Folding & Cutting, Embedded Figures |
| Logical Reasoning | Statement & Conclusion, Assumptions, Cause-Effect |
Physical Efficiency Test (PET) Standards
| Event | Male Standard | Female Standard |
|---|---|---|
| Running Race | 1600 meters in 6 minutes 30 seconds | 800 meters in 4 minutes |
| Long Jump | 14 feet (1 chance) | 9 feet (1 chance) |
| High Jump | 4 feet (1 chance) | 3 feet (1 chance) |
PET/PMT is qualifying — no marks added to merit. Must pass all events.
RPF Constable — Previous Year Cut-Offs (CBT, Out of 120)
| Year | UR (Male) | OBC (Male) | SC (Male) | ST (Male) | UR (Female) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 78–86 | 72–80 | 63–71 | 55–63 | 68–76 |
| 2022 | 74–82 | 68–76 | 59–67 | 51–59 | 64–72 |
| 2019 | 72–80 | 66–74 | 57–65 | 49–57 | 62–70 |
RPF Constable Salary Structure
| Component | Amount |
|---|---|
| Basic Pay (Pay Level 3) | ₹21,700 |
| DA (55% of Basic, 2026) | ~₹11,935 |
| HRA — X city (27% of basic) | ~₹5,859 |
| HRA — Y city (18%) | ~₹3,906 |
| Night Duty Allowance | ~₹1,500–₹2,500 |
| Railway-Specific Allowances | ~₹2,000–₹4,000 |
| Total In-Hand (Metro posting) | ~₹45,000–₹52,000/month |
| Total In-Hand (Non-metro) | ~₹38,000–₹44,000/month |
Additional Benefits:
- Free Railway Pass (for self and family): Privilege Pass + Duty Pass
- Free uniform annually
- Subsidized Railway Canteen
- CGHS / Railway Medical facilities
- Children's educational assistance
- Pension under NPS
Career Progression: Constable → Head Constable (promotion by DPC) → ASI (Assistant Sub-Inspector) → Sub-Inspector (through LDCE)
Application Fee for RPF Constable 2026
| Category | Fee |
|---|---|
| General / OBC / EWS | ₹500 |
| SC / ST / Ex-SM / Female | Nil |
| PwBD | Nil |
Fee payment via SBI Net Banking, Debit Card (Rupay/VISA/Mastercard), UPI.
How to Apply for RPF Constable 2026
- Visit indianrailways.gov.in or participating RRB website for your zone
- Click on "RPF Constable 2026 Apply Online"
- Register with mobile number and valid email ID
- Fill in Part 1: Personal details (name, DOB, category)
- Fill in Part 2: Educational details, Railway Zone preference
- Upload photograph and signature in prescribed format
- Pay application fee (where applicable)
- Submit and print the registration slip with Application ID
Preparation Strategy for RPF Constable 2026
2-Month Study Plan
Month 1 — Foundation Building:
- GK: Lucent GK (History, Polity, Geography, Science chapters) — 2 chapters per day
- Railway GK: Indian Railway zones, history, RPF Act provisions (30 minutes daily)
- Arithmetic: R.S. Aggarwal — Percentage, Ratio, Profit/Loss, SI/CI, Time/Work (10 questions daily)
Month 2 — Speed + Mock Tests:
- Reasoning: Complete verbal + non-verbal (1 chapter daily, R.S. Aggarwal)
- Current Affairs: Last 6-month GK capsule from Adda247 or GK Today
- Full mock tests: 2 per week (120 Q, 90 minutes) — target 80+ marks for UR category
- Accuracy practice: Avoid random guessing (−1/3 marks penalty)
Best Books for RPF Constable 2026
| Subject | Book |
|---|---|
| General Awareness | Lucent's General Knowledge |
| Arithmetic | R.S. Aggarwal Quantitative Aptitude (basic chapters) |
| Reasoning | R.S. Aggarwal Verbal & Non-Verbal |
| Railway GK | Kiran RPF Constable Guide |
| Previous Papers | Kiran RPF Constable Solved Papers (previous cycles) |
Official Links
| Resource | Link |
|---|---|
| Indian Railways Website | indianrailways.gov.in |
| RPF Official | rpf.indianrailways.gov.in |
Last Updated: April 2026 | Source: Railway Protection Force (RPF), Ministry of Railways, Government of India
Important Dates
Exam Timeline
Notification Released15 April 2026
Application Starts15 April 2026
Application Ends31 May 2026
Exam Date1 August 2026
Eligibility Criteria
Age Limit
Age Criteria
18 to 28 Years (General). OBC: up to 31. SC/ST: up to 33.
Qualification
Education
Class 10th (Matriculation) Pass from any recognized Board
Attempts
Limits
No limit (within age)
How to Apply
Follow this step-by-step guide to fill the RPF Constable 2026 — Notification, Exam Date, Vacancy, Syllabus & Complete Guide application form correctly.
Documents Required
- Scanned Passport Size Photo (20-50kb, JPG)
- Scanned Signature (10-20kb, JPG)
- Class 10th & 12th Marksheets
- Category Certificate (if applicable)
Syllabus & Pattern
Download Official Syllabus
The detailed syllabus and exam pattern are available in the official notification PDF.
Download Notification PDF