RPF Constable 2026 –
Notification, Syllabus, PET/PMT & Complete Guide
The 2024 cycle (4,208 posts) closed on 16 February 2026 with 4,205 candidates empanelled. Recruitment has since moved from the Railway Recruitment Boards to the Staff Selection Commission under the RPF (Amendment) Rules, 2025 — with a lower age limit (18–23) and a higher male height standard (170 cm). The next notification is TBN.
1. What is RPF Constable 2026?
RPF Constable 2026 Notification: To Be Notified
The 2024 cycle (CEN RPF 02/2024) is complete — the final panel list was published on 16 February 2026. No new notification has been released. RPF Constable was not included in the SSC Exam Calendar 2026–27, so a separate SSC notice is expected. Vacancy numbers circulating online are speculation, not official. Watch ssc.gov.in (recruitment) and rpf.indianrailways.gov.in (force information).
Major change — RPF (Amendment) Rules, 2025
The Ministry of Railways notified the Railway Protection Force (Amendment) Rules, 2025 in the Gazette of India as G.S.R. 766(E) dated 17 October 2025. Four things changed for Constable (Executive) aspirants:
- •Conducting body: the Staff Selection Commission replaces the Railway Recruitment Boards (Rule 49.1), using SSC’s CAPF recruitment procedure.
- •Age limit: lowered from 18–25 to above 18 and below 23 years on the date of notification (Rule 48.3).
- •Male height: raised from 165 cm to 170 cm, with chest 80 cm unexpanded / 85 cm expanded (Rule 47.1).
- •Medical examination: now done by a CAPF Medical Officer or a Grade-I government Medical Officer (Rule 51.1).
Qualification is unchanged at Class 10 pass. The rules also intend recruitment to run every year rather than in multi-year gaps.
RPF Constable is a Group C central government post under the Railway Protection Force (RPF), which functions under the Ministry of Railways, Government of India. The RPF is responsible for protecting railway property, passengers, and ensuring safety on the vast Indian Railways network — one of the largest in the world.
Recruitment is done through a national-level Computer-Based Test (CBT) followed by a mandatory Physical Efficiency Test (PET) and Physical Measurement Test (PMT). The exam is open to candidates who have cleared Class 10th — making it one of the most accessible central government jobs in India. Since the RPF (Amendment) Rules, 2025 the selection is run by the Staff Selection Commission using the same procedure it follows for the Central Armed Police Forces.
Selected constables are posted at railway stations, trains, goods yards, and RPF barracks across all 18 railway zones. The job comes with Grade Pay Level 3 (₹21,700 – ₹69,100), government quarters, uniform allowance, CGHS medical coverage, and pension under NPS.
2. 📅 Important Dates – RPF Constable 2024–2026
The 2024 cycle is closed — the final panel list for CEN RPF 02/2024 was declared on 16 February 2026. The next cycle will be the first ever conducted by SSC, and no date has been announced. 💡 Key update: Because recruitment is now meant to run annually under the 2025 rules, the long multi-year gaps between RPF cycles should shorten. Preparing before the notification drops is the real advantage.
| Event | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|
| RPF Constable 2024 Notification Released (CEN RPF 02/2024) | 15 April 2024 | ✓ Done |
| Online Application Window | 15 April – 14 May 2024 | ✓ Done |
| CBT Exam Conducted (all shifts) | 2 – 20 March 2025 | ✓ Done |
| PET / PMT and Document Verification | 2025 | ✓ Done |
| RPF (Amendment) Rules, 2025 notified — SSC replaces RRBs | 17 October 2025 | ✓ Done |
| Final Result / Panel List (CEN RPF 02/2024) — 4,205 empanelled | 16 February 2026 | ✓ Done |
| 💡 Next RPF Constable Notification (first SSC cycle) | TBN — watch ssc.gov.in | 🔔 Upcoming |
⚠️ TBN = To Be Notified. Always verify on rpf.indianrailways.gov.in before taking any action.
3. 🎓 Eligibility Criteria
Educational Qualification
Rule 48.3 requires a pass in the High School (Class 10 / Matriculation) examination or its equivalent from a recognised Board or University. Higher qualifications are also acceptable — graduates and above can apply.
Age Limit
Nationality
Must be a citizen of India. Subjects of Nepal or Bhutan and Tibetan refugees who settled in India before 1 January 1962 may also apply as per Government of India rules with a certificate of eligibility.
Physical Requirements
Candidates must be physically fit and able to pass the PET (running, long jump, high jump) and PMT (height, chest, vision). See Section 8 for detailed standards. Under the 2025 rules the physical standards for the Executive Cadre match CAPF norms.
Application Fee
| Category | Fee Paid | Refund on Appearing in CBT |
|---|---|---|
| All candidates except those listed below | ₹500 | ₹400 refunded (less bank charges) |
| SC, ST, Ex-Servicemen, Female, Minorities, EBC | ₹250 | ₹250 fully refunded (less bank charges) |
| Application modification charge | ₹250 per occasion | Non-refundable |
⚠️ These were the fees in the 2024 cycle (CEN RPF 02/2024), paid online only. The fee for the next cycle will be set by SSC and is TBN. Only candidates who actually appear in the CBT receive the refund.
4. 💰 Vacancies & Recruitment History
RPF Constable recruitment is irregular — new cycles are notified every 3–5 years with vacancy counts varying widely. The 2024 cycle had 4,208 vacancies across General (armed) and Para (band) categories.
| Recruitment Cycle | Posts | Vacancies | Current Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 (CEN 01/2018) | Constable (General + Para) | ~9,739 | Completed |
| 2019 (CEN 01/2019) | Constable (General) | ~3,688 | Completed |
| 2024 (CEN RPF 02/2024) | Constable (Executive) | 4,208 | Completed — 4,205 empanelled |
| Next cycle (via SSC) | Constable (Executive) | TBN | Notification Awaited |
💡 Vacancy insight: RPF Constable vacancies fluctuate based on Ministry of Railways staffing needs. Historically, each cycle sees 3,000–10,000 vacancies. With the Indian Railways expanding, demand for RPF personnel remains consistently high. The 2024 cycle also included RPSF (Railway Protection Special Force) posts.
5. 📋 Selection Process
120 objective-type questions (120 marks, 90 minutes). Sections: General Awareness (50), Arithmetic (35), Reasoning (35). Negative marking of 1/3 mark per wrong answer. Exam is bilingual — English and Hindi.
Running, Long Jump, and High Jump events. Standards vary by gender and category. Qualifying in nature — no marks awarded. Failing PET means disqualification regardless of CBT score. Ex-servicemen are exempted.
Height, chest (for males), and weight measurement. Vision test including colour blindness (Ishihara chart) screening. Qualifying only. Candidates not meeting standards are rejected at this stage.
Original documents verified — 10th marksheet, category certificate (OBC/SC/ST), age proof, domicile, etc. Candidates must carry all originals and attested copies.
Detailed medical examination against the B-1 medical standard. Under Rule 51.1 of the 2025 rules this is now conducted by a CAPF Medical Officer, or a Grade-I Medical Officer / Assistant Surgeon of a Central or State Government hospital. Final selection is subject to medical fitness clearance.
⚠️ Important: There is NO interview in RPF Constable recruitment. In the 2024 cycle the final merit list was prepared solely on normalised CBT marks, with PET/PMT purely qualifying, and candidates were called for PET/PMT/DV up to 10 times the number of vacancies in each category. The next cycle follows SSC’s CAPF procedure, so the stage structure may change — confirm it in the SSC notification.
6. 🖥️ Exam Pattern – CBT
| Section | Questions | Marks | Negative Marking |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Awareness | 50 | 50 | −1/3 per wrong |
| Arithmetic (Maths) | 35 | 35 | −1/3 per wrong |
| General Intelligence & Reasoning | 35 | 35 | −1/3 per wrong |
| Total | 120 | 120 | 1 mark each |
The CBT is conducted in bilingual mode (English & Hindi) on a computer. The difficulty level is moderate — Class 10 to Class 12 standard for Maths and Reasoning, with GK requiring current affairs awareness.
7. 📖 Detailed Syllabus 2026
General Awareness
50 questions- →Current Affairs – National & International (last 12 months)
- →Indian History – Ancient, Medieval, Modern & Freedom Struggle
- →Indian Geography – Rivers, Climate, States, National Parks
- →Indian Polity – Constitution, Parliament, President, Fundamental Rights
- →Indian Economy – Budget basics, Five Year Plans, Banking & RBI
- →Science & Technology – Space, Defence, IT (ISRO, DRDO launches)
- →Railways – History of Indian Railways, Zones, Terminology
- →Sports – Major tournaments, Olympic & Commonwealth medals (India)
- →Books, Authors & Awards – Padma, Bharat Ratna, Nobel Prize winners
- →Important Days & Schemes – National & International days, PM schemes
- →Static GK – Capitals, Currencies, UN agencies, Dams & Rivers
Arithmetic (Maths)
35 questions- →Number System – Integers, Fractions, HCF, LCM, BODMAS
- →Decimal & Percentage
- →Ratio & Proportion, Average
- →Profit & Loss, Discount
- →Simple Interest & Compound Interest
- →Time & Work, Pipes & Cisterns
- →Time, Speed & Distance (Trains, Boats)
- →Mensuration – Area, Perimeter, Volume (2D & 3D)
- →Basic Algebra – Linear equations (2 variables)
- →Data Interpretation – Tables, Bar Charts, Pie Charts
General Intelligence & Reasoning
35 questions- →Analogies – Verbal & Non-Verbal
- →Number & Letter Series
- →Coding-Decoding
- →Blood Relations & Family Tree
- →Direction & Distance
- →Odd One Out / Classification
- →Syllogisms & Logical Conclusions
- →Sitting Arrangement (Linear & Circular)
- →Ranking & Order
- →Matrix & Venn Diagrams
- →Statement & Conclusion / Assumption
- →Embedded & Mirror Figures (Non-verbal)
8. 🏃 PET / PMT Physical Standards
PET/PMT is purely qualifying — passing does not add any marks to your score. But failing means immediate disqualification, even if you topped the CBT. Take physical preparation as seriously as the written exam.
ℹ️ Which standards apply? The PET events below are the official standards from CEN RPF 02/2024, the last cycle run by the Railway Recruitment Boards. The PMT figures further down reflect the current rule — Rule 47(1) of the RPF (Amendment) Rules, 2025, which raised the male height standard to 170 cm. Because the next cycle follows SSC’s CAPF recruitment procedure, the PET events themselves may change (CAPF selection typically uses a longer timed run instead of jumps). Treat the next cycle’s exact PET as TBN until the SSC notification is published, and train for both running endurance and jumps.
Physical Efficiency Test (PET) — 2024 Cycle Standards
| Event | Qualifying Standard | Nature |
|---|---|---|
| 1600 m Run | Must complete in 5 min 45 sec | Qualifying |
| Long Jump | 14 feet (approx. 4.27 m) | Qualifying |
| High Jump | 4 feet (approx. 1.22 m) | Qualifying |
| Event | Qualifying Standard | Nature |
|---|---|---|
| 800 m Run | Must complete in 3 min 40 sec | Qualifying |
| Long Jump | 9 feet (approx. 2.74 m) | Qualifying |
| High Jump | 3 feet (approx. 0.91 m) | Qualifying |
Physical Measurement Test (PMT) — Current Standards (2025 Rules)
| Attribute | Standard |
|---|---|
| Height (Male — Executive Cadre) | 170 cm — raised from 165 cm by the RPF (Amendment) Rules, 2025 |
| Chest (Male — Unexpanded) | 80 cm |
| Chest (Male — Expanded) | 85 cm (minimum 5 cm expansion) |
| Height / Chest (Female & reserved categories) | At par with CAPF recruitment standards — exact figures TBN in the SSC notification |
| Medical Standard | B-1 (as applied in the 2024 cycle) |
| Vision — Distant (with correction) | 6/12 both eyes, or 6/9 one eye and 6/12 the other |
| Colour Blindness | Not permitted — must pass the Ishihara test |
| Medical Examination conducted by | CAPF Medical Officer, or a Grade-I Medical Officer / Assistant Surgeon of a Central or State Government hospital (Rule 51.1) |
* Relaxations for candidates from hilly and notified areas (Garhwal, Kumaon, Himachal, Gorkha, Dogra, Sikkim, Ladakh and the North-Eastern states) and for reserved categories apply as per CAPF norms. The exact relaxation table will be published in the SSC notification.
For Reference — PMT Standards Used in the 2024 Cycle
| Category | Height (Male) | Height (Female) | Chest (Male) |
|---|---|---|---|
| UR / EWS / OBC | 165 cm | 157 cm | 80 – 85 cm |
| SC / ST | 160 cm | 152 cm | 76.2 – 81.2 cm |
These 2024-cycle figures are shown only so you can see how the standard has moved. For the Executive Cadre the male height requirement is now 170 cm.
9. 💰 Salary & Benefits
Additional Benefits & Perks
- ✓Free/subsidised railway travel passes (self + family)
- ✓CGHS (Central Government Health Scheme) medical coverage
- ✓Government accommodation / railway quarters (where available)
- ✓Annual leave, sick leave, and casual leave entitlements
- ✓Uniform and kit maintenance allowance
- ✓National Pension System (NPS) — employer contributes 14%
- ✓Group insurance under CGEGIS
- ✓Promotion: Constable → Head Constable → ASI → SI
10. 🗓️ 4-Month Study Plan for RPF Constable 2026
NCERT Maths 6th–10th for Arithmetic basics. Start Reasoning with R.S. Aggarwal — cover series, coding, blood relations. Read one newspaper/day. Complete Lucent GK — History & Polity chapters. Practice 30 MCQs daily.
Cover all Arithmetic topics (Time & Work, Ratio, Profit & Loss, SI/CI). Reasoning: arrangements, syllogisms, direction sense. GK: Geography, Economy, Railway-specific GK, Science. Practice 60 MCQs daily mixing all sections.
Give one full 120-question mock test every 2 days (90 min each). Review errors the same day. Track per-section accuracy. Target: 90+ correct with <5 wrong. Tighten weak topics. Focus on speed — aim for 45 sec/question average.
Daily physical training: 1600m run, long jump, high jump practice (run training 6 weeks before PET). Revise formulas, GK capsule, current affairs. Final mocks — target 100+ correct. Stay calm before CBT.
💡 Physical Prep Note: Start your 1600m run training in parallel from Month 1 itself. Running fitness takes 6–8 weeks of consistent effort to build. Do not wait for the CBT result — if you pass CBT, you will need to be PET-ready within weeks.
11. 📚 Best Books for RPF Constable 2026
| Subject | Book Title | Author / Publisher |
|---|---|---|
| General Awareness | Lucent's General Knowledge | Lucent PublicationsFind on Amazon |
| Arithmetic | Fast Track Objective Arithmetic | Rajesh Verma (Arihant)Find on Amazon |
| Reasoning | A Modern Approach to Verbal & Non-Verbal Reasoning | R.S. AggarwalFind on Amazon |
| All Subjects (PYQs) | RPF Constable & SI Chapterwise Solved Papers | Kiran Prakashan |
| Railways GK | Railway General Awareness | Arihant Experts |
🆓 Free preparation resources are also available online. Searching for "RPF Constable CBT preparation" on any major video platform turns up full-length free lectures in Hindi and English covering all three sections. Our free resources hub and weekly current affairs digests cover the General Awareness portion, which carries the highest weight in this paper.
12. 💡 Expert Preparation Tips
RPF Constable has 50 GK questions out of 120 total. This is the highest-weightage section. Most candidates score low here because they ignore Railways-specific GK (zones, history, terminology). Build a dedicated notes sheet for railway facts.
Each wrong answer costs you 1/3 marks. With 120 questions at 1 mark each, a single wrong answer cancels 3 correct ones. If you are less than 60% sure of an answer, skip it. Target 90–100 correct answers, not 120 attempts.
PET and PMT are purely qualifying — no marks, just pass/fail. But failing PET means disqualification even after cracking the written test. Start your 1600m (or 800m) running training at least 6–8 weeks before the PET date. Do not wait for the result.
Most Reasoning questions in RPF Constable are at Class 8–10 difficulty. With focused practice, you can score 30–35 out of 35 in this section. This makes Reasoning your safety net — practice 30 questions daily for at least 30 days.
RPF Constable does not ask advanced Maths. Focus on: Percentage, Profit & Loss, Time & Work, SI/CI, Ratio & Proportion, and DI. These 6 topic clusters cover 25+ of the 35 questions in every paper. Do not waste time on Geometry or Trigonometry.
RPF Constable 2018 and 2024 papers are now publicly available (Kiran Prakashan compiles them). Solving these under 90-minute timed conditions gives you the exact feel of the real exam and reveals the actual difficulty level, which is moderate-to-easy.
13. ❓ Frequently Asked Questions
The Staff Selection Commission (SSC). Through the Railway Protection Force (Amendment) Rules, 2025 — notified in the Gazette of India as G.S.R. 766(E) dated 17 October 2025 — the Ministry of Railways moved recruitment for Constable (Executive) and Sub-Inspector (Executive) from the Railway Recruitment Boards to SSC, following the same procedure SSC uses for the Central Armed Police Forces. CEN RPF 02/2024 was the last cycle run by the RRBs.
As of 7 August 2026 no RPF Constable 2026 notification has been released. RPF Constable and SI were not included in the SSC Exam Calendar 2026–27 published in January 2026, so a separate notice is expected. Vacancy figures circulating online (5,000, 8,000, even 22,000) are speculation — none is official. Watch ssc.gov.in for the notification.
Under Rule 48.3 inserted by the RPF (Amendment) Rules, 2025, a candidate for Constable (Executive) must be above 18 and below 23 years on the date of the recruitment notification. This replaced the earlier 18–25 limit. Category relaxations apply as per Government of India norms — typically +3 years for OBC and +5 years for SC/ST. The exact cut-off date and relaxation table will be confirmed in the SSC notification.
Rule 48.3 requires a pass in the High School (Class 10 / Matriculation) examination or its equivalent from a recognised Board or University. There is no minimum percentage and no restriction on stream or subject combination. Higher qualifications are also acceptable.
For the Executive Cadre the minimum male height is 170 cm, raised from 165 cm by Rule 47(1) of the RPF (Amendment) Rules, 2025 to bring RPF in line with CAPF standards. Male chest is 80 cm unexpanded and 85 cm expanded. Standards for female and reserved-category candidates are also to be at par with CAPF norms; the exact figures will be confirmed in the SSC notification.
In the 2024 cycle the CBT had 120 objective questions for 120 marks in 90 minutes — General Awareness (50), Arithmetic (35) and General Intelligence & Reasoning (35). Each correct answer scored 1 mark and each wrong answer deducted 1/3 mark. The paper was bilingual and taken on computer. Because the next cycle follows the SSC CAPF procedure, the pattern may change — confirm it in the SSC notification.
It is finished. CEN RPF 02/2024 advertised 4,208 Constable (Executive) posts. The CBT was held in March 2025, followed by PET/PMT and Document Verification, and the final panel list was declared on 16 February 2026 with 4,205 candidates provisionally empanelled. Selected candidates go on to medical examination and training.
In the 2024 cycle the fee was ₹500 for all candidates, of which ₹400 was refunded (less bank charges) to those who appeared in the CBT. Candidates from SC, ST, Ex-Servicemen, Female, Minorities and Economically Backward Class categories paid ₹250, fully refundable on appearing in the CBT. The fee for the next cycle will be set by SSC and is not yet known.
Last Updated: 7 August 2026
Disclaimer: The information on this page is compiled from official sources — including the Railway Protection Force (Amendment) Rules, 2025 (Gazette of India, G.S.R. 766(E) dated 17 October 2025) and Centralised Employment Notice CEN RPF 02/2024 — together with publicly available reports, and is provided for educational purposes only. Recruitment for Constable (Executive) has moved to the Staff Selection Commission, and no notification for the next cycle had been published as of the date above. Every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, but candidates must verify all details — eligibility, age, physical standards, fees, exam pattern and dates — against the official notification on ssc.gov.in and rpf.indianrailways.gov.in before acting on them. TaiyarHo.in is not affiliated with SSC, the Railway Protection Force, the Ministry of Railways or the Government of India.