Overview
RPF Constable & SI recruits security personnel responsible for the protection of railway passengers, property and premises across the Indian Railways network. Constable posts require only a Class 10 qualification, while Sub-Inspector posts require a Bachelor's degree, but both follow a broadly similar selection structure — a single computer-based test, a Physical Efficiency Test and Physical Standard Test, and finally document verification and a medical examination. Given the sheer scale of RPF Constable recruitment specifically, applicant volumes and competition are consistently very high.
What's New in the 2026 Cycle
What changed in the 2026 cycle
- Constable and Sub-Inspector share a broadly similar CBT syllabus, differing mainly in qualification level and post-specific PET standards.
- PET/PST standards differ meaningfully by gender and post (Constable vs Sub-Inspector).
- No separate written stage beyond the single CBT — PET/PST comes directly after, unlike SSC CPO's Paper I/PET/Paper II structure.
- Final merit is based on CBT marks alone, subject to qualifying PET/PST and the medical examination.
Eligibility Criteria
| Criterion | Details |
|---|---|
| Age Limit | Constable: 18–25 years; Sub-Inspector: 20–28 years (relaxation per government norms for SC/ST/OBC/PwBD/ex-servicemen) |
| Educational Qualification | Constable: Class 10 pass; Sub-Inspector: Bachelor's degree from a recognised university |
| Nationality | Indian citizen |
| Application Fee | ₹500 (General/OBC/EWS) — ₹400 refunded on appearing in CBT. SC/ST/women/ex-servicemen/economically backward candidates pay ₹250, fully refunded. |
RPF Constable & SI Exam Pattern
The RPF Constable & SI selection process runs through cbt + pet/pst + dv + medical. Each stage has its own timing, marking scheme and qualifying rules, detailed below.
Computer-Based Test (CBT)
| Section | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| General Awareness | 50 | 50 |
| Arithmetic | 35 | 35 |
| General Intelligence & Reasoning | 35 | 35 |
Physical Efficiency Test (PET) & Physical Standard Test (PST)
| Section | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Race, Height/Chest/Weight measurement | — | Qualifying |
RPF Constable & SI Detailed Subject-Wise Syllabus
Below is the complete topic-wise RPF Constable & SI syllabus for every subject tested across all stages, with a short note on what each section actually rewards — use this to build a section-wise study plan rather than relying on generic topic summaries.
General Awareness
Carries the largest section weight — a consistent daily current-affairs habit matters more than last-minute cramming.
- Current affairs — national & international
- Indian history, geography & culture
- Indian polity & economy
- General science
- Sports & important personalities
- Railway-related general knowledge
Arithmetic
Foundational-level questions — speed and accuracy on the basics is the priority.
- Number system
- Percentage, ratio & proportion, average
- Profit, loss & discount
- Simple & compound interest
- Time, speed & distance, time & work
- Mensuration & basic algebra
General Intelligence & Reasoning
Standard pattern-based reasoning — regular timed practice yields fast improvement.
- Analogies
- Coding-decoding
- Series completion
- Puzzle & seating arrangement
- Syllogism
- Blood relations & direction sense
- Non-verbal reasoning
Selection Process
- Computer-Based Test (CBT).
- Physical Efficiency Test (PET) and Physical Standard Test (PST).
- Document Verification.
- Medical Examination.
Salary & Job Profile
RPF Constable posts are placed in Pay Level 3 (₹21,700 basic), while Sub-Inspector posts fall in Pay Level 6 (₹35,400 basic) of the 7th CPC matrix, plus Dearness Allowance, HRA, Transport Allowance and railway-specific perks.
Best Books for RPF Constable & SI Preparation
- Lucent's General Knowledge
- Fast Track Objective Arithmetic — Rajesh Verma (Arihant)
- A Modern Approach to Verbal & Non-Verbal Reasoning — R.S. Aggarwal
- RPF Constable/SI Previous Year Papers — various publishers
Previous Cut-off Trends
Approximate — always verify officially
RPF Constable and SI CBT cut-offs vary significantly by post, category, gender and zone, especially given Constable's very high applicant-to-vacancy ratio. Always check the zone-wise and category-wise official cut-off list rather than a single national number.
Preparation Tips
- Given the very high Constable applicant volume, accuracy matters more than attempting every question — negative marking punishes guesswork heavily.
- General Awareness carries the largest section weight — build a steady daily current-affairs habit rather than cramming.
- Begin PET training in parallel with CBT preparation, since fitness gains take months, not weeks.
- Sub-Inspector aspirants should also prepare for a comparatively broader General Awareness scope given the higher qualification bar.
Exam Day Guidelines
- Carry the Document Checker and a valid original photo ID — no exceptions are made for missing documentation.
- Start PET training (timed runs) well in advance, since this is a hard elimination stage independent of CBT rank.
- No electronic devices are allowed inside the exam hall.
- Carry basic medical documents if you have any pre-existing, declarable conditions, to avoid delays at the medical stage.
Frequently Asked Questions
Constable posts require a Class 10 pass, while Sub-Inspector posts require a Bachelor's degree from a recognised university.
No, PET/PST comes directly after the single CBT, and final merit is based on CBT marks alone, subject to qualifying PET/PST and the medical exam.
Yes, 1/3rd of the marks allotted to a question is deducted for every wrong answer.
Yes, running distance/time and height/chest/weight requirements are specified separately for each post and gender in the official notification.
Related Exams
Back to Syllabus Hub — browse all government exam syllabus pagesSyllabus content on this page is compiled and reviewed against the official Railway Protection Force notification as of 19 Apr 2026. Exam patterns, vacancies, salary figures and cut-offs are subject to change — always cross-check with the official notification at rrbapply.gov.in / rpf.indianrailways.gov.in before applying.