RRB RPF Constable Recruitment 2026: Eligibility, PET, Salary & Selection Process

Updated on 17.06.2026

RPF Constable Recruitment 2026 is a popular government job opportunity for candidates who want to join the Railway Protection Force.

The responsibilities of an RPF Constable are significant because personnel work on the front line to help protect railway passengers, railway property, and government assets across the country.

For this reason, the physical and medical requirements associated with this recruitment are hight.

This article covers the important details that an RPF Constable aspirant needs to know, including eligibility criteria, pay level, salary structure, exam pattern, physical standards, selection process, and application process.

Candidates can also explore our Railway Jobs section for the latest railway recruitment updates and other important railway job opportunities.

Key Highlights of RRB RPF Constable

Below are the key details of RRB RPF constable recruitment.

Important Dates

The official Centralized Employment Notice (CEN) is the most important document for this recruitment because it contains the official details related to vacancies, eligibility, dates, and the selection process.

The 2026 CEN has not been released yet.

Once it is published, this page will be updated with the latest information from the official notification.

Vacancy Details

When the official notification arrives, you can see an annexure detailing the vacancies.

Male Vacancies Most of the seats go here. But do not just look at the grand total. You have to look at the specific category for example, Unreserved (UR), SC, ST, OBC, and EWS categories.

Because you will be competing only within your eligible vertical.

Female Vacancies the Ministry of Railways officially reserves 15% of all RPF Constable vacancies exclusively for women.

If you are a female candidate, this is one of the best and also a secure government jobs you can apply for. However, the competition is tough, but the quota is there for women candidates.

Ex-Servicemen Vacancies Ex-Servicemen take up 10% of the horizontal reservation.

Have you checked this level 6 post of Indian Railway? RRB Section Controller Recruitment: Eligibility, Salary, Work Profile, CBAT & Career Growth

Eligibility

10th Pass Qualification You must have passed your 10th standard (Matriculation) from a recognized Board by the closing date of the application. If you are waiting for your results to be declared,you’re not eligible to apply.

Age Limit The standard baseline age is 18 to 25 years. However, following recent RRB directives (like the CEN RPF 02/2024), a 3-year age relaxation has been standardized, making the functional age limit 18 to 28 years.

There are also age relaxations for different categories: For example, an extra 3 years for OBC-NCL, and 5 years for SC/ST candidates. Usually the July 1st of the recruitment year is considered to calculate the age.

Physical Standards (PST) PST is very important. The RRB uses digital measuring tapes to measure the heights of candidates. Here is the briefs.

• UR/OBC: Male height must be 165 cm. Female height must be 157 cm. Male chest must be 80 cm unexpanded and 85 cm expanded (you must be able to expand your chest by exactly 5 cm, or you may be declared disqualified).
• SC/ST: Male height 160 cm. Female height 152 cm. Male chest 76.2 cm to 81.2 cm.
• Garhwalis, Gorkhas, Marathas, Dogras: Male 163 cm, Female 155 cm.

Medical Standards You must meet the strict “B-1” medical standard as outlined in the Indian Railway Medical Manual. This means your distant vision must be 6/9, 6/12 with or without glasses (power of lenses not to exceed 4D).

Crucially, you must pass tests for Color Vision, Binocular Vision, Night Vision, and Mesopic vision. Knock-knees, flat feet, or squint eyes mean immediate, permanent rejection.

Selection Process

CBT (Computer Based Test) This is a 90-minute, 120-question exam.

It covers Basic Arithmetic (35 marks), General Intelligence & Reasoning (35 marks), and General Awareness (50 marks).

The questions are 10th-standard level.

There is also 1/3rd negative marking for wrong answers.

You need a minimum of 35% (30% for SC/ST) just to be considered for the next round, but the actual cut-off will be much higher.

PET/PST (Physical Efficiency Test & Physical Measurement) If you clear the CBT cut-off, you get called for the physical round. In PET/PST: there is a 1600-meter mandatory run.

• Males: You must run 1600 meters in exactly 5 minutes and 45 seconds. You only get one chance. Then, you have to clear a 14-foot long jump and a 4-foot high jump (for the jumps, you get two chances).
• Females: You must run 800 meters in 3 minutes and 40 seconds. Followed by a 9-foot long jump and a 3-foot high jump.

DV (Document Verification) If you pass the running and jumping, you go to DV. Your caste certificate must match the exact Annexure format provided at the end of the RRB PDF.

A state-level certificate format is almost always rejected. Bring your original 10th mark sheet, ID proofs, and multiple passport photos exactly as uploaded.

Medical The final step is the railway hospital checkup as mentioned earlier.

Salary

People often underestimate the RPF salary because they only look at the basic pay. As a uniformed railway servant, you also get perks.

Pay Level You are placed in Level 3 of the 7th Central Pay Commission (CPC) Pay Matrix. The initial basic pay is officially ₹21,700.

Allowances RRB provides Dearness Allowance (DA), which adjusts for inflation.

You receive House Rent Allowance (HRA) depending on your city classification (posting in Mumbai pays a much higher HRA than a rural station).

Most importantly, RPF staff receive a Ration Allowance (food allowance) and a specialized Night Duty Allowance, because railway security operates 24/7.

In-hand Salary When you add the basic pay, DA, HRA, Transport Allowance, and Ration Allowance, a newly recruited RPF Constable usually takes home between ₹32,000 and ₹38,000 in their bank account during their first year of posting, depending heavily on their exact duty location.

How to Apply

The application procedure for RRB RPF is mostly same as other RRB jobs. For details check step by step process to apply online for RRB RPF jobs.

1. Open the official RRB website of your chosen region (e.g., rrbmumbai.gov.in or rrbcdg.gov.in).
2. Click on the exact link for “CEN RPF Constable Recruitment 2026 – Apply Online.”
3. Read the official PDF instructions. Take 20 minutes and actually read it.
4. Create an account using an email ID and mobile number that you will not change for the next two years. All admit cards and DV notices come via email/SMS.
5. Complete the mandatory Aadhar Verification. The RRB uses this to stop impersonators from taking the exam for you.
6. Fill out the application form. Your name, Date of Birth, and Father’s Name must match your 10th-grade mark sheet perfectly.
7. Upload your photo. The background must be plain white. No caps, no dark glasses, and no selfies. The RRB software automatically rejects non-compliant photos. Upload a scanned black-ink signature.
8. Pay the fee via UPI, debit, or credit card (₹500 for UR/OBC, ₹250 for SC/ST/Female/Ex-Servicemen—which is refunded if you actually sit for the CBT).
9. Submit the application, download the final PDF, and print it out. Keep it in a physical folder.

Important Links to Other RRB Jobs:

1. Railway jobs of India
2. RRB NTPC Job details
3. RRB Group D Jobs
4. RRB ALP Jobs
5. RRB JE Recruitment Details
6. RRB Technician Jobs

FAQ on RRB RPF Constable

What is PET in RPF? 

PET stands for Physical Efficiency Test. It is a mandatory physical exam where male candidates must run 1600 meters in 5 minutes and 45 seconds, execute a 14-foot long jump, and a 4-foot high jump. Female candidates run 800 meters in 3 minutes 40 seconds, with a 9-foot long jump and a 3-foot high jump.

Can females apply for RRB RPF Constable job? 

Absolutely. In fact, 15% of the total vacancies in the RPF Constable recruitment are exclusively horizontally reserved for female candidates.

What is the salary of RRB RPF Constable?

The starting basic pay for an RPF Constable is ₹21,700 under Level 3 of the 7th CPC. However, with the addition of Dearness Allowance, House Rent Allowance, Ration Allowance, and Night Duty Allowance, the gross monthly salary typically ranges between ₹32,000 to ₹38,000.

What is the age limit of RRB RPF Constable?

The official age limit is calculated as 18 to 28 years for unreserved candidates (inclusive of the recent 3-year standard relaxation). Always check the exact cut-off date for age calculation in the official notification.