RPF Constable Syllabus, Exam Pattern, Eligibility

OBC-NCL is grouped with UR and EWS here, unlike most RRB notices.

Physical Efficiency Test

One chance at the run; up to two at each jump. That's harder than the Sub-Inspector standard in the parallel CEN (1600 metres in 6 minutes 30 seconds, 12-foot long jump).

Physical Measurement Test

• The order is run, then height, then chest. A man below the height isn't measured for chest; below the unexpanded chest, the expanded isn't taken. Either way you're out.
• You must pass every test. PET and PMT carry no marks.
• Ex-servicemen skip the PET but take the PMT.
• PMT grievances go to the grievance cell of the PCSC (Principal Chief Security Commissioner) within three days of the test.

From Para 12.1 of the CEN, at 10th or Matric level.

Arithmetic, 35 marks

Number system; whole numbers; decimals and fractions and the relationship between numbers; fundamental arithmetical operations; percentages; ratio and proportion; averages; interest; profit and loss; discount; use of tables and graphs; mensuration; time and distance. No algebra or trigonometry.

General Intelligence and Reasoning, 35 marks

Analogies; similarities and differences; spatial visualization; spatial orientation; problem solving analysis; judgement; decision making; visual memory; discriminating observation; relationship concepts; arithmetical reasoning; verbal and figure classification; arithmetic number series; non-verbal series; coding and decoding; statement and conclusion; syllogistic reasoning.

General Awareness, 50 marks

Awareness of the environment and its application to society, current events and everyday observation, plus Indian History, Art and Culture, Geography, Economics, General Polity, Indian Constitution, Sports and General Science.

There's no English or computer section.

Qualification

10th pass or equivalent from a recognised Board, held by the closing date, 14 May 2024. Don't apply if you're awaiting your result.

Age on 1 July 2024

18 to 28 years, including a one-time three-year Covid-19 relaxation.

These dates already include community relaxation. You get the largest relaxation, not the sum. SC, ST and OBC candidates on UR vacancies get none. Ex-servicemen relaxation is at Para 5.1 of the CEN. Your date of birth must match your matriculation certificate exactly.

Physical standards

See the PET and PMT tables under Exam Pattern.

Medical

Medical category B-1 at a Railway Hospital. Para 12.4: those wearing glasses or having flat foot, knock knee, squint eyes, colour blindness and other bodily infirmities are not eligible for appointment. Being sent for the medical doesn't mean you're selected.

Disability

The post is not identified as suitable for persons with disabilities and is exempted from sections 33 and 47 of the Persons with Disabilities Act, 1995 (Annexure A: "Not Suitable").

Eligibility is provisional until document verification, and false information found at any stage, even later, means rejection. The closing date is the crucial date for every category claim.

1. CBT: the whole of the merit.
2. PET and PMT, with document verification alongside: 10 times the vacancies in each category, separately for male, female and ex-servicemen.
3. Medical examination and zone allotment.

If too few pass, a second round of PET and PMT is called at 10 times the shortfall, with a maximum of two rounds. Female and ex-servicemen vacancies still unfilled after that go to men of the same category.

Document verification

• Miss it and you're out, whatever your scores.
• Bring originals and two sets of self-attested copies. Upload your photo and signature in true colour beforehand at oirms-ir.gov.in/rrbdv.
• No extra time for missing originals, except a missing caste or EWS certificate (you're treated as unreserved). Four weeks' extension only for a certificate in the wrong format, or one lost or stolen with an FIR.
• OBC certificates must state non-creamy layer, per DoPT memoranda of 8 September 1993 and 9 March 2004.
• SC, ST, OBC-NCL and EWS candidates selected on merit without relaxation count against UR vacancies.
• Ties go to the older candidate, then ascending alphabetical order.

After selection

Para 1.16: candidates are allotted to a Zone or the RPSF "as per administrative requirement"; you don't apply to the RPSF separately. Training is at an RPF or RPSF centre on a stipend, and you must pass the final exam at the end of training. Para 1.13: selection gives no right of appointment; the RRB only recommends, and the Zones or RPSF appoint. You may have to sign a security bond.

Signatures must be identical on every document and in running hand, not block or capitals. Different signatures can disqualify you.

Level-3 of the 7th CPC matrix, initial pay ₹21,700. That's the first cell, not take-home: Dearness Allowance, House Rent Allowance, Transport Allowance and force allowances are added, and NPS and health scheme contributions deducted. Training is paid as a stipend, not full pay.

Apply online through the RRB websites. In 2024 a single link covered both CEN RPF 01/2024 (Sub-Inspector) and RPF 02/2024 (Constable). One application only; multiple applications are all rejected and can lead to debarment.

Fee

Enter your bank name, account holder, account number and IFSC in the form; getting them right is your responsibility. No refund for erroneous, incomplete or rejected applications.

• Mobile number and email can never be changed once the account is created.
• A changed name needs a Gazette notification or legal document at DV.
• On 26 February 2025 the Boards asked accepted candidates to email a current caste certificate after Bihar reclassified the Tanti-Tatwa community from SC to OBC.
• SC and ST candidates can get a free Sleeper Class pass with the e-call letter for every stage; show the original certificate when travelling. Misuse leads to rejection and debarment.

The employer is the Railway Protection Force and Railway Protection Special Force; the Railway Recruitment Boards under the Ministry of Railways conduct the recruitment.

Both share the CBT pattern, syllabus and PMT. Vacancy distribution is in Annexure B. The physical stage and DV run under the PCSC of the RPF.

The 2024 CBT ran over eleven days: 2 to 7, 9 to 12 and 17 to 18 March 2025. Schedules and venues come through the RRB websites, SMS and email, and no postponement or change of venue, date or shift is allowed.

Banned in the exam: phones, Bluetooth devices, pen drives, laptops, calculators, smart watches, bangles, chains, bracelets, hearing aids, wallets, purses, belts, shoes, metallic wear and any stationery, including a pen. Carrying any of them means disqualification, legal action and debarment.

The PET and PMT are held separately, much later (13 November to 6 December 2025 in this cycle), with document verification at the same venue. SC and ST candidates get a Free Travel Authority; in the parallel SI CEN the instructions were dated 25 November 2024.

The CEN gives no exam dates; each is announced on the RRB websites. Expect about twenty-two months from notice to panel.

Exam schedules, venues and e-call letters come through the RRB websites, SMS and email. Your mobile and email can't be changed, so keep them active.

At the PET, PMT and document verification, bring your matriculation certificate (it's also your date of birth proof), a current caste certificate and any name-change document.

The 2024 panel (16 February 2026) lists 4,205 roll numbers in ascending order, not merit order, across 15 pages, against 4,208 vacancies. It's provisional; the RRB can correct errors and won't answer unsuccessful candidates.

Results and the zone allotment notice appear on the RRB websites, reachable from the RRB portal, with SMS and email alerts. After that comes the medical, training and the final training exam.

The CEN fixes only the floor: 35 per cent for UR, EWS and OBC-NCL, 30 per cent for SC and ST. Above that, the line is wherever 10 times the vacancies in each category falls, which for 4,208 posts is on the order of forty thousand candidates called to the physical stage.

No category-wise CBT cut-off table has been published for this cycle. Results, notices and any marks appear on your RRB's website from the RRB portal; scores are normalised because the CBT ran over eleven days.

Check the medical and PMT before anything else

Glasses, flat foot, knock knee, squint and colour blindness bar appointment, and it's checked last, about two years in. Measure your height and chest against the PMT table too.

Weight General Awareness

It's 50 of 120 marks. Splitting time equally across the three sections under-prepares the biggest one.

Practise for speed

The questions are Matric level; the difficulty is 45 seconds each. Practise at that pace with the one-third penalty applied (not 0.25), and don't fill in blanks at the end: three wrong answers cancel a right one.

Train the non-verbal reasoning topics

Visual memory, discriminating observation, spatial visualization and spatial orientation are trainable and thinly covered in general reasoning books.

Keep training after the CBT

You get one chance at the run, and in 2024 it came nine months after the written paper.

Sign the same way every time

Running hand, identical on every document.

No previous year papers are available for this exam as of now. The RRBs don't publish RPF question papers or answer keys.

A mock test on the actual CBT platform goes up on each RRB website before the exam, reachable from the RRB portal. The RPF Sub-Inspector CEN 01/2024 uses the same pattern and syllabus.

• RRB portal: links to each RRB's site, with notices, e-call letters, mock tests, results, DV, medical and selection lists
• CEN No. RPF 02/2024 (Constable), 14 April 2024, with Annexure A (post) and Annexure B (vacancies)
• Panel for Constable (Executive), 16 February 2026, 4,205 roll numbers
• Also on the RRB sites: FAQs (19 April 2024), the PET/PMT/DV schedule (10 December 2025), the zone allotment and medical notice (23 February 2026), and CEN RPF 01/2024 (Sub-Inspector)

What is RPF Constable?

Constable (Executive) in RPF and RPSF: Level-3, ₹21,700, 4,208 vacancies in 2024.

What qualification do I need?

10th pass by the closing date.

What is the age limit?

18 to 28 on 1 July 2024, with category relaxation.

Is there negative marking?

Yes, one third of a mark per wrong answer.

Do the PET and PMT carry marks?

No. Merit is the CBT alone.

Are ex-servicemen exempt from the physical test?

From the PET, yes; not from the PMT.

Can I wear glasses?

No. Glasses bar appointment.

Can persons with disabilities apply?

No.

Does being empanelled mean I have the job?

No. You still need the medical and must pass the exam at the end of training.

How long does the process take?

About twenty-two months in the 2024 cycle.