If you want to join the Railway Protection Force (RPF) as a Constable, the most useful document is the last official recruitment notice: CEN No. RPF 02/2024 (Constable), issued by the Railway Recruitment Boards. That cycle has now run its full course, from computer-based test to a published panel in February 2026. Its rules show you exactly what the next notice is likely to test, although the next notice can change any of them.
This guide explains that notice's eligibility, test pattern and physical standards, the actual timeline it followed, and how to prepare while you wait. It does not predict vacancy numbers or a release month for a new notification.
Checked against RRB notices on 9 October 2026. RRB websites have moved to the unified site rrb.indianrailways.gov.in; use it, not social media forwards, for updates.
Is there an RPF Constable notification in 2026?
When we checked the RRB website's list of Centralised Employment Notices on 9 October 2026, the RPF entries were only CEN RPF 01/2024 (Sub-Inspector) and CEN RPF 02/2024 (Constable). The 2026 notices on the same list were for other railway posts, such as Assistant Loco Pilot, Technicians, Junior Engineers, Paramedical staff and NTPC Graduate posts. So there was no new RPF Constable notice to apply for on that date.
Treat any "RPF Constable 2026 form" link as suspect unless the same notice appears on the official RRB website.
Keep preparing
Continue with Document Verification Checklist – Central and Defence Recruitment₹299 — coaching के एक महीने से काफ़ी सस्ता / far cheaper than a month of coachingHow the last cycle ran
| Stage | CEN RPF 02/2024 (Constable) |
|---|---|
| Application window | 15 April to 14 May 2024 |
| Vacancies notified | 4,208 Constable (Executive) posts in RPF and RPSF |
| Computer Based Test | 2–7, 9–12 and 17–18 March 2025 |
| PET, PMT and document verification | 13 November to 6 December 2025 |
| Panel | 4,205 roll numbers provisionally empanelled; notice listed on 16 February 2026 |
| Next step | Zone allotment and medical examination notice listed on 23 February 2026 |
The dates come from the panel notice and the RRB notice list for CEN RPF 02/2024. The gap between the application window and the panel was close to two years, which is a useful reality check when you plan your own time.
Eligibility in the last notice
- Post and pay: Constable (Executive), Pay Level 3 of the 7th CPC, initial pay ₹21,700, medical standard B-1.
- Education: 10th pass or equivalent from a recognised board, held by the closing date of applications. Candidates awaiting results were told not to apply.
- Age: 18 to 28 years on 1 July 2024. The normal limit for the post is 18 to 25; the extra three years were a one-time relaxation linked to the Covid-19 pandemic. Upper-age relaxation was 5 years for SC/ST and 3 years for OBC (Non-Creamy Layer), with other categories listed in the notice.
- Fee: ₹500 for most candidates, of which ₹400 was to be refunded after appearing in the CBT. SC, ST, ex-servicemen, female, minority and Economically Backward Class candidates paid ₹250, refundable in full after appearing in the CBT. Bank charges are deducted from refunds.
Do not assume the next notice will repeat the 28-year limit. The notice itself describes it as a one-time measure.
The written test: what the CBT looked like
The CBT was set at 10th (Matric) standard:
| Section | Marks |
|---|---|
| Arithmetic | 35 |
| General Intelligence and Reasoning | 35 |
| General Awareness | 50 |
| Total | 120 questions, 120 marks, 90 minutes |
Each correct answer earns one mark and one-third of a mark is deducted for each wrong answer. Marks are normalised across shifts. The minimum pass percentage was 35% for UR, EWS and OBC-NCL candidates and 30% for SC and ST candidates. Passing alone does not get you to the next stage: candidates were called to PET/PMT on merit, up to 10 times the vacancies in each category.
Worked example: scoring and the pass mark
This is an illustrative calculation, not a real result.
- You attempt 100 of the 120 questions: 80 right and 20 wrong.
- Raw score: 80 − (20 × 1/3) = 80 − 6.67 = 73.33 out of 120.
- The 35% pass line is 0.35 × 120 = 42 marks; the 30% line is 36 marks.
Clearing 42 makes you eligible to be considered, but your position on the merit list decides whether you are called for the physical tests.
Physical tests: PET and PMT
PET is qualifying and carries no marks, but failing it ends your candidature. Ex-servicemen were exempt from PET but still had to pass PMT.
| PET event | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| Run | 1,600 m in 5 min 45 s | 800 m in 3 min 40 s |
| Long jump | 14 ft | 9 ft |
| High jump | 4 ft | 3 ft |
The run had one attempt; long jump and high jump had up to two attempts each.
| PMT | Height (male) | Height (female) | Chest, male only (unexpanded / expanded) |
|---|---|---|---|
| UR / EWS / OBC | 165 cm | 157 cm | 80 / 85 cm |
| SC / ST | 160 cm | 152 cm | 76.2 / 81.2 cm |
| Garhwalis, Gorkhas, Marathas, Dogras, Kumaonese and other categories specified by the Government | 163 cm | 155 cm | 80 / 85 cm |
If a male candidate fell short on height, the chest was not measured and he was treated as disqualified.
Turn the run standard into training targets
Arithmetic you can check yourself:
- Men: 5 min 45 s is 345 seconds. Over 1,600 m that is about 21.6 seconds per 100 m, or about 86 seconds per 400 m lap.
- Women: 3 min 40 s is 220 seconds. Over 800 m that is 27.5 seconds per 100 m, or 110 seconds per 400 m lap.
Time your laps on a measured track. If your current lap time is well above the target, build your base gradually and consult a qualified coach or doctor before intense training, especially if you have any health condition.
A preparation checklist while you wait
10th certificate: name and date of birth match my other documents (Y/N)
Category certificate in the format prescribed by the notice, if claiming reservation (Y/N)
Weekly CBT practice: Arithmetic / Reasoning / General Awareness hours
Latest timed mock: raw score after negative marking
400 m lap time this week, and the target lap time
Long jump and high jump best attempts this week
Height measured by a third party (cm); chest (cm), if male
Date I last checked the RRB website
The document line matters: the notice asks for name and date of birth as recorded in the Matriculation or equivalent certificate, and differences can cause problems at verification.
For written practice, the CBT syllabus is general: number system to time and distance in Arithmetic; analogies, series, coding-decoding and syllogism in Reasoning; and history, geography, polity, economics, science, sports and current events in General Awareness. Use our current affairs hub for dated news notes, and see our railway recruitment routes guide for reading RRB notices correctly.
Frequently asked questions
Does the RRB appoint selected candidates?
No. The notice recruits Constables (Executive) for the RPF and the Railway Protection Special Force, but it states that the RRB's function is only to recommend suitable candidates to the competent authority. That authority then directs candidates for training, subject to medical fitness and all eligibility criteria.
Can I apply while waiting for my 10th result?
Not under the last notice. It required the qualification by the closing date and told candidates awaiting results not to apply.
Will women's vacancies be reserved again?
The last notice set out vacancies for male, female and ex-servicemen candidates separately in its annexure. Check the vacancy table in the next notice rather than assuming the same split.