RPF SI 2026: Exam Date, Syllabus, PET & Free Mock Tests

RPF Sub-Inspector recruitment fills supervisory posts in the Railway Protection Force and Railway Protection Special Force. A Sub-Inspector leads a section of the force, supervises Constables and Head Constables, handles investigation of offences under the Railways Act, and is responsible for security operations at stations, yards and on trains.

It is the officer-entry route into the force and requires a bachelor’s degree in any discipline. Selection runs through a single computer-based test, followed by a Physical Efficiency Test and Physical Measurement Test, document verification and a medical examination — with only the CBT carrying merit marks.

RPF SI is popular because it offers direct entry into a supervisory uniformed rank at Pay Level 6 with a basic pay of ₹35,400, which is substantially higher than most graduate-entry central government posts.

The combination of Level 6 pay, supervisory authority from day one, and the full package of railway service benefits makes RPF SI one of the strongest graduate-entry uniformed opportunities available. It sits at the same pay level as Station Master and SSC Junior Engineer.

Because the written stage is a single CBT rather than a multi-tier process, the path from application to selection is considerably shorter than for SSC CGL or state police service examinations at a comparable pay level.

• Direct entry to a supervisory rank at Pay Level 6
• Basic pay of ₹35,400 — high for graduate entry
• Single CBT decides merit — no second written stage
• Free travel passes, railway quarters, hospitals and schools

Dates are announced by the Railway Recruitment Boards with the RPF employment notice.rrbcdg.gov.in — Official RRB Portal

The most recent RPF SI cycle carried approximately Notified per cycle vacancies.

RPF Sub-Inspector vacancies are considerably fewer than Constable vacancies and are published group-wise across railway zones. Candidates apply to one group, so the relevant figure is the count for your chosen group. Confirm current numbers in the official employment notice.

Vacancies are notified group-wise in the RPF employment notice.rrbcdg.gov.in — Official Notification

To apply for RPF SI 2026 a candidate must hold a bachelor’s degree in any discipline from a recognised university and be between 20 and 28 years of age as on the date specified in the notification, and must meet the prescribed physical standards.

Educational Qualification

A bachelor’s degree in any discipline from a recognised University.

• Any discipline is acceptable — no specific stream is required or preferred.
• Candidates must possess the degree as on the closing date of the application.

Age Limit

The age limit for RPF SI is 20 to 28 years. Age is reckoned as on the date specified in the employment notice. The Railways have varied this between cycles, so confirm against the current notification.

Nationality

• A citizen of India, or
• A subject of Nepal or Bhutan, or
• A Tibetan refugee who came to India before 1 January 1962 with the intention of permanently settling in India.

Physical Standards

Physical Measurement Test (PMT): male candidates require a height of 165 cm (UR/OBC) or 160 cm (SC/ST) with a chest of 80 cm and 5 cm expansion; female candidates require a height of 157 cm (UR/OBC) or 152 cm (SC/ST). Relaxed height standards apply to Garhwalis, Gorkhas, Marathas, Dogras, Kumaonese and candidates from the North-Eastern states. Physical Efficiency Test (PET): male candidates must run 1,600 metres in 6 minutes 30 seconds, clear a long jump of 12 feet and a high jump of 3 feet 9 inches; female candidates must run 800 metres in 4 minutes, clear a long jump of 9 feet and a high jump of 3 feet.

RPF Sub-Inspector has a single computer-based test of 120 questions carrying 120 marks, to be completed in 90 minutes, with one-third of a mark deducted for each wrong answer, followed by qualifying physical tests.

1. 1Online application through the RRB portal for the chosen group.
2. 2Computer Based Test (CBT) — the only stage carrying merit marks.
3. 3Physical Efficiency Test (PET) — qualifying: running, long jump and high jump.
4. 4Physical Measurement Test (PMT) — qualifying: height and chest measurement.
5. 5Document verification against the qualification and category claimed.
6. 6Medical examination as per the prescribed fitness standard for the force.
7. 7Final merit list and allotment of railway zone.

The RPF SI syllabus covers three areas at graduate difficulty — General Awareness carrying 50 marks, Arithmetic carrying 35 marks, and General Intelligence and Reasoning carrying 35 marks.

RPF Sub-Inspector is a Pay Level 6 post under the Seventh Pay Commission with a basic pay of ₹35,400 to ₹1,12,400, giving an approximate in-hand salary of ₹44,000 to ₹50,000 per month plus railway travel passes and quarters.

Allowances and Benefits

• Dearness Allowance (DA) — revised twice a year
• House Rent Allowance (HRA) or railway quarters
• Transport Allowance (TA)
• Free and concessional travel passes for the employee and family
• Uniform and ration allowance
• Railway hospitals, schools and housing colonies

The decisive RPF SI strategy is to build graduate-level General Awareness depth, which carries 50 of the 120 marks, while meeting the physical standards that eliminate a substantial share of written-qualified candidates.