The Railway Protection Force (RPF) was founded in 1957 by the Ministry of railways to protect railway passengers and property. Though there are many Railway recruitment Boards connected with the different railway zones, the RPF selection is made nationally, and the process is handled by the central authorities of the Indian Railways. The posting of the selected candidates is done based on the inputs of the various railway zones and divisions. The RPF is a part of the Indian paramilitary force pool and is sometimes drafted for other duties.
RPF Constable Notification
Once the railway authorities firm up the recruitment plan, necessary notification is issued on the main website of the Indian Railways as well as on the websites of all associated units. In addition, all the Government employment news sites and publications will also carry the full RPF Constable Notification. Therefore, candidates willing to join the RPF constable cadre must go through the railway websites and government publications for detailed information on RPF constable recruitment. The Constable 2022 notification is expected to be released in May.
Checking the Notification
A prospective candidate’s first and foremost task is to check the eligibility criteria.
- Age: While the minimum and maximum age limit is 18 and 25 years, respectively, the guidelines on upper age relaxation are more important. Besides the usual SC /ST /OBC categories, there are several more. Therefore, an applicant must study the slabs carefully to check fitment.
- Educational qualification: A pass in the class 10 exam (SSLC / Matric) from a recognised board.
- Physical Fitness: Meeting the standards for the physical requirement is critical for the job. Therefore, candidates must check the details to be eligible for the job. Besides fulfilling the minimum requirements (PMT), the candidates must be fit enough to clear the physical efficiency test (PET), part of the selection process.
In addition to the eligibility conditions, RPF Constable notification will specify documentation, fees and other parameters of the selection process. Information on the written test syllabus, test pattern, vacancies, pay scales, etc., will also be available on the notification.
RPF Constable 2022 Exam: How to Apply
Once the RPF Constable notification is issued, an online application link will be active on the official website of the Indian Railways. Applicants must fill in the requisite information and upload necessary documents as prompted.
First is an OTP-based registration process. Personal and contact information has to be provided at this stage.
Educational qualifications and social background are required for the second stage of registration. In addition, necessary application fees are to be paid.
Finally, at stage three, a candidate has to indicate the language preference for the written test, choice of group /category of employment as per the vacancies mentioned, and zone preference.
RPF Constable: Selection Stages
1) A computer-based written test is the first stage. Usually, the test duration is 90 minutes, and a candidate is required to answer 120 questions.
2) Next are the Physical Efficiency Test (PET) and the Physical measurement Test (PMT). A detailed minimum physical requirement parameter in terms of efficiency and measurement is mentioned in the notification as part of the eligibility criteria.
3) Successful candidates of stage 1 (minimum 35% marks for general candidates and 30% for reserved category candidates) and stage 2 are required to get all the documents submitted in the application verified.
4) The final selection will require the short-listed candidates from the document verification stage to clear the medical examination by the impanelled railway doctors.
5) With the selection process now over, the selected candidates will receive posting advice in the various railway zones/divisions.
A clear understanding of the RPF Constable Notification clauses will improve an applicant’s chances. Therefore, it is best to start an early preparation to help a candidate perform better both in the written and the physical rounds.
