Careers in Railway Protective Force (RPF)

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The Indian Railway Protection Force (IRPF or RPF), formed in the year 1957, is an Indian Central Armed Police Force charged with protecting the Indian Railways and its passengers. It is one of the Group 'A' Central Civil Service of India functions under the Ministry of Railways to deal with offences related to roof traveling, touting, unauthorized entry into coaches earmarked for ladies, unauthorized vending, trespass etc.

The primary duties and functions of the Railway Protection Force include:

To do all conducive means for the free movement of the railways.
Protection and safeguarding of railway property.
Protection and safeguarding of passenger, their belongings and passenger areas.
Assist the state police in maintenance of law and order in various states at the time of elections and other emergencies.
Coordinates with the civil police and GRP (Government Railway police of the respective states) in controlling crime against railway passenger.

The RPF have a specially trained unit called the Railway Protective Special Force (RPSF), to be raised as a reserve force on the battalion pattern. With good pay scale compensations and adequate facilities, Railway Protection Force offer a grand opportunity for all those who are ambitious enough to adopt Railway Policing as their career option. Those interested to take up RPF as their career can join this force by applying through Railway Protection Force Recruitment which are conducted annually.

Rank Structure in Railway Protection Force

The rank structure of Superior Officers in RPF force is as follows. The selection to these posts are through UPSC exams

Director General
Additional Director General
Chief Security Commissioner (Inspector-General; Additional Inspector-General; Deputy Inspector-General)
Additional or Deputy Chief Security Commissioner
Senior Divisional Security Commissioner
Divisional Security Commissioner
Assistant Security Commissioner

Enrolled Members of the Force :

Inspector
Sub-Inspector
Assistant Sub-Inspector
Head Constable
Naik
Constables
Cook/ sweeper / Driver / Fire Extinguisher
Ancillary staff
(The selection to these posts are through Railway Protection Force Recruitment)

Service Benefits in RPF

Every member on appointment to the Force either by direct recruitment or by promotion shall be on probation for a period of two years. On successful completion of the period of probation or any extension thereof, a member of the Force shall be retained in his appointment on regular basis and be confirmed in due course against the available substantive vacancy. During the period of probation or any extension thereof, a member of the Force may be required by the appointing authority to undergo any courses of training and instructions and to pass such examinations and tests as may be specified by it for satisfactory completion of the probation.

Promotion

Recruitment of superior officers and promotion to the rank of Assistant Commandants and from one rank of superior officer to the other rank of superior officers shall be made in accordance with the Railway Protection Force (Group ‘A’ and ‘B’ Posts) Recruitments Rules, 1981, as amended from time to time.

Promotion of member of the Force upto rank of Commandant shall be made on the basis of merit having due regard to seniority.

Promotion to rank higher than that of the Commandant shall be made on the basis of merit only.

Perks & Allowances