RPF SI recruitment will now be conducted by SSC. There’s significant news for candidates preparing for government jobs. A major change has been made to the Sub-Inspector (SI) recruitment process in the Railway Protection Force (RPF). The Staff Selection Commission (SSC) will now conduct this exam, which previously fell to the Railway Recruitment Board (RRB). The Ministry of Railways has made this decision to make the recruitment process faster, transparent, and regular. Under the new rules, RPF SI and Constable recruitment will now be conducted annually—similar to how the SSC conducts examinations for the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs).
The Railways provide millions of jobs in the country each year, and new updates have been made to the Sub-Inspector (SI) recruitment process in the Railway Protection Force (RPF). Candidates will be able to apply for Sub-Inspector (SI) recruitment through the SSC website.
SSC to Conduct RPF Recruitment
According to a new notification from the Ministry of Railways, from 2025, the RPF recruitment exam will be conducted by the SSC instead of the RRB. This change has been made to ensure that candidates across the country have a uniform examination system and merit-based selection. With the SSC’s transparent and standardised recruitment system, candidates will no longer face problems such as exam delays or ambiguities.
RPF SI Selection Process: Learn the Exam Pattern
According to the new rules, the RPF SI selection process will be completed in three stages:
- Computer-Based Test (CBT)
- Physical Efficiency and Measurement Test (PET/PMT)
- Medical Test and Document Verification
- The CBT exam will be 90 minutes long, consisting of 120 questions.
The paper will consist of three sections:
- General Awareness
- Arithmetic
- General Intelligence and Reasoning
Each question will carry one mark, and negative marking will apply.
Candidates who pass the CBT will be called for a PET and PMT, where physical fitness and other parameters will be tested.
What will be the criteria for PET and PMT?
- Under the new recruitment policy, the minimum height for male candidates has been increased to 170 cm (previously 165 cm).
- Chest measurement of 80 cm (unexpanded) and 85 cm (expanded) is mandatory.
- The minimum height for female candidates has been set at 157 cm.
The fitness test includes running, long jump, and high jump. Candidates who meet these criteria will be called for further processing, including document verification and a medical examination.
Changed Rules and Age Limit
As per the RPF Revised Recruitment Rules 2025 issued by the Ministry of Railways, the age limit for the post of Constable (Executive) has been increased from 18 to 23 years (previously 18 to 25 years). These changes have been made to align the recruitment process with CAPF standards and place greater emphasis on fitness.
What’s the reason for the change?
According to sources, the Railways has taken this step to modernise and unify the recruitment system. Conducting the exam through the SSC will not only speed up recruitment but also make the selection process more transparent and reliable. This change will benefit millions of candidates, who will now have the opportunity to appear for the exam regularly every year.