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RPF Sub-Inspector

RPF SI (Executive) recruits Sub-Inspectors in the Railway Protection Force and Railway Protection Special Force. Selection is through a graduate-level CBT followed by PET/PMT, document verification and a medical examination. Every number below is from CEN RPF 01/2024, the latest Sub-Inspector notification on the RRB sites.

At a glance
Conducted by Railway Recruitment Boards for the Railway Protection Force
Post and pay Sub-Inspector (Executive), Level-6, initial pay ₹35,400
Vacancies in this CEN 452 (384 male, 68 female, including 45 ExSM)
Stages CBT → PET and PMT → document verification → medical examination
Qualification Graduate from a recognized university
Age (as on 01.07.2024) 20–28 years (includes a one-time 3-year Covid relaxation over the normal 20–25)
Age relaxation SC/ST +5 years, OBC-NCL +3 years, plus ExSM and other categories per the CEN table
Medical standard B-1 (glasses, flat foot, knock knee, squint, colour blindness and similar conditions are disqualifying)
Fee ₹500 (₹400 refunded on appearing in CBT); ₹250 for SC, ST, ExSM, female, minority and EBC candidates (refunded on appearing)

Official sources

Exam pattern

CBT (graduation level): 120 questions in 90 minutes. One mark per correct answer, minus one-third mark per wrong answer; unattempted questions score nothing. Marks are normalized across shifts. Minimum pass: 35% for UR, EWS and OBC-NCL, 30% for SC and ST. Section weightage: General Awareness 50 marks, Arithmetic 35 marks, General Intelligence and Reasoning 35 marks. Questions are set in English, Hindi and 13 regional languages. Only one application per candidate; multiple applications mean rejection and debarment.

PET (qualifying only, no marks): men run 1600 m in 6 min 30 s, long jump 12 ft, high jump 3 ft 9 in; women run 800 m in 4 min, long jump 9 ft, high jump 3 ft. One chance for the run, up to two chances each for the jumps. Ex-servicemen skip PET but must take the PMT.

PMT: UR/EWS/OBC — men 165 cm, women 157 cm; men's chest 80 cm unexpanded and 85 cm expanded. SC/ST — men 160 cm, women 152 cm; chest 76.2/81.2 cm. Garhwalis, Gorkhas, Marathas, Dogras, Kumaonese and other notified categories — men 163 cm, women 155 cm; chest 80/85 cm.

CBT merit shortlists candidates for PET/PMT and document verification up to 10 times the vacancies in each male/female/ExSM category group, with at most two PET/PMT rounds to cover shortfalls.

Syllabus

  • Arithmetic (35 marks): number system, whole numbers, decimals and fractions and their relationships, fundamental operations, percentages, ratio and proportion, averages, interest, profit and loss, discount, tables and graphs, mensuration, time and distance.
  • General Intelligence and Reasoning (35 marks): analogies, similarities and differences, spatial visualization and orientation, problem solving analysis, judgement, decision making, visual memory, observation, relationship concepts, arithmetical reasoning, verbal and figure classification, number series, non-verbal series, coding and decoding, statement-conclusion, syllogistic reasoning.
  • General Awareness (50 marks): the environment and its application to society, current events, everyday observation and experience, Indian history, art and culture, geography, economics, polity, the Constitution, sports and general science.

How to prepare (free, in order)

  1. Cover the three CBT sections with the shared modules below; the level is graduation, close to SSC CGL Tier 1.
  2. Practise 120-question, 90-minute mocks with a one-third negative marking rule.
  3. Keep running and jumping practice going alongside written preparation, since PET is qualifying but mandatory.

Free resources