RPF Constable & SI Syllabus 2026 – Section-wise Weightage, Complete Topics & Selection Process

The Railway Protection Force (RPF) is one of the most respected uniformed services under Indian Railways — and RPF Constable and Sub-Inspector (SI) recruitment is among the most sought-after railway jobs in India, offering job security, a uniform post, travel allowance, railway quarters, and strong career progression across all Railway zones.

With 4,208 Constable vacancies notified and SI recruitment expected shortly, candidates across the country — especially from UP, Bihar, MP, Rajasthan, and Maharashtra — are preparing for a highly competitive exam that tests General Awareness, Arithmetic, and Reasoning across a 120-question CBT.

The most important distinction between RPF Constable and RPF SI: the SI post requires a graduation degree, carries supervisory responsibilities, and has a more advanced General Awareness and Arithmetic syllabus. But the CBT structure and subject areas are nearly identical — the difficulty level and question depth differ, not the fundamental framework.

This guide covers the complete RPF Constable and SI syllabus for 2026, section-wise topic breakdown, expected question weightage, the complete selection process including physical standards, and a preparation strategy.

RPF Constable & SI 2026 – Recruitment Overview

Complete Selection Process – RPF Constable & SI

Both Constable and SI recruitment follow a four-stage selection process:

Key rule: CBT marks form the merit list. PMT and PET are purely qualifying — they do not add to your score. Candidates shortlisted from CBT (based on merit) appear for PMT and PET. Only candidates who clear all four stages receive an appointment.

CBT Exam Pattern – RPF Constable

The Constable CBT is a 120-question, 120-mark Computer Based Test completed in 90 minutes:

Key exam rules:

• Negative marking: 1/3 mark (0.33) deducted per wrong answer.

• Duration: 90 minutes.

• Mode: Computer Based Test — online.

• Medium: English, Hindi, and regional languages.

• Normalisation: Applied across multiple shifts.

• No sectional time limit — candidates can move freely between sections.

CBT Exam Pattern – RPF SI

The SI CBT has the same structure and time as Constable but at a higher difficulty level:

Key exam rules (SI):​

• Negative marking: 1/3 mark deducted per wrong answer.

• Duration: 90 minutes.

• Difficulty level: Higher than Constable — SI Arithmetic includes profit/loss partnerships, pipes/cisterns, and advanced data interpretation. SI General Awareness includes governance, economy, and international affairs at a deeper level.

RPF Constable vs SI CBT – Side-by-Side Comparison

Section 1: General Awareness – 50 Questions, 50 Marks

General Awareness carries the highest weightage in both RPF Constable and SI exams — 50 out of 120 marks (41.6% of the paper).

It is also the fastest-to-attempt section: with solid preparation, 50 GK questions can be completed in 20–25 minutes — leaving more time for Arithmetic.​

History of India (8–10 Questions)

Ancient India:

• Indus Valley Civilisation — major sites (Harappa, Mohenjo-daro, Lothal, Kalibangan), characteristics.

• Vedic Period — Rigvedic and later Vedic age, social and economic life.

• Maurya Empire — Chandragupta Maurya, Ashoka, Edicts, Dhamma.

• Gupta Empire — Golden Age of India, art, science, literature.

• Major religious movements — Buddhism (Gautama Buddha, Four Noble Truths, Eightfold Path), Jainism (Mahavira).

Medieval India:​

• Delhi Sultanate — Qutub-ud-din Aibak, Alauddin Khilji, Muhammad bin Tughluq.

• Mughal Empire — Akbar (religious policy, Navratnas), Aurangzeb, decline.

• Bhakti and Sufi movements — Kabir, Mirabai, Guru Nanak.

• Vijayanagara and Bahamani kingdoms.

Modern India:

• British rule — East India Company, Permanent Settlement, Subsidiary Alliance.

• Revolt of 1857 — causes, key centres, leaders, outcome.

• Rise of Indian National Congress — formation, early moderates and extremists.

• Non-Cooperation Movement, Civil Disobedience Movement, Quit India Movement.

• Role of Mahatma Gandhi, Subhas Chandra Bose, Bhagat Singh.

• Partition and Independence (1947).

RPF-specific focus: RPF GA frequently includes questions on railway history in India, the formation of Indian Railways (1853 — first train Bombay to Thane), and landmark railway events.​

Geography (7–8 Questions)

• Physical features of India — Himalayas (ranges, peaks), Indo-Gangetic Plains, Deccan Plateau, Eastern and Western Ghats.

• Major rivers — Ganga, Yamuna, Brahmaputra, Godavari, Krishna, Kaveri; tributaries and drainage patterns.

• Climate — monsoon system, seasons of India, cyclones.

• Natural vegetation zones — tropical rainforest, deciduous, thorn, alpine.

• National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries — Project Tiger, Project Elephant; important reserves.

• Soils of India — alluvial, black/regur, red laterite.

• Minerals and energy resources — coal (Jharkhand), iron ore (Odisha), petroleum (Assam, Gujarat).

• World geography basics — continents, major mountain ranges, rivers, deserts.

Indian Polity (6–7 Questions)

• Constitution of India — Preamble, features (federal with unitary bias, parliamentary democracy).

• Fundamental Rights (Part III, Articles 12–35) — key rights and exceptions.

• Fundamental Duties (Article 51A).

• Directive Principles of State Policy.

• Parliament — Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha; composition, powers, sessions.

• President — election, powers, constitutional position.

• Prime Minister and Council of Ministers — role and powers.

• Judiciary — Supreme Court, High Courts; judicial review; writ jurisdiction.

• Election Commission of India — powers, EVMs, Model Code of Conduct.

• Panchayati Raj — 73rd Constitutional Amendment; three-tier structure.

• Emergency provisions — Articles 352, 356, 360.

Economics (5–6 Questions)

• Basic economic terminology — GDP, GNP, NNP, per capita income, national income.

• Indian economy structure — agriculture, industry, services sector.

• Five Year Plans and NITI Aayog.

• Monetary policy — RBI functions; repo rate, reverse repo rate, CRR, SLR.

• Inflation — types, WPI, CPI; measures to control inflation.

• Union Budget basics — revenue and capital expenditure, fiscal deficit.

• Major government economic schemes — PM-KISAN, Make in India, Startup India, PLI Scheme.

• International economic organisations — IMF, World Bank, WTO.

SI additional focus: Budget 2025–26 highlights, economic survey data, India’s GDP growth rate, current account deficit, trade balance.

General Science (10–12 Questions)

This sub-section is the highest-question-count area within the 50-mark GA section:

Physics:

• Units and measurement — SI units.

• Motion — Newton’s Laws, velocity, acceleration.

• Work, energy and power — types of energy, conservation.

• Sound — properties, reflection, applications.

• Light — reflection, refraction, optical instruments (lens, mirror).

• Electricity — Ohm’s Law, series and parallel circuits, heating effect.

• Magnetism — properties, electromagnets.

• Nuclear energy — fission, fusion (basic).

Chemistry:

• Matter — states, properties, changes.

• Atoms and molecules — atomic structure.

• Periodic table — groups and periods, important elements.

• Acids, bases, salts — pH scale.

• Metals and non-metals — reactivity series.

• Carbon compounds — fuel types, calorific value.

• Environmental chemistry — pollution types and control.

Biology:

• Cell — structure and organelles.

• Human body systems — digestive, respiratory, circulatory, nervous, excretory.

• Diseases — bacterial (TB, typhoid), viral (dengue, COVID), protozoan (malaria).

• Nutrition — vitamins (sources and deficiencies), minerals.

• Plant kingdom basics — photosynthesis, respiration.

Current Affairs (8–10 Questions)

• National events — government decisions, new laws and policies.

• International affairs — summits (G20, SCO, BRICS), bilateral agreements.

• Awards and honours — Bharat Ratna, Padma Awards, Nobel Prize, Arjuna Award.

• Sports — ICC events, Olympics, Asian Games, Commonwealth Games, recent championships.

• Science and technology — ISRO missions, defence systems (Agni, BrahMos), major tech launches.

• Railway-specific current affairs — new train launches, station development, dedicated freight corridors, Vande Bharat Express, Kavach system.

RPF-specific GK frequently tested:

• RPF Act 1957 and RPSF (Railway Protection Special Force) — jurisdiction and powers.

• Indian Railways zones — 18 zones, headquarters, zone codes.

• Major railway projects — RRTS (Regional Rapid Transit System), National Rail Plan.

• IRCTC, IRFC, RITES, Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL) — functions.

• Kavach — anti-collision system for Indian Railways.

Section 2: Arithmetic – 35 Questions, 35 Marks

Arithmetic is the second-highest weightage section — 35 marks (29.2% of the paper).

Complete Arithmetic Syllabus

Priority cluster for both posts: Percentage + Profit & Loss + SI/CI + Ratio & Proportion + Average together account for approximately 40–45% of all Arithmetic questions. These five topics must be mastered before moving to geometry and mensuration.​

SI-specific note: Data Interpretation (DI) in RPF SI carries more questions and at a higher complexity — multi-table comparisons, percentage change calculations from graphs. Dedicate separate preparation time to DI for SI aspirants.

Section 3: General Intelligence & Reasoning – 35 Questions, 35 Marks

Reasoning carries equal weight as Arithmetic — 35 marks (29.2% of paper).

Complete Reasoning Syllabus

Topic priority: Analogy, Series (number + letter), Coding-Decoding, Blood Relations, and Puzzles together account for 55–60% of all Reasoning questions in RPF exam history. These five topic clusters are the non-negotiable preparation core.

Non-verbal focus: RPF Reasoning papers consistently include 6–8 non-verbal questions (mirror image, paper folding, figure completion, embedded figures) — candidates who only practise verbal reasoning are leaving 6–8 marks unaddressed.​

Physical Measurement Test (PMT) – Stage 2

PMT measures height and chest — qualifying only, no marks added:

PMT Standards – RPF Constable

PMT Standards – RPF SI

SI requires 5 cm greater height for male candidates compared to Constable — this eliminates a separate category of aspirants who meet Constable PMT but not SI PMT.

Physical Efficiency Test (PET) – Stage 3

PET tests running and field events — qualifying only, no marks added:

PET Standards – RPF Constable

PET Standards – RPF SI

PET standards are the same for Constable and SI — both posts require equal physical efficiency. The difference between them lies in the CBT difficulty, educational qualification, and PMT height standards for male candidates.

Physical preparation rule: The 1600m run in under 5:45 (male) requires months of progressive distance training — not weeks. Begin running training on the first day of your preparation. Candidates who clear the written exam but have not trained physically are regularly eliminated at PET stage.​

Document Verification (DV) & Medical – Stage 4

Documents required at DV:

• Class 12 marksheet and certificate (for Constable) / Graduation degree (for SI).

• Caste certificate — SC/ST/OBC (central government format, current year for OBC NCL).

• EWS certificate (if applicable — current financial year).

• Domicile certificate (state-wise as applicable).

• Aadhaar Card.

• Character certificate.

• Ex-Serviceman discharge certificate (if applicable).

• NOC from current government employer (if applicable).

• Passport-size photographs (6–8 copies).

Medical standards for RPF:​

• Distant vision: 6/9 (better eye), 6/12 (worse eye) — with or without glasses.

• Near vision: Sn 0.6 (better eye), Sn 0.8 (worse eye).

• Colour vision: Full colour perception required for RPF posts.

• Hearing: Normal in both ears.

• No chronic disqualifying condition.

Topic-wise Weightage Summary

General Awareness dominates the paper at 41.6% — yet it is the most neglected section in terms of structured preparation. Most candidates spend more time on Reasoning and Maths while underpreparing for GK, which is the single biggest mistake in RPF exam preparation.​

4-Month Preparation Strategy

Month 1: GK Foundation + Arithmetic Base

• Lucent’s General Knowledge — complete static GK (History, Geography, Polity, Science).

• NCERT Class 9–10 Science (Physics, Chemistry, Biology) — all chapters for science-based GK questions.

• Maths: Complete Percentage, Profit & Loss, SI/CI, Ratio & Proportion, Average from NCERT Class 8–10.

• Current Affairs: Begin monthly GK magazine subscription (GK Today or Pratiyogita Darpan).

Month 2: Reasoning + Advanced Arithmetic

• Reasoning: R.S. Aggarwal Verbal & Non-Verbal Reasoning — complete analogy, series, coding-decoding, blood relations.

• Non-verbal reasoning: Daily 10 mirror image + figure completion questions.

• Arithmetic: Time & Work, Time-Speed-Distance, Mensuration, DI (data interpretation tables).

• Begin physical training: Running 1 km daily, building toward 1600m in target time.

Month 3: Section-wise Mock Tests

• Daily: 50 GK questions (25 static + 25 current affairs).

• Daily: 35 Reasoning questions (timed — 25 minutes target).

• Daily: 35 Arithmetic questions (timed — 30 minutes target).

• Railway-specific GK: RPF Act, Indian Railways zones, Vande Bharat, Kavach, recent railway news.

Month 4: Full Paper Practice

• 3 full 120-question mock tests per week — strict 90-minute limit.

• Negative marking discipline: Skip any question with less than 50% confidence — 1/3 penalty makes wrong guessing costly.

• Physical training: 1600m run 3 days per week + long jump and high jump technique practice.

• Final 2 weeks: Revise GK notes only — no new subjects.

Recommended Books for RPF 2026 Preparation

FAQs

Q. What is the exact syllabus for RPF Constable CBT 2026?
The CBT covers three sections: General Awareness (50 marks), Arithmetic (35 marks), and General Intelligence & Reasoning (35 marks) — total 120 marks in 90 minutes with 1/3 negative marking per wrong answer.

Q. Is RPF Constable and SI syllabus the same?
The three sections and their marks are identical. The difference is the difficulty level — SI questions are at graduation level, with deeper economics, governance, and data interpretation content. The CBT structure (120 questions, 120 marks, 90 minutes, 1/3 negative marking) is the same.

Q. Does PET performance affect merit ranking in RPF?
No. PET is purely qualifying — pass or fail. Your merit rank is decided entirely by your CBT score. PET only determines whether you are eligible to proceed to Document Verification.

Q. What is the negative marking in RPF CBT 2026?
1/3 mark (0.33 marks) is deducted per wrong answer. This is the same penalty as Railway Group D and RRB NTPC — do not attempt questions where you are guessing without basis.

Q. What is the qualification required for RPF SI?
RPF SI requires a graduation degree from a recognised university — any discipline is acceptable. Class 12 pass is sufficient for RPF Constable.

Q. Is colour blindness disqualifying for RPF posts?
Yes. Full colour vision is required for RPF posts — both Constable and SI. Colour blindness is tested at the medical examination stage and is a disqualifying condition.​

Q. How many questions come from Railway-specific GK in RPF exam?
Based on previous year analysis (2018–19 RPF exams), approximately 5–8 questions in the GA section are directly Railway-related — Indian Railways history, RPF Act, railway zones and headquarters, and current railway projects. These questions are unique to RPF and do not appear in SSC or other exams.