Central Reserve Police Force Constable

CRPF Constable recruitment fills the entry-level constable posts of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), the central armed police force under the Ministry of Home Affairs. There are two main routes into the rank. CRPF runs its own recruitment for Constable (Technical & Tradesmen and Pioneer), while Constable (General Duty) posts in CRPF are filled through the SSC Constable (GD) examination, which the Staff Selection Commission holds for several forces together.

The current CRPF-run cycle is the Constable (Technical & Tradesmen and Pioneer) Recruitment 2026, notified on 8 April 2026 with 9,195 tentative vacancies. Applications closed on 19 May 2026, and the physical test schedule had not been announced as of 20 October 2026. This page explains both routes and then covers the 2026 dates, vacancies, eligibility, physical standards, exam pattern, syllabus, salary, cut-off and preparation.

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CRPF Constable 2026

Two routes to become a CRPF Constable

Many candidates search for "CRPF Constable" expecting one exam. In practice, the post you want decides the route. Trade posts such as Driver, Cook or Tailor come through CRPF's own recruitment. General duty posts come through the SSC Constable (GD) exam, where CRPF is one of the forces you can choose.

For a general duty post, you apply in the SSC Constable (GD) exam and list CRPF among your force preferences. SSC allots the force on the basis of merit and the preferences you give, and CRPF is the nodal force that issues the admit cards for the physical tests, medical and document verification of that exam. As reported in October 2026, SSC has declared the 2026 computer based exam result, so check ssc.gov.in for your status and the next stage.

CRPF also publishes separate notices for sports quota recruitment to Head Constable (GD) and Constable (GD), the latest dated 17 September 2026, and for compassionate appointments. These are not open competitive exams. The rest of this page focuses on the Technical & Tradesmen and Pioneer recruitment, because that is the exam CRPF conducts itself.

CRPF Constable Notification 2026

The Directorate General of CRPF released the advertisement for Constable (Technical & Tradesmen and Pioneer) (Male/Female) 2026 on 8 April 2026. An amendment dated 17 April 2026 moved the date for reckoning age and educational qualification from 1 January 2026 to 1 August 2026, which brought younger candidates into the eligible window.

Key changes to know:

• Physical tests come first: In 2026, the PET and PST are held before the CBT, and only candidates who qualify them sit the CBT. In the 2023 cycle, the CBT came before the physical tests.

• No Ministerial posts: The 2023 exam also covered Ministerial Staff. The 2026 recruitment covers only Technical & Tradesmen and Pioneer posts.

• Two languages: The CBT is conducted in English and Hindi only.

Older pages may still show the 2023 order of stages or the 1 January 2026 age date, so follow the official 2026 notification and the amendment on the CRPF recruitment website.

Important dates

Stage dates are announced only on the CRPF recruitment website, and admit cards are released online at least a week before each stage. They are not sent by post. Track rect.crpf.gov.in and your registered email for updates.

Vacancy details

Technical & Tradesmen vacancies are divided State/UT-wise and trade-wise, so you compete only with candidates of your own domicile State/UT and category. Pioneer vacancies are filled on an all-India basis. The trades include Driver, Motor Mechanic Vehicle, Cook, Water Carrier, Washerman, Barber, Safai Karamchari, Tailor, Cobbler, Carpenter, Painter, Gardener (Mali), Bugler, Brass Band and Pipe Band. Female vacancies are offered in selected trades only.

The figures include backlog vacancies from the last recruitment, and 10% of vacancies are earmarked for ex-servicemen. CRPF states that the vacancies are tentative, so check the State/UT and trade tables in the notification before relying on them.

Eligibility

Educational qualification

Qualifications are counted as on 1 August 2026, and the result must have been declared by that date.

• Driver: Matriculation or equivalent, a Heavy Transport Vehicle driving licence, and a pass in the driving test at recruitment.

• Motor Mechanic Vehicle: Matriculation, plus a two-year ITI certificate in Mechanic Motor Vehicle and one year of trade experience, or a three-year apprenticeship certificate in the trade and one year of experience.

• Other tradesmen: Matriculation or equivalent (or an equivalent Army qualification for ex-Army personnel), and proficiency in the trade.

• Pioneer (Mason, Electrician): Matriculation and one year of experience in the trade. An ITI trade certificate gets preference.

Age limit

Other conditions

• Citizenship: You must be a citizen of India.

• Domicile: A Domicile or Permanent Residence Certificate of the State/UT you chose in the form is checked at document verification. A mismatch cancels your candidature.

• Persons with disabilities: The posts are not identified as suitable for PwD candidates, so they are not eligible.

For the full rules, read the CRPF Constable eligibility guide.

Physical standards and PET

The PET is a timed race, and the PST measures height, chest (men only) and weight. Both are qualifying, and both use RFID and digital measuring equipment.

The general minimum height is 170 cm for men and 157 cm for women, with relaxed standards for Scheduled Tribes, North-East and hill-area candidates and some other groups. Men need an unexpanded chest of at least 80 cm with 5 cm expansion. There is no appeal against the race result. Ex-servicemen are exempt from the PET but are measured at the PST.

Application fee and how to apply

The 2026 application window has closed. For the next cycle, the process is likely to follow the same steps, but check the new notification first.

1. Register on the CRPF recruitment portal with your personal and contact details. Your login ID and password arrive by email.

2. Log in again and fill in category, address, qualification and post details, choosing your domicile State/UT carefully.

3. Upload your photograph and signature, pay the fee if it applies, and print the submitted form for your records.

Common reasons for rejection are a blurred photograph or signature, a photograph without the date printed on it, an unpaid fee, more than one application, and a domicile State that does not match the certificate. In 2026, one candidate could apply for one Technical & Tradesmen post and one Pioneer post in a single application, with preferences.

Exam pattern

The selection runs in this order: PET, PST, CBT, Trade/Skill Test, Document Verification and medical examination.

Each wrong answer costs 0.25 marks, and CBT scores are normalised before the merit list is drawn up. Questions are of Matriculation level, and calculators are not allowed.

What this means for you:

• Time is generous: You get about 72 seconds per question, so accuracy matters more than speed.

• Guess with care: Four blind guesses that are all wrong cost you a full mark, so attempt only where you can eliminate options.

• Reasoning and GK break ties: Ties are resolved by Part A marks first and then Part B marks, so do not neglect them.

See the CRPF Constable exam pattern page for the Trade Test and qualifying marks.

Syllabus summary

The notification gives an official topic outline for each CBT subject.

The Trade Test has no written syllabus. It checks practical work in your trade. The CRPF Constable syllabus page lists topics and trade test tasks in detail, and short mock test Testkart can help with quick revision of formulas and GK.

Selection process

1. PET and PST: Qualifying only. All candidates who clear them are called for the CBT.

2. CBT: Minimum marks of 30% for UR, 25% for EWS and OBC, and 20% for other categories in Technical & Tradesmen posts. Pioneer posts need 35% for UR and 33% for SC, ST, OBC and EWS.

3. Trade/Skill Test: Qualifying, with at least 20 out of 50 marks needed.

4. Document Verification and DME/RME: Certificates are checked and a detailed medical examination follows, with a review medical for those declared unfit.

5. Final merit: Based only on normalised CBT marks, prepared State/UT-wise and category-wise (all-India for Pioneer).

Salary and career

The pay range is official. Your in-hand salary depends on allowances and the place of posting, so treat any in-hand figure you see online as indicative. Selected candidates can be posted anywhere in India, and promotions to higher ranks follow CRPF rules.

How to prepare

• Start with fitness: The race now comes first, so build running stamina early. Practise the exact distance for your trade group and time yourself every week.

• Cover the four CBT subjects: Revise Class 6 to 10 mathematics, practise reasoning sets daily, and read current affairs for 30 minutes a day.

• Keep your trade sharp: The Trade Test is practical, so keep working in your trade and practise the tasks listed for your post.

• Take full-length mocks: Attempt 100 questions in 2 hours with negative marking, then review every wrong answer.

Cut-off reference

CRPF published the 2023 cycle cut-offs on 22 January 2025, State/UT-wise, trade-wise and category-wise, out of 100 normalised marks. They ranged from 20 to about 89 marks. Driver cut-offs sat near the qualifying minimum in many States but crossed 65 marks for UR in Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, while trades such as Cook and Water Carrier, Gardener and Safai Karamchari often needed 50 marks or more.

Cut-offs change every year with difficulty, vacancies and the number of applicants. Treat last year's figures as a benchmark only, and aim for a clear margin above them. The CRPF Constable cut-off page explains the figures in detail.