RPF Constable Eligibility: Age Limit, Qualification and Physical Standards

RPF Constable eligibility depends on three things: your educational qualification, your age on the date set in the notification, and the physical standards for the Executive cadre. The basic qualification is Class 10, but the age limit and height requirement changed with the Railway Protection Force (Amendment) Rules, 2025, notified on 17 October 2025.

Many websites still show the earlier age range of 18 to 28 years. That was correct for CEN RPF 02/2024, the last cycle, but the amended rules set a lower limit for Constable (Executive). This page keeps the current rule and the older cycle in separate sections so you can check your eligibility without confusion.

Table of Contents

• Eligibility at a glance

• What changed in the 2025 rules

• Educational qualification

• Age limit and relaxation

• Physical standards

• Physical Efficiency Test standards

• Medical standards

• Nationality and other conditions

• Who may not be eligible

• Fee and documents

Eligibility at a glance

What changed in the 2025 rules

• Age limit lowered: A new Rule 48.3 fixes the age for Constable (Executive) at above 18 and below 23 years on the date of the notification.

• Height raised: The substituted Rule 47 sets 170 cm for the Executive cadre. Female and reserved-category candidates follow CAPF standards.

• Recruitment procedure: The amended Rule 49 says direct recruitment of Executive Constables follows the SSC procedure for Central Armed Police Forces.

• Medical examination: A new Rule 51.1 requires examination by a CAPF medical officer or a Grade-I Assistant Surgeon or Medical Officer of a central or state government hospital.

The rules are published as G.S.R. 766(E) by the Ministry of Railways. As of 19 October 2026 we found no new recruitment notification, so the exact reference date for age and any relaxations are still to be confirmed. Check the RPF website and the SSC website for the notice.

Educational qualification

You need to have passed Class 10 (High School or Matriculation) or an equivalent examination from a recognised board or university. Graduation is not needed for Constable (Executive). Keep your final marksheet or pass certificate ready, because the document verification stage checks it against your application.

If your Class 10 result is awaited, check the notification for the last date by which you must hold the certificate. Do not assume that applying with a pending result is allowed.

Age limit and relaxation

Under the 2025 amended rules

The age must be above 18 and below 23 years on the date of the recruitment notification. This is a stricter window than before. Because the reference date is the notification date, candidates should calculate their age from the date printed in the notice, not from the date they apply.

In the last cycle

CEN RPF 02/2024 allowed 18 to 28 years as on 1 July 2024. The relaxations in that cycle are listed below. They are given for reference, because the notification for the next cycle will say which relaxations apply.

Physical standards

The Physical Measurement Test (PMT) checks height and, for men, chest. The table shows the standards used in the last cycle together with the amended rule for the Executive cadre.

The amended rule allows a relaxation of 2.5 cm in height and 5 cm in chest for candidates under 20 years, if a Divisional Medical Officer certifies that they are likely to reach the standard by the maximum age. The Director-General may prescribe separate standards for female direct recruits. Whether the CAPF relaxations for reserved categories or hill regions apply will be clear only in the notification.

Physical Efficiency Test standards

The PET is a qualifying test. These are the standards used in CEN RPF 02/2024. The SSC process may use different events or timings, so use them as a training target and not as a final list.

Medical standards

You must be medically fit as per the prescribed standards. Under the amended rules, the examination is conducted by a CAPF medical officer, or a Grade-I Assistant Surgeon or Medical Officer from a central or state government hospital or dispensary. Common checks include vision, hearing and general fitness. Read the medical standards in the notification before the physical stage so that any correctable issue is handled early.

Nationality and other conditions

• Nationality: Candidates must meet the nationality conditions given in the notification, in line with central government recruitment rules.

• Gender: Both men and women can apply. In the last cycle vacancies were reserved separately for women, and the notice listed male and female vacancies.

• Character: Appointment is subject to a satisfactory character and antecedent verification.

• One application: Submit a single application under one registration. Multiple applications can lead to rejection.

Who may not be eligible

• Over the age limit: Candidates who are not within the age window on the notification date, after any relaxation.

• Below the physical standard: Candidates who do not meet the height or chest requirement for their category.

• Incomplete documents: Candidates who cannot produce their original certificates at document verification.

• Wrong category claim: A category certificate that does not match the application can lead to cancellation.

Fee and documents

In CEN RPF 02/2024 the fee was Rs. 500 for General and OBC candidates and Rs. 250 for SC, ST, ex-servicemen, women, transgender candidates, minorities and economically backward classes, with refunds on appearing in the CBT. Treat these as last-cycle figures. Keep your Class 10 certificate, date of birth proof, category certificate and photo ID ready. See the RPF Constable recruitment overview for the application steps.