RPF Sub-Inspector Exam Pattern 2026
The full RPF Sub-Inspector exam pattern for 2026 — 5 stages, with the sections, question count, marks, duration and negative marking for each, as set by Railway Recruitment Boards (RRBs) on behalf of Railway Protection Force (RPF). Then take a free RPF Sub-Inspector mock in the real pattern below.
Stage 1: Computer-Based Test (CBT)
- Mode
- Online CBT, single shift
- Sections
- General Awareness · Arithmetic · General Intelligence & Reasoning
- Questions
- 120 (GA: 50 · Arithmetic: 35 · Reasoning: 35)
- Marks
- 120 (1 mark per correct)
- Duration
- 90 minutes (120 minutes for PwBD with scribe)
- Negative marking
- -1/3 mark per wrong answer
Same paper structure as RPF Constable but expected difficulty is graduate-level — specific Articles 14/19/21/280/324/356/368, defence operations with year-place pairs, police hierarchy details. Qualifying: UR 35%, OBC-NCL/SC 30%, ST 25%.
Stage 2: Physical Efficiency Test (PET) — Qualifying
- Mode
- Physical performance test at RPF grounds
- Sections
- Run · Long Jump · High Jump
- Questions
- —
- Marks
- Qualifying only — no marks added to merit
- Duration
- Male: 1600m run in 6 min 30 sec, long jump 12 ft, high jump 3 ft 9 in. Female: 800m run in 4 min, long jump 9 ft, high jump 3 ft.
- Negative marking
- —
SI PET is marginally easier than Constable PET — graduate audience and officer-rank conditioning is expected to come during academy training. Three chances for jumps, single chance for run.
Stage 3: Physical Measurement Test (PMT) — Qualifying
- Mode
- Height and chest measurement
- Sections
- Height (all candidates) · Chest with expansion (males only)
- Questions
- —
- Marks
- Qualifying only
- Duration
- Same day or next day, after PET
- Negative marking
- —
Below minimum standard = disqualification. Relaxations for ST, Gorkha, Garhwali, Sikkimese, Hill area candidates as specified in notification.
Stage 4: Document Verification (DV)
- Mode
- Document examination at regional RRB office
- Sections
- Educational certificates · Date-of-birth proof · Category certificate · Identity proof · Photographs · Address proof
- Questions
- —
- Marks
- —
- Duration
- Variable — 2-4 hours per candidate
- Negative marking
- —
Officer-rank role — DV is more thorough than Constable. Carry originals + 2 self-attested photocopies of each document. Any discrepancy disqualifies.
Stage 5: Medical Examination
- Mode
- Medical board at railway hospital
- Sections
- General fitness · Vision (incl. colour vision) · Hearing · BP · BMI · Disease screening
- Questions
- —
- Marks
- Qualifying only — standard B-1 (better fitness than Constable's B-2)
- Duration
- 1 day at designated railway hospital
- Negative marking
- —
Officer rank requires B-1 standard — vision 6/6 in better eye, 6/9 in worse eye (without glasses), normal colour vision, no chronic disease, normal hearing. Single re-medical from higher medical board if rejected.
You know the pattern — now practise in it.
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