INDIAN RAILWAY PROTECTION FORCE (RPF)

The Indian Railway Protection Force (RPF) was formed during the year 1981 with the cadre controlling authority of Director General, RPF and a cadre size of 287 posts. The source of recruitment (in percentage) through direct recruitment, 50%; by promotion, 40% and by lateral entry 10%.

Service hierarchy:

Grade	Pay scales	Designation in field (commercial)	Designation in field (operational)	Any other designation
Junior time scale	8000-13500	Asstt. Security commissioner / Asstt. Commandant	Asstt. Security commissioner	NIL
Selection time scale	10000-15200	Divisional security Commissioner/ commandant	Security commissioner/ commandant	NIL
Junior administrative grade	14300-18300	Sr. Divisional security commissioner/Sr. commandant	Deputy CSC / Joint director	NIL
Senior administrative grade	16400-400-20000	Dy. Inspector General / Principal J.R.R.P.F. Academy, Lucknow	Dy. Inspector general/chief security commissioner / Addl. Chief security commissioner	NIL
Senior administrative grade	18400-500-22400	Inspector General / Chief security commissioner	Inspector general / chief security commissioner	NIL
Higher administrative grade	22400-525-24500		Additional director general	NIL
	26000 (fixed)		Director general	NIL

Brief write up on the service outlining the main functions etc. including areas where interaction and coordination with other services is essential:
RPF is an armed force of the union, which functions under the Ministry of Railways. RPF is solely responsible for protection of Railway property. In addition to that RPF personnel being an armed force of the union are also deployed to assist the state police in maintenance of law and order in various states at the time of elections and other emergencies. RPF coordinates with the civil police and GRP (Government Railway police of the respective states) in controlling crime against railway passenger.

RPF administration is divided 9 zones according to the railways zones. All zones are headed by an officer of the rank of Inspector general / deputy inspector general who functions as chief security commissioner of the respective zone. The headquarters is located at the Ministry i.e., Railway Board, rail Bhavan at New Delhi. Director general/RPF is the supreme authority of the force who functions at the HQ at Railway Board.

RPF has its own training centres at all Zonal Railways where training of RPF personnel of the rank constables and HQ Constables are conducted. It has its training academy located at Lucknow named as Jagjivan Ram RPF Academy. Here, training of officers of the rank of sub-inspector and above are conducted. The training of directly recruited Group A officers are also conducted at this academy. It has also a special force as striking reserve in the form of railway protection special force. It functions in Battalions. All battalions are commanded by an officer of the rank of Sr. commandant/commandant.