Railway Protection Force

Railway Protection Force(RPF)
Railway Protection Force(RPF)
	Flag of Railway Protection Force
Abbreviation	RPF
Motto	यशो लभस्व (Sanskrit); "Attain Honour"
Agency overview
Formed	2 July, 1872
Employees	75,000 active personnel
Jurisdictional structure
Federal agency	IN
Operations jurisdiction	IN
Governing body	Indian Railways, Ministry of Railways, Government of India
Constituting instrument	RPF Act, 1957;
General nature	Federal law enforcement;
Operational structure
Headquarters	New Delhi, India
Minister responsible	Ashwini Vaishnaw, Ministry of Railways (India);
Agency executive	Sanjay Chandar, IPS, Director General, RPF;
Zones	18
Website
	http://www.indianrailways.gov.in/

Railway Protection Force is a security force under the ownership of Indian Railways, Ministry of Railways, Government of India established by the Railway Protection Force Act, 1957;^[2] enacted by the Indian Parliament for "the better protection and security of railway property and passenger area". It has the power to search, arrest, investigate, and prosecute offenses committed under Railway Property (Unlawful Possession) Act 1966, The Railways Act, 1989 (amended from time to time). However the power of arrests under other penal laws rests in the hands of the Government Railway Police (GRP) of state police.^[3] The force is under the authority of the Indian Ministry of Railways.

All the officers of Railway Protection Force are members of the Indian Railway Protection Force Service (IRPFS) and are recruited through UPSC Civil Services Examination. They are recruited as Group-A Central Civil Servants. However, the post of Director-General of RPF is held on deputation by a senior Indian Police Service (IPS) officer. Recruitment also occurs for various posts like sub-inspectors & constables. Such recruitments are conducted through various exams held by the Ministry of Railways, Government of India.

History

2010–2020

The percentage of women in the RPF is the highest among all central paramilitary forces in India. It stands at 10% as of March 2019.^[4]

Structure (gazetted officers)

The Gazetted IRPFS Officers utilises a similar rank structure to the IPS (Indian Police Service). Non-gazetted ranks are the same as those used in the State Police Services. The job profile differs for each position ^[5]

Grade	RPF Position	Equivalent Position or Designation in the Government of India (GOI)
Above Super Time Scale (Apex Scale)	Director General of Police	Director (GOI), Director General (GOI), Secretary (R) Cabinet Secretariat (GOI), Director General in CAPFs, Lieutenant-General (three-star rank).
Above Super Time Scale (HAG)(Pay-Band-4)	Additional Director General (ADG)	Additional Director General of Police, Commissioner of Police (City), Special or Additional Director (GOI), Special or Additional Secretary (R) Cabinet Secretariat (GOI), ADG in CAPFs.
Super Time Scale (Senior Administrative Grade)(Pay-Band-4)(IG after 5 years of service as DIG)	Principal Chief Security Commissioner (PCSC) or Inspector-General (IG), Railway Protection Special Force (RPSF)	Inspector General of Police, Commissioner of Police (City), Joint Secretary if empaneled as such (R) Cabinet Secretariat (GOI), IG of CAPFs. Major-General (two-star rank).
Super Time Scale (DIG/Conservator Grade)(Pay-Band-4)(DIG after 5 years of service as Sr. DSC/Sr. Commandant RPSF)	Chief Security Commissioner (CSC) Deputy Inspector-General (DIG), RPSF	, Director (R) Cabinet Secretariat (GOI), DIG in CAPFs. Colonel/Brigadier (one-star rank).
Selection Grade (Pay-Band-4)(After 8 years of service as DSC/Commandant RPSF)	Deputy Chief Security Commissioner (Dy.CSC) Sr. Security Commissioner, Sr. Divisional Security Commissioner (Sr.DSC) (Division) Sr. Commandant RPSF	Senior Superintendent of Police, Director (R) Cabinet Secretariat (GOI), Commandants of CAPFs. Lieutenant Colonel.
Senior Time Scale (Pay-Band-3)(After 5 years of service in cadre)	Divisional Security Commissioner (Division) Security Commissioner RPF Commandant RPSF	Additional Superintendent of Police, Deputy Commandants of CAPFs. Major (pay grade).
Junior Time Scale(Pay-Band-3)	Assistant Security Commissioner (ASC) ASC (Division) Assistant Commandant RPSF/Adjutant	Assistant Superintendent of Police, Circle Officer, Senior Field Officer (R) Cabinet Secretariat. Lieutenant (pay grade).

Governance

The governance of RPF is based on the following^[2] relevant legislation, rules and directives.

Railway Protection Force Act, 1957
Railway Property (Unlawful Possession) Act, 1966
Railway Protection Force Rules, 1987 – Laid, by the central government, as per provisions under RPF Act, 1957.
Railway Protection Force Directives, 1987

Command Structure^[5]
Designation – Superior Officers
HQ	Zonal HQ	Division	Battalion
Director General (DG)
Additional Director General Inspector General	Principal Chief Security Commissioner		Principal Chief Security Commissioner/RPSF
	Chief Security Commissioner		Chief Security Commissioner/RPSF
	Dy. Chief Security Commissioner/Senior Security Commissioner	Senior Divisional Security Commissioner (Sr. DSC)	Sr. Commandant
		Divisional Security Commissioner (DSC)	Commandant
	Assistant Security Commissioner (ASC)	Assistant Security Commissioner (ASC)	Assistant Commandant / Adjutant


Designation – Subordinate Officers and below
Inspector
Sub-Inspector
Assistant Sub-Inspector
Driver / Head Constable
Constable

Units under RPF^[6]
Unit
Breeding and Training Center for police dogs
Central Crime Bureau
Central Weapons Store
Crime Intelligence wing
Special Intelligence Branch
Cyber Cell Branch

References

^ [1]^{[dead link‍]}
^ ^a ^b "Railway Protection Force Act" (PDF). www.nwr.indianrailways.gov.in. Retrieved 15 April 2021.
^ Press Trust of India. "MoS Railways dubs Railway Protection Force as 'toothless', demands more power for it". economictimes.indiatimes.com. Retrieved 12 June 2019.
^ Srivastava, Anushika (8 January 2020). "Railway Protection Force Has Highest Number Of Women Personnel". SheThePeople TV. Retrieved 9 January 2020.
^ ^a ^b "Service Profile for Group "A" Officers in Railway Protection Force" (PDF). RPF. Retrieved 2 August 2015.
^ "RPF rules" (PDF). www.indianrailways.gov.in. 2018. Retrieved 15 April 2021.

External links

Official website of the Railway Protection Force

[1] [1]^{[dead link‍]}

[:0-2] "Railway Protection Force Act" (PDF). www.nwr.indianrailways.gov.in. Retrieved 15 April 2021.

[3] Press Trust of India. "MoS Railways dubs Railway Protection Force as 'toothless', demands more power for it". economictimes.indiatimes.com. Retrieved 12 June 2019.

[4] Srivastava, Anushika (8 January 2020). "Railway Protection Force Has Highest Number Of Women Personnel". SheThePeople TV. Retrieved 9 January 2020.

[:2-5] "Service Profile for Group "A" Officers in Railway Protection Force" (PDF). RPF. Retrieved 2 August 2015.

[:1-6] "RPF rules" (PDF). www.indianrailways.gov.in. 2018. Retrieved 15 April 2021.

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