The Railway Protection Force (RPF) is a privacy/safety force, established by the Railway Protection Force Act, 1957 in India; enacted by the Indian Parliament for “the better protection/privacy and security of the railway property and the passenger areas”.
The Railway Protection Force (RPF) has the power to search, arrest, investigate and prosecute offences/offenders carry out under Railway Property (Unlawful Possession) Act 1966, The Railways Act,1989. However, the power to arrests under other penal laws rests in the hands of the Government Railway Police (GoRP). The power is under the jurisdiction of the Indian Ministry of Railways (IMoR). It got renamed afterwards as (IRPFS) Indian Railway Protection Force Service.
Railway Protection Force (RPF) – Roles & Responsibility
The Railway Protection Force (RPF), ensure the security of passengers and the properties of the Indian Railways.
The functions of the force are as follows:
- Arrest and take action against people who steal or damage railway properties.
- Implementing services such as control of access to railway premises, general security and regulation of assumptions used by passengers.
- To provide smooth movement of railway traffic by removing obstructions.
- Maintenance and the enhancement of the Railway Protection Force (RPF) by Security Management System (SMS).
- By preventing the trafficking of women and children and help in the rehabilitation of impoverished people who are found inside railway premises.
Objectives
- To protect the railway properties and to fight crime against it;
- To do any other act valuable to better the privacy of railway property.
- To remove any constraints in the movement/flow of the railway properties.
- To perform other functions/objectives of an armed force of the Union and to exercise the powers of a railway attendant as conferred by or under the Indian Railways Act, 1890.”
- To identify potential situations by analyzing past cases such as – where crime can take place and effective remedial corrective measures.
- Facilitate/ease the passenger-travel and security by removing all anti-social elements from trains, railway premises and passenger area.
- Remain vigilant to prevent trafficking cases and to take appropriate action to rehabilitate destitute/penniless people in the Railway area.
- Co-operate with other departments to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the Indian Railway.
- To act as a bridge b/w the Government Railway Police/local police and the Railway administration.
- Acquire all modern technology, best human rights practices, management techniques and special measures for the preservation of female and elderly passengers, in the pursuit of these objectives proactively.
- To schedule and take up enquires under the Railway Property (Unlawful Possession) Act 1966, apprehend the offenders & participate in subsequent legal proceedings.
Railway Protection Force Powers
The following competence is conferred upon the force to enable them to discharge their duties smoothly:
- Ability to investigate, prosecute and arrest persons engaged in activities which violate the Railways Act, 1890.
- Power to separate blockages such as –
- Illegal constructions & encroachments which obstruct rail transport or passengers.
- Discretionary power to use non-lethal & lethal force based on the situation while discharging their duties.
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Units under Railway Protection Force (RPF)
- Breeding and Training Centre for Police Dogs
- Central Crime Bureau
- Central Weapons Store
- Indian Railway Protection Force Service
Railway Protection Force – Grade and Salary
The Railway Protection Force (RPF) is headed by an IPS officer of the rank of Director-General (DG). The Director-General (DG) is assisted by various officers selected through the UPSC exam.
Railway Protection Force (RPF) pay scale and seniority list are as follows:
Below table give information on Grade and Pascale
Rank | Designation | Pay Level (Basic Pay) |
| Director-General(DG) | Director – General (DG) | Rs.225000 |
| Additional Director General (ADG) | Additional Director General (ADG) | Rs.205400 |
| Inspector General (IG) | Principal Chief Security Commissioner (PCSC) | Rs.144200 |
| Deputy Inspector General (DIG) | Director of RPF Academy/ Chief Security Commissioner (CSC) | Rs.131100 |
| Senior Commandant (SC) | Deputy Chief Security Commissioner/ Senior Divisional Security (SDS) Commissioner/Divisional Security Commissioner (DSC) | Rs. 78800 |
| Commandant | Commanding Officer/ Staff Officer/ Security Commissioner | Rs. 67700 |
| Assistant Commandant | Assistant Security Commissioner | Rs. 56100 |
The salary-structure of the Railway Protection Force (RPF) posts has been updated in recent years, and apart from the pay, now, officers also get various facilities as per their rank, such as:
- Government Accommodation
- Free Railway Passes in First Class.
- Security Guard (SG)
- Commerce railway tickets for all classes of travel
The type of accommodation and other perks depends on the position of the incumbent in the RPF officer’s seniority list.
Summary/Overview
The Railway Protection Force (RPF) is a security/privacy force, established by the Railway Protection Force Act, 1957 in India; enacted by the Indian Parliament for “the better protection/privacy and security of the railway property and the passenger areas”.
The Railway Protection Force (RPF) has the power to search, arrest, investigate and prosecute offences/offenders carry out under Railway Property (Unlawful Possession) Act 1966, The Railways Act,1989. However, the power to arrests under other penal laws rests in the hands of the Government Railway Police (GoRP). The power is under the jurisdiction of the Indian Ministry of Railways (IMoR). It got renamed afterwards as (IRPFS) Indian Railway Protection Force Service.
Areas covered in this article
- Objectives
- Roles and Responsibility
- Salary Overview
- Units
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