| Railway Protection Force (RPF) रेलवे सुरक्षा बल | |
|---|---|
 | |
 Flag of Railway Protection Force | |
| Common name | RPF |
| Abbreviation | RPF |
| Motto | यशो लभस्व (Sanskrit) "Attain Honour" |
| Agency overview | |
| Formed | 2 July, 1872 |
| Employees | 75,000 active personnel[1] |
| Jurisdictional structure | |
| Federal agency | IN |
| Operations jurisdiction | IN |
| Governing body | Indian Railways, Ministry of Railways, Government of India |
| Constituting instrument |
|
| General nature | |
| Operational structure | |
| Headquarters | New Delhi, India |
| Minister responsible | |
| Agency executive |
|
| Zones | 18 |
| Website | |
| http://www.indianrailways.gov.in/ | |
Railway Protection Force (RPF) is an armed force of the Union[2] under the Ministry of Railways, Government of India. The force was established by the RPF Act, 1957,[3] enacted by the Indian Parliament for "the better protection and security of railway property and passenger area". It has the power to search, arrest, enquire, and prosecute offenses committed under the Railway Property (Unlawful Possession) Act 1966 and the Railways Act, 1989 (amended from time to time). RPF has also been entrusted with the responsibility of security of railway passenger area and railway passengers since 2004. However the power of arrests under other penal laws rests in the hands of the Government Railway Police (GRP) of each state.[4]
All the officers of Railway Protection Force are members of the Indian Railway Protection Force Service (IRPFS) and are either recruited through UPSC Civil Services Examination or get promoted from Non-Gazetted ranks to Officer Ranks by time bound promotions. 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. Currently Manoj Yadava (IPS) is Director General of Railway Protection Force.[5] 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.
- ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 August 2017. Retrieved 4 March 2021.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ https://nwr.indianrailways.gov.in/uploads/files/1331705691014-RPF_Act1957.pdf[bare URL]
- ^ "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.
- ^ "New Haryana DGP: With Yadava named RPF head, state to take up empanelment of IPS officers with Centre". Hindustan Times. 19 July 2023. Retrieved 22 July 2023.