Indian Railways has hired more than 10,500 jawans for the Railway Protection Force (RPF). Of these, half the posts were reserved for women constables.
About 1,120 sub-inspectors, 8,619 constables and 798 ancillary staff members have already been recruited. Presently, women constables form only 2.25 per cent of the total strength of RPF. Therefore, attention is being paid to not only empower them but also increase their representation in the present recruitment drive.
The written tests were organised at 400 centres across the country. For the first time, the entire process was computerised. This was done to ensure complete transparency.
Applications were received from 82 lakh candidates. More than 14 lakh applied for the 1120 posts of sub-inspectors. For the post of constables alone, 59 lakh candidates applied, whereas nine lakh candidates applied for the ancillary posts.
Of the 1,120 sub-inspectors who have been hired, 819 are men and 301 are women. Of the 8,619 constables recruited, 4,403 are men and 4,216 women.
While the physical measurement efficiency tests are all complete, the process of getting them verified by the police is still going on.
The selected candidates who will be part of RPF, will have the power to arrest, investigate anyone who tries to damage railway property or is a security threat.
