CRPF Recruitment 2026 — Constable GD, SI, Inspector Posts, Selection Process & Salary

The Central Reserve Police Force is India's largest Central Armed Police Organisation, with over 3.25 lakh personnel deployed across counter-insurgency operations, internal security duties, election duties, and UN peacekeeping missions. Getting into CRPF is competitive — but the selection process is straightforward once you understand how each post is filled.

Posts and Recruiting Routes

CRPF doesn't fill all posts through a single exam. Different positions are filled through different agencies:

Post	Recruitment Agency	Qualification
Constable GD	SSC (Staff Selection Commission)	10th pass
Constable (Technical/Tradesmen)	CRPF direct	10th/12th + trade
Head Constable (Ministerial)	CRPF direct	12th pass
Head Constable (HC/RO, HC/AWO)	SSC CPO or CRPF direct	12th pass
Assistant Sub Inspector (ASI/Steno)	CRPF direct	12th pass
Sub Inspector (GD)	SSC CPO	Graduation
Sub Inspector (Technical)	CRPF direct	Diploma/Engineering
Inspector	Limited departmental / direct	Graduation
Assistant Commandant (AC)	UPSC CAPF AC Exam	Graduation

The two most common entry points are Constable GD via SSC GD and Sub Inspector via SSC CPO.

Constable GD — The Most Common Entry

SSC conducts the GD Constable exam annually for all CAPFs including CRPF, BSF, CISF, ITBP, and SSB. Vacancies are released together but merit lists are organisation-specific.

Eligibility:

• 10th pass (Matriculation) from a recognised board
• Age: 18–23 years (SC/ST get 5 years relaxation, OBC 3 years, ex-servicemen up to 5 years)
• Physical standards (see below)

Physical Standards for Constable GD:

Category	Male Height	Female Height	Male Chest	Weight
General/OBC/SC	170 cm	157 cm	80/85 cm	Proportionate
ST candidates	162.5 cm	150 cm	76/81 cm	Proportionate
NE states, Gorkha, etc.	157 cm	148 cm	77/82 cm	Proportionate

Physical Efficiency Test (PET):

• Male: 5 km run in 24 minutes; Long jump: 14 feet; High jump: 3.5 feet; 1.6 km race
• Female: 1.6 km run in 8.5 minutes; Long jump: 9 feet; High jump: 3 feet

Selection Process:

1. Computer Based Test (CBT) — General Intelligence, General Knowledge, Elementary Mathematics, English/Hindi
2. Physical Efficiency Test (PET)
3. Physical Standard Test (PST) — Height, chest, weight measurement
4. Medical Examination
5. Document Verification

The CBT carries 160 marks. Question paper has 160 questions in 60 minutes (2 marks each, no negative marking in recent patterns — check latest notification).

Sub Inspector (GD) via SSC CPO

SSC CPO (Central Police Organisation) exam fills SI posts in CRPF, BSF, CISF, ITBP, SSB, and Delhi Police.

Eligibility:

• Graduation in any stream from a recognised university
• Age: 20–25 years (usual relaxations for SC/ST/OBC apply)
• Physical standards are more stringent than constable level

SSC CPO Selection Stages:

1. Paper I (CBT) — General Intelligence, General Knowledge, Quantitative Aptitude, English Comprehension (200 marks, 2 hours)
2. Physical Standard Test (PST) + Physical Endurance Test (PET)
3. Paper II (English Language and Comprehension — 200 marks, 2 hours)
4. Medical Examination
5. Document Verification

SIs join at a significantly higher pay level than constables, and the career progression is faster.

Head Constable (Ministerial)

Head Constable Ministerial (HC/Min) handles clerical and administrative work within CRPF units. Selection is CRPF direct — they release their own notifications.

• 12th pass with typing speed (English: 35 WPM or Hindi: 30 WPM usually)
• A written test covering General Knowledge, Maths, Reasoning, English/Hindi
• Skill test (typing) as the qualifying round

Inspector and Above

Inspector posts are mostly filled through departmental promotion — constables and SIs who clear departmental exams and have the required service period move up to Inspector. Direct recruitment to Inspector is rare and usually for specific trade/technical posts.

Beyond Inspector, the path to Commandant, DIG, IG, etc. comes either through promotion or through the UPSC CAPF AC exam (for Assistant Commandant — entry as officer from outside).

CRPF Salary Structure

Constable GD

• Pay Level: Level 3 (7th CPC)
• Basic Pay: ₹21,700 – ₹69,100
• Military Service Pay equivalent: Not applicable (CRPF is paramilitary, not military)
• Gross in-hand (including HRA, TA, DA): approximately ₹35,000 – ₹42,000 depending on posting city

Head Constable

• Pay Level: Level 4
• Basic Pay: ₹25,500 – ₹81,100
• Gross: approximately ₹40,000 – ₹48,000

Sub Inspector

• Pay Level: Level 6
• Basic Pay: ₹35,400 – ₹1,12,400
• Gross in-hand: approximately ₹55,000 – ₹65,000

Inspector

• Pay Level: Level 7
• Basic Pay: ₹44,900 – ₹1,42,400
• Gross: approximately ₹70,000 – ₹80,000

Additional benefits:

• Free ration or Ration Money Allowance
• Risk and Hardship Allowance for operational deployments
• CGHS health coverage
• CSD canteen facilities
• Accommodation in CRPF camps/barracks or HRA
• Leave Travel Concession (LTC)

Deployment and Posting Locations

CRPF has a unique character — it's genuinely deployed everywhere:

• Counter-insurgency operations in Chhattisgarh (Naxal areas), Jammu & Kashmir, Manipur, Nagaland
• VIP and installation security — Parliament security detail, protecting sensitive locations
• Election duties — Deployed heavily during state and national elections
• Riot control and peace-keeping — Internal security duties across states
• UN Peacekeeping Missions — CRPF personnel deploy abroad under UN flag (Sri Lanka, Haiti, Liberia, various missions)

Freshers should be mentally prepared for operational postings — especially Chhattisgarh for Naxal operations and border states. These come with hardship allowances but also genuine risk.

Work Life in CRPF

Life in CRPF is genuinely different from civilian government jobs. A few honest observations:

Shift system at peacetime postings — At bases and camps, duty is rotational. Not a standard 9-to-5 job. Leaves — Annual leave is available but operational requirements can delay it. Earned Leave (EL), Casual Leave (CL), and special leaves are applicable per government rules. Unit camaraderie — The battalion/unit system creates a strong sense of belonging. CRPF battalions develop their own cultures over time. Transfer policy — Transfers happen every 3–5 years typically. Officers and senior NCOs have more control over transfer preferences with seniority. Promotion timeline — From Constable to Head Constable typically takes 6–8 years of service plus passing a departmental exam. HC to ASI takes further time. It's not the fastest-moving career but is stable.

Check SarkariNaukriHub for the latest CRPF recruitment notifications, application links, and official PDF downloads.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a height relaxation for female candidates in CRPF? Yes. Female candidates have lower height requirements (157 cm for general, 148–150 cm for tribal/NE candidates). Physical efficiency test standards also differ for women. Can CRPF constables become officers? Through departmental promotion, constables can rise to Inspector, Commandant, and beyond. However, for officer rank entry (Assistant Commandant), the UPSC CAPF AC exam is the direct civilian route. Are there medical expenses covered for CRPF family members? Yes. CRPF personnel are covered under CGHS (Central Government Health Scheme) which covers both the employee and their family members for medical expenses at CGHS-empanelled hospitals. What is the posting like for a freshly joined Constable GD? New constables typically go through basic training at a CRPF training centre (multiple locations across India — Neemuch, Srinagar, Latur, etc.) for about 9 months before joining a battalion. First postings are often operational — there's no guarantee of a "comfortable" location initially.

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