• Sonali Mishra, a 1993 batch IPS officer from Madhya Pradesh cadre, assumed charge as the new Director General of the Railway Protection Force (RPF), marking a historic first in the force’s 143-year journey.

• The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet approved her appointment as the Director General (DG), RPF, until her superannuation on October 31, 2026.

• Mishra brings over three decades of distinguished service to the post. Prior to this assignment, she served as Additional Director General of Police (Selection/Recruitment) with the additional charges of ADG, Police Training & Research Institute, Bhopal and Director of the Madhya Pradesh Police Academy, Bhopal.

• She has also served in the CBI, BSF and has international exposure of having served with the United Nations Peacekeeping Mission in Kosovo. 

• She has been honoured with prestigious awards, including the President’s Police Medal for Distinguished Service and the Police Medal for Meritorious Service in recognition of her commitment to excellence and professionalism.

Railway Protection Force

• ‘Police’ and ‘Public Order’ are State subjects under the Seventh Schedule to the Constitution of India. Therefore, state governments are responsible for prevention, detection, registration and investigation of crime and maintenance of law and order on Railways through their law enforcement agencies — Government Railway Police (GRP)/District Police. 

• Registration of FIRs, their investigation and maintenance of law & order in railway station premises as well as in running trains are the statutory responsibility of state governments, which they discharge through the respective Government Railway Police (GRP). 

• Railway Protection Force (RPF) supplements the efforts of GRP/District Police to provide better protection and security to railway property, passenger area and passengers and for matters connected therewith. 

• RPF is the lead security agency in the field of railway security having a pan-India reach.

• The history of the Railway Protection Force dates back to 1882 when various railway companies appointed their own guards for protection of railway property. 

• It was declared as statutory force in 1957 by an enactment of Parliament subsequently declared as an Armed Force of the Union of India in 1985. 

• RPF is headed by an officer of the rank of Director General, who functions under the ministry of railways.

• RPF is empowered under the ‘Railway Property (Unlawful Possession) Act, 1966’ to deal with cases of theft, dishonest misappropriation and unlawful possession of Railway property. 

• A special formation called Railway Protection Special Force (RPSF), which is organised on battalion pattern, provides specialised service to assist the RPF in Zonal Railways. 

• At present, there are 15 battalions of RPSF located in various parts of the country, including one Mahila Battalion and one Commando battalion (CORAS).

• In August 2019, the first commando force for Railways — CORAS (Commandos for Railway Security) — was inducted. Comprising RPF and RPSF personnel, the CORAS is armed with special uniforms with bullet-proof jackets, helmets and sophisticated weapons. CORAS commandos have undergone training programmes, including basic and advanced commando courses with specialisation in handling landmines and improvised explosive devices, hostage rescue, sniping and breaching. The unit is being envisaged as a responder for any situation pertaining to damage, disturbance, disruption of train operations, attack/hostage/hijack, and disaster situations in Railway areas.

• Separate specialised intelligence units — Special Intelligence Branch (SIB) and Crime Intelligence Branch (CIB) also function at Divisional as well as Zonal Railways’ level for collection of special and criminal intelligence respectively.

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