• To protect and safeguard Railway Property, Passenger area and Passengers.
• To remove any obstruction in the movement of Railway Property and Passengers area.
• To do any other act conducive to better protection and security of Railway Property, Passenger area and Passengers.

The RPF also performs duties relating to passenger facilitation, ensuring passenger's safety and security, action against unauthorized hawkers, beggars and urchins, trespassers etc.

In addition, the RPF as a Central Police Organization (CPO) has to undertake duties pertaining to movements, Melas, Agitations etc.

The objectives of the RPF are to carry on an unrelenting fight against criminals in protecting railway property, Facilitate passenger safety and security by removing all anti-social elements form trains and railway premises, Co-operate with sister departments of the Railways in improving the efficiency and the image of the Indian Railways, Act as a bridge between the Government Railway Police/Local Police and the Railway administration and Adopt all modern technology and management techniques in the pursuit of these objects.