NEW DELHI: The govt on Saturday gave the go ahead for recruitment of railway officers through Civil Services Examination (CSE) and Engineering Services Examination (ESE) after struggling to get enough fresh technical manpower through the IRMS, an integrated railway service that cabinet had approved in December 2019.
Prior to the Cabinet approval of Indian Railway Management Service (IRMS), the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) used to carry out recruitment tests for railway officers through CSE and ESE.
In an office memorandum, the personnel department (DoPT) on Saturday said that considering the railway ministry’s proposal of Thursday, it gave “in-principle approval” for recruitment through UPSC-CSE and UPSC-ESE “considering the unique requirement of both technical and non-technical manpower” in the ministry.
Railway officials said that in a way this decision is nothing else than bringing back the old system. “The IRMS in railways is not working considering the functional requirement of manpower. Can a student with a history background be tasked to deal with laying of tracks? The govt has understood it. This is a positive move and good for railways,” said a senior official.
Interestingly, while giving the “in-principle” approval for the new recruitment mechanism, the DoPT said, “The proposed scheme of recruitment shall not in any way, be in contravention to the decisions of cabinet December 24, 2019 (read merger of services to IRMS).”
Railway officials, who had flagged flaws in the IRMS, said though in a way the integrated service will now be redundant, by putting this condition the govt has tried to avoid the embarrassment of how the earlier decision has not yielded the desired results.
TOI has learnt that through UPSC-CSE recruitment of officers for accounts, personnel, traffic and stores services would be made while UPSC-ESE would be the exam for recruiting employees for four engineering services -- civil, mechanical signal and electrical. The Railway Protection Force may be put under the home ministry considering this is a paramilitary force.
It can be recalled that so far, no fresh officer recruited under the IRMS regime has joined work as the first batch is still undergoing training and railways isn’t funding enough takers as well.
Sources said the Indian Railways had placed an indent for recruiting 150 personnel with the UPSC under the IRMS in 2022. But only 130 candidates were selected. While around 40 of them reported for training at LBSNAA at Mussoorie, the remaining opted for extra-ordinary leave (EOL). Those who reported at LBSNAA are undergoing the final phase of training at a railway institute in Lucknow.
Though officials claim that successful candidates taking OEL is normal as they prepare for more exams and without salary, the second round of recruitment in 2023 has not found enough takers. While the railways had placed an indent for another 150 personnel under IRMS, barely 84 have been selected, sources said.
The delay in appointment and lukewarm response have caused some shortage of manpower across zones, prompting the railways allowed re-engagement of retired junior railway officers as consultants on an "exigency basis" till Dec 2026 to address the staff crunch.
In a recent letter, the Railway Board said that re-engagement of retired railway officers as consultants is aimed at addressing the challenges faced by “Zonal Railways due to vacant posts” and to ensure the continuity of operations and services.
These consultants will be assigned responsibilities such as inspections, supervision and drawing. “They will be discharged immediately upon the joining of a selected candidate through UPSC or other departmental selection processes,” it said, indicating the delay in getting personnel under the IRMS regime.
Prior to the Cabinet approval of Indian Railway Management Service (IRMS), the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) used to carry out recruitment tests for railway officers through CSE and ESE.
In an office memorandum, the personnel department (DoPT) on Saturday said that considering the railway ministry’s proposal of Thursday, it gave “in-principle approval” for recruitment through UPSC-CSE and UPSC-ESE “considering the unique requirement of both technical and non-technical manpower” in the ministry.
Railway officials said that in a way this decision is nothing else than bringing back the old system. “The IRMS in railways is not working considering the functional requirement of manpower. Can a student with a history background be tasked to deal with laying of tracks? The govt has understood it. This is a positive move and good for railways,” said a senior official.
Interestingly, while giving the “in-principle” approval for the new recruitment mechanism, the DoPT said, “The proposed scheme of recruitment shall not in any way, be in contravention to the decisions of cabinet December 24, 2019 (read merger of services to IRMS).”
Railway officials, who had flagged flaws in the IRMS, said though in a way the integrated service will now be redundant, by putting this condition the govt has tried to avoid the embarrassment of how the earlier decision has not yielded the desired results.
TOI has learnt that through UPSC-CSE recruitment of officers for accounts, personnel, traffic and stores services would be made while UPSC-ESE would be the exam for recruiting employees for four engineering services -- civil, mechanical signal and electrical. The Railway Protection Force may be put under the home ministry considering this is a paramilitary force.
It can be recalled that so far, no fresh officer recruited under the IRMS regime has joined work as the first batch is still undergoing training and railways isn’t funding enough takers as well.
Sources said the Indian Railways had placed an indent for recruiting 150 personnel with the UPSC under the IRMS in 2022. But only 130 candidates were selected. While around 40 of them reported for training at LBSNAA at Mussoorie, the remaining opted for extra-ordinary leave (EOL). Those who reported at LBSNAA are undergoing the final phase of training at a railway institute in Lucknow.
Though officials claim that successful candidates taking OEL is normal as they prepare for more exams and without salary, the second round of recruitment in 2023 has not found enough takers. While the railways had placed an indent for another 150 personnel under IRMS, barely 84 have been selected, sources said.
The delay in appointment and lukewarm response have caused some shortage of manpower across zones, prompting the railways allowed re-engagement of retired junior railway officers as consultants on an "exigency basis" till Dec 2026 to address the staff crunch.
In a recent letter, the Railway Board said that re-engagement of retired railway officers as consultants is aimed at addressing the challenges faced by “Zonal Railways due to vacant posts” and to ensure the continuity of operations and services.
These consultants will be assigned responsibilities such as inspections, supervision and drawing. “They will be discharged immediately upon the joining of a selected candidate through UPSC or other departmental selection processes,” it said, indicating the delay in getting personnel under the IRMS regime.
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