Indian Railways struggles to attract talent under new IRMS regime

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ET OnlineLast Updated: Sep 02, 2024, 05:29:00 PM IST

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Synopsis

Indian Railways faces recruitment challenges for the Indian Railway Management Service (IRMS), with only 130 selected out of 150 requested candidates in 2022 and 84 out of 150 in 2023. To mitigate the manpower shortage, retired junior officers are being re-engaged as consultants until December 2026.

The Indian Railways is facing challenges in recruiting sufficient technical manpower under the new Indian Railway Management Service (IRMS), which was approved by the government in 2019. Despite efforts to integrate multiple railway services into IRMS, the railways have yet to see a significant influx of fresh officers under this new regime, as the first batch of recruits is still undergoing training.

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Sources told TOI's Dipak K Dash, the Indian Railways requested the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) to recruit 150 personnel for IRMS in 2022. However, only 130 candidates were selected, and of those, around 40 reported for training at the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA) in Mussoorie. The others opted for extraordinary leave (EOL), which officials noted is a common practice as candidates prepare for other exams without receiving a salary. Those who reported are currently completing their final phase of training at a railway institute in Lucknow.

The second round of recruitment in 2023 has also seen a lackluster response. While the railways again requested 150 personnel, only 84 candidates were selected, further exacerbating the manpower shortage across various railway zones.

To address this shortage, the Railways have begun re-engaging retired junior officers as consultants on an "exigency basis" until December 2026. A recent letter from the Railway Board highlighted that these consultants would help manage challenges arising from vacant posts and ensure the continuity of operations and services. Their duties will include inspections, supervision, and drawing, and they will be discharged once new recruits from UPSC or other departmental selections join.

There are also reports of some IRMS recruits expressing concerns to the Railway Board, particularly in light of rumors that the national transporter may consider demerging the services into technical and non-technical branches. This uncertainty and the ongoing recruitment issues have contributed to the current staffing challenges within the Indian Railways.