Railways in a fix over recruitment under merged service regime

NEW DELHI: Railways seems to be in a fix to get enough fresh technical manpower through the IRMS, an integrated railway service that govt approved in 2019. So far, no fresh officer recruited under this new 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 Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) under the Indian Railway Management Service (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 said 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 govt had approved IRMS by clubbing earlier eight railway services, including engineering, traffic, accounts and personnel.
TOI has learnt that 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.
Meanwhile, there are reports that some recruits under IRMS have written to the Railway Board amid speculation of the national transporter demerging the services into technical and non-technical branches.