Rly management service to offer five specialisations; recruitment through UPSC: Chairman Rly Board

 All new recruits in railways will be inducted through UPSC civil services exams under five specialities, Railway Board Chairman V K Yav said on Thursday, days after Cabinet approved merger of its eight services into one -- Indian Railway Manment Service (IRMS).

He said just like aspirants to Union Public Service Commission, candidates aspiring to get into railways will have to appear for ir prelims after which y will indicate ir preference for IRMS under five specialities -- four of m engineering specialities for 'technical' operations comprising of civil, mechanical, telecom and electrical, and one 'n-technical' speciality which will recruit officers for accounts, personnel and traffic.

" exact details will be worked out, but thinking is like this -- aspirants take prelim and n indicate ir choices. y will be given an option to appear for IRMS also," Yav said.

"We are going to send an indent specifying our recruitment for five specialisations -- four for engineers, including that of stores (department) and ar for n-engineering in which anyone can come from humanities side who will be utilised for manning accounts, traffic and personnel service. All of m will be promoted at same time," said Yav.

He also clarified that Chairman, Railway Board, who will also be CEO of national transporter, will be an officer of Indian Railway Service and t from any or service.

"Officers from Indian Railways who have experience of 35 yrs will only be posted as Chairman/CEO," CRB Yav, who is due for retirement by end of this month, said.

He also said that decision to merge services was to ensure that officers put railways first inste of ir service which h become case under present system.

"All officers would continue to work in ir specialised services till modalities were worked out regarding cre merger. We would ensure that t even a single officer is disvantd in ir career progression," said Yav, amidst fears among officers that merger of railway services would cost m seniority.

Yav said railway will try to "pull up" those officers who are lagging behind inste of "pulling down" those who are ahe in ir careers.

Cabinet on Tuesday approved big ticket reforms in railways by merging its eight cres and and departments into a single entity.

With se new changes, Chairman along with four members responsible for infrastructure, operations and business development, rolling stock and finance respectively will form Railway Board.

Chairman shall be cre controlling officer responsible for Human Resources (HR) with assistance from a DG (HR). Three apex level posts shall be surrendered from Railway Board and all its remaining posts shall be open to all officers regardless of service to which y belonged.

Board will also have some independent n-executive members, who will be highly distinguished professionals with deep kwledge and 30 years of experience including at top levels in industry, finance, ecomics and manment fields, Yav said.

" independent members will help Railway Board in setting a strategic direction. y will be available during Board meetings but t involved with day to day running of railways," he said. PTI ASG ASG RDM

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