Lok Sabha Question No. 581 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-07-23
Subject: Re-engagement of Retired Railway Employees
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Shri  Selvaganapathi T.M.

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 581 TO BE ANSWERED ON 23.07.2025

## RE-ENGAGEMENT OF RETIRED RAILWAY EMPLOYEES

581. SHRI SELVAGANAPATHI T.M. :

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  it  is  a  fact  that  the  railways  has  taken  a  decision  to  reengage retired Railway employees against the vacant non-gazetted posts, if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the Divisional Railway Managers are empowered to appoint them on a contract basis as volunteers, if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether it is also a fact that there are more than three lakh posts are  lying  vacant  in  the  Railways  and  this  method  is  being  adopted  for filling the vacant posts, if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether it is also a fact that human error due to shortage of staff was the major cause of all the train accidents that took place during the last few years; and
- (e) if  so,  the  details  of  corrective  steps  taken  by  the  Railways  in  this regard?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, INFORMATION & BROADCASTING AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

(a) to (c) : Occurrence and filling up of vacancies is a continuous process on Indian Railways considering its size, spatial distribution and criticality of operation. Adequate and suitable manpower is provided to cater to the regular operations, changes in technology, mechanization and innovative practices. The vacancies are filled up primarily by placement of indents by Railways with Recruitment agencies as per operational and technological requirements.

After easing of restrictions imposed on account of COVID 19, two major examinations  involving more  than  2.37 crore candidates  had  been conducted successfully during 2020 to 2022.

| Exam    | Candidates   |   Cities |   Centers |   Days |   Shifts |
|---------|--------------|----------|-----------|--------|----------|
| L2 - L6 | 1.26 cr      |      211 |       726 |     68 |      133 |
| L1      | 1.1 cr       |      191 |       551 |     33 |       99 |

Based  on  these  exams,  1,30,581  candidates  have  been  recruited  in Railways.

The RRB examinations are quite technical in nature entailing large scale mobilization  of  men  and  resources  and  training  of  manpower.  Railway overcame all these challenges and successfully conducted the recruitment in a transparent manner following all laid down guidelines. No instance of paper leakage or similar malpractice has occurred during the entire process.

Recruitment  done  in  Indian  Railways  during  2004-2014  vis-à-vis  during 2014-2024 is given as under:-

| Period                 | Recruitments*   |
|------------------------|-----------------|
| 2004-2005 to 2013-2014 | 4.11 lakh       |
| 2014-2015 to 2024-2025 | 5.08 lakh       |

Further, as system improvement, the Ministry of Railways has introduced a system of publishing the annual calendar from 2024 for recruitment to various  categories  of  Group  'C'  post.  The  introduction  of  the  annual calendar will benefit the aspirants in the following manner:

- More opportunities for candidates;
- Opportunities to those becoming eligible every year;
- Certainty of exams;
- Faster Recruitment process, Training and Appointments

Accordingly, ten Centralized Employment Notifications (CENs) for 92,116 vacancies have been notified during January to December 2024 for filling up of posts of Assistant Loco  Pilots, Technicians, Sub-Inspectors, Constables  in  Railway  Protection  Force  (RPF),  Junior  Engineers  (JEs)/ Depot Material Superintendent (DMS)/ Chemical & Metallurgical Assistant (CMA), Paramedical Categories, Non-Technical Popular Categories (Graduate) and Non-Technical Popular Categories (Under-Graduate), Ministerial & Isolated Categories and Level-1.

First  stage  Computer  Based  Tests  (CBTs)  for  55197  posts  have  been completed in four phases.  Details are as under-

| Exam                                                  | Candidates   |   Cities |   Centers |   Days |   Shifts |
|-------------------------------------------------------|--------------|----------|-----------|--------|----------|
| 1 st Stage CBT for the post of ALP (18,799 vacancies) | 18,40,347    |      156 |       346 |      5 |       15 |
| CBT for the post of Technician (14,298 vacancies)     | 26,99,892    |      139 |       312 |      9 |       27 |

| 1 st Stage CBT for the post of JE/DMS/CMA (7,951 vacancies)                    | 11,01,266   |   146 |   323 |   3 |   9 |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------|-------|-------|-----|-----|
| CBT for the post of RPF-SI (452 vacancies)                                     | 15,35,635   |   143 |   306 |   5 |  15 |
| CBT for the post of RPF- Constable (4208 vacancies)                            | 45,30,288   |   147 |   348 |  12 |  36 |
| CBT for Paramedical Categories (1376 vacancies)                                | 7,08,321    |   143 |   300 |   3 |   9 |
| 1 st Stage CBT for Non- Technical Popular Category (Graduate) (8113 vacancies) | 58,41,774   |   141 |   355 |  16 |  47 |

Results of CBTs for the posts of ALP (1st stage), RPF-SI and Constable, JE/DMS/CMA  (1st  Stage)  and  Technicians  have  already  been  published. 2nd  stage  CBTs  for  the  posts  of  ALP  and  JE/DMS/CMA  have  also  been completed,  Details are as under:-

| Exam                                                        | Candidates   |   Cities |   Centers |   Days |   Shifts |
|-------------------------------------------------------------|--------------|----------|-----------|--------|----------|
| 2 nd Stage CBT for the post of ALP (18,799 vacancies)       | 2,66,363     |      112 |       213 |      2 |        4 |
| 2 nd Stage CBT for the post of JE/DMS/CMA (7,951 vacancies) | 1,17,339     |      118 |       200 |      2 |        3 |

Results for CBTs of ALP (2 nd  Stage) for all 21 RRBs have been published.

Panels for the posts of Technicians have been sent to indenting Railways.

In  addition,  as  per  Annual  Calendar  for  the  year  2025,  following  two Centralized Employment Notifications have also been issued-

- a. Centralized  Employment  Notification  (CEN)  No.  01/2025  for 9970 vacancies of ALPs has been notified in March 2025.
- b. Centralized  Employment  Notification  (CEN)  No.  02/2025,  for 6238 vacancies of Technician has been notified in June 2025.

However, sometime in order to meet exigencies, retired Railway employees are re-engaged against the vacant posts temporarily based on competency, experience etc. to ensure smooth progress of the developmental and other works till the vacancies are filled up on regular basis  as  per  the  laid  down  rules  and  procedure.  Power  to  re-engage retired employees in divisions is delegated to Divisional Railway Manager.

(d) & (e) Safety is accorded the highest priority on Indian Railways. It may be noted that the Consequential Train Accidents during the period 2004-14 was 1711 (average 171 per annum), which has declined to 31 in 2024-25 and further to 3 in 2025-26 (upto June).

Another  important  index  showing  improved  safety  in  train  operations  is Accidents  Per  Million  Train  Kilometer  (APMTKM)  which  has  reduced  from 0.11  in  2014-15  to  0.03  in  2024-25,  indicating  an  improvement  of  approx. 73% during the said period.

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Consequential Train Accidents on Indian Railways and casualties (including railway passengers and railway personnel) therein are as follows:-

| Period             |   No. of Consequential Train Accidents |   No. of Deaths |   No. of Injuries |
|--------------------|----------------------------------------|-----------------|-------------------|
| 2004-05 to 2013-14 |                                   1711 |             904 |              3155 |
| 2014-15 to 2023-24 |                                    678 |             748 |              2087 |

Causes of these accidents include Track defects, Signal failures & Human failures etc.

The various safety measures taken to enhance safety in train operations are as under:-

## 1. On Indian Railways, the expenditure on Safety related activities has increased over the years as under:-

| Expenditure on Safety related activities (Rs. in Cr.)   | Expenditure on Safety related activities (Rs. in Cr.)   | Expenditure on Safety related activities (Rs. in Cr.)   | Expenditure on Safety related activities (Rs. in Cr.)   | Expenditure on Safety related activities (Rs. in Cr.)   | Expenditure on Safety related activities (Rs. in Cr.)   |
|---------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------|
|                                                         | 2013-14 (Act.)                                          | 2022-23 (Act.)                                          | 2023-24 (Act.)                                          | RE 2024-25                                              | BE 2025-26                                              |
| Maintenance of Permanent Way & Works                    | 9,172                                                   | 18,115                                                  | 20,322                                                  | 21,800                                                  | 23,316                                                  |
| Maintenance of Motive Power and Rolling Stock           | 14,796                                                  | 27,086                                                  | 30,864                                                  | 31,540                                                  | 30,666                                                  |
| Maintenance of Machines                                 | 5,406                                                   | 9,828                                                   | 10,772                                                  | 12,112                                                  | 12,880                                                  |
| Road Safety LCs and ROBs/ RUBs                          | 1,986                                                   | 5,347                                                   | 6,662                                                   | 8,184                                                   | 7,706                                                   |
| Track Renewals                                          | 4,985                                                   | 16,326                                                  | 17,850                                                  | 22,669                                                  | 22,800                                                  |
| Bridge Works                                            | 390                                                     | 1,050                                                   | 1,907                                                   | 2,130                                                   | 2,169                                                   |
| Signal & Telecom Works                                  | 905                                                     | 2,456                                                   | 3,751                                                   | 6,006                                                   | 6,800                                                   |
| Workshops Incl. PUs and Misc. expenditure on Safety     | 1,823                                                   | 7,119                                                   | 9,523                                                   | 9,581                                                   | 10,134                                                  |
| Total                                                   | 39,463                                                  | 87,327                                                  | 1,01,651                                                | 1,14,022                                                | 1,16,470                                                |

2. Electrical/Electronic Interlocking Systems with centralized operation of points and signals have been provided at 6,635 stations up to 30.06.2025 to reduce accident due to human failure.
3. Interlocking  of  Level  Crossing  (LC)  Gates  has  been  provided  at 11,096 level Crossing Gates up to 30.06.2025 for enhancing safety at LC gates.
4. Complete Track Circuiting of stations to enhance safety by verification  of  track  occupancy  by  electrical  means  has  been provided at 6,640 stations up to 30.06.2025.
5. Kavach  is  a  highly  technology  intensive  system,  which  requires safety  certification  of  highest  order.  Kavach  was  adopted  as  a National ATP system in July 2020. Kavach is provided progressively in  phased manner. Kavach has already been deployed on 1548 Km on South Central Railway and North Central Railway. Presently, the work  is  in  progress  on  Delhi-Mumbai  and  Delhi-Howrah  corridors (approximately 3000 RKm). Track side works on these routes have been completed on about 2200 RKm as on 30.06.2025. Regular trials are being done on these sections.
6. Detailed instructions on issues related with safety of Signaling, e.g. mandatory correspondence check, alteration work protocol, preparation of completion drawing, etc. have been issued.
7. System of disconnection and reconnection for S&T equipment as per protocol has been re-emphasized.
8. All  locomotives are  equipped with Vigilance Control Devices (VCD) to improve alertness of Loco Pilots.
9. Retro-reflective  sigma  boards  are  provided  on  the  mast  which  is located two OHE masts prior to the signals in electrified territories

to alert the crew about the signal ahead when visibility is low due to

- foggy weather.
10. A GPS based Fog Safety Device (FSD) is provided to loco pilots in fog affected areas which enables loco pilots to know the distance of the approaching landmarks like signals, level crossing gates, etc.
11. Modern  track  structure  consisting  of  60kg,  90  Ultimate  Tensile Strength (UTS) rails, Prestressed Concrete Sleeper (PSC) Normal/Wide base sleepers with elastic fastening, fan shaped layout turnout  on  PSC  sleepers,  Steel  Channel/H-beam  Sleepers  on  girder bridges is used while carrying out primary track renewals.
12. Mechanisation of track laying activity through use of track machines like PQRS, TRT, T-28 etc. to reduce human errors.
13. Maximizing  supply  of  130m/260m  long  rail  panels  for  increasing progress  of  rail  renewal  and  avoiding  welding  of  joints,  thereby improving safety.
14. Ultrasonic Flaw Detection (USFD) testing of rails to detect flaws and timely removal of defective rails.
15. Laying  of  longer  rails,  minimizing  the  use  of  Alumino  Thermic Welding  and  adoption  of  better  welding  technology  for  rails  i.e., Flash Butt Welding.
16. Monitoring of track geometry by OMS  (Oscillation Monitoring System) and TRC (Track Recording Cars).
- 17.
- Patrolling of railway tracks to look out for weld/rail fractures.
18. The  use  of  Thick  Web  Switches  and  Weldable  CMS  Crossing  in turnout renewal works.
19. Inspections  at  regular  intervals  are  carried  out  to  monitor  and educate staff for observance of safe practices.
20. Web  based  online  monitoring  system  of  track  assets  viz.  Track database and decision support system has been adopted to decide rationalized maintenance requirement and optimize inputs.
21. Detailed  instructions  on  issues  related  with  safety  of  Track,  e.g. integrated block, corridor block, worksite safety, monsoon precautions, etc. have been issued.
22. Preventive  maintenance  of  railway  assets  (Coaches  &  Wagons)  is undertaken to ensure safe train operations.
23. Replacement of conventional ICF design coaches with LHB design coaches is being done.
24. All  unmanned  level  crossings  (UMLCs)  on  Broad  Gauge  (BG)  route have been eliminated by January 2019.
25. Safety of Railway Bridges is ensured through regular inspection of Bridges. The requirement of repair/rehabilitation of Bridges is taken up based upon the conditions assessed during these inspections.
26. Indian Railways has displayed Statutory 'Fire Notices' for widespread  passenger  information  in  all  coaches.  Fire  posters  are provided  in  every  coach  so  as  to  educate  and  alert  passengers regarding  various  Do's  and  Don'ts  to  prevent  fire.  These  include messages regarding not carrying any inflammable material, explosives, prohibition of smoking inside the coaches, penalties etc.
27. Production  Units  are  providing  Fire  detection  and  suppression system in newly manufactured Power Cars and Pantry Cars, Fire and Smoke detection system in newly manufactured coaches. Progressive fitment of the same  in existing coaches  is also underway by Zonal Railways in a phased manner.
- 28.
- Regular counselling and training of staff is undertaken.
29. Concept of Rolling Block introduced in Indian Railways (Open Lines) General Rules vide Gazette  notification dated 30.11.2023, wherein work  of  integrated  maintenance/  repair/replacement  of  assets  is planned up to 52 weeks in advance on rolling basis and executed as per plan.
30. The details of the Safety related works related to better maintenance practices, Technological improvements, better infrastructure  and  rolling  stock  etc.  undertaken  by  Railways  are tabulated below:-

| S.N.   | Item                                    | 2004-05 to 2013-14         | 2014-15 to 2024-25 (till March 25)   | 2014-25 Vs. 2004-14        |
|--------|-----------------------------------------|----------------------------|--------------------------------------|----------------------------|
|        | Technological improvements              | Technological improvements | Technological improvements           | Technological improvements |
| 1.     | Use of high- quality rails (60 Kg) (Km) | 57,450 Km                  | 1.43 Lakh Km                         | More than 2 times          |
| 2.     | Longer Rail Panels (260m) (Km)          | 9,917 Km                   | 77,522 Km                            | Nearly 8 times             |
| 3.     | Electronic Interlocking (Stations)      | 837 Stations               | 3,691 Stations                       | More than 4 times          |
| 4.     | Fog Pass Safety Devices (Nos.)          | As on 31.03.14: 90 Nos.    | As on 31.03.25: 25,939               | 288 times                  |
| 5.     | Thick Web Switches (Nos.)               | Nil                        | 28,301 Nos.                          |                            |

|    | Better maintenance practices                              | Better maintenance practices   | Better maintenance practices   | Better maintenance practices   |
|----|-----------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
|  1 | Primary Rail Renewal (Track Km)                           | 32,260 Km                      | 49,941 Km                      | 1.5 times                      |
|  2 | USFD (Ultra Sonic Flaw detection) Testing of Welds (Nos.) | 79.43 Lakh                     | 2 Crore                        | More than 2 times              |
|  3 | Weld failures (Nos.)                                      | In 2013-14: 3699 Nos.          | In 2024-25: 370 Nos.           | 90 % reduction                 |
|  4 | Rail fractures (Nos.)                                     | In 2013-14: 2548 Nos.          | In 2024-25: 289 Nos.           | More than 88% reduction        |

|    | Better infrastructure and Rolling stock    | Better infrastructure and Rolling stock   | Better infrastructure and Rolling stock          | Better infrastructure and Rolling stock   |
|----|--------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------|
|  1 | New Track KM added (Track km)              | 14,985 Nos.                               | 34,428 Km                                        | More than 2 times                         |
|  2 | Flyovers (RoBs)/ Underpasses (RUBs) (Nos.) | 4,148 Nos.                                | 13,808 Nos.                                      | More than 3 times                         |
|  3 | Unmanned Level crossing (nos.) on BG       | As on 31.03.14: 8948                      | As on 31.03.24: Nil (All eliminated by 31.01.19) | Removed                                   |
|  4 | Manufacture of LHB Coaches (Nos.)          | 2,337 Nos.                                | 42,677                                           | More than 18 times                        |

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