Lok Sabha Question No. 1779 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-07-30
Subject: SC/ST Representation in Railway Vacancies
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Adv Priya Saroj

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1779 TO BE ANSWERED ON 30.07.2025

## SC/ST REPRESENTATION IN RAILWAY VACANCIES

## † 1779. ADV PRIYA SAROJ:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of the current representation of Scheduled Castes (SC) and  Scheduled  Tribes  (ST)  categories  in  Group  'A',  'B',  'C'  and  'D' categories in all zones of Indian Railways;
- (b) the  details  of  the  status  of  current  pending  vacancies  (including backlog) for SC and ST in all categories (Group 'A', 'B', 'C' and 'D') of Indian Railways;
- (c) whether any special recruitment drive has been launched by Indian Railways  during  the  last  five  years  to  fill  the  vacancies  of  SC/ST categories;
- (d) if so, the details thereof;
- (e) the details of the representation of SC and ST employees in senior management positions (such as General Manager, Divisional Railway  Manager  and  equivalent  posts)  in  Railway  Board  and various Railway zones; and
- (f) the details of the number of railway stations included under Amrit Bharat Station Scheme which are located in SC and ST dominated areas?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, INFORMATION & BROADCASTING AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

- (a) to (f): The extant provision of providing 15% and 7.5% reservation for Scheduled  Castes  (SCs)  and  Scheduled  Tribes  (STs)  respectively  in

recruitment are followed in the Railways. The percentage representations of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes employees in all  categories  (i.e.  Group  'A'  'B  and  'C'  including  Level-1),  in  Indian Railways, as on 01.01.2025 is as under:

| Category   | Provision   | In place   |
|------------|-------------|------------|
| SC         | 15%         | 16.84%     |
| ST         | 7.5%        | 8.02%      |

The total candidates empanelled/recruited in Indian  Railways during the last five years and SC and ST candidates amongst them are as under:

| Total empanelled/recruited   | SC     | ST     |
|------------------------------|--------|--------|
| 2,92,811                     | 44,241 | 22,806 |

Occurrence  and  filling  up  of  vacancies  including  those  of  SCs/STs  are continuous  processes  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, mechanizations  and  innovative  practices.  The  vacancies  are  filled  up primarily by placement of indents by Railways with Recruitment agencies as per operational and technological requirements.

Presently,  recruitment  of  1.08  lakh  vacancies  (SC-16,008,  ST-8,705)  has been undertaken on Indian Railway in Group 'C' (including Level-1).

Every effort is made to fill up the reserved vacancies by the candidates belonging  to  the  earmarked  category  along  with  the  other  candidates. Shortfall/Backlog  of  vacancies  of  SCs,  STs  &  OBCs  remained  unfilled,  if any, are taken  care  of and  carried forward  for filling up  through subsequent  recruitment  cycle.  The  recruitment  process  in  Railways  is being  conducted  regularly  through  Union  Public  Service  Commission (UPSC),  Railway  Recruitment  boards  (RRBs)  etc.  Since  recruitment  in Railways is undertaken on regular basis and expeditiously, launching of special recruitment drive is not required.

Reservation  is  applicable  upto  lowest  rung  of  Group  'A'  only.  The promotions/postings  of  the  officers  at  senior  level  are  done  as  per  the extant  rules,  procedures  and  guidelines  irrespective  of  the  category  of officer.

The Ministry of Railways has launched Amrit Bharat Station Scheme for development of stations on a continuous basis with a long-term approach. It  involves  preparation  of  master  plans  and  their  implementation  in phases  to  improve  the  amenities  at  the  stations  like  improvement  of station access, circulating areas, waiting halls, toilets, lift/escalators as necessary, platform surfacing and cover over platform, cleanliness, free Wi-Fi,  kiosks  for  local  products  through  schemes  like  'One  Station  One Product', better passenger information systems, executive lounges, nominated  spaces  for  business  meetings,  landscaping,  etc.  keeping  in view the necessity at each station.

The  scheme  also  envisages  improvement  of  building,  integrating  the station with both sides of the city, multimodal integration, amenities for Divyangjans, sustainable and environment friendly solutions, provision of ballastless  tracks,  etc.  as  per  necessity,  phasing  and  feasibility  and creation of city centre at the station in the long term.

So  far,  1,337  stations  have  been  identified  for  development  under  the Amrit  Bharat  Station  Scheme.  Development  works  at  railway  stations under Amrit Bharat Station Scheme have been taken up at a good pace. Till now, phase-I works of 105 stations have been completed. The works at  other  stations  have  also  been  taken  up  at  good  pace  and  works  in progress.

Spatial  distribution  of  stations  identified  for  development/upgradation under  Amrit  Bharat  Station  Scheme  across  the  states  is  reasonably uniform  and  this  scheme  covers  all  the  States  and  Union  Territories having rail connectivity.

Development/Redevelopment/Upgradation  of  stations  on  Indian  Railways is  a  continuous  and  ongoing  process  and  works  in  this  regard  are undertaken as per requirement, subject to inter-se priority and availability of funds. The priority for development/upgradation of stations is accorded to  higher  category  of  station  over  lower  category  of  station  while sanctioning and executing the works.

*****