Lok Sabha Question No. 2882 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-17
Subject: Annual Recruitment Calender
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Shri Dushyant Singh, Shri Sachithanantham R

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2882

TO BE ANSWERED ON 17.12.2025

## ANNUAL RECRUITMENT CALENDER

2882.

SHRI DUSHYANT SINGH:

SHRI SACHITHANANTHAM R:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a)  the  year-wise  details  of  the  current  vacancy  status  in  Railway including the sanctioned posts, working strength and vacancies in safety-critical  categories such  as  Loco  Pilot,  Assistant  Loco  Pilot, Station  Master,  Pointsman,  Track  Maintainer,  Gangmen,  Signal Maintainer and other Mechanical personnel;
- (b) the details of the timeline for filling these vacancies;
- (c) the manner in which the introduction of the annual recruitment calendar  is  expected  to  address  delays  and  uncertainties  in  the recruitment process;
- (d) the measures being taken to ensure fair regional representation in  railway  recruitment  particularly  for  States  with  comparatively lower selection rates; and

(e)  whether  the  Government  proposes  to  introduce  specialized training programmes for newly recruited personnel to enhance their technical and operational competencies prior to deployment, if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

## (SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

(a)  to  (e):  Occurrence  and  filling  up  of  vacancies  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, mechanisations and innovative practices. The vacancies  are  filled up primarily  by  placement  of  indents  by Railways with Recruitment agencies as per operational and technological requirements.

Railways, being Central Government organization conduct recruitment  on  all  India  basis.  This  is  in  line  with  Constitutional provision of right to equality in matters of public employment. Every candidate  irrespective  of  gender,  language,  place  of  birth,  region etc. fulfilling eligibility criteria is free to apply. All those who apply in response to Centralised Employment Notifications (CENs), including  local  candidates  are  considered  for  recruitment  on  the Railways,  on  equal  footing.  No  preference  is  given  to  candidates belonging to any State or Region nor is the recruitment restricted to any State or Region.

As  per  Annual  Calendar  2024  and  2025,  recruitment  of  1,20,579 vacancies  has  been  taken  up  on  Indian  Railways  including  Zonal Railways and Production Units.

During  January  to  December  2024,  ten  Centralized  Employment Notifications (CENs) for 92,116 vacancies were notified for filling up of  posts  of  Assistant  Loco  Pilots  (ALPs),  Technicians  including Technician  Grade-I  Signal,  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-including Station Master), Non-Technical Popular Categories (Under-Graduate), Ministerial & Isolated Categories and Level-1 categories  such  as  Assistants,  Track  Maintainers  and Pointsman.

First  stage/Single  stage  Computer  Based  Tests  (CBTs)  for  59,678 posts has been completed.  Details are as under:-

| Exam                                                                                    | Candidates   |   Cities |   Languages |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------|----------|-------------|
| 1 st Stage CBT for the post of ALP (18,799 vacancies)                                   | 18,40,347    |      156 |          15 |
| CBT for the post of Technician (14,298 vacancies - including Technician Grade-I Signal) | 26,99,892    |      139 |          15 |
| 1 st Stage CBT for the post of JE/DMS/CMA (7,951 vacancies)                             | 11,01,266    |      146 |          15 |

| CBT for the post of RPF-SI (452 vacancies)                                                                 | 15,35,635   | 143   | 15   |
|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------|-------|------|
| CBT for the post of RPF-Constable (4,208 vacancies)                                                        | 45,30,288   | 147   | 15   |
| CBT for Paramedical Categories (1,376 vacancies)                                                           | 7,08,321    | 143   | 15   |
| 1 st Stage CBT for Non-Technical Popular Categories (Graduate- including Station Master) (8,113 vacancies) | 58,41,774   | 141   | 15   |
| 1 st Stage CBT for Non-Technical Popular Categories (Under Graduate) (3,445 vacancies)                     | 63,27,473   | 157   | 15   |
| CBT for Ministerial & Isolated categories (1,036 vacancies)                                                | 4,46,013    | 139   | 15   |
| Total Candidates                                                                                           | 2,50,31,009 |       |      |

2 nd  stage CBTs for the posts of ALP, JE/DMS/CMA and Non-Technical Popular  Categories  (Graduate)  have  also  been  completed.    Details are as under: -

| Exam                                                                              | Candidates   | Cities   | Languages   |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------|----------|-------------|
| 2 nd Stage CBT for the post of ALP (18,799 vacancies)                             | 2,66,363     | 112      | 15          |
| 2 nd Stage CBT for the post of JE/DMS/CMA (7,951 vacancies)                       | 1,17,339     | 118      | 15          |
| 2 nd Stage CBT for Non- Technical Popular Categories (Graduate) (8,113 vacancies) | 1,21,931     | 129      | 15          |
| Total Candidates                                                                  | 5,05,633     |          |             |

Computer Based Aptitude Test (CBAT) for the post of ALP has also been completed. Details are as under:-

| Exam                                        | Candidates   |   Cities |   Languages |
|---------------------------------------------|--------------|----------|-------------|
| CBAT for the post of ALP (18,799 vacancies) | 1,32,044     |       84 |           2 |

CBT  for  32,438  vacancies  for  level-1  categories  has  commenced from 27.11.2025  in  140  cities  in  15  languages.  Physical  Efficiency Test (PET) for  4,208  vacancies  of  Constable  (RPF)  has  been completed on 06.12.2025.

Panels for more than 23,000 candidates for various posts including the posts of Technicians, Junior Engineers, Paramedical Categories, Sub-Inspectors (RPF) and Assistant Loco Pilots have been finalized. Majority of them are in safety categories.

In  addition,  as  per  Annual  Calendar  for  the  year  2025,  seven Centralized  Employment Notifications  (CENs)  for  28,463  vacancies have also been issued. Details are as under:-

|   S. No. | CEN No.   | Post Name                                         | No. of Vacancies notified   | Month of Notification   |
|----------|-----------|---------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------|-------------------------|
|        1 | 01/2025   | Assistant Loco Pilots                             | 9,970                       | March 2025              |
|        2 | 02/2025   | Technicians (including Technician Grade-I Signal) | 6,238                       | June 2025               |
|        3 | 03/2025   | Para-Medical Categories                           | 434                         | July 2025               |
|        4 | 04/2025   | Section Controllers                               | 368                         | August 2025             |
|        5 | 05/2025   | Junior Engineers / Depot Material Superintendent  | 2,585                       | October 2025            |

|   6 | 06/2025   | Non-Technical Popular Categories (Graduate - including Station Master)   | 5,810   | October 2025   |
|-----|-----------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------|----------------|
|   7 | 07/2025   | Non-Technical Popular Categories (Under- Graduate)                       | 3,058   | October 2025   |

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 2004-2005 to 2013-2014 vis-à-vis during 2014-2015 to 2024-2025 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' posts. The introduction  of  the  annual  calendar  is  benefitting  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

As safe train operation is the top most priority of Indian Railways, special emphasis is laid on training of employees. Detailed  training  modules including  on  Kavach  system as per the prescribed  periodicity are available for respective categories  at  initial  and  promotional  stages  along  with  refresher courses  and  specialized training courses, laying  emphasis  on practical aspects which help them in skill upgradation and assimilation with related advanced technology, keeping a focus on overall  safety  and  passenger  experience.  These  modules  are  also updated  keeping  in  view  the  technological  changes  in  working practice.

Training  Centres  located  all  over  Indian  Railways  impart  various type of trainings. i.e. Initial, Promotional, Refresher & Specialized:

Initial Training - for the purpose of introducing the new entrants to the various facets of Railway operations and management.

Promotional Training - for the purpose of preparing serving staff in advance for jobs of higher responsibilities.

Refresher  Training  -  for  the  purpose  of  refreshing  the  serving employees  periodically with new  ideas  and  principles for improving efficiency in their jobs.

Specialized Training -for the purpose of updating the knowledge of technological developments, quantitative techniques, etc. e.g. PRS, new locomotives, signalling system, Track Technology etc.

Besides  these  trainings,  some  other  /  special  courses  are  also conducted by the Training Institutes i.e. Training for Frontline Staff in Soft Skills, Customer Care Training, Disaster  Management Training,  Accident  Investigation  Programme  for  all  Supervisors, Investigation for derailment for JE/SSE (P.Way), Train Parting Programme for Drivers, Threat Perception and Emergency Response,  Fire  Fighting  and  First  Aid  Skills, Gender  sensitization, Yoga and Meditation and other training etc.

*****