Lok Sabha Question No. 279 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-07-24
Subject: Vacancies for all Categories in Indian Railways
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Shri S Venkatesan

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 279 TO BE ANSWERED ON 24.07.2024

## VACANCIES FOR ALL CATEGORIES IN INDIAN RAILWAYS

279.  SHRI S VENKATESAN:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  there  is  vacancies  in  the  posts  of  different  service categories  especially  in  safety  category  and  production  units  in Indian Railways; and
- (b) if so, the details of the number of vacancies with the sanctioned strength for the posts in all services along with the safety category and production units in Indian Railways, category-wise?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) and (b): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  AND  (b)  OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 279 BY SHRI S VENKATESAN TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 24.07.2024 REGARDING VACANCIES FOR ALL CATEGORIES IN INDIAN RAILWAYS

(a) and (b) : Occurrence and filling up of vacancies are 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, 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.

After  easing  of  restrictions  imposed  on  account  of  COVID  19,  two major examinations involving more than 2.37 crore candidates have been conducted successfully.

Computer  Based  Test  (CBT) exam  for more  than 1.26 crore candidates was conducted in 7 phases from 28.12.2020 to 31.07.2021  in  133  shifts  in  68  days  across  211  cities  and  726 centres.

Similarly, CBT was conducted for more than 1.1 crore candidates in 5  phases  from  17.08.2022  to  11.10.2022  in  99  shifts  in  33  days across 191 cities and 551 centres.

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   |
|----------|----------------|
| 2004-14  | 4.11 lakh      |
| 2014-24  | 5.02 lakh      |

Further,  as  system  improvement,  the  Ministry  of  Railways  has introduced  a  system  of  publishing  annual  calendar  this  year  for recruitment  to  various  categories  of  Group  'C'  post.  Accordingly, four Centralized Employment Notifications (CENs) for 32,603 vacancies  have  been  notified  during  January  to  March  2024  for filling  up  of  posts  of  Assistant  Loco  Pilots,  Technicians,  SubInspectors  &  Constables  in  Railway  Protection  Force  (RPF).The introduction  of  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

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