Lok Sabha Question No. 1438 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-07-31
Subject: Vacancies in Group A, B, C and D in Railways
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Smt. Geniben Nagaji Thakor, Shri Omprakash Bhupalsinh Alias Pavan Rajenimbalkar, Shri Anand Bhadauria, Smt. Mala Roy, Shri Shyamkumar Daulat Barve, Shri Rajeev Rai, Shri Arvind Ganpat Sawant, Shri Shrirang Appa Chandu Barne

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1438

TO BE ANSWERED ON 31.07.2024

## VACANCIES IN GROUP A, B, C AND D IN RAILWAYS

†1438. SHRI OMPRAKASH BHUPALSINH ALIAS PAVAN RAJENIMBALKAR:

SHRI ARVIND GANPAT SAWANT:

SHRI ANAND BHADAURIA:

SHRI SHYAMKUMAR DAULAT BARVE:

SMT. GENIBEN NAGAJI THAKOR:

SHRI RAJEEV RAI:

SMT. MALA ROY:

SHRI SHRIRANG APPA CHANDU BARNE:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is aware of continuous decrease in the number of employees of Indian Railways during the last few years and if so, the reasons for not filling up the vacancies in a time bound
- manner;
- (b)  the  number  of  vacancies  in  Group  A,  B,  C  and  D  in  Railways,
- category and region-wise;
- (c) the time by which the process for filling up the vacant posts is likely to be completed;
- (d) the steps taken by the Government for managing its operations in an efficient manner while facing shortage of requisite workforce;
- (e)  the  number of newly recruited employees during the last three years including the current year along with the number of employment opportunities generated during the last decade;
- (f)  the  reasons  for  not  filling  up  the  vacant  posts  in  different categories;

(g) any special scheme to recruit employees from the economically backward areas of Maharashtra; and (h) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

(a) to (h) A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (h)  OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1438 BY SHRI OMPRAKASH BHUPALSINH ALIAS PAVAN RAJENIMBALKAR, SHRI ARVIND GANPAT SAWANT, SHRI ANAND BHADAURIA, SHRI SHYAMKUMAR DAULAT  BARVE,  SMT.  GENIBEN  NAGAJI  THAKOR,  SHRI  RAJEEV RAI,  SMT.  MALA  ROY,  SHRI  SHRIRANG  APPA  CHANDU  BARNE TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 31.07.2024 REGARDING VACANCIES IN GROUP A, B, C AND D IN RAILWAYS (a)  to  (h)  :  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'  posts.  Accordingly, five Centralized Employment Notifications (CENs) for 40,554 vacancies have been notified during January to July 2024 for filling up of posts of Assistant Loco Pilots, Technicians, Sub-Inspectors & Constables  in  Railway  Protection  Force  (RPF),  Junior  Engineers, Depot  Material  Superintendents  and  Chemical  and  Metallurgical Supervisors.  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

The recruitment is done on all India basis and not Statewise as per the guidelines of Government of India. Every candidate irrespective of  gender,  language,  place  of  birth/region  etc.  fulfilling  eligibility criteria is free to apply. The norms of reservation for Economically Weaker  Sections  (EWSs)  prescribed  by  Government  of  India  are followed in Indian Railways also.

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