Lok Sabha Question No. 4284 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-18
Subject: Shortage of Staff in Safety-category Posts
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Shri Murari Lal Meena

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4284 TO BE ANSWERED ON 18.03.2026

## SHORTAGE OF STAFF IN SAFETY-CATEGORY POSTS

## †4284. SHRI MURARI LAL MEENA:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is aware of the shortage of staff in posts such as Station Master and Pointsman at various stations of Railways due to the ban imposed by the Ministry of Finance on the creation of posts in the safety category and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the Government proposes to lift the said ban for creating new posts in the safety cadre keeping in view the expansion of railways and the increasing operations of multi-track and quadruple-line system and if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (c) whether the policy of denying Night Duty Allowance to Level-9 Station Masters,  despite  them  performing  night  duties  regularly  has  been reviewed along with the details of the affected personnel in Rajasthan and if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) whether there is any proposal under consideration to restore the Night Duty  Allowance  for  Level-9  Station  Masters  in  accordance  with  the principle  of  equal  remuneration  for  equal  work  and  if  so,  the  details thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, INFORMATION & BROADCASTING AND

ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

(a) to (d): Safety is accorded the highest priority on Indian Railways. As a consequence of various safety measures taken over the years, there has been a steep decline in the number of accidents.

Number  of  Consequential  Train  Accidents  has  reduced  as  shown  in  the table below:-

| Year                      | Consequential Accidents   |
|---------------------------|---------------------------|
| 2014-15                   | 135                       |
| 2025-26 (upto 28.02.2026) | 14 (90% lesser)           |

Another important index showing improvement in safety in train operations is Consequential Accident Index, the details of which are as under:-

## Consequential Accident Index:-

| Year    | Accident Index    |
|---------|-------------------|
| 2014-15 | 0.11              |
| 2024-25 | 0.03 (73% lesser) |

This index measures number of consequential accidents as a ratio of total running kilometers of all trains.

Accident Index   =

No. of consequential accidents

No. of trains X million kilometers run

2025-26

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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:-
2. Electrical/Electronic Interlocking Systems with centralized operation of points and signals have been provided at 6,665 stations up to 28.02.2026 to reduce accidents due to human failure.
3. Interlocking  of  Level  Crossing  (LC)  Gates  has  been  provided  at  10,153 Level Crossing Gates up to 28.02.2026 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  6,669 stations up to 28.02.2026.
5. Indian Railways has gone for implementation of indigenously developed Automatic Train Protection (ATP) system, which required safety certification  of  highest  order  (SIL  4).  Kavach  has  been  adopted  as  a National  ATP  system  in  July  2020.  Based  on  deployment  of  Kavach version  3.2  on  1465  RKm  on  South  Central  Railway  and  experience gained, further improvements were made. Finally, Kavach specification version 4.0 was approved by RDSO on 16.07.2024. After extensive and elaborate trials, Kavach Version 4.0 has been successfully commissioned  on  1,452  Route  Kilometres,  covering  the  high  density Delhi-Mumbai and Delhi-Howrah routes as below:

| Expenditure/Budget on Safety related activities (Rs. in Cr.)   | Expenditure/Budget on Safety related activities (Rs. in Cr.)   | Expenditure/Budget on Safety related activities (Rs. in Cr.)   | Expenditure/Budget on Safety related activities (Rs. in Cr.)   | Expenditure/Budget on Safety related activities (Rs. in Cr.)   | Expenditure/Budget on Safety related activities (Rs. in Cr.)   |
|----------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------|
| 2013-14                                                        | 2022-23                                                        | 2023-24                                                        | 2024-25                                                        | 2025-26                                                        | 2026-27                                                        |
| 39,200                                                         | 87,336                                                         | 1,01,662                                                       | 1,14,022                                                       | 1,17,693                                                       | 1,20,389                                                       |

| SN   | Section                             | Progress Route (Km)   |
|------|-------------------------------------|-----------------------|
| (1)  | Delhi-Mumbai route:                 | Delhi-Mumbai route:   |
| i    | Junction cabin - Palwal - Mathura - | 667                   |
| ii   | Vadodara - Ahmedabad section        | 96                    |
| iii  | Vadodara - Virar section            | 336                   |

| (2)   | Delhi - Howrah route:                     |   Delhi - Howrah route: |
|-------|-------------------------------------------|-------------------------|
| i     | Gaya Sarmatanr section                    |                      93 |
| ii    | Chota Ambana - Bardhaman - Howrah section |                     260 |

Further, track side Kavach implementation work has been taken up on 24,427 RKM covering all GQ, GD, HDN and identified sections of Indian Railways.

6. Detailed  instructions  on  issues  related  with  safety  of  Signalling,  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,  Pre-stressed  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.

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          | 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 Nos. | 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 Km                               | 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 crossings (Nos.) on BG                     | As on 31.03.14: 8,948                   | 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                      |

Indian Railways recruit Station Masters and Pointsman on a regular basis considering    the  vacancy  position.  Keeping  in  view  train  operation  and retirement  of  staff,  new  positions  are  opened  up  for  recruitment.  The details  of  filling  up  vacancies  of  Station  Masters  and  Pointsman  are  as follow:

|   Year | Details                                                                                                                               |
|--------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|   2024 | 994 vacancies of Station Masters and 5058 vacancies of Pointsman were notified. Selection process is in advanced stage of completion. |
|   2025 | 615 vacancies of Station Masters and 5053 vacancies of Pointsman have been notified.                                                  |

Recruitment  done  in  Indian  Railways  during  2004-05  to  2013-14  vis-à-vis during 2014-15 to 2025-26 is given as under: -

| Period                 | Recruitments   |
|------------------------|----------------|
| 2004-2005 to 2013-2014 | 4.11 lakh      |
| 2014-2015 to 2024-2025 | 5.08 lakh      |
| 2025-26 till date      | 42,380         |

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.

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.

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

Presently, recruitment against 1,43,086 vacancies of non-gazetted personnel  has  been  taken  up  on  Indian  Railways  as per  Annual Calendar 2024 and 2025.

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) (including JE Signal), Paramedical  Categories,  Non-Technical  Popular  Categories  (Graduate), 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 92,116  posts have been completed.  Details are as under: -

| Exam                                                       | Candidates   |   Cities |   Languages |
|------------------------------------------------------------|--------------|----------|-------------|
| 1st Stage CBT for the post of ALP (18,799 vacancies)       | 18,40,347    |      156 |          15 |
| CBT for the post of Technician (14,298 vacancies)          | 26,99,892    |      139 |          15 |
| 1st 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 |

| 1st Stage CBT for Non-Technical Popular Categories (Graduate) (8,113 vacancies)       | 58,41,774   | 141   | 15   |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------|-------|------|
| 1st 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   |
| CBT for level-1 posts (32,438 vacancies)                                              | 1,08,28,261 | 152   | 15   |
| Total Candidates                                                                      | 3,58,59,270 |       |      |

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

| Exam                                                                                  | Candidates   | Cities   | Languages   |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------|----------|-------------|
| 2nd Stage CBT for the post of ALP (18,799 vacancies)                                  | 2,66,363     | 112      | 15          |
| 2nd Stage CBT for the post of JE/DMS/CMA (7,951 vacancies)                            | 1,17,339     | 118      | 15          |
| 2nd Stage CBT for Non-Technical Popular Categories (Graduate) (8,113 vacancies)       | 1,21,931     | 129      | 15          |
| 2nd Stage CBT for Non-Technical Popular Categories (Under-Graduate) (3,445 vacancies) | 51,978       | 79       | 15          |
| Total Candidates                                                                      | 5,57,611     |          |             |

Computer  Based  Aptitude  Test  (CBAT)  for  the  post  of  ALP  and NonTechnical Popular Categories (Graduate) and Computer based Skill Test for the post of Non-Technical Popular Categories (Graduate and Under Graduate) and Ministerial & Isolated Categories have also been completed.

## Details are as under: -

| Exam                                                                                                               | Candidates   | Cities   | Languages   |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------|----------|-------------|
| CBAT for the post of ALP                                                                                           | 1,32,044     | 84       | 2           |
| Translation Test for Ministerial and Isolated Categories                                                           | 1,233        | 8        | 2           |
| CBAT for the post of Non-Technical Popular Categories (Graduate)                                                   | 13,616       | 38       | 2           |
| Computer Based Typing Skill Test (CBTST) for the post of Non- Technical Popular Categories                         | 30,341       | 58       | 2           |
| Computer Based Typing Skill Test (CBTST) for the post of Non- Technical Popular Categories (Under- Graduate-level) | 13,145       | 44       | 2           |
| Total Candidates                                                                                                   | 1,90,379     |          |             |

Panels  for  more  than 42,000  candidates  for  various  posts  including  the posts  of  Technicians,  Junior  Engineers,  Paramedical  Categories,  SubInspectors & Constable (RPF) and Assistant Loco Pilots have been finalised.  Majority of them are in safety categories.

In  addition,  as  per  Annual  Calendar  for  the  year  2025, nine Centralized Employment  Notifications  (CENs)  for 50,970  vacancies  have also  been issued. Details are as under:

| CEN No. Post Name     | No. of Vacancies notified   | Month           |
|-----------------------|-----------------------------|-----------------|
|                       |                             | of Notification |
| Assistant Loco Pilots |                             |                 |
|                       | 9,970                       | March 2025      |
| 01/2025               |                             |                 |

| 02/2025   | Technicians                                                                               | 6,238   | June 2025     |
|-----------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------|---------------|
| 03/2025   | Paramedical categories                                                                    | 434     | July 2025     |
| 04/2025   | Section Controller                                                                        | 368     | August 2025   |
| 05/2025   | Junior Engineer (JE) / Depot Material Superintendent / Chemical & Metallurgical Assistant | 2,585   | October 2025  |
| 06/2025   | Non-Technical Popular Categories (Graduate)                                               | 5,810   | October 2025  |
| 07/2025   | Non-Technical Popular Categories (Under-Graduate)                                         | 3,058   | October 2025  |
| 08/2025   | Isolated Categories                                                                       | 312     | December 2025 |
| 09/2025   | Level-1 posts (Including Assistants, Track Maintainers and Pointsman)                     | 22,195  | December 2025 |
| Total     | Total                                                                                     | 50,970  |               |

First  stage/Single  stage  Computer  Based  Tests  (CBTs)  for  19,595  posts have been completed.  Details are as under: -

| Exam                                                       | Candidates   |   Cities |   Languages |
|------------------------------------------------------------|--------------|----------|-------------|
| 1st Stage CBT for the post of ALP (9,970 vacancies)        | 10,03,719    |      141 |          15 |
| CBT for the post of Section Controller (368 vacancies)     | 4,33,748     |      131 |          15 |
| 1st Stage CBT for the post of JE/DMS/CMA (2,585 vacancies) | 5,74,351     |      133 |          15 |
| CBT for the post of Technician (6,238 vacancies)           | 8,41,525     |      117 |          15 |

| CBT for the post of Paramedical Categories   | 3,19,396   | 106   | 15   |
|----------------------------------------------|------------|-------|------|
| (434 vacancies)                              |            |       |      |
| Total Candidates                             | 31,72,739  |       |      |

In  view  of  operational  and  administrative  requirement  due  to  creation  of new assets,  new  posts  are  also  created  in  consultation  with  Ministry  of Finance. Station Masters in Pay Levels 6 to 8 are currently eligible for Night Duty Allowance  (NDA)  in  accordance  with  the  existing  guidelines.  Station Masters  in  Level  9  are  eligible  for  enhanced  Transport  allowance  at  the rate of ₹ 7200 plus DA per month as against Rs 3600 plus DA for those in Pay Levels 6 to 8.   Station Masters in Level  9 are  also eligible for Dress Allowance  at  the  rate  of  ₹12,500  per  year  in  addition  to statutory allowances of DA and HRA.

The existing provisions continue to remain in force.

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