**Executive Summary**
This document addresses Lok Sabha Starred Question No. 156, concerning the assessment of workload and modernization efforts at railway stations. It outlines the Indian Railways' ongoing processes for assessing workload, manpower, and technological improvements, including the launch of the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme for station redevelopment. The document details recruitment efforts, examination statistics, and the benefits of introducing an annual recruitment calendar. The response is to be answered on December 10, 2025.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Workload and Manpower Assessment:**
* Assessment is a continuous process considering new norms, technologies, working systems, and new assets.
* Manpower is provided based on station classification, duty hours (HOER), and manpower yardsticks.
* **Technological Improvement:**
* A continuous process aiming to democratize technology and address India-centric challenges.
* **Recruitment:**
* Vacancies are filled primarily by Railways placing indents with Recruitment agencies.
* 120,579 vacancies are being recruited as per the 2024 and 2025 annual calendar.
* Details of Computer Based Tests (CBTs) conducted for various posts and vacancies are provided.
* Seven Centralized Employment Notifications (CENs) for 28,463 vacancies have been issued as per the 2025 annual calendar.
* **Annual Recruitment Calendar:**
* The Ministry of Railways introduced a system for publishing an annual calendar from 2024 for recruitment to Group ‘C’ posts.
* Benefits include more opportunities for candidates, eligibility consideration, certainty of exams, and faster recruitment.
* **Redevelopment of Railway Stations:**
* The Amrit Bharat Station Scheme was launched for long-term redevelopment and modernization of stations.
* The scheme involves preparing master plans and improving access, integration, building, waiting areas, and amenities.
* 1337 stations have been identified, and works have been completed at 155 stations.
* Development/upgradation/modernization is an ongoing process, subject to priorities and funding.
* **Challenges:**
* Development/upgradation is complex, involving safety and statutory clearances.
* Progress is affected by brownfield-related challenges and operational constraints.
* **Proposals:**
* Proposals/requests/suggestions/representations for workload and manpower assessment are received from various sources.
* Receipt is a continuous and dynamic process with actions taken as found feasible/justified.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: Aspirants**
* **Impact:** Benefitting from more frequent opportunities, eligibility consideration, certainty of exams, and faster recruitment.
* **Action Required:** Stay informed about the annual calendar and apply for relevant vacancies.
**Stakeholder: Railway Employees**
* **Impact:** Workload assessment and manpower adjustments based on station classification and requirements. Opportunities for upskilling through modernization efforts.
* **Action Required:** Adapt to new technologies and contribute to the redevelopment of railway stations.
**Stakeholder: Railway Users**
* **Impact:** Improved station facilities, better passenger information systems, and enhanced overall experience through the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme.
* **Action Required:** Utilize the improved facilities and provide feedback for further improvements.
**Stakeholder: Ministry of Railways**
* **Impact:** Continuous monitoring and adjustments in workforce and infrastructure to meet operational demands.
* **Action Required:** Implement the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme, conduct recruitment drives as per the annual calendar, and prioritize development projects.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Railways: The primary government body responsible for the assessment and modernization of railway stations, manpower, and related processes.
Indian Railways: The railway network and organization directly affected by the policies and recruitment processes discussed in the document.
Hours of Employment Regulations (HOER): Regulations defining duty hours, impacting manpower allocation at railway stations.
Amrit Bharat Station Scheme: Scheme for redevelopment and modernization of railway stations.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS
LOK SABHA
STARRED QUESTION NO. 156
TO BE ANSWERED ON 10.12.2025
ASSESSMENT OF WORKING OF RAILWAY STATIONS
*156. SHRI PARSHOTTAMBHAI RUPALA:
Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:
(a) the division-wise details of actions taken/being taken by the
Government to assess the workload, manpower requirements and
modernising the working of Railway stations across the country as on
date;
(b) whether the Government has received any representations regarding
the assessment of workload, manpower and modernisation of
operational practices at Railway stations and if so, the details thereof;
and
(c) whether the Government has engaged/proposes to engage any
consulting firm or expert agency for carrying out this major
assessment/modernisation exercise and if so, the details thereof and if
not, the reasons therefor?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, INFORMATION & BROADCASTING AND
ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)
(a) to (c) : A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.
*****STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (c) OF LOK SABHA
STARRED QUESTION NO. 156 TO BE ANSWERED ON 10.12.2025
(a) to (c) Assessment of workload and manpower requirement is a continuous
and ongoing process on Indian Railways. This is done with the view of the
introduction of new norms and technologies, changes in working systems,
and creation of new assets etc.This study/exercise is carried out mainly
departmentally and sometimes engaging outside agencies.
Adequate manpower is provided at railway stations based on their
classification, duty hours prescribed under the Hours of Employment
Regulations (HOER), and manpower yardsticks for various activities.
Technological improvement in Indian Railways is a continuous process and
aspires to democratize the use of technology. It aims to address India
centric challenges, create economic and employment opportunities for
Indian citizens.
Recruitment on Indian Railways:
Occurrence and filling up of vacancies are continuous processes on Indian
Railways considering its size, spatial distribution and criticality of operation.
The vacancies are filled up primarily by placement of indents by Railways
with Recruitment agencies as per operational and technological
requirements.
Presently recruitment of 1,20,579 vacancies has been taken up on Indian
Railways as per annual calendar 2024 and 2025.
..2/--2-
First stage/Single stage Computer Based Tests (CBTs) for 59,678 posts has
been completed. Details are as below:
Exam Candidates Cities Languages
1st Stage CBT for the post of ALP (18,799 18,40,347 156 15
vacancies)
CBT for the post of Technician (14,298 26,99,892 139 15
vacancies)
1st Stage CBT for the post of JE/DMS/CMA 11,01,266 146 15
(7,951 vacancies)
CBT for the post of RPF-SI 15,35,635 143 15
(452 vacancies)
CBT for the post of RPF-Constable (4208 45,30,288 147 15
vacancies)
CBT for Paramedical Categories 7,08,321 143 15
(1,376 vacancies)
1st Stage CBT for Non-Technical Popular 58,41,774 141 15
Category (Graduate)
(8,113 vacancies)
1st Stage CBT for Non-Technical Popular 63,27,473 157 15
Category (Under Graduate)
(3,445 vacancies)
CBT for Ministerial & Isolated categories 4,46,013 139 15
(1,036 vacancies)
..3/--3-
2nd stage CBTs for the posts of ALP, JE/DMS/CMA and Non-Technical Popular
Categories (Graduate) has also been completed. Details are as under: -
Exam Candidates Cities Languages
2nd Stage CBT for the post of ALP 2,66,363 112 15
(18,799 vacancies)
2nd Stage CBT for the post of JE/DMS/CMA 1,17,339 118 15
(7,951 vacancies)
2nd Stage CBT for Non-Technical Popular 1,21,931 129 15
Category (Graduate)
(8,113 vacancies)
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 1,32,044 84 2
(18,799 vacancies)
CBT for 32,438 vacancies for level -1 categories commenced from 27.11.2025
in 140 cities in 15 languages. Physical efficiency Test (PET) for 4,208
vacancies of Constable (RPF) commenced from 13.11.2025.
Panels for more than 23,000 candidates including the posts of Technicians,
Junior Engineers, Paramedical Categories, Sub-Inspectors (RPF) and
Assistant Loco Pilots have been sent to indenting Railways. The majority of
them are in safety categories.
.. 4/-- 4 -
In addition, as per Annual Calendar for the year 2025, seven Centralized
Employment Notifications (CENs) for 28,463 vacancies have also been
issued:
SN CEN Post Name No. of Month of
No. Vacancies Notification
notified
1 01/2025 Assistant Loco Pilots 9,970 March 2025
2 02/2025 Technicians 6,238 June 2025
3 03/2025 Para-medical 434 July 2025
4 04/2025 Section Controllers 368 August 2025
5 05/2025 Junior Engineers / Depot 2,585 October 2025
Material Superintendent
6 06/2025 NTPC (Graduate) 5,810 October 2025
7 07/2025 NTPC (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:-
..5/--5-
Period Recruitments
2004-2005 to 2013-2014 4.11 lakhs
2014-2015 to 2024-2025 5.08 lakhs
Further, as a system improvement, the Ministry of Railways has introduced a
system of publishing an annual calendar from 2024 for recruitment to various
categories of Group ‘C’ posts. The introduction of 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.
Redevelopment of Railway stations:
To improve operational efficiency of stations and passengers’ experience,
Ministry of Railways has launched Amrit Bharat Station Scheme for
redevelopment and modernisation of stations with a long-term approach.
The scheme involves preparation of master plans and their
implementation in phases to improve the stations. The master planning
includes:
Improvement of access to station and circulating areas
Integration of station with both sides of city
Improvement of station building
Improvement of waiting halls, toilets, sitting arrangement, water
booths
..6/--6-
Provision of wider foot over bridge/air concourse commensurate
with passenger traffic
Provision of lift/escalators/ramp
Improvement /Provision of platform surface and cover over
platforms
Provision of kiosks for local products through schemes like ‘One
Station One Product’
Parking areas, Multimodal integration
Amenities for Divyangjans
Better passenger information systems
Provision of executive lounges, nominated spaces for business
meetings, landscaping, etc. keeping in view the necessity at each
station
The scheme also envisages 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 1337 stations have been identified under this scheme and till now
works of 155 stations have been completed.
Further development / redevelopment / upgradation / modernisation 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 /
redevelopment / upgradation / modernisation of stations is accorded to
higher category of station over lower category of station while
sanctioning and executing the works.
..7/--7-
Development / Upgradation of railway stations is complex in nature involving
safety of passengers & trains and requires various statutory clearances such
as fire clearance, heritage, tree cutting, airport clearance etc. The progress
also gets affected due to brownfield related challenges such as shifting of
utilities (involving water/sewage lines, optical fibre cables, gas pipe lines,
power/signal cables, etc.), infringements, operation of trains without
hindering passenger movement, speed restrictions due to works carried out
in close proximity of tracks and high voltage power lines, etc. and these
factors affect the completion time.
Further, proposals/requests/suggestions/representations, both formal and
informal, for assessment of workload and manpower, across the country
are received on the basis of demands raised by members of parliament,
ministries of central government, elected representatives, railway’s own
requirements, organizations/rail-users, etc., at various levels including
railway board, zonal railways, division office, etc. Receipt of such
proposals/requests/suggestions/representations is a continuous and
dynamic process and these are examined and action, as found
feasible/justified, is taken from time to time and centralized compendium
for the same is not maintained.
*****