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GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 581
TO BE ANSWERED ON 23.07.2025
RE-ENGAGEMENT OF RETIRED RAILWAY EMPLOYEES
581. SHRI SELVAGANAPATHI T.M. :
Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:
(a) whether it is a fact that the railways has taken a decision to re-
engage retired Railway employees against the vacant non-gazetted posts,
if so, the details thereof;
(b) whether the Divisional Railway Managers are empowered to appoint
them on a contract basis as volunteers, if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether it is also a fact that there are more than three lakh posts
are lying vacant in the Railways and this method is being adopted for
filling the vacant posts, if so, the details thereof;
(d) whether it is also a fact that human error due to shortage of staff
was the major cause of all the train accidents that took place during the
last few years; and
(e) if so, the details of corrective steps taken by the Railways in this
regard?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, INFORMATION & BROADCASTING AND
ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)
(a) to (c) : Occurrence and filling up of vacancies is a continuous process
on Indian Railways considering its size, spatial distribution and criticalityof operation. Adequate and suitable manpower is provided to cater to the
regular operations, changes in technology, mechanization 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 had been
conducted successfully during 2020 to 2022.
Exam Candidates Cities Centers Days Shifts
L2 - L6 1.26 cr 211 726 68 133
L1 1.1 cr 191 551 33 99
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*
2004-2005 to 2013-2014 4.11 lakh
2014-2015 to 2024-2025 5.08 lakh
*Including Level-1 and security related posts.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’ post. The introduction of the 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
Accordingly, ten Centralized Employment Notifications (CENs) for 92,116
vacancies have been notified during January to December 2024 for filling
up of posts of Assistant Loco Pilots, Technicians, 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) and Non-Technical Popular Categories (Under-Graduate),
Ministerial & Isolated Categories and Level-1.
First stage Computer Based Tests (CBTs) for 55197 posts have been
completed in four phases. Details are as under-
Exam Candidates Cities Centers Days Shifts
1st Stage CBT for the post 18,40,347 156 346 5 15
of ALP (18,799 vacancies)
CBT for the post of 26,99,892 139 312 9 27
Technician (14,298
vacancies)1st Stage CBT for the post 11,01,266 146 323 3 9
of JE/DMS/CMA (7,951
vacancies)
CBT for the post of RPF-SI 15,35,635 143 306 5 15
(452 vacancies)
CBT for the post of RPF- 45,30,288 147 348 12 36
Constable (4208
vacancies)
CBT for Paramedical 7,08,321 143 300 3 9
Categories (1376
vacancies)
1st Stage CBT for Non- 58,41,774 141 355 16 47
Technical Popular
Category (Graduate)
(8113 vacancies)
Results of CBTs for the posts of ALP (1st stage), RPF-SI and Constable,
JE/DMS/CMA (1st Stage) and Technicians have already been published.
2nd stage CBTs for the posts of ALP and JE/DMS/CMA have also been
completed, Details are as under:-
Exam Candidates Cities Centers Days Shifts
2nd Stage CBT for the 2,66,363 112 213 2 4
post of ALP (18,799
vacancies)
2nd Stage CBT for the 1,17,339 118 200 2 3
post of JE/DMS/CMA
(7,951 vacancies)Results for CBTs of ALP (2nd Stage) for all 21 RRBs have been published.
Panels for the posts of Technicians have been sent to indenting Railways.
In addition, as per Annual Calendar for the year 2025, following two
Centralized Employment Notifications have also been issued-
a. Centralized Employment Notification (CEN) No. 01/2025 for
9970 vacancies of ALPs has been notified in March 2025.
b. Centralized Employment Notification (CEN) No. 02/2025, for
6238 vacancies of Technician has been notified in June 2025.
However, sometime in order to meet exigencies, retired Railway
employees are re-engaged against the vacant posts temporarily based on
competency, experience etc. to ensure smooth progress of the
developmental and other works till the vacancies are filled up on regular
basis as per the laid down rules and procedure. Power to re-engage
retired employees in divisions is delegated to Divisional Railway Manager.
(d) & (e) Safety is accorded the highest priority on Indian Railways. It may
be noted that the Consequential Train Accidents during the period 2004-14
was 1711 (average 171 per annum), which has declined to 31 in 2024-25 and
further to 3 in 2025-26 (upto June).
Another important index showing improved safety in train operations is
Accidents Per Million Train Kilometer (APMTKM) which has reduced from
0.11 in 2014-15 to 0.03 in 2024-25, indicating an improvement of approx.
73% during the said period.234
165
135
55
48
40
35 31
22
3
2005- 2009- 2014- 2019- 2020- 2021- 2022- 2023- 2024- 2025-26
06 10 15 20 21 22 23 24 25 (up to
Covid year Covid year Jun'25)
Consequential Train Accidents on Indian Railways and casualties (including
railway passengers and railway personnel) therein are as follows:-
No. of Consequential Train No. of Deaths No. of Injuries
Period
Accidents
2004-05 to
1711 904 3155
2013-14
2014-15 to
678 748 2087
2023-24
Causes of these accidents include Track defects, Signal failures & Human
failures etc.
The various safety measures taken to enhance safety in train operations
are as under:-
stnediccA
niarT
laitneuqesnoC
fo
.oN1. On Indian Railways, the expenditure on Safety related activities has
increased over the years as under:-
Expenditure on Safety related activities (Rs. in Cr.)
2013-14 2022-23 2023-24 RE 2024-25 BE 2025-26
(Act.) (Act.) (Act.)
Maintenance of 9,172 18,115 20,322 21,800 23,316
Permanent Way
& Works
Maintenance of 14,796 27,086 30,864 31,540 30,666
Motive Power
and Rolling
Stock
Maintenance of 5,406 9,828 10,772 12,112 12,880
Machines
Road Safety LCs 1,986 5,347 6,662 8,184 7,706
and ROBs/ RUBs
Track Renewals 4,985 16,326 17,850 22,669 22,800
Bridge Works 390 1,050 1,907 2,130 2,169
Signal & 905 2,456 3,751 6,006 6,800
Telecom Works
Workshops Incl. 1,823 7,119 9,523 9,581 10,134
PUs and Misc.
expenditure on
Safety
Total 39,463 87,327 1,01,651 1,14,022 1,16,4702. Electrical/Electronic Interlocking Systems with centralized
operation of points and signals have been provided at 6,635 stations
up to 30.06.2025 to reduce accident due to human failure.
3. Interlocking of Level Crossing (LC) Gates has been provided at
11,096 level Crossing Gates up to 30.06.2025 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 6,640 stations up to 30.06.2025.
5. Kavach is a highly technology intensive system, which requires
safety certification of highest order. Kavach was adopted as a
National ATP system in July 2020. Kavach is provided progressively
in phased manner. Kavach has already been deployed on 1548 Km
on South Central Railway and North Central Railway. Presently, the
work is in progress on Delhi-Mumbai and Delhi-Howrah corridors
(approximately 3000 RKm). Track side works on these routes have
been completed on about 2200 RKm as on 30.06.2025. Regular trials
are being done on these sections.
6. Detailed instructions on issues related with safety of Signaling, 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 territoriesto 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, Prestressed 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.
30. 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:-
2014-15 to
2004-05 to 2014-25 Vs.
S.N. Item 2024-25
2013-14 2004-14
(till March 25)
Technological improvements
1. Use of high- 57,450 Km 1.43 Lakh Km More than 2
quality rails (60 times
Kg) (Km)
2. Longer Rail 9,917 Km 77,522 Km Nearly 8
Panels (260m) times
(Km)
3. Electronic 837 Stations 3,691 Stations More than 4
Interlocking times
(Stations)
4. Fog Pass Safety As on As on 288 times
Devices (Nos.) 31.03.14: 31.03.25:
90 Nos. 25,939
5. Thick Web Nil 28,301 Nos.
Switches (Nos.)Better maintenance practices
1. Primary Rail 32,260 Km 49,941 Km 1.5 times
Renewal (Track Km)
2. USFD (Ultra Sonic 79.43 Lakh 2 Crore More than 2
Flaw detection) times
Testing of Welds
(Nos.)
3. Weld failures (Nos.) In 2013-14: In 2024-25: 90 %
3699 Nos. 370 Nos. reduction
4. Rail fractures (Nos.) In 2013-14: In 2024-25: More than
2548 Nos. 289 Nos. 88%
reduction
Better infrastructure and Rolling stock
1. New Track KM added 14,985 34,428 Km More than 2
(Track km) Nos. times
2. Flyovers (RoBs)/ 4,148 13,808 Nos. More than 3
Underpasses (RUBs) Nos. times
(Nos.)
3. Unmanned Level crossing As on As on 31.03.24: Removed
(nos.) on BG 31.03.14: Nil
8948 (All eliminated
by 31.01.19)
4. Manufacture of LHB 2,337 42,677 More than
Coaches (Nos.) Nos. 18 times
*****