Centre restores railway recruitment through UPSC ESE; Congress slams 'fast mentality' of PM Modi

NEW DELHI: Rolling back its decision, the Centre gave approval to the recruitment of technical railway officers through the Engineering Services Examination (ESE) conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). Earlier, the railway recruitment was conducted through UPSC civil services exam only.

“Ministry of Railways has been recruiting officers to the Indian Railway Management Service (IRMS) through Civil Service Examination - 2022 onwards. Now, it has been decided by the Ministry of Railways that recruitment to the IRMS will be made both through the CSE and ESE. In this regard, DoP&T vide its Office Memorandum dated 5th Oct,2024 have conveyed their in-principal approval to this proposal,” said railway CEO and chairman in a letter.

The railway ministry noted that the ministry of telecommunications, the nodal ministry for ESE, has already notified the rules for ESE 2025 and the last date for submission of applications is October 8.

The ministry made a request for addition of vacancies for the IRMS recruitment of engineers in various disciplines to the existing UPSC ESE 2025 notification by issuing an addendum to it. The railways also proposed extension of last date for submission of applications and a notification on UPSC’s website “in order to provide ample opportunity to candidates”.

Railway recruitment through UPSC ESE

The government’s decision drew mixed reactions from the aspirants and political leaders. Congress party slammed the centre and termed the move as a ‘case of railway deforms’.

Hailing the decision, a scientist and educationist said in a post on X, “The government's decision to reinstate recruitment of railway officers through the Engineering Services and Civil Services Examinations is incredibly exciting. This change opens doors for many dreamers to make a significant impact on one of our country’s lifelines. While there have been many decisions and changes along the way, we finally have what we've always wanted. Let’s celebrate this opportunity and start preparing for the exams we've all been waiting for.”

Citing a media report, Congress general-secretary Jairam Ramesh said, “This was not a case of Railway Reforms but actually a case of Railway Deforms. Five years ago, the non-biological PM's Government merged eight railway services into the Indian Railway Management Service (IRMS) and discontinued recruitment through the Engineering Services Examination.”

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On October 5 2024, the government rolled back its decision and will now continue to recruit through two separate examinations, one for civil services and one for engineering services, he claimed. "The rollback was motivated by concern that too many officers coming in were generalists and lacked the technical and engineering skills required," the Congress leader added.

"This FAST mentality of the non-biological PM - First Announce, Second Think - continues to spell danger to our institutions especially," the Congress leader said. The railways are fundamentally an engineering system, and the deliberate attempt to forget this fact in the rush to standardise all recruitment was foolhardy,” Ramesh further stated.