Indian Railways will recruit around 1.5 lakh people next year.
Highlight
- An average of 43,678 people have been recruited annually over the past eight years
- This step has been taken after PM Modi directed to recruit 10 lakh people in various departments and ministries.
- Group C and D posts, which have become redundant due to technology, will not be recruited
The Railways on Tuesday said it will recruit 1,48,463 people in the next one year as against 43,678 on an average in the last eight years. The move comes after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s directive to recruit 10 lakh people in various departments and ministries in the next 18 months.
According to the latest annual report of the Department of Expenditure on Pay and Allowances, the total number of regular central government civilian employees in the post (including union territories) as on March 1, 2020, stood at 31.91 lakh against the sanctioned strength. 40.78 lakh and about 21.75 per cent posts were vacant.
The report said that about 92 per cent of the total manpower comes under five major ministries or departments – Railways, Defense (Civil), Home Affairs, Posts and Revenue.
Of the total number of 31.33 lakhs (excluding Union Territories), the percentage share of Railways is 40.55. Government sources said various departments and ministries were asked to prepare the details of vacancies following Modi’s direction to this effect and the decision to recruit 10 lakh people was taken after an overall review.
During various assembly elections, opposition parties have tried to corner the BJP on the issue of unemployment. The Railways said that from 2014-15 to 2021-22, its total recruitment was 3,49,422 people with an average of 43,678 people per annum, while in 2022-23 it would recruit 1,48,463 people. In the total expenditure on salaries and allowances in 2019-20, the Ministry of Railways continues to account for the largest share of 35.06 per cent, which is marginally lower than 36.78 per cent in 2018-19.
PTI has earlier reported that as per official documents, the national transporter has abolished over 72,000 posts in the last six years as against the proposal to surrender 81,000 posts during the same period.
These are all Group C and D posts which have become redundant due to technology, and will not be available for recruitment purposes in future. The employees currently working in such posts are likely to be absorbed in various departments of the Railways.
Officials said these posts had to be abolished as railway operations have become modern and digital. According to documents, 16 zonal railways have surrendered 56,888 “non-essential” posts during the financial years 2015-16 to 2020-21, of which 15,495 more are set to surrender.
While the Northern Railway has surrendered over 9,000 posts, the South Eastern Railway has given up around 4,677 posts. Southern Railway has eliminated 7,524 and Eastern Railway over 5,700 posts.
Read also: Indian Railways will run monsoon special trains on Konkan route; Complete list
Read also: Indian Railways doubles train ticket booking limit per user ID through IRCTC app, website