Recruitment for Group D Posts

Recruitment for Group D Posts

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS
RAJYA SABHA

QUESTION NO 188

ANSWERED ON 03.08.2018

Recruitment for Group D Posts

188 Shri Jose K. Mani

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state :-

(a) whether despite the automation projects aimed to improve safety, the Railways propose to hire about one lakh staff through an online process, mainly in Group ‘D’ comprising of gangmen, trackmen, switchmen, cabinmen, welders and helpers;

(b) whether there being no recruitment for Group ‘D’ during the last two years, the operational efficiency of Railways has taken a hit with most of the trains running late in all the Zones; and

(c) whether Railways have the professional manpower and systems capacity to process more than 2.5 crore pending applications?

ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, COAL, FINANCE AND CORPORATE AFFAIRS (SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)

(a) to (c): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (c) OF STARRED QUESTION NO.188 BY SHRI JOSE K. MANI ANSWERED IN RAJYA SABHA ON 03.08.2018 REGARDING RECRUITMENT FOR GROUP ‘D’ POSTS.

(a) Occurrence and filling up of vacancies is a continuous process. The policy of Railways is to fill up the vacancies as per operational requirement. Accordingly, 1,32,646 vacancies including 62,907 vacancies for safety related activities in Level-1 posts (erstwhile Group ‘D’ posts) are being filled up in Railways.

(b) Operational efficiency of Railways depends upon infrastructure. Historically, there has been lack of investment in infrastructure which has been substantially increased in recent years. Trains get delayed due to the factors related to its internal working and also external factors which are beyond the control of Railways. In addition to asset failures, certain factors such as line capacity and terminal capacity, constraints on account of increasing passenger and freight traffic, adverse weather conditions (fog, rains, breaches) , intermittent natural calamities such as floods, cyclones, heavy rains, and heavy road traffic at level crossing gates across the Indian Railways network, mid-section run over cases involving cattle and humans etc. also adversely affect the punctuality of trains over Indian Railways. Sanctioned posts in all categories are more than the actual operational requirements because they include an element of Leave Reserve and Rest Givers. This Leave Reserve varies from 12.5% to 30% in safety categories. Efficiency in operational performance of the Railways is maintained by appropriate manpower planning and there is no compromise in this regard.

(c) Indian Railways has an elaborate and well established set up for recruitment. There are 21 Railway Recruitment Boards spread all over the country. In addition, services of professional agencies are taken as per requirement, and modern techniques such as Computer Based Tests have been introduced to ensure transparency in the recruitment process.