Indian Railways is facing difficulties in recruiting sufficient technical staff under the Indian Railway Management Service (IRMS), a scheme approved by the government in 2019. While efforts have been made to integrate multiple railway services under IRMS, the intake of new officers under this regime remains low as the first batch of recruits are still undergoing training.

Dipak K Dash, Indian Railways had requested the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) to recruit 150 staff for IRMS in 2022. However, only 130 candidates were selected and of them, around 40 reported for training at the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA) in Mussoorie. The rest opted for extraordinary leave (EOL), a common practice under which candidates can prepare for other examinations without receiving salary. Those who reported are now in the final stages of training at a railway institute in Lucknow.

The 2023 recruitment round also saw a poor response. Despite a new call for 150 staff, only 84 candidates were selected, further exacerbating labour shortages in several rail zones.

To curb this shortage, the Railways has started re-hiring retired junior officers as consultants on a “contingency basis” till December 2026. A letter from the Railway Board stressed that these consultants would help address challenges caused by vacant posts and ensure uninterrupted operations and services. Their responsibilities include inspection, supervision and signing, and they will be released once new recruits from UPSC or other departmental selections join.

There are also reports that some IRMS recruits have raised concerns with the Railway Board, particularly over rumours that the national transporter is considering splitting services back into technical and non-technical branches. This uncertainty, coupled with recruitment issues, has contributed to the staffing problems within the Indian Railways.