Complete Guide for Career with Indian Railway: Exams, Eligibility & Job Profile

Very popularly known as “The lifeline of India”, the Indian railways have 150 years long history. Railways in Indian life are very significant because of its audacity to accommodate the number of passengers. Whenever we travel by train we get amazed by the picturesque locations that pass by. A view of a long trains passing through forests, over the bridge, or under the tunnels is very fascinating. Since its inception in the public services, the railway has been a pivotal contribution to the government with a lot of success. Train is the easiest mode to travel if you want to travel distance. It is affordable too, in comparison with flights. Hence those who can spare time, find it very convenient to travel by train.

Currently, the railway is the largest network of connectivity as well as huge personnel. If you think about its network, it’s just amazing with hundreds of trains running all over the country day and night. It is never stopping as there will be many trains commuting from one place to another at different locations. With its widespread network, it also needs sufficient eligible manpower to run this system now and then. As of now, the railway creates the maximum job opportunities for the aspirants. It consistently needs personnel with mechanical, technical, and administrative skills. We will now see the railway job qualification and salary structure.

Railways offer several job opportunities to people from various backgrounds. It is an ever rapidly expanding sector for job openings. There are a lot of jobs in Indian railways to grab and get a chance to explore the different parts of India if your profile permits. To enhance the skills and get a pay hike, several diploma courses are available in railways.

The IT wing of the Indian Railways is the Centre for Railway Information Systems (CRIS) with its headquarter in New Delhi. It is an autonomous organization and has regional offices in Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Secunderabad, and Delhi. CRIs provides multiple job opportunities to IT graduates who are skilled in developing software such as C#, C, C++, and Java. B. Tech in Computer Science and Electronics can apply in the technical wing involved in the development, maintenance, and implementation of the Reservation System, Ticketing System, e-Procurement System, Freight Operations Information Systems (FOIS), and other wings of IT departments.

The graduates from the mechanical and civil branch can work in the design and railway track development wings. They must clear the exams Engineering Services Examination and Civil Services Examination for getting higher posts. Graduates in Commerce and Mathematics can apply for the audit and finance department of the railways. Indian railway posts & salary structure entirely depend on the position one seeks.

If you are planning to seek career counseling for a govt job, do not forget to ask the counselor about career opportunities in Indian Railways. A career in railways is a very exciting one and there are ample growth opportunities if you are ambitious. Indian Railways is the fourth largest in the world, and with 1.4 million employees working in different capacities, it is of the world’s largest employers too. The network of Indian railways is not only of rail tracks but also consists of various institutes offering different courses suitable to your job profile.

Some Indian Institutes offering courses in Railway Institutes: –

Indian Railways Institute of Transport Management (IRITM) – Professional Training of IRTS Probationary Officers, Appreciation Courses for Probationary Officers (Mid Career Training Programmes, Special Courses) – Location, Lucknow
The Institution of Permanent Way Engineers – Diploma Courses (IT) – Location, Pune
Indian Railways Institute of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering (IRIMEE) – Training Courses for Mechanical & M&C Courses – Location, Jamalpur, Patna.
Institute of Rail Transport – Rail Transport and Management, Transport, Economics, and Management, Multi-modal Transport Courses.
The Indian Railways Institute of Logistics & Materials Management (IRILMM) – Diploma Courses – Location, New Delhi.

Before getting the knowledge about the various exams, we need to understand the criteria and the benefits of a job in railways. Candidates seeking a job in railways must be an Indian national with a qualification of 10^th and upwards based on the job applied. The salary varies according to the position you are in. There are categories in the railways and based on your category, the salary structure is fixed. There are four groups D, C, B, and A of a railway staff.

D group salary – Rs 7000/month

C group salary – Rs 7700 to Rs 18500/-

B group salary – Rs 21000 to Rs 30000/-

A group salary – Rs 46000 to Rs 53000/-

Apart from the salary, the railways employee get gets perks and bonus.

The entrance exams to pursue a career in railways are: –

Indian Railway Service of Engineers (IRSE) – Indian Engineering Services – Qualification needed is graduate in Engineering – Age limit 21 to 30 year
Indian Railway Service of Electrical Engineers (IREE) – Combined Engineering Services Examination – Engineering graduate – 21 to 30 years
Indian Railway Service of Mechanical Engineers (IRSME) – Combined Engineering Service Examination – Engineering graduate – 21 to 30 years
India Railway Service of Signal Engineers (IRSEE) – Combined Engineering Service Examination – Engineering graduate – 21 to 30 years
Indian Railway Stores Service (IRSS) – Combined Engineering Service Examination – Engineering graduate – 21 to 30 years
Indian Railway Traffic Service (IRTS) – Civil Services Examination – Graduation – 21 to 30 years
Railway Protection Force – Civil Services Examination – Graduation – 21 to 30 years
Indian Railway Personnel Service (IRPS) – Civil Services Examination – Graduation – 21 to 30 years
Indian Railway Accounts Service (IRAS) – Civil Services Examination – Graduation – 21 to 30 years
Indian Railway Medical Service (IRMS) – Combined Medical Service Examination – Medical Degree – 21 to 30 years
Commercial Apprentice, Assistant Station Master, Traffic Apprentice, Clerk – Railway Non-Technical Cadre Exam – Graduation for Grace B, C jobs, – 18 to 27 years
Railway Recruitment Service – Railway Non-Technical Cadre Exam – Engineering Degree – 18 to 27 years
Sun-Inspectors/Constables – RPF Sub Inspectors/Constables Exam – Intermediate/10+2 Science background – 20 to 25 years for Sub Inspectors and 18 to 25 years for Constables
Assistants, Clerks (LDC), Attendant, Driver, Constable, Village Administrative Officer (VAO), Stenographer, Data Entry Operator, Junior Assistants, Peons – Railway Recruitment Examination – Intermediate/10+2 – 18 to 25 years

Opportunities in Railways:

Several government jobs in railways are offered to students looking for a career in Indian railways.

The movements of trains are operated by the operations department and it includes several jobs of inspectors and supervisors at control offices and railway stations. The qualified candidates undergo training for two years at Lal Bahadur Shastri Academy of Administration at Mussouri. In the third year job training followed by clearance of departmental examinations will allot a confirmed post as Assistant Operations Superintendent (AOS) or as Assistant Commercial Superintendent (ACS) at the Divisional Headquarters. Through the experience and promotions, the post of Operations Manager or Senior Divisional Commercial Managers and the topmost position as Operations or Commercial Chief Managers at the Zonal Level.
Engineers and technical graduates can have field jobs such as planning, construction, maintenance, and installation of railway tracks, buildings, and bridges. Aspirants can also clear the Indian Railway Service of Engineers (IRSE), Indian Railway Service of Signal Engineers (IRSSE), and Indian Railway Service of Mechanical Engineers (IRSME).
The candidates who graduated from commerce with a mathematics background can appear for Indian Railway Account Service (IRAS). The finance and account of railways have a very big team to manage the field. Finance Managers, Chartered Accountants, and managements students can make it big of the railway accounts opportunities.
The Indian Railway Personnel Service provides the opportunity to thousands who seek to get jobs in the staff welfare fields of the railways. The selected candidates get work related to staff welfare activities, recruitment, training, promotion, informing, and transfer of staff and other relevant activities. Railway Protection Force provides a chance to aspirants to work in railway police personnel as a paramilitary force.
Railway, being the largest operating industry in the country, needs proper planning to prosper. Indian Railway Stores Service takes care of activities related to the five-year plan of the railways.
There are several jobs at the clerical level like ticket counter or ticket inspectors. Railways provide the C and D category jobs to many students after their 10^th or 12^th class clearance.

However, railway job qualifications and salaries do not end here. There are many high profile jobs offered by railways provided you fulfill all the requirements to get recruited. One such job is Junior Engineer through Railway Recruitment Board, thus this is in short called as RRB JE. The railway JE salary is very lucrative along with its perks.

The jobs like RRB JE remain the most luring among the fresh engineering graduate students. RRB JE exam is held by Railway Recruitment Board to recruit candidates for positions like Junior Engineer, Depot Material Superintendent, Chemical and Metallurgical Assistance, Chief Depot Material Superintendent, and Senior Selection Engineer.

RRB JE job profile has a wide range. He can be placed in several fields based on his expertise. Below we discuss the opportunities for JE position in railways

RRB Junior Engineer – Civil Engineering – The eligibility is a three-year Diploma in Civil Engineering or B.Sc. of Civil Engineering of three- year duration.

Junior Engineer (Works) – Also called the Inspector of Works. He is responsible for construction and maintenance of railway buildings including staff quarters, water supply to these buildings, and Encroachment of Railway Land
Junior Engineer (Permanent Way) – He will be in charge of a track stretching over a couple of stations (about 50-60 km length). His responsibility is to maintain the track in the best shape and allow smooth, safe, and fast movements of trains
Junior Engineer (Bridge) – He is responsible for the maintenance of bridges in the Railway Division. This category RRB JE job profile is bridge workshop and bridge construction.
Junior Engineer (Drawing, Design, and Estimation) – He is responsible for drawing, estimation of quantity, and preparation of work estimate.
Junior Engineer (Track Machine) – His job includes inspection and maintenance of all track machines. Ensure availability of necessary staff for the operation and optimum utilization of machines during track possessions/line blocks.

RRB JE salary for the above-mentioned post will vary based on the responsibility and severity of the job profile.

RRB Junior Engineer – Electrical Engineering –The Junior Engineer with an Electrical Engineering background is posted in four major divisions owned by railways
General Service (G) – includes the development and maintenance of various equipments used by the Indian Railway department.
Traction Operation (TRO) – responsible for safety systems commonly used in railway. Engineers working here control the speed at which the drive wheels spin. They caution the train drivers in case of any abnormality in the speed of drive wheels.
Traction Distribution (TRD) – it handles the maintenance of Over Head Equipments and Substations (PS) which are indulged in the shifting of rolling stock. This is monitored through a SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) system.
Traction Rolling Stock (TRS) – is liable for the production and safeguard of Main Line EMUs (MEMUs), Electrical Multiple Units (EMUs), and Electric Locomotives.
RRB Junior Engineer (Electronics and Communication Engineering) – there are below posts under this category as a Junior Engineer
Engineer (Signal)
Engineer (Telecommunication)
Engineer (S&T) Workshop
Engineer (Drawing/Drawing & Design/Signal/S&T
Engineer (Drawing/S&T)
He is a supervisor in the Telecommunication Department in railways. He can be posted under Station or Production Unit.
Responsibilities
Safe installation and maintenance of equipment
To ensure strict discipline among his staff
Coordination with Engineering and other branches for common work
Submission of proposals for Revenue and Works Budget
RRB Junior Engineer (Mechanical Engineering) – is responsible for the manufacturing, maintenance (Division and Workshop), and operation of Carriage, Wagon, and Locomotives. The posts are
Engineer (Mechanical/Workshop)
Engineer Mechanical
Engineer Carriage & Wagon
Engineer Diesel/Mechanical
Engineer J&T (Jigs and Tools)
Engineer (Drawing and Design) Mechanical
He works under Section Engineer and can be posted under Station or Production Unit.
Mechanical workshop engineer is expected to create a zero-defects system and no deficiencies in rolling stock machines.
Carriage and Wagon engineer is responsible for inspection of carriage and wagons and trial components.
Diesel mechanical engineer is responsible for the operation and maintenance of diesel locomotives.
RRB Junior Engineer (Information & Technology Engineering) – is responsible for policy framing and IT related matters of the railway.
Policy framing of power and security related issues and to implement the policies
He is expected to update the daily matters on the internet related to the Indian Railway on its website
He is responsible for stock availability of equipments like copiers, IT hardware and software, fax, and other machines and accessories.

RRB JE salary after implementation of 7^th pay commission has been revised as below

Basic – Rs 9300
Grade – Rs 4200
Total Entry pay – Rs 13500
DA (125% on Basic and Grade pay) – Rs 16875
Total pay – Rs 13500 + Rs 16875 = Rs 30375 + Allowances
New Salary (post 7^th pay) = Rs 35400 + Allowances.

Apart from the Junior Engineer (JE) position, there are many top grab posts one can look for, as far as salary is concerned. The only thing one can see as a hurdle is the location of the job. The railway employees, or government employees in general, can be posted anywhere in India. That is why, only those who are ready to move away from their home town can seriously think about railway job, though it does not thumb rule to get the away location.

Below are other positions with a good salary

Indian Railway Personnel Service (IRPS)
Revenue Sector
Engineering Sector
Station Master
Track Inspector
Rail Navigator
Conductor
Fireman
Guard

Conclusion:

If you meet the desired criteria and clear the exam then you can surely explore the possibility of working for the Indian Railway. Since the network of railways is spread all over the country and also more lines are coming up in future, it is a very good chance for the students to dream of or the fresh graduate to start their career with Indian Railway.

There is another point of view to consider a job in railways as important because of the technology advancement. In the last few years, we have seen tremendous improvisation in locomotive technology. It connects the new generation to hopefuls to the world outside. There are many projects under progress with foreign countries for the advancement in the rail industry in our country. This also opens the gate for grabbing the chance to get advanced studies in more developed countries in this field like Germany.

The much-awaited ‘Bullet Train” project will also open the doors to the aspiring young people who want to gain the profit from new technology. India needs expert engineers and technical people for the development and success of this project. It is most likely possible that slowly our old train may get replaced by bullet trains one by one, though it will take years if it is going to ever happen. But one can wish, by then our team to become much stronger in terms of knowledge and project handling.

These changes in the railway system is going to be very important in terms of people money and time. The proportion of time and money for the speed train travel may be inverse in the beginning but surely it is going to change in long term basis. As more commuters will go in speed trains the proportion also is expected to get right over period of time.

Author Bio:

Open Naukri has introduced new and holistic ways for the proper selection of careers and making professional choices. This is because we know the importance of career choice in student life. Giving career guidance to students is our prime responsibility and our career counsellors are best at fulfilling it too.