Government reverts to old recruitment system for railways, ends Unified IRMS Process
New Delhi: The Union Government has decided to revert to the pre-December 2019 recruitment system for the Indian Railways, scrapping the unified Indian Railway Management Service (IRMS) process. Starting this year, railway officers will once again be recruited through two separate exams – the Civil Services Examination (CSE) and the Engineering Services Examination (ESE), both conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC).
The Centre's Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) gave its approval to the Railway Ministry’s proposal on Saturday. This marks a major departure from the government’s earlier reform that merged eight railway services into a single entity, the IRMS. The 2019 reform aimed at eliminating departmentalism within Indian Railways and streamlining recruitment by bringing both technical and non-technical officers under one unified exam.
However, over the last two years, the ministry struggled to recruit enough technical personnel through the IRMS process, prompting this reversal. Officials said that the decision reflects the unique requirement of having both technical and non-technical expertise in the railways.
The Railway Ministry has requested the recruitment of 225 engineers through the upcoming Civil Services Examination (CSE) 2025, with applications to be invited soon. This new approach will allow for specialized recruitment, addressing the specific needs of the railways for both technical and managerial roles.
Earlier, under the IRMS system, candidates from different backgrounds were assessed through a single examination, but the shift back to two separate exams will now enable more focused hiring.
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Sujit Nair raises concerns over speculation of DMK-AIADMK understanding to block TVK
Chennai: Journalist and political commentator Sujit Nair has expressed concern over speculation that the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam could explore a post-poll understanding to prevent Vijay-led Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam from forming the government in Tamil Nadu.
In a social media post, Sujit Nair said the election verdict in Tamil Nadu reflected a clear public demand for political change and argued that the mandate should be respected irrespective of political preferences.
Referring to reports and political discussions surrounding a possible understanding between the DMK and AIADMK, he said he hoped such developments remained only speculative conversations and did not turn into reality.
Nair stated that if such an alliance were to take shape, it would raise serious questions about ideological politics in the country. He said TVK had emerged through a democratic electoral process and that the legitimacy to govern in a parliamentary democracy comes from the people’s verdict.
According to him, attempts to prevent an electoral winner from forming the government through unexpected political arrangements may be constitutionally valid, but many people could view them as politically opportunistic.
He further said that such a move could particularly affect the political image of the DMK, which has historically projected itself around ideology, social justice and opposition politics. Nair said that in ideological terms, the DMK appeared closer to TVK than to the AIADMK, and joining hands with its long-time political rival only to remain in power could weaken its broader political narrative.
He added that the same questions would apply to the AIADMK as well, as the party had spent decades positioning itself against the DMK and such an arrangement could create discomfort among its cadre and supporters.
Drawing a comparison with Maharashtra politics in 2019, Nair said he had expressed similar views when the Shiv Sena formed an alliance with the Indian National Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party after the Assembly elections.
He said post-poll alliances between long-standing political rivals often create a public perception that ideology and electoral mandates become secondary when political power equations come into play.
Nair also said such developments increase public cynicism towards politics and reinforce the belief among voters that ideology is often sidelined after elections.
He maintained that the Tamil Nadu verdict was emphatic and said respecting both the spirit and substance of the mandate was important for the credibility of democratic politics.
