Indian Railways issues fresh notifications for 2025 hiring to fill more than 1.2 lakh posts

The Railways has begun the process of filling more than 1,20,000 vacancies advertised across 2024 and 2025, Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw informed the Lok Sabha during the Winter session.

He told Parliament that the system has added 5.08 lakh employees in the last 11 years, surpassing the recruitment numbers recorded in the decade before.

The Ministry explained that hiring remains an ongoing activity for the Railways because of its nationwide footprint and the operational pressure of running such a large network.

Departments seek recruits according to their changing needs, particularly with technology upgrades, increased mechanization and updated safety norms.

During 2024, ten Centralised Employment Notifications were released covering over 92,000 posts.

Openings ranged from Assistant Loco Pilots and Technicians to RPF Sub-Inspectors, RPF Constables, Junior Engineers, Depot Material Superintendents, Chemical and Metallurgical Assistants and various paramedical roles.

Graduate and undergraduate applicants were also invited for NTPC categories, along with candidates for Level-1 jobs such as Track Maintainers and Pointsmen.

Much of the testing phase for these notifications has already concluded. The first round of Computer Based Tests for 59,678 posts drew significant turnout across cities and multiple languages.

Second-stage CBTs for major categories, including ALP, JE and NTPC (Graduate), have also been wrapped up, along with the Computer Based Aptitude Test required for ALP candidates.

Examinations for more than 32,000 Level-1 posts started in November 2025 across 140 locations. Earlier this month, the Physical Efficiency Test for 4,208 RPF Constable vacancies also began.

So far, selection panels have been issued for more than 23,000 candidates in roles like Technicians, Junior Engineers, paramedical staff, RPF Sub-Inspectors and Assistant Loco Pilots. Many of these positions fall under high-priority safety departments.

Looking ahead to 2025, the Railways has already published seven recruitment notifications for 28,463 jobs.

These include openings for ALPs, Technicians, Section Controllers, paramedical categories, Junior Engineers and NTPC positions for both graduate and undergraduate applicants.

According to the Ministry, each stage of the recruitment process was conducted in a transparent manner, following established rules.

Officials also noted that no instance of paper leaks or malpractice surfaced during the exams, despite their scale and complexity.

Comparing two decades of hiring activity, Vaishnaw said that 4.11 lakh appointments were made between 2004 and 2014, while the period from 2014 to 2025 saw that number rise to 5.08 lakh.

To make the process smoother for applicants, the Railways introduced an annual hiring calendar in 2024.

The Ministry said the calendar gives candidates clearer visibility on exam dates, application windows, training and eventual appointments.

It also clarified that contractual workers brought in during urgent operational requirements are hired only temporarily and do not gain any right to regularization once permanent recruits join.

Vaishnaw shared the detailed update through a written reply in the Lok Sabha.