Complete Guide to Indian Railway Management Service (IRMS) for UPSC Aspirants

The Government actually had to conduct a separate exam to recruit officers for the Indian Railways. But this scenario has changed. The update released on February 02nd, 2023 states that the IRMS 2023 recruitment is now done through the UPSC CSE exam 2023, making preparation through the top UPSC coaching even more valuable for aspirants.

So, the eligible candidates for the Indian Railways Management Service (IRMS) will be selected through the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). This is done via a new exam called the IRMS Exam.

IRMS

The Indian Railway Management Service, abbreviated as IRMS, is India’s leading establishment with nearly 72% of engineers on Group services. Looking into the prior cases, UPSC IRMS were chosen via the Indian Engineering Service Exam and Civil Services Examination.

In general, IRMS is conducted to recruit candidates for various levels, right from Junior Scale to HAG+. Typically, the exam is conducted for the Ministry of Railways by the UPSC.

IRMS Exam Highlights

ParticularsDetails
Examination nameIndian Railway Management Service Examination
Conducting BodyUnion Public Service Commission (UPSC)
ExaminationUPSC IRMS
Exam LevelNational
Exam FrequencyOnce in a year
 Examination ModeOffline
Official websitewww.indianrailways.gov.in

 

IRMS Eligibility

To qualify for IRMS, candidates have to fulfil the below criteria:

 

AgeShould be between 21 – 32 years old to apply for IRMS.
QualificationA bachelor’s degree from a well-known university
NationalityShould be an Indian citizen
Number of Attemptsup to six times for the general category and relaxations are available for reserved categories
Physical RequirementShould fulfil the medical fitness standards prescribed by the railways.

 

IRMS Exam Pattern

The IRMSE is a two-tier examination. It contains a Preliminary Screening Examination, then has to attend a Main Written Examination and finally an Interview.

Preliminary Examination:

PaperQuestionsExam durationMaximum Marks
Paper 1

(General Studies)

 

1002 hours200
Paper 2

(CSAT)

 

802 hours200

 

  • Both Paper 1 and Paper 2 will be objective kind of questions and they are done for 2 hours.
  • IRMS question papers are available both in English and Hindi

IRMS Mains Exam Pattern

Qualifying Papers

Paper A– Candidates should choose from one of the Indian Languages that are included in the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution, it is done for 300 marks

Paper B –  English  for 300 marks

Papers counted for merit

Optional Subject ‐ Paper          – 250 marks

Optional Subject ‐ Paper 2       –  a total of 250 marks

 

Personality Test               – 100 marks

List of optional subjects

  1. Civil Engineering,
  2. Mechanical Engineering
  3. Electrical Engineering
  4. Commerce and Accountancy.

IRMS Personal Interview (Level  3)

Final stage of the IRMS recruitment exam – Interview/personality test

Candidates passing out the written exams are called for the Interview round.

IRMS Training

Candidates qualified for the Indian Railway Management Service (IRMS) have to go through certain training programs.

  • Foundation Course:
  • Teaches about the numerous aspects of railway management.
  • Field Training:
  • Provides practical aspects of railway operations.
  • Induction Training:
  • Delivers necessary knowledge in specific domains.
  • Professional Training:
  • Improves skills and expertise in focused areas.
  • On-the-Job Training:
  • Offers practical experience in real-time challenges.
  • Leadership Development Programs
  • Nurtures leadership qualities and managerial skills.

Job Responsibilities – UPSC IRMS

  • Responsible for the safe and smooth operation of trains
  • To administer maintenance and infrastructure development.
  • Supervising staff, arranging and evaluating departmental operations.
  • Deal with passenger services and facilities.
  • Management of personnel through recruitment, selection, onboarding, and training.
  • Handles aspects related to financial and budgetary
  • Ensures sufficient personal growth opportunities for employees
  • Plan and execute projects for network expansion and modernization.
  • Enforce customer service and quality standards, tackling customer service and quality issues, and recommending improvements in systems.
  • Sets strategic goals by collecting applicable financial, business, operational, and service-related data.

IRMS Grades and Pay Scales

GradePay Scale
Junior ScaleINR 56,100 – INR 1,77,500
Senior ScaleINR 67,700 – INR 2,08,700
Junior Administrative GradeINR 78,800 – INR 2,09,200
Selection GradeINR 1,18,500 – INR 2,14,100
Senior Administrative GradeINR 1,44,200 – INR 2,18,200
Higher Administrative GradeINR 1,82,200 – INR 2,24,100
Apex ScaleINR 2,25,000 (fixed)

 

IRMS Career Growth and Promotion

Candidates become eligible for job promotions and hikes in pay with years of experience and productive performance for a set period. Some of the notable benefits cover:

  • Progress quickly depending on the performance and service years
  • Access to diverse jobs and departments within the railways
  • Chances to lead significant railway projects that develop the infrastructure of the nation
  • Potential to work temporarily in public sector companies or other government departments
  • Offered with competitive salary packages, regular hikes and other allowances.

Service under IRMS Recruitment Exam

Grade ‘A’ services that recruit candidates from the IRMS exam include:

  • Indian Railway Service of Engineers (IRSE)
  • Indian Railway Service of Mechanical Engineers
  • Indian Railway Service of Electrical Engineers (IRSEE)
  • Indian Railway Stores Service (IRSS)
  • Indian Railway Service of Signal Engineers (IRSSE)
  • Indian Railway Traffic Service (IRTS)
  • Indian Railway Personnel Service (IRPS)
  • Indian Railway Accounts Services (IRAS)

Other benefits of the UPSC IRMS position

  • House rent allowance
  • Medical expenditures
  • EPF
  • Gratuity

And more…

Prepare for the Indian Railway Management Service

Rigorous training and preparation are essential for achieving success in IRMS. Choosing the right books is also crucial. Studying books that cover vital topics and devoting appropriate time ensures you are a successful candidate for IRMS.

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