Indian Railways centralises promotion to Group B cadre, entrusts task to NAIR

By Sagar Mohod

As part of ongoing reforms, Ministry of Railways has decided to centralise the process of departmental promotion to Group B cadre in all departments of Indian Railways having organised services. An order issued by Railway Board notified National Academy of Indian Railways (NAIR) as nodal agency for conducting exam. The personal interview, however, will be held at respective Zonal Headquarters but in transparent way as names of candidates would not be known to interview panel, thus eliminating any chances of manipulation.

The major policy change means now all the employees in Group C eligible for elevation would sit on computer-based test (CBT), ensuring a level playing field for one and all. The outcome would be based on weightage that is going to consider, record of service, length of service in Level-7, professional qualification, viva voice and minimum requirement for passing is 30 marks out of 50.

The exam is having four sections, one Technical (Professional) subject for 80 marks in 30 per cent quota and 60 marks in 70 per cent quota, where the examinees would be examined for technical knowledge. In the second section, for 40 and 20 marks general knowledge in respective section, further Establishment and Financial Rule section would comprise of 30 and 20 marks, and last would be Official language policy. The new rules are applicable for both 30 per cent and 70 per cent Limited Departmental Competitive Examination (LDCE) that is held for filling up posts on promotion on basis of vacancy and seniority respectively.

According to Railway employees, the entrusting of task to NAIR will stop the arbitrariness in departmental promotion exams that has been its hallmark so far. Earlier, respective Zones would conduct the exam in their respective department and many a time, the results were manipulated to favor the chosen few candidates. So deserving candidates got lost out in the race but in process, the Railways was the looser as those promoted did not have necessary caliber to deliver the results.

The Board mentioned that NAIR will conduct the LDCE through CBT every year based on input received about vacant posts in Group B from the 16 Zones of Indian Railways. For 70 per cent vacancies, the eligibility is Group C employees working in Level-7 with Grade Pay of Rs. 4600 and in higher Group C grades will be eligible for consideration. The main condition is that the employee aspiring for promotion must have completed five-years in regular service. Those in Grade Pay of Rs. 42000 and posted in Level-6 can also opt for the exam to get promotion.

Another reason for altering the promotion policy is that Indian Railways is undergoing rapid transformation and Ministry now wants professionalism to be core of its future officers. Even in direct Group B cadre, MBA is now necessary for those seeking entry in Commercial Branch, as it is felt that unless the candidate is conversant with market dynamics, he or she cannot deliver the result, felt S M Balekar, retired Assistant Commercial Manager (ACM). For other branches respective Degrees in Engineering, Diploma or Equivalent, ITI or Act Apprentice and Secondary education based on which their personal score will be allotted.