Indian Railway Service of Engineers

Functions of IRSE

The Indian Railway Service of Engineers (IRSE) is a cadre of the Government of India. The officers of this service are responsible for managing the Civil Engineering Organization of the Indian Railways

Recruitment of IRSE

The recruitment to the cadre is done through the Indian Engineering Services exam. The top position holders of civil engineering joins IRSE and is finally inducted in Railways after one and a half years of training to maintain the civil engineering assets of Indian Railways.

The selection exam is conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) of India. The UPSC is responsible for recruiting middle and top-level bureaucrats for the Government of India.

Functions of IRSE

The Civil Engineering department of Indian Railways is managed by engineers of IRSE. These engineers are responsible for maintenance of all fixed assets of Indian Railways, i.e. Track, Bridges, Buildings, Roads, Water supply etc. These fixed assets are 45% of total assets of Indian Railway. In addition to maintenance of existing assets, IRSE engineers are responsible for construction of new assets such as New lines, Gauge conversion, doubling and other expansion and developmental works in Railways.

Recruitment to service is done on the basis of an all India "Engineering Services" examination conducted by UPSC every year in June. Number of new recruits varies over year. Presently, intake is about 25 to 30 probationers per year. Normally top position holders in Engineering service Exams opt for IRSE.

An aspirant should be a civil Engineering graduate from any recognized university of India.

After Recruitment, the probationer is given 18 months' intensive training in various Railways establishments under the guidance of Indian Railway Institute of Civil Engineers, Pune. The training includes 3 months capsule course at IIMS.

A young probationer is posted as assistant divisional engineer after 18 months of training and can rise up to add. member (ADD. secretary gov. of India )/Member(secretary of gov. of India)/Chairman Railway Board, a post equivalent to secretary of Govt of India. In normal course, all the IRSE officers rise up to minimum level of Additional General Manager or Principal chief engineer or Chief Administrative officer (construction) rank in railways which is equivalent to add. secretary gov. of India.

Railway service is very demanding and it needs sincerity, dedication and hard work. Railway Engineer is on duty 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

IRSE Levels

There are  1500 engineers in IRSE. The management of department has three levels.

·         Apex level

·         Zone level

·        Division level

Apex level

This level decides major policy of department. The civil engineering department which is known as Engineering department in Indian Railways Organization is headed at apex level (i.e. Railway Board) by ME (Member-Engineering) ex-officio secretary to Government of India. He is assisted by two Additional Secretary rank (equivalent to GM) officers viz. Additional Member (civil engineering) and Additional Member (works).

Zone level

The Indian Railways has 16 Zonal Railways with an average track length of about 4000 km and average staff strength of about 80,000 headed by GMs. The Zonal Organizational structure of Engineering department is headed by Principal Chief Engineer (PCE) who is assisted by various chief engineers for track, bridge, planning, track machines, general matters etc.

In addition, each Zonal Railway has a construction unit headed by a Chief Administrative Officer. He is responsible for major construction works such as new lines, doubling, gauge conversions etc. He is assisted by various chief engineers (construction).

Division level

Each Zone is divided into 4-7 Divisions each with an average track length of about 1000 km and staff strength of about 15000 headed overall by DRM (Divisional Railway Manager). These are basic units for execution of works.

At this Level, the Engineering department is headed by SrDEN (Senior Divisional Engineer). A new probationer joins as Assistant Divisional Engineer and commands about 1000 staff spread over 200 km of jurisdiction.