Indian Railways has delivered more than 9,000 appointment letters in the first quarter of fiscal 2025–26 and is on track to exceed 50,000 hires by the end of the financial year, according to the Ministry of Railways. Since November 2024, its Railway Recruitment Boards have conducted Computer-Based Tests involving an estimated 1.86 crore candidates across seven recruitment notifications covering 55,197 vacant posts.
Expediting local access, exam centres are now allocated closer to candidates’ residences, with special priority given to women and persons with benchmark disabilities (PwBD). This inclusive approach requires a significant increase in testing infrastructure and personnel but enhances equity and removes logistical hurdles for under-represented groups.
Transparency remains a core focus: for the first time, all RRB exam centres deploy Aadhaar-based e‑KYC checks, achieving over 95% verification success, while jammers are active in 100% of centres to prevent electronic malpractices. These measures reinforce trust in the recruitment process and align with broader efforts for clean and fair public-sector recruitment.
To sustain momentum, twelve additional notifications have been issued since 2024, targeting 108,324 vacancies, and the board plans another 50,000-plus appointments in FY2026–27. This signals a sustained multi-year recruitment effort amid a skills crunch and expansion of railway infrastructure.
By decentralising exam centres and prioritising inclusivity, Indian Railways demonstrates a commitment to gender neutrality and accessibility. This strategy supports equitable employment and reinforces the vision of sustainable urban-focused development.
The move to Aadhaar e-KYC and jammers—while primarily anti-cheating—also minimises paper usage, and through localised centres, reduces candidate travel. The combined result is not only credibility but also a marginal carbon footprint reduction, aligning with the zero‑net‑carbon goal, albeit indirectly.
Handling 1.86 crore applicants within eight months reflects significant operational capability. Combined with fair practice safeguards, this initiative sends a strong message about transparent public employment and modernisation of public services.
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