IR Selection to Senior Posts Rules 2025: Complete Guide to New Railway Board Framework
The Ministry of Railways has officially notified the Indian Railway (Selection to Senior Posts) Rules, 2025, introducing a comprehensive and transparent framework for appointments to the highest leadership positions in the Railways. These new rules, issued on 7 November 2025, replace the earlier resolutions of 2019 and 2022 and restructure how Level-17 and Level-16 appointments are made across the Railway Board and its allied organizations.
This article breaks down all key provisions of the IR Selection to Senior Posts Rules 2025, including eligibility, methodology, selection committees, ex-cadre posts, service-specific positions, and assessment guidelines.
1. Scope and Applicability
The 2025 rules apply to the highest administrative posts in Indian Railways, covering:
- Chairman & CEO Railway Board
- Members of the Railway Board (Level-17)
- Director Generals (DGs)
- Ex-cadre Level-16 posts (such as General Managers)
- Service-specific Level-16 posts
These rules come into force immediately upon publication in the Gazette of India.
2. Key Definitions
The notification clearly defines essential terms:
- Level-17: Apex Pay Scale
- Level-16: HAG+ Pay Level
- Organized Group ‘A’ Services: IRAS/IRMS(Accounts), IRSE/IRMS(Engg), IRSSE/IRMS(S&T), IRTS/IRMS(Traffic), IRSME/IRMS(Mechanical), IRSEE/IRMS(Electrical), IRSS/IRMS(Stores), IRPS/IRMS(Personnel)
These definitions ensure consistency in interpreting eligibility and service requirements.
3. Posts Coming Under Level-17
Seven top leadership posts fall under Level-17:
- Chairman & CEO Railway Board
- Member (Finance)
- Member (Infrastructure)
- Member (Operations & Business Development)
- Member (Traction & Rolling Stock)
- Director General (Human Resources)
- Director General (Safety)
CHAPTER 1: Appointment of Chairman & CEO, Railway Board
4. Eligibility and Selection
All serving officers already in Level-17 are eligible for consideration.
Selection is based on:
- Experience and competence
- Leadership qualities
- Integrity
- Reputation and suitability
The Ministry of Railways recommends one officer to the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) for final approval.
CHAPTER 2: Selection for Other Level-17 Posts
5. Eligible Services for Each Post
Different posts under Level-17 draw candidates from specific services:
- Member (Finance) → IRAS/IRMS (Accounts)
- Member (Infrastructure) → IRSE/IRMS (Engg) & IRSSE/IRMS (S&T)
- Member (Operations & BD) → IRTS/IRMS (Traffic)
- Member (Traction & Rolling Stock) → IRSME/IRMS (Mechanical), IRSEE/IRMS (Electrical), IRSS/IRMS (Stores)
- DG (HR) → IRPS/IRMS (Personnel)
- DG (Safety) → IRSE, IRTS, IRSME, IRSEE, IRSSE and their IRMS equivalents
Additional Conditions
- Officers must be working in Level-16 (ex-cadre or service-specific).
- Must have at least one year of residual service at the time of vacancy.
6. Method of Selection
- Vacancies (Jan–Mar) are notified on 1 June;
Vacancies (Apr–Dec) are notified on 1 January. - Eligibility cut-off is the date of vacancy.
- Selection Committee comprises:
- Cabinet Secretary (Chairman)
- Secretary, DoPT
- CRB & CEO
The Committee recommends two names per post—one primary and one reserved (sealed cover). Reserved names remain valid for six months.
Unanticipated vacancies may also be filled using reserved names.
CHAPTER 3: Appointment to Ex-Cadre Level-16 Posts
7. List of Ex-Cadre Level-16 Posts
29 ex-cadre posts include:
- General Managers of all zonal railways
- GMs of major Production Units (ICF, CLW, BLW, RWF, MCF, RCF)
- DG/RDSO
- Additional Member (Planning)
- Secretary, Railway Board
and more.
8. Principles for Preparing the Level-16 Panel
A yearly panel is created based on:
- Minimum two years of residual service
- Applications invited batch-wise
- Comprehensive assessment by Ministry of Railways
- ACC approval for final panel
- No departmental quotas or open-line vs non-open-line distinction
9. Process of Empanelment
Eligibility
- Must belong to an Organized Group ‘A’ Service
- Must be serving in Level-15 (HAG) or above
Application Components
Officers must submit:
- Top five challenging situations handled
- Top five lifetime contributions
- Five team-member effectiveness examples
- Three leadership examples
- Three major system improvements implemented
Selection Committee Composition
- CRB & CEO (Chairman)
- Secretary, DoPT
- One non-railway Secretary-level officer
Assessment Inputs
- Expert Panel evaluation of entire ACR/APAR career
- Multi-source feedback from at least 7 stakeholders
- Review of the officer’s application
Panel Size
The panel includes 1.25 times the number of vacancies, with 25% as an “extended panel” for unforeseen vacancies.
Panels remain valid till 31 December of the panel year.
CHAPTER 4: Service-Specific Level-16 Posts
11. Eligible Posts Under Each Service
Thirty key posts across IRAS, IRPS, IRSE, IRSEE, IRSME, IRSS, IRSSE, and IRTS — including roles such as AM(Finance), AM(Civil), AM(Traffic), DGs of training institutes, and Principal CAOs.
Eligibility Criteria
- Officers in Level-15 and of the relevant service
- Must have minimum one year residual service
- For Additional Member posts → Must have served 15 months as DRM
- Assessment is based on:
- 10 years of APAR
- Experience in challenging roles
- Technical/professional exposure
- Proven integrity and clean record
Final recommendations go to ACC.
General Provisions
12. Date of Effect
- All ongoing empanelment under 2022 rules stands discontinued.
- All current and future vacancies will follow the 2025 rules.
13. Relaxation Clause
ACC may relax any rule if required in public interest.
14. Interpretation
Doubts will be resolved jointly by MoR, DoPT, and ACC.
15. Confidentiality
All assessment documents remain strictly confidential to ensure fairness.
Conclusion
The IR Selection to Senior Posts Rules 2025 create a streamlined, merit-based, and simplified system for appointing leaders at the highest levels of Indian Railways. These rules emphasize transparency, multi-source feedback, structured assessments, and suitability-based selection—ensuring that only the most capable officers handle the Railways’ most critical leadership positions.