Railway Board Allows Engagement of Ex-Servicemen as Pointsmen on Contract Basis

The Railway Board has issued a new directive permitting Zonal Railways to engage Ex-Servicemen as Pointsmen on a contract basis, filling urgent short-term vacancies until regularly recruited candidates join. The order has been issued via RBE No. 123/2025 and circulated to all Zonal Railways.

This move aims to address immediate operational requirements in the Pointsman category, which plays a crucial role in safe train movement across the network.

Why This Decision Was Taken

According to the circular, the Board had been reviewing the persistent shortfall in Pointsman posts and the resulting operational challenges. Since the deployment of approved regular candidates through RRCs often takes time, the engagement of trained Ex-Servicemen has been approved as an interim measure.

Conditions for Engaging Ex-Servicemen as Pointsmen

The Railway Board has approved the engagement subject to specific conditions that Zonal Railways must follow:

1. Engagement Only in the Event of Shortfall

Wherever there is a shortage of Pointsmen and urgent operational need, Ex-Servicemen may be deployed through Central/State Ex-Servicemen Welfare Boards.

2. Mandatory Training Before Posting

Before assuming duties, selected Ex-Servicemen must undergo the full initial training required for the Pointsman post.

• They will receive contractual remuneration during training.
• Only those who successfully pass the prescribed course will be allowed to take up the working post.
• Those who fail or are found unsuitable will be discharged with payment as per contract terms.
  

3. Cap on Total Engagements

A maximum of 5058 Ex-Servicemen may be engaged across all Zonal Railways.
This ceiling is linked to:

• Existing indented zone-wise requirements, or
• Actual vacancies in the Pointsman category, whichever is lower.
  

Also, once candidates appointed through regular RRC recruitment join, the services of the contracted Ex-Servicemen must be terminated. This is to be strictly monitored at the zonal level.

4. Validity Period and Extension

The permission is valid up to 31 December 2026.
Any extension beyond this date will depend on the vacancy position at that time and will require prior approval of the Railway Board.

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