Indian Railways Expands Healthcare Network and Recruitment Drive, Over 41,000 Jobs Created in FY 2025–26
Indian Railways has strengthened its healthcare and employment initiatives, providing extensive medical facilities for serving and retired railway employees and their dependents while continuing large-scale recruitment across multiple categories. The information was shared by Union Minister for Railways, Information & Broadcasting and Electronics & Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha.
The railway network currently operates an extensive healthcare system consisting of 582 Health Units and 128 Railway Hospitals across the country. These facilities provide comprehensive medical care to railway beneficiaries, including serving employees, pensioners and their eligible dependents.
Extensive Railway Healthcare Infrastructure
The railway healthcare system is designed to provide accessible and specialized medical services to railway personnel. Hospitals and health units are equipped with essential medical infrastructure, modern equipment and trained medical staff.
Railway Healthcare Network
| Facility Type | Number |
|---|---|
| Railway Hospitals | 128 |
| Railway Health Units | 582 |
| Beneficiaries | Railway employees, pensioners and dependents |
Railway hospitals offer a wide range of services including diagnostics, specialized treatments and emergency medical care. According to the Ministry, the development and upgrading of these facilities is an ongoing process based on the requirements of beneficiaries and advancements in medical science.
The ministry also stated that any complaints regarding medical negligence or deficiencies in hospital functioning are addressed through established administrative mechanisms.
Surge in Recruitment of Railway Doctors
A significant increase has been recorded in the recruitment of doctors under the Indian Railway Health Service. Recruitment is conducted through the Union Public Service Commission for the Ministry of Railways.
Doctors Recruited in Railway Health Service
| Period | Doctors Recruited |
|---|---|
| 2004–2013 | 2,277 |
| 2014–2025 | 5,140 |
| Indent for 2025–2026 | 620 |
The sharp rise in recruitment reflects the government’s focus on strengthening healthcare services for railway staff. In addition to these appointments, the Railways has placed an indent for 620 more doctors with UPSC for recruitment during 2025 and 2026.
Railway Hospitals Supporting Medical Education
Railway hospitals are also contributing to medical education in India. They participate in postgraduate medical programmes conducted by the National Board of Examination in Medical Sciences.
Under this programme, several courses are offered including:
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Postgraduate Diplomas
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Doctorate programmes
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Fellowship courses
These courses are open to both railway and non-railway doctors.
To further strengthen specialist training, the Railways has decided to establish Post Graduate Medical Institutes attached to railway hospitals. The first such institute has already been launched at the Northern Railway Central Hospital in New Delhi.
This initiative is expected to help increase the number of specialist doctors in India while simultaneously enhancing the quality of healthcare services in railway hospitals.
Massive Recruitment Drive Across Indian Railways
As one of the largest employers in the country, Indian Railways conducts recruitment for non-gazetted posts on an all-India basis.
Currently, recruitment is underway for 1,43,086 non-gazetted vacancies under the Annual Calendar for 2024 and 2025. The recruitment process is conducted through the Railway Recruitment Boards (RRBs) using large-scale computer-based examinations.
During January to December 2024, ten Centralised Employment Notifications (CENs) were issued for 92,116 vacancies across multiple job categories.
Major Recruitment Exams Conducted in 2024
| Post | Vacancies | Candidates Appeared |
|---|---|---|
| Assistant Loco Pilot (ALP) | 18,799 | 18,40,347 |
| Technician | 14,298 | 26,99,892 |
| Junior Engineer / DMS / CMA | 7,951 | 11,01,266 |
| RPF Sub-Inspector | 452 | 15,35,635 |
| RPF Constable | 4,208 | 45,30,288 |
| Paramedical Categories | 1,376 | 7,08,321 |
| NTPC (Graduate) | 8,113 | 58,41,774 |
| NTPC (Undergraduate) | 3,445 | 63,27,473 |
| Ministerial & Isolated Categories | 1,036 | 4,46,013 |
| Level-1 Posts | 32,438 | 1,08,28,261 |
Total Candidates Appeared in 2024 Exams
| Category | Number |
|---|---|
| Total Candidates | 3,58,59,270 |
The recruitment examinations were conducted in over 150 cities across India in 15 languages, demonstrating the massive scale of the process.
Second Stage Recruitment Exams Completed
The second stage of computer-based tests (CBTs) has also been conducted for several key positions.
Second Stage CBT Details
| Post | Candidates Appeared |
|---|---|
| Assistant Loco Pilot | 2,66,363 |
| Junior Engineer / DMS / CMA | 1,17,339 |
| NTPC Graduate | 1,21,931 |
| NTPC Undergraduate | 51,978 |
| Total Candidates | 5,57,611 |
Skill and Aptitude Tests Conducted
Advanced tests such as Computer Based Aptitude Tests (CBAT) and Computer Based Typing Skill Tests (CBTST) have also been successfully completed.
Skill & Aptitude Tests
| Exam | Candidates |
|---|---|
| CBAT – Assistant Loco Pilot | 1,32,044 |
| Translation Test – Ministerial Categories | 1,233 |
| CBAT – NTPC Graduate | 13,616 |
| Typing Skill Test – NTPC Graduate | 30,341 |
| Typing Skill Test – NTPC Undergraduate | 13,145 |
| Total Candidates | 1,90,379 |
Over 41,000 Jobs Already Finalised in FY 2025–26
Panels for more than 41,000 candidates have already been finalized for various posts including:
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Technician
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Junior Engineer
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Assistant Loco Pilot
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Paramedical staff
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Railway Protection Force Sub-Inspectors
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RPF Constables
Many of these jobs fall under critical railway safety categories, which play a vital role in maintaining safe railway operations.
Employment Generation
| Period | Recruitments |
|---|---|
| 2004–2014 | 4.11 lakh |
| 2014–2024 | 5.08 lakh |
| FY 2025–26 (so far) | 41,343 |
New Recruitment Notifications for 2025
For the year 2025, Indian Railways has issued nine Centralised Employment Notifications (CENs) covering 50,970 vacancies.
Recruitment Notifications 2025
| Post | Vacancies |
|---|---|
| Assistant Loco Pilot | 9,970 |
| Technician | 6,238 |
| Paramedical Categories | 434 |
| Section Controller | 368 |
| Junior Engineer / DMS | 2,585 |
| NTPC Graduate | 5,810 |
| NTPC Undergraduate | 3,058 |
| Isolated Categories | 312 |
| Level-1 Posts | 22,195 |
CBT Exams Conducted in 2025
The first stage CBTs for 12,923 posts have already been conducted.
Candidates Appeared in 2025 CBTs
| Post | Candidates |
|---|---|
| Assistant Loco Pilot | 10,03,719 |
| Section Controller | 4,33,748 |
| Junior Engineer / DMS | 5,74,351 |
| Total Candidates | 20,11,818 |
Transparent Recruitment Process
The Railway Recruitment Board examinations are highly technical and require large-scale logistical planning. According to the Ministry, the recruitment process has been conducted transparently and in accordance with all guidelines.
Authorities emphasized that no instance of paper leakage or malpractice has been reported during the recruitment process.
Introduction of Annual Recruitment Calendar
To streamline hiring, the Ministry of Railways has introduced an annual recruitment calendar starting in 2024 for Group ‘C’ posts.
This system offers several benefits for job aspirants:
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Regular and predictable job opportunities
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Opportunities for newly eligible candidates every year
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Certainty in examination schedules
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Faster recruitment, training and appointment processes
Expanding Healthcare and Workforce Strength
Officials say the twin focus on healthcare expansion and recruitment reflects the growing needs of the massive railway workforce.
With a vast network of hospitals and health units, increased recruitment of doctors and large-scale employment drives, Indian Railways is working to strengthen both employee welfare and operational capacity.
The establishment of postgraduate medical institutes and ongoing recruitment across technical and safety categories is expected to further enhance the efficiency and service quality of one of the world’s largest railway networks.
