Indian Railway reduces 20% Group D vacancies? Here is the clarification on RRC CEN 1/2019

Indian Railway's recent statement to reserve 20 percent of seats in Group D for the Act Apprentices, has raised eyebrows of the students who have been preparing for the Railway Group-D recruitment exam 2019. Has Indian Railway reduced the 20 percent of vacancies for the RRC CEN 1/2019 Group D recruitment?, students looking the authentic question.

The development comes after a statement from the Indian Railways, where Department clearly says "Twenty per cent of the Group D posts will be reserved for the Act Apprentices". The decision has hinted that a deduction of 20 per cent of the Group D vacancies advertised under Railway Recruitment Cell (RRC) Centralized Employment Notice- 01/2019.

Indian Railways in 2019 invited the applications against the 1,03,769 posts of Group D posts including Assistant Pointsman, Assistant Bridge, Track Maintainer Gr IV and others. In view of the recent announcement, Indian Railways said that the 20% of 1,03,769 posts will be reserved for the Act Apprentices and will be filled through a separate written test (Not through Direct Recruitment). On other hand Recruitment examination for RRC CEN 1/2019 will be conducted only on 83,000 posts of Group D.

Students have raised the questions on reducing the number of vacancies after the Group D posts advertisement. According to the data provided by the Indian Railways, more than 1.2 crore applications have been received against the 1,03,679 posts advertised last year. Indian Railways is yet to decide the final examination dates for the RRC Group D posts, after the postponement of exam from November 2019.

In a recent statement, Railways CEO has said that Railways is starting to conduct pending RRB NTPC, Group D, Ministerial and Isolated categories 1.4 lakh posts, from December 15, onwards

However, RRC during the publication of the CEN, said that the vacancies under CCAA are applicable to Apprentices trained in Railway Establishments only. In addition to the clarification Railways has said that 20 percent of seats will be filled through a written test, not through the direct employment/ promotion.

Should Read- More than 5 Crores waiting for the Railway Group D and NTPC exam dates

Following the recent orders, all participated Railway Recruitment Cells and Boards were instructed to review the number of vacancies. Railways had ordered the review, after the suspension of services and reduction in Indian Railways infrastructure after Covid-19 pandemic.