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Indian Railway Accounts Service (IRAS) - 2023

Indian Railway Accounts Service (IRAS)The Indian Railway Accounts Service (IRAS) is a Group 'A' civil service. The IRAS officers are primarily responsible for managing and maintaining the accounts and finances of the Indian Railways. Earlier, finances of Indian railway were initially overseen by the railway branch of the Public Works Department which was headed by the Accountant General, Public Works Department. Later, on the recommendations of the Acworth Committee, a Financial Commissioner for Railways was appointed. But later railway finances were separated from the general finances of the GOI. This process of separation was finished in 1929. This was the beginning of the IRAS cadre.

What are the eligibility conditions ?

The Recruitment and Training of IRAS are brought in success by two modes, one by regular Civil Service Exam held by the UPSC commission annually. The second is by promoting the Group 'B' officers of Accounts Department already posted in zonal railways to IRAS. The half of the total numbers of IRAS officers are selected by direct recruitment and rest by promoting the Group 'B' officers.

What are the trainings offered ?

Selected candidates are sent to training for a period of 90 weeks. Initially, they are trained at the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy for Administration (LBSNAA), Mussoorie. Later, they are trained in other institutes like the National Academy of Indian Railways (NAIR), Vadodara, National Academy for Direct Taxes (NADT), Nagpur, National Institute of Financial Management (NIFM), Faridabad. A 12-week executive general management programme has also been started in association with the Indian Institute of Management (Calcutta) for the IRAS probationers. Candidates are also offered thorough lessons in various departments like operations management, marketing, economics, human resource management, public policy, management information systems, behavioural sciences, finance and accounting, ethics and strategic management. The IRAS probationers also required to attend an eight-week Management Development Programme at Management Development Institute (MDI), Gurgaon. IRAS officers are also sent on deputation to various PSUs to hold finance portfolios.

What are the roles and responsibilities of a IRAS officer ?

The primary roles and duties of an IRAS officer is about handling the Accounts and Finance department and offering financial advice to the executive. Some of the other duties include:

  • Managing and maintenance of accounts of the Indian Railways.
  • Coordinating and scrutinizing all investment and expenditure proposals
  • Preparation and allocation of the budget.
  • Conducting periodical financial reviews.
  • Engaging in fund raising and funds management.
  • Maintaining accounts and book keeping for railways.
  • Review stocks and inventory control.
  • Recovering and settlement of claims and dues

Indian Railway Accounts Service Ranks and Salaries

Service Hierarchy
S.No Scale Designation in Ministries Designation on Railways Pay Scale
1 Junior Scale Normally Junior Scale Officers are not posted in Min istries On Railways
(a) In HQ office-Assistant Financial Adviser/A FA.
(b) In Division-Assistant Divisional Financial Manager/ADFM.
(c) In Workshop-Assistant Workshop Accounts Officer/A WAO
(d) In Traffic Accounts Office- Assistant Financial Adviser/Traffic/ AFA-T.
(e) In EDP Centres-Assistant Electronic Data Processing Manager/ A EDPM.
Posted on completion of probation (PB-3 with 5400/- Grade Pay)
2 Senior Scale Deputy Director in Government of India. On Railways
(a) Senior Assistant Financial Adviser/Sr.AFA.
(b) Divisional Financial Manager/DFM.
(c) Workshop Accounts Officer/WAO
(d) Senior Assistant Financial Adviser/Sr.AFA
(e) Electronic Data Processing Managers (EDPM)/Senior System Analyst (SSA)
Railway Board
(a) Deputy Director
Senior Time Scale (PB-3 with Rs. 6600/-Grade Pay) and after completion of four years of service.
3 JAG Deputy Secretary in Government of India. Railways
(a) Deputy Financial Adviser & Chief Accounts Officer/Dy.FA&CAO
(b) Senior Electronic Data Processing Manager/ Sr.EDPM
Railway Board
(a) Joint Director
Junior Administrative Grade(PB-3 with Rs.7600/- Grade Pay) after completion of 9 years of service.
4 SG Director in Government of India. Railways
(a) Deputy Financial Adviser & Chief Accounts Officer/Dy.FA&CAO
Railway Board
(a)Director
Selection Grade (PB-4 with Rs. 8700/-Grade Pay) after completion of 13 years of service.
5 SAG Joint Secretary to Government of India / Secretary in State Government Railways
(a)Financial Adviser & Chief Accounts Officer/Dy.FA&CAO
Railway Board
(a) Executive Director
Super Time Scale (PB-4 with Rs. I 0000/- Grade Pay) after completion of 18 to 20 years of service.
6 HAG Additional Secretary to Government of India / Principal Secretary in State Government Railways
(a) Principal Financial Adviser & Chief Accounts Officer/Principal Dy.FA&CAO
Railway Board
(a) Adviser
Higher Administrative Grade with Grade Pay Rs.12000/­- after completion of 30 years of service.
7 HAG+ Special Secretary to Government of India / Chief Secretary Railways
(a)General Manager/ Director General
Railway Board
(a) Additional Member
75500-80000
8 Secy Secretary Financial Commissioner ApexScale(Rs. 80000 fixed)

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