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'''[[Indian Railways]]''' is a [[statutory body]] under the [[ownership]] of the [[Ministry of Railways (India)|Ministry of Railways]] of the [[Government of India]] that operates India's national railway system. It is headed by a [[Railway Board]] whose [[Chairperson of the Railway Board|chairman]] reports to the Ministry of Railways. It is organized into separate functional groups or verticals while divided into 19 operational zones geographically. Each zone, headed by a General Manager, is semi-autonomous thus creating a matrix organization where the functional branches are under dual control.

==Railway Board==
In March 1905, the railway branch of the [[Central Public Works Department|Public Works Department]] was transferred to the newly established railway board under the [[Ministry of Commerce and Industry|department of commerce and industry]] by the Indian Railway Board Act.<ref>{{cite act|url=https://lddashboard.legislative.gov.in/sites/default/files/A1905-4.pdf|title=The Indian Railway Board Act, 1905|legislature=Parliament of India|year=1905}}</ref> In 1908, the set up was re-organized on the recommendations of the Railway Finance Committee (1908) by constituting the [[Railway Board]] headed by a president as a separate department.<ref name="IR">{{cite report|url=https://indianrailways.gov.in/railwayboard/uploads/codesmanual/irfc1/chapter%20-%201%20(R).pdf|title=IRFC|publisher=[[Indian Railways]]|access-date=1 December 2023}}</ref> Pursuant to the [[William Mitchell Acworth|Acworth]] committee's recommendations in 1921, the railway board was expanded to four members with the addition of a financial commissioner in 1924 apart from the chief commissioner, one commissioners responsible for ways and works, projects and stores and the other responsible for general administration, staff and traffic.<ref name="IR"/> In 1929, an additional member was added to the board and was assigned the responsibility for staff, so that the member in charge of traffic could focus solely on transport and commercial matters.<ref name="IRFCA">{{cite web|url=https://irfca.org/faq/faq-history3.html|title=History of Indian Railways|access-date=1 December 2023|work=IRFCA}}</ref> In 1950, the railway board was re-constituted to four members with the senior-most functional member appointed the chairman of the board with no absolute over riding power.<ref>{{cite report|url=https://nair.indianrailways.gov.in/uploads/files/1430369298618-general%20overview.pdf|title=Overview of Indian Railways|publisher=National Academy of Indian Railways|access-date=1 January 2024}}</ref><ref name="IRFCA1">{{cite web|url=https://irfca.org/faq/faq-history4.html|title=History of Indian Railways|access-date=1 December 2023|work=IRFCA}}</ref> In October 1954, the [[Chairperson of the Railway Board|chairman]] of the board was made responsible for decisions on technical and policy matters, with the status of a principal secretary to the [[Government of India]] with an additional member added.<ref name="IRFCA1"/> The board was expanded with an additional member responsible for electrical engineering in 1972 and a further member responsible for health in 1976.<ref name="IRFCA2">{{cite web|url=https://irfca.org/faq/faq-history5.html|title=History of Indian Railways|access-date=1 December 2023|work=IRFCA}}</ref> In 2004, the board is expanded by the introduction of two new members responsible for signalling & telecom and for stores respectively.<ref name="IRFCA3">{{cite web|url=https://irfca.org/faq/faq-history6.html|title=History of Indian Railways|access-date=1 December 2023|work=IRFCA}}</ref> In December 2019, the [[Cabinet of India|Union Cabinet]] decided to reduce the size of the board from eight to five.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.livemint.com/news/india/cabinet-approves-restructuring-of-railway-board-11577181494500.html|title=Cabinet approves restructuring of Railway Board|date=24 December 2019|work=Livemint|access-date=1 December 2023}}</ref>
The chairman of the railway board reports to the Ministry of Railways and act on behalf of the ministry. The following report to the railway board:<ref>{{cite book|last=Rao|first=M.A.|year=1988|title=Indian Railways|location=New Delhi|publisher=National Book Trust|isbn=978-8-1237-2589-5|pages=49–54}}</ref><ref name="OC">{{cite report|url=https://indianrailways.gov.in/railwayboard/uploads/directorate/stat_econ/Year_Book/Org_Chart_1.pdf|title=Organization chart|publisher=[[Indian Railways]]|access-date=1 December 2023}}</ref>
* General managers of various zones
* Heads of functional divisions
* Heads/Managers of production units
* Heads of [[Public Sector Undertaking]]s
* Heads of railway institutes
* Heads of special divisions

== Functional division ==
The organization is divided into separate functional groups of [[Railway electric traction|traction]], [[Railway engineering|engineering]], [[traffic]], [[rolling stock]], [[Railway signalling|signalling]], [[materials]], [[human resources|personnel]], [[Railway Protection Force|RPF]], [[finance]], [[health]] and [[safety]].<ref name="ZR">{{cite report|url=https://indianrailways.gov.in/railwayboard/uploads/directorate/stat_econ/Year_Book/Org_Chart_1.pdf|title=Organization Chart|publisher=[[Indian Railways]]|access-date=1 December 2023}}</ref>

== Zonal management ==
In 1944, all the railway companies in existence at the time were taken over by the Government.<ref>{{cite report|url=http://www.indianrailways.gov.in/financecode/ADMIN_FINANCE/AdminFinanceCh1_Data.htm|title=Evolution of Indian Railways-Historical Background|publisher=[[Indian Railways]]|access-date=1 December 2023}}</ref> In December 1950, the Central Advisory Committee for Railways approved the plan for re-organizing Indian Railways into six [[Zones and divisions of Indian Railways|regional zones]] which were divided subsequently to create newer zones. As of 2025, there are 19 operational zones of Indian Railways.<ref>{{cite report|url=https://indianrailways.gov.in/railwayboard/uploads/directorate/eff_res/Circulars/List_Zones-Divisions.pdf|title=List of zones and divisions|access-date=1 December 2023|publisher=[[Indian Railways]]}}</ref> The zones are headed by a General manager and are further sub-divided into divisions. Each division is headed by a Divisional Railway Manager (DRM), who are responsible for the operation and maintenance in the respective divisions.<ref name="DM"/>

The 19 operational zones and their divisions are listed below. [[South Coast Railway zone]] is the newest railway zone.<ref>{{cite press release|url=http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=189105|title=Cabinet approves South Coast Railway zone|publisher=[[Government of India]]|access-date=20 May 2019|archive-date=2 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190402144738/http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=189105|url-status=live}}</ref>
[[File:Indianrailwayzones-numbered.png|thumb|300px|Indian Railway Zones|alt=1]]
{|class="sortable wikitable"style="text-align:left;"style="font-size: 85%"
|+ Indian Railway zones
!rowspan=2|{{tooltip|Number|Number corresponding to the map}}
!rowspan=2|Railway zone
!rowspan=2|Code
!rowspan=2|Headquarters<ref name="IRYB">{{cite report|url=https://iritm.indianrailways.gov.in/uploads/files/1680252282408-PDF%20Year%20Book%202021-22-English.pdf|title=Year book 2021-22|access-date=1 December 2023|publisher=[[Indian Railways]]|archive-date=3 November 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231103050732/https://iritm.indianrailways.gov.in/uploads/files/1680252282408-PDF%20Year%20Book%202021-22-English.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>
!rowspan=2|Established<ref>{{cite report|url=https://indianrailways.gov.in/railwayboard/uploads/directorate/eff_res/downloads/2021/List%20of%20Zones%20%26%20Divisions.pdf|title=Indian railway zones|access-date=1 December 2023|publisher=[[Indian Railways]]}}</ref>
!colspan=2|Route length{{efn|as of March 2023}}<ref name="Route-map">{{cite report|url=https://indianrailways.gov.in/railwayboard/uploads/PDF/Railway%20Map%20of%20india_Corrected%20up%20to%2031_03_2023.pdf|title=Route map, 2023|access-date=1 December 2023|publisher=[[Indian Railways]]}}</ref>
!rowspan=2|Stations
!rowspan=2|Divisions<ref>{{cite report|url=https://indianrailways.gov.in/railwayboard/uploads/directorate/eff_res/Circulars/List_Zones-Divisions.pdf|title=List of zones and divisions|access-date=1 December 2023|publisher=[[Indian Railways]]}}</ref>
|-
!km
!miles
|-
| style="text-align:center;" | 1
| [[Northern Railway zone|Northern Railway]]
| style="text-align:center;" | NR
| [[Delhi]]
| style="text-align:center;" | 1952
| {{convert|7363|km|1|disp=table|sortable=on}}
| style="text-align:center;" | 1013<ref>{{cite report|url=https://nr.indianrailways.gov.in/uploads/files/1686654402287-Table1_NR%20SYS%20MAP_2023.pdf|title=System map, NR|publisher=[[Indian Railways]]|access-date=1 December 2023|archive-date=11 December 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231211021214/https://nr.indianrailways.gov.in/uploads/files/1686654402287-Table1_NR%20SYS%20MAP_2023.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>
| [[Ambala railway division|Ambala]], [[Delhi railway division|Delhi]], [[Firozpur railway division|Firozpur]], [[Lucknow NR railway division|Lucknow]], [[Moradabad railway division|Moradabad]], [[Jammu railway division|Jammu]]
|-
| style="text-align:center;" | 2
| [[North Eastern Railway zone|North Eastern Railway]]
| style="text-align:center;" | NER
| [[Gorakhpur]]
| style="text-align:center;" | 1952
| {{convert|3470.5|km|1|disp=table|sortable=on}}
| style="text-align:center;" | 537<ref>{{cite web|url=https://ner.indianrailways.gov.in/uploads/files/1541144028517-smap.pdf|title=System map, NER|publisher=[[Indian Railways]]|access-date=1 December 2023|archive-date=29 March 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240329003343/https://ner.indianrailways.gov.in/uploads/files/1541144028517-smap.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>
| [[Izzatnagar railway division|Izzatnagar]], [[Lucknow NER railway division|Lucknow]], [[Varanasi railway division|Varanasi]]
|-
| style="text-align:center;" | 3
| [[Northeast Frontier Railway zone|Northeast Frontier Railway]]
| style="text-align:center;" | NFR
| [[Guwahati]]
| style="text-align:center;" | 1958
| {{convert|4348|km|1|disp=table|sortable=on}}
| style="text-align:center;" | 547<ref>{{cite report|url=https://nfr.indianrailways.gov.in/uploads/files/1607579974323-cos.pdf|title=Station classification, NFR|publisher=[[Indian Railways]]|access-date=1 December 2023|archive-date=5 September 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240905004729/https://nfr.indianrailways.gov.in/uploads/files/1607579974323-cos.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>
| [[Alipurduar railway division|Alipurduar]], [[Katihar railway division|Katihar]], [[Lumding railway division|Lumding]], [[Rangiya railway division|Rangiya]], [[Tinsukia railway division|Tinsukia]]
|-
| style="text-align:center;" | 4
| [[Eastern Railway zone|Eastern Railway]]
| style="text-align:center;" | ER
| [[Kolkata]]
| style="text-align:center;" | 1952
| {{convert|2823.2|km|1|disp=table|sortable=on}}
| style="text-align:center;" | 587<ref>{{cite report|url=https://er.indianrailways.gov.in/cris//uploads/files/1624521405374-.4%20Category_wise%20Stations%20ZZZ.pdf|title=Category wise stations, ER|publisher=[[Indian Railways]]|access-date=1 December 2023}}</ref>
| [[Asansol railway division|Asansol]], [[Howrah railway division|Howrah]], [[Malda railway division|Malda]], [[Sealdah railway division|Sealdah]]
|-
| style="text-align:center;" | 5
| [[South Eastern Railway zone|South Eastern Railway]]
| style="text-align:center;" | SER
| [[Kolkata]]
| style="text-align:center;" | 1955
| {{convert|2758.6|km|1|disp=table|sortable=on}}
| style="text-align:center;" | 363<ref>{{cite web|url=https://ser.indianrailways.gov.in/view_section.jsp?fontColor=black&backgroundColor=LIGHTSTEELBLUE&lang=0&id=0,2,406,2246,2247|title=Category of stations, SER|publisher=[[Indian Railways]]|access-date=1 December 2023}}{{Dead link|date=August 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
| [[Adra railway division|Adra]], [[Chakradharpur railway division|Chakradharpur]], [[Kharagpur railway division|Kharagpur]], [[Ranchi railway division|Ranchi]]
|-
| style="text-align:center;" | 6
| [[South Central Railway zone|South Central Railway]]
| style="text-align:center;" | SCR
| [[Secunderabad]]
| style="text-align:center;" | 1965
| {{convert|6560.5|km|1|disp=table|sortable=on}}
| style="text-align:center;" | 701<ref>{{cite web |title=Number of stations, SCR |url=https://scr.indianrailways.gov.in/view_section.jsp?lang=0&id=0,1,291 |access-date=1 December 2023 |publisher=[[Indian Railways]]}}</ref>
| [[Secunderabad railway division|Secunderabad]], [[Hyderabad railway division|Hyderabad]], [[Nanded railway division|Nanded]]
|-
| style="text-align:center;" | 7
| [[Southern Railway zone|Southern Railway]]
| style="text-align:center;" | SR
| [[Chennai]]
| style="text-align:center;" | 1950
|{{convert|5093|km|1|disp=table|sortable=on}}
| style="text-align:center;" | 727<ref>{{cite report|url=https://sr.indianrailways.gov.in/cris//uploads/files/1659695525713-SR.pdf|title=List of stations, SR|publisher=[[Indian Railways]]|access-date=1 December 2023}}</ref>
| [[Chennai railway division|Chennai]], [[Madurai railway division|Madurai]], [[Palakkad railway division|Palakkad]], [[Salem railway division|Salem]], [[Thiruvananthapuram railway division|Thiruvananthapuram]], [[Tiruchirappalli railway division|Tiruchirappalli]]
|-
| style="text-align:center;" | 8
| [[Central Railway zone|Central Railway]]
| style="text-align:center;" | CR
| [[Mumbai]] ([[Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus|CSMT]])
| style="text-align:center;" | 1951
|{{convert|4203.3|km|1|disp=table|sortable=on}}
| style="text-align:center;" | 486<ref>{{cite report|url=https://cr.indianrailways.gov.in/view_section.jsp?fontColor=black&backgroundColor=LIGHTSTEELBLUE&lang=0&id=0,6,287,396,593|title=Divisions of CR|publisher=[[Indian Railways]]|access-date=1 December 2023}}</ref>
|[[Bhusawal railway division|Bhusawal]], [[Mumbai CR railway division|Mumbai CR]], [[Nagpur CR railway division|Nagpur]], [[Pune railway division|Pune]], [[Solapur railway division|Solapur]]
|-
| style="text-align:center;" | 9
| [[Western Railway zone|Western Railway]]
| style="text-align:center;" | WR
| [[Mumbai]] ([[Churchgate railway station|Churchgate]])
| style="text-align:center;" | 1951
| {{convert|6156.6|km|1|disp=table|sortable=on}}
| style="text-align:center;" | 1046<ref>{{cite web|url=https://wr.indianrailways.gov.in/cris//uploads/files/1631706743442-System%20Map%20-%20ENGLISH.pdf|title=System map, WR|publisher=[[Indian Railways]]|access-date=1 December 2023}}</ref>
| [[Ahmedabad railway division|Ahmedabad]], [[Bhavnagar railway division|Bhavnagar]], [[Mumbai WR railway division|Mumbai WR]], [[Rajkot railway division|Rajkot]], [[Ratlam railway division|Ratlam]], [[Vadodara railway division|Vadodara]]
|-
| style="text-align:center;" | 11
| [[North Western Railway zone|North Western Railway]]
| style="text-align:center;" | NWR
| [[Jaipur]]
| style="text-align:center;" | 2002
| {{convert|5705.6|km|1|disp=table|sortable=on}}
| style="text-align:center;" | 578<ref>{{cite web|url=https://nwr.indianrailways.gov.in/view_section.jsp?lang=0&id=0,1|title=About us, NWR|publisher=[[Indian Railways]]|access-date=1 December 2023}}</ref>
| [[Ajmer railway division|Ajmer]], [[Bikaner railway division|Bikaner]], [[Jaipur railway division|Jaipur]], [[Jodhpur railway division|Jodhpur]]
|-
| style="text-align:center;" | 10
| [[South Western Railway zone|South Western Railway]]
| style="text-align:center;" | SWR
| [[Hubli|Hubballi]]
| style="text-align:center;" | 2003
| {{convert|3692.34|km|1|disp=table|sortable=on}}
| style="text-align:center;" | 388<ref>{{cite web|url=https://swr.indianrailways.gov.in/view_section.jsp?fontColor=black&backgroundColor=LIGHTSTEELBLUE&lang=0&id=0,1,800,802|title=Category wise stations, SWR|publisher=[[Indian Railways]]|access-date=4 February 2026}}</ref>
| [[Bangalore railway division|Bengaluru]], [[Hubli railway division|Hubballi]], [[Mysore railway division|Mysuru]]
|-
| style="text-align:center;" | 12
| [[West Central Railway zone|West Central Railway]]
| style="text-align:center;" | WCR
| [[Jabalpur]]
| style="text-align:center;" | 2003
| {{convert|3060|km|1|disp=table|sortable=on}}
| style="text-align:center;" | 247<ref>{{cite web|url=https://wcr.indianrailways.gov.in/view_section.jsp?fontColor=black&backgroundColor=LIGHTSTEELBLUE&lang=0&id=0,1,304,368,836,848,854|title=Category wise list of stations, WCR|publisher=[[Indian Railways]]|access-date=1 December 2023}}</ref>
| [[Bhopal railway division|Bhopal]], [[Jabalpur railway division|Jabalpur]], [[Kota railway division|Kota]]
|-
| style="text-align:center;" | 13
| [[North Central Railway zone|North Central Railway]]
| style="text-align:center;" | NCR
| [[Allahabad|Prayagraj]]
| style="text-align:center;" | 2003
| {{convert|3522.6|km|1|disp=table|sortable=on}}
| style="text-align:center;" | 411<ref>{{cite report|url=https://ncr.indianrailways.gov.in/uploads/files/1657609148892-System_map_2022_A4_Final-13.pdf|title=System map, NCR|publisher=[[Indian Railways]]|access-date=1 December 2023|archive-date=29 March 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240329003403/https://ncr.indianrailways.gov.in/uploads/files/1657609148892-System_map_2022_A4_Final-13.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>
| [[Agra railway division|Agra]], [[Jhansi railway division|Jhansi]], [[Allahabad railway division|Prayagraj]]
|-
| style="text-align:center;" | 14
| [[South East Central Railway zone|South East Central Railway]]
| style="text-align:center;" | SECR
| [[Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh|Bilaspur]]
| style="text-align:center;" | 1998
| {{convert|2396.6|km|1|disp=table|sortable=on}}
| style="text-align:center;" | 358<ref>{{cite web|url=https://secr.indianrailways.gov.in//downloadfile_2.jsp?filename=1686829825066-SECR%20System%20Map-23%20(%20A-1).pdf|title=System map, SECR|publisher=[[Indian Railways]]|access-date=1 December 2023}}</ref>
| [[Bilaspur railway division|Bilaspur]], [[Nagpur SEC railway division|Nagpur]], [[Raipur railway division|Raipur]]
|-
| style="text-align:center;" | 15
| [[East Coast Railway zone|East Coast Railway]]
| style="text-align:center;" | ECoR
| [[Bhubaneswar]]
| style="text-align:center;" | 2003
| {{convert|3017.2|km|1|disp=table|sortable=on}}
| style="text-align:center;" | 133<ref>{{cite report|url=https://eastcoastrail.indianrailways.gov.in/uploads/files/1542885436800-Classification%20of%20stations%20ofcomm.pdf|title=Classification of stations, ECoR|publisher=[[Indian Railways]]|access-date=1 December 2023}}</ref>
| [[Khurda Road railway division|Khurda Road]], [[Sambalpur railway division|Sambalpur]], [[Rayagada railway division|Rayagada]]
|-
| style="text-align:center;" | 16
| [[East Central Railway zone|East Central Railway]]
| style="text-align:center;" | ECR
| [[Hajipur]]
| style="text-align:center;" | 1996
| {{convert|4238|km|1|disp=table|sortable=on}}
| style="text-align:center;" | 340<ref>{{cite report |url=https://ecr.indianrailways.gov.in/uploads/files/1338377427418-UTS,%20UTS%20cum%20PRS%20&%20PRS%20locations.pdf |title=UTS locations, ECR |publisher=[[Indian Railways]] |access-date=1 December 2023}}</ref>
| [[Danapur railway division|Danapur]], [[Dhanbad railway division|Dhanbad]], [[Mughalsarai railway division|Mughalsarai]], [[Samastipur railway division|Samastipur]], [[Sonpur railway division|Sonpur]]
|-
| style="text-align:center;" | 17
| [[Konkan Railway zone|Konkan Railway]]
| style="text-align:center;" | KR
| [[Navi Mumbai]]
| style="text-align:center;" | 1984
| {{convert|756.25|km|1|disp=table|sortable=on}}
| style="text-align:center;" | 72<ref>{{cite web |title=Konkan Railway Map |url=https://konkanrailway.com/kr_map |access-date=1 December 2023 |website=Konkan Railway Map |publisher=[[Konkan Railway]]}}</ref>
| [[Ratnagiri railway division|Ratnagiri]], [[Karwar railway division|Karwar]]
|-
| style="text-align:center;" | 18
| [[South Coast Railway zone|South Coast Railway]]
| style="text-align:center;" | SCoR
| [[Visakhapatnam]]
| style="text-align:center;" | 2019
| {{convert|3062|km|1|disp=table|sortable=on}}
|
| [[Visakhapatnam railway division|Visakhapatnam]], [[Vijayawada railway division|Vijayawada]], [[Guntur railway division|Guntur]], [[Guntakal railway division|Guntakal]]
|}
{{notelist}}

== Structure ==
In every zone, the functional verticals are represented by head of departments (HODs) responsible for the respective functions in the zone.<ref name="OC1">{{cite report|url=https://indianrailways.gov.in/railwayboard/uploads/directorate/secretary_branches/Office_Order_2022/Organization%20Chart%20of%20Zonal%20Railway%20PDF.pdf|title=Organization chart, Zonal railway|publisher=[[Indian Railways]]|access-date=1 December 2023}}</ref> Each division has functional staff who report to the geographical divisional managers and functional HODs in a matrix organization and are tasked with the operation and maintenance of assets.<ref name="DM">{{cite book|title=India's railway history : a research handbook|date=3 August 2012|publisher=Brill|isbn=978-9-0042-3003-3|pages=270|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TPB5RTODBJAC|access-date=2 August 2019}}</ref>
[[File:Indian Railways Departments & Roles.png|800px|center|Departments & Roles]]
{|class="sortable wikitable"style="text-align:left;"style="font-size: 85%"
|+Zonal administration<ref name="OC1"/>
! Department
! HOD
! Divisional manager
!Function
|-
| Stores
| Principal Chief Materials Manager (PCMM)
| Sr. Divisional Material Manager
| Material stores for maintenance of infrastructure
|-
| rowspan="2"|Mechanical
| rowspan="2"| Principal Chief Mechanical Engineer (PCME)
| Sr. Divisional Mechanical Engineer (Diesel)
| Maintenance of [[diesel locomotive]]s
|-
| Sr. Divisional Mechanical Engineer (Carriage & Wagon)
| Maintenance of [[rolling stock]]
|-
| rowspan="3"| Electrical
| rowspan="3"| Principal Chief Electrical Engineer (PCEE)
| Sr. Divisional Electrical Engineer (General)
| Maintenance of station lighting and power supply
|-
| Sr. Divisional Electrical Engineer (Traction distribution)
| Maintenance of overhead equipment
|-
| Sr. Divisional Electrical Engineer (Traction rolling stock)
| Maintenance of [[electric locomotive]]s and [[Multiple unit]]s
|-
| Signal & Telecommunication
| Principal Chief Signal & Telecom Engineer (PCSTE)
| Sr. Divisional Signal & Telecommunication Engineer (DSTE)
| Management of the signalling and telecommunication infrastructure
|-
| rowspan="2"| Engineering
| rowspan="2"| Principal Chief Engineer (PCE)
| Sr. Divisional Engineer
| rowspan="2"| Maintenance of fixed assets
|-
| Sectional Sr. Divisional Engineer
|-
| Operations
| Principal Chief Operations Manager (PCOM)
| Sr. Divisional Operations Manager
| Train operations
|-
| Accounts
| Principal Financial Advisor (PFA)
| Sr. Divisional Finance Manager
| Accounting and financials
|-
| Commercial
| Principal Chief Commercial Manager (PCCM)
| Sr. Divisional Commercial Manager
| Passenger ticketing, checking, freight booking and fare collection
|-
| Medical
| Principal Chief Medical Director (PCMD)
| Chief Medical Superintendent
| Providing medical facilities
|-
| Safety
| Principal Chief Safety Officer (PCSO)
| Sr. Divisional Safety Officer
| Safety of train operations
|-
| Personnel
| Principal Chief Personnel Officer (PCPO)
| Sr. Divisional Personnel Officer
| Human resources
|-
| Security
| Principal Chief Security Commissioner (PCSC)
| Sr. Divisional Security Commissioner
| Security of railway material, passenger and belongings
|-
| Management
| Additional General Manager (AGM)
| Divisional Railway Manager
| Management of all departments
|-
|}

== Human resources ==
{{see also|Indian Railways Management Service|Railway Recruitment Control Board}}

Staff are classified into gazetted (Groups A and B) and non-gazetted (Groups C and D) employees with gazetted employees carrying out executive/managerial level tasks.<ref>{{cite web|title=Railway Board Directorates |url=http://www.indianrailways.gov.in/railwayboard/view_section.jsp?lang=0&id=0,1,388|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120530064841/http://www.indianrailways.gov.in/railwayboard/view_section.jsp?lang=0&id=0,1,388|archive-date=30 May 2012|publisher=[[Indian Railways]]}}</ref> As of March 2022, Groups A & B constitute 1.5% of the total workforce, while Group C & D account for 98.5%.<ref name="IRYB"/> 80% of Group-A employees are recruited through [[Indian Railways Management Service]] (IRMS) with remaining through promotions.<ref>{{cite press release|title=Recruitment to Indian Railway Management Service (IRMS) to be done through a specially designed examination (IRMS Examination)|url=https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1880524|publisher=[[Government of India]]|access-date=1 December 2023}}</ref>
The various Group A cadres are as below include:<ref>{{cite web|url=https://indianrailways.gov.in/railwayboard/view_section.jsp?lang=0&id=0,1,304,366,530,1525|title=Railway board|access-date=1 December 2023|publisher=[[Indian Railways]]}}</ref>
* Central Civil Services recruitment through Civil Services Examination (CSE)
** [[Indian Railway Traffic Service]] (IRTS)
** [[Indian Railway Personnel Service]] (IRPS)
** [[Indian Railway Accounts Service]] (IRAS)
** [[Railway Protection Force|Indian Railway Protection Force Service]] (IRPFS)
* Central Engineering Services recruitment through Engineering Services Examination (ESE)
** [[Indian Railway Service of Engineers]] (IRSE)
** [[Indian Railway Service of Electrical Engineers]] (IRSEE)
** [[Indian Railway Service of Mechanical Engineers]] (IRSME)
** [[Indian Railway Service of Signal Engineers]] (IRSSE)
** [[Indian Railway Stores Service]] (IRSS)
* Central Health Science Services recruitment through Combined Medical Services Examination (CMSE)
** [[Indian Railway Health Service]] (IRHS)

Group B employees are recruited by departmental promotional exams of Group C employees. Recruitment of Group C employees are through exams conducted by the [[Railway Recruitment Control Board]] (RRCB) and Group D staffs are recruited by zonal Railway Recruitment Cells (RRC).<ref>{{cite report|title=Indian Railways Establishment Manual|url=http://rrcb.gov.in/rrbs.html |url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120525103317/http://rrcb.gov.in/RRBS.HTML|archive-date=25 May 2012 |publisher=RRCB|access-date=1 December 2023}}</ref> Indian Railways operates [[Centralised Training Institutes of the Indian Railways|seven centralized training institutes]] and 295 training centers.<ref name="IRYB"/>

==See also==
* [[Centralised Training Institutes of the Indian Railways]]
{{Indian Railways}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Indian Railways|organisational structure]]

Indian Railways organisational structure - Revision history

ThomasPeterdavid at 13:27, 21 March 2026