Indian Railways and the Indian Army have launched a “Framework of Cooperation” aimed at expanding post-retirement employment opportunities for Agniveers and other Army personnel transitioning to civilian life.
The initiative, led by senior officials from the Army and the Ministry of Railways, seeks to streamline career pathways for retiring personnel and create structured awareness about job opportunities within the Railways.
Under the framework, Indian Railways has provisioned 10 per cent horizontal reservation in Level-2 and above posts and 20 per cent in Level-1 posts for ex-servicemen. Additionally, 5 per cent reservation in Level-2 and above posts and 10 per cent in Level-1 posts have been earmarked for ex-Agniveers, according to the government.
In 2024 and 2025, a total of 14,788 posts were reserved for ex-servicemen in railway vacancy notifications — 6,485 in Level-1 and 8,303 in Level-2 and above categories.
Recruitment to Level-1 (erstwhile Group D) posts is conducted through Railway Recruitment Centres (RRCs), while Level-2 and above posts are filled through Railway Recruitment Boards (RRBs) via competitive examinations.
As part of immediate measures to address vacancies, the Railways has also decided to recruit over 5,000 ex-servicemen as Pointsmen on a contractual basis until regular recruitment processes are completed. These Level-1 posts are being processed at Zonal and Divisional levels. So far, nine divisions have signed Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with Army organisations for hiring Pointsmen.
The framework also encourages Army recruiting organisations to coordinate with Railway divisions to expedite appointments.
Officials said the initiative builds on existing cooperation between the Railways and the Army, particularly in logistics and personnel movement. Strategic infrastructure projects such as the Dedicated Freight Corridors and the Udhampur–Srinagar–Baramulla Rail Link have enhanced troop and equipment mobility.
