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