IRTS, in full term, means Indian Railway Traffic Service. It is one of the Group A Central Civil Service cadres of the Government of India. It was formed in 1889 and had a cadre size of about 900. It was formerly known as "Officers of the Superior Revenue Establishment of the Traffic, Transportation, and Commercial Department of Indian Railways." Still, on the 4th of March, 1967, it was renamed "Indian Railway Traffic Service."
The primary object of this service is to manage the transportation department of the Indian Railways service.
The traffic department comprises two branches:
Operation branch: which deals with freight train logistics
Commercial branch: which deals with the revenue earnings of the railways.
Responsibilities of an IRTS OFFICERS
IRTS officers are entrusted with the train operation; they predominantly look after the train route traffic operations. It is important to note that the running of the trains is never halted; that is, the trains run all day; hence, the officers in this service work every day for at least the first two years of service. As we've discussed, the IRTS department has two different branches; hence, there are different roles for different branches.
The roles of officers in the operations branch include:
Ensuring efficient and safe transportation of freight and passengers
Ensuring optimum utilization of railway assets
Managing the customer interface of the railway
The roles of officers in the commercial branch include:
Assessing the potential of the railway for improved performance and traffic growth
Realization of revenue for various services offered by Indian Railways
Establishing methods and systems to monitor performance
Providing passenger amenities (like service in trains and stations, catering, stalls at railway stations, etc.) and redressing customer complaints
Salary and Benefits of an IRTS Officer
The Indian Railway Traffic Service (IRTS) officer oversees the Indian Railways' transportation department. The salary of an IRTS is equal to that of any other Group A officer.
Junior scale salary starts from Rs. 15,600,000 to Rs. 39,100. The grade pay is Rs. 5400 for the entry-level post of Assistant Manager, which eventually increases to Rs. 6600 after promotion to the senior scale.
The highest post is Member (Traffic) in the Railway Board, at which the salary scale is fixed at Rs. 80,000. Like other government officers, IRTS officers are entitled to additional allowances such as TA and DA. And if it helps you like it.
Perks of being an IRTS Officer
Although an IRTS job can be very hectic and exhausting as it's an everyday job, it's not without some perks. Aside from the fact that you enjoy power and authority adequately, you also get benefits like a defined pension, health insurance, maternity and paternity leave, and free education access for employees' children, among others. Interestingly, as an IRTS officer,
You get the chance to come into contact with different people from various industries, thereby widening your network.
You'll be able to work in different parts of India.
You'll also develop the skills to maintain economic and efficient conditions.
How to Become an IRTS Officer?
Eligibility is the first thing to check before you can apply to join this service, including nationality, educational requirements, age limit, and several attempts.
1. Nationality: citizen
Subject of Nepal
subject of Bhutan
Tibetan refugee
migrants from Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka, and the East African countries of Kenya, Uganda, the United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Zaire, Ethiopia, and Vietnam.
2. Educational Requirement: a degree from a UGC-accredited university
3. The age limit is set at 21 to 30 years old.
4. The number of attempts varies between candidates, ranging from 6 to 5.
Six is the maximum number of attempts for general category candidates. After you match the eligibility requirements, the next step is to register online for the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) Civil Service exam, which is intended to test the academic and intellectual strength of the candidates.
Candidates who pass this exam will be interviewed, and if they're chosen, they'll be trained for about two years. After that, they'll be sent to different railway departments and start making between Rs 15,600 and Rs 39,100.
Friendly Conclusion
If you'd like to secure your financial life and want to enjoy power and authority adequately, considering Indian Railway Traffic Service as a career will be wise. You already know everything you need to know to use this first-rate service to embark on a journey. Sign up on UPSC from home for more study materials and information on each UPSC position's specific responsibilities.