Are you one among the lakhs of engineering students, who had just written the ESE 2020 Prelims that was conducted by UPSC on 5 January, 2020? If Yes, then you must be going through a phase of uncertainty after the reports of introduction of Indian Railways Management Services (IRMS), and then pulling out of Railway vacancies by the Railway Board from UPSC ESE 2020.
As per various media reports, from the year 2021 onwards, the Railways will be inducting class ‘A’ engineer officers through UPSC IRMS exam. As per the speculations that are making rounds online, the Railway aspirants will now have to write IRMS Prelims that would be conducted by UPSC. After writing the IRMS Prelims exam, students will have to indicate their preference for IRMS under five specialities — four of them engineering specialities for ‘Technical’ operations which includes Civil, Mechanical, Telecom and Electrical, and one ‘Non-Technical’ speciality which will recruit officers for Accounts, Personnel and Traffic.
Engineering students of Civil, Mechanical, Electrical, and Electronics branches, who were in the last year of their B.Tech, and were aiming for ESE 2021, must be in a state of confusion as they are not sure which books will be the best books for IRMS 2021 preparation. Here we will first try to understand the reason behind this reform in Railway organisation, and then we will come on to IRMS books i.e. the best books for IRMS 2021 preparation.
Understanding the Reason Behind Introduction of IRMS
On the basis of the recommendations of various committees such as Prakash Tandon Committee (1994), Rakesh Mohan Committee (2001), and the Bibek Debroy panel (2015), the Indian Union Cabinet on 24 December, 2019 approved a major overhauling of the organisational structure of Indian Railways. As per the proposed structural reform, the existing eight technical and non-technical cadres and departments i.e. Indian Railway Service of Engineers (IRSE), Indian Railway Service of Mechanical Engineers (IRSME), Indian Railway Service of Electrical Engineers (IRSEE), Indian Railway Service of Signal Engineers (IRSSE), Indian Railway Stores Services (IRSS), Indian Railways Personnel Service (IRPS), Indian Railways Accounts Service (IRAS), and Indian Railway Traffic Service (IRTS)would be merged into a unified railway group ‘A’ service, Indian Railway Management Service (IRMS).
The IRMS will be headed by Chairman Railway Board (CRB) who will be the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) with 4 Members and some Independent Members.
As per the official response behind the restructuring of the Railway Board, this reform in the organisational structure of Railway Board would help in ending‘departmentalism’, while making sure that the functioning of the Railways happens in a smooth and hassle-free manner, and the decision-making process is expedited.
Best Books for IRMS
Although the IRMS 2021 exam process, IRMS 2021 exam pattern and IRMS 2021 syllabus is yet to be framed by the UPSC in consultation with Department of Personnel and Training(DOPT) and Railway Board. However, whatever may be the outcome of the final decision regarding the process of conducting IRMS exam, exam pattern of IRMS, or IRMS exam syllabus, one thing is sure that the IRMS Prelims exam is going to be a mix of general studies, engineering aptitude, and technical subject as per the chosen branch. The only subject that might be included in the IRMS Prelims exam syllabus is a little bit of Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR), Quantitative Aptitude (QA), and Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC) or History, Geography, Polity, Economy, etc.
Whatever be the final outcome, one thing is sure that the books that were best for ESE Prelims preparation are going to be the best books for IRMS also. You being an engineering student should not worry about it as no one can beat an engineer’s mind when it comes to comprehend and apply knowledge in the most fundamental way. The only thing required from your side is to ensure that you don’t allow stress to build upon and fear to creep in your minds. No matter what changes are announced by UPSC for the IRMS exam, they are likely going to be marginal. More details about IRMS course, books, exam, syllabus and much more will be updated here at https://iesmaster.org/
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