Indian Railway Accounts Service (IRAS)

 After passing the UPSC civil services test, candidates may be hired into the Group "A" Indian Railway Accounts Service (IRAS). The government selects 25–30 officers annually. The Indian Railways' accounts and finances are overseen and maintained by the IRAS officers. IRAS currently has roughly 800 officers in its cadre.

Functions & Roles (IRAS):-

1. Maintaining accounts of the Indian Railways and Preparation of the budget.
2. Giving financial advice to the executive in matters related to railways.
3. Examining each department's proposed investments and expenses related to railroads.
4. Performing management accounting and regular financial evaluations.
5. Fundraising, managing finances, and keeping an eye on stock inventories.
6. Keeping railway records and books in order and resolving disputes and collecting debt.
7. Additionally, IRAS personnel are deputated to hold finance portfolios at other PSUs.

Salary and Pay scales (IRAS):-

Grade	Designation in Ministries	Designation on Railways	Pay Scale
Junior Time Scale	——	Assistant Financial Advisor/ Assistant Divisional Financial Manager/ Assistant Workshop Accounts Officer/ Assistant Financial Advisor (Traffic)/ Assistant Electronic Data Processing Manager	Rs.15,600-39100 + Grade Pay Rs.5400
Senior Time Scale	Deputy Director in GOI	Senior Assistant Financial Advisor/ Divisional Financial Manager/ Workshop Accounts Officer/ Senior Assistant Financial Advisor/ Electronic Data Processing Manager/ Senior System Analyst/ Deputy Director (Railway Board)	Rs.15,600-39,100 + Grade Pay Rs.6600
Junior Administrative Grade	Deputy Secretary in GOI	Deputy Financial Advisor & Chief Accounts Officer/ Senior Electronic Data Processing Manager/ Joint Director (Railway Board)	Rs.15,600-39,100 + Grade Pay Rs.7600
Selection Grade	Director in GOI	Deputy Financial Advisor & Chief Accounts Officer/ Director (Railway Board)	Rs.37,400-67,000 + Grade Pay Rs.8700
Senior Administrative Grade	Joint Secretary to GOI/ Secretary in State Government	Financial Advisor & Chief Accounts Officer/ Executive Director(Railway Board)	Rs.37,400-67,000 + Grade Pay Rs.10,000
Higher Administrative Grade	Additional Secretary in GOI/ Principal Secretary in State Government	Principal Financial Advisor & Chief Accounts Officer/ Advisor (Railway Board)	Rs.37,400-67,000 + Grade Pay Rs.12,000
Higher Administrative Grade +	Special Secretary to GOI/ Chief Secretary	General Manager/ Director General/ Additional Member (Railway Board)	Rs.75,500-80,000
Apex	Secretary	Financial Commissioner	80,000 (fixed)

Training Tenure (IRAS):- 

The entire training program for IRAS officers lasts for about two years. Training is first conducted at LBSNAA in Mussoorie and subsequently at the National Academy of Indian Railways in Vadodara. Additional training is provided by NIFM, located in Faridabad, and NADT, located in Nagpur. Probationers for the IRAS also attend IIM Calcutta for a 12-week program. Probationers for the IRAS receive training at MDI, Gurgaon.