IRAS stands for Indian Railway Accounts Service, which is a Group A central service of the Government of India. IRAS officers are responsible for the accounting and financial management of the Indian Railways, which is one of the largest railway networks in the world. Their responsibilities include budgeting, financial accounting, audit, costing, pricing, investment analysis, and financial policy formulation. They work in various departments of the Indian Railways and are responsible for ensuring that the financial transactions of the railways are carried out efficiently, effectively and transparently.
IRAS OVERVIEW
IRAS stands for Indian Railway Accounts Service, which is a Group A central service of the Government of India. It is a specialized service that manages the accounting and financial management of the Indian Railways, which is one of the largest railway networks in the world.
IRAS officers are responsible for various financial management functions within the Indian Railways, including budgeting, financial accounting, audit, costing, pricing, investment analysis, and financial policy formulation. They work in various departments of the Indian Railways, including the Accounts Department, Finance Department, Budget Department, and Investment Department.
To become an Indian Railway Accounts Service officer, one needs to clear the Civil Services Examination (CSE) conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). The CSE is a three-stage examination that includes the Preliminary Examination, the Main Examination, and the Personality Test. Indian Railway Accounts Service is one of the Group A services that a candidate can opt for if they qualify for the examination and clear the necessary eligibility criteria.
IRAS Important Exam Dates
Exam Stage | Tentative Exam Date (2023) |
|---|---|
| Preliminary Examination | June 4, 2023 |
| Main Examination | September 23, 24, 30, and October 1, 2023 |
| Personality Test | To be announced |
IRAS APPLICATION FORM
To apply for Indian Railway Accounts Service through UPSC, candidates must fill out the online application form on the UPSC official website within the given timeframe. Here is some important information regarding the Indian Railway Accounts Service UPSC application form:
- Availability: The application form for UPSC Civil Services Examination is usually available in February and the last date to submit the application form is in March.
- Registration: To apply for IRAS through UPSC, candidates must first register on the UPSC official website using their basic details such as name, date of birth, email ID, and phone number.
- Application Form: After registration, candidates must fill out the online application form with their personal, educational, and other details as required. They must also select Indian Railway Accounts Service as their preferred service in the application form.
- Application Fee: Candidates are required to pay a non-refundable application fee of INR 100 (for general and OBC category candidates) or no fee (for SC/ST/PwD and female candidates) to complete the application process.
- Documents: Candidates must upload scanned copies of their photograph and signature as per the specifications provided in the application form.
- Submission: After filling out the application form and paying the application fee, candidates must submit the application form before the deadline.
IRAS APPLICATION FEE
Category | Application Fee |
|---|---|
| General and OBC | INR 100 |
| SC/ST/PwD and female candidates | No fee |
How to Apply for IRAS UPSC 2023
- Registration: Candidates must first register on the UPSC official website using their basic details such as name, date of birth, email ID, and phone number.
- Application Form: After registration, candidates must fill out the online application form with their personal, educational, and other details as required. They must also select IRAS as their preferred service in the application form.
- Upload Documents: Candidates must upload scanned copies of their photograph and signature as per the specifications provided in the application form.
- Application Fee: Candidates are required to pay a non-refundable application fee of INR 100 (for general and OBC category candidates) or no fee (for SC/ST/PwD and female candidates) to complete the application process.
- Submission: After filling out the application form and paying the application fee, candidates must submit the application form before the deadline.
- Admit Card: Candidates who have successfully submitted their application form and paid the application fee can download their admit card from the UPSC official website a few weeks before the examination.
- Examination: Candidates must appear for the Preliminary Examination, Main Examination, and Personality Test as per the schedule announced by UPSC.
IRAS - Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
The Indian Railway Accounts Service (IRAS) is one of the Group A services of the Indian Railways responsible for accounting, financial management, and auditing functions of the organization.
Candidates can join the IRAS either through the Civil Services Examination conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) or through the Indian Engineering Services (IES) Examination conducted by the UPSC.
To be eligible for the IRAS exam, candidates must have a Bachelor’s degree from a recognized university in India. Additionally, there are age limit and nationality criteria that candidates must fulfill.
The selection process for the IRAS consists of a written examination followed by an interview. Candidates who qualify in the written examination are called for the interview.
The IRAS training program is a combination of classroom training, on-the-job training, and field visits. The training program is designed to provide candidates with the knowledge and skills required to perform their duties as an IRAS officer effectively.
The salary of an IRAS officer depends on the pay scale and level of the officer. As of 2021, the basic salary for an IRAS officer ranges from Rs. 56,100 to Rs. 2,25,000 per month.
IRAS officers have a wide range of career prospects in the Indian Railways, including positions in finance, accounts, audit, budgeting, and more. They can also move up the ranks and occupy higher-level administrative positions in the organization.
IRAS Eligibility Criteria
Criteria | Eligibility |
|---|---|
| Nationality | Must be a citizen of India |
| Age Limit | Must be between 21 to 32 years old on 1st August 2023 |
| Educational Qualification | Must have a degree from a recognized university |
| Physical Standards | Must meet the prescribed physical standards for admission to IRAS |
| Number of Attempts | Maximum of 6 attempts for general category candidates |
Please note that the age limit and number of attempts may vary for candidates belonging to reserved categories such as SC, ST, OBC, and PwD. Candidates are advised to check the UPSC notification for the detailed eligibility criteria and relaxations
IRAS Cut Off
Year | Cut Off Marks (out of 2025) |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 701 |
| 2020 | 754 |
| 2019 | 753 |
IRAS UPSC Addmission Process
- Preliminary Examination: The first stage of the admission process is the Preliminary Examination, which is an objective type paper consisting of two papers. Candidates who qualify the Preliminary Examination are eligible to appear for the Main Examination.
- Main Examination: The Main Examination is a written examination consisting of nine papers. The first two papers are qualifying in nature, while the remaining seven papers are considered for merit. Candidates who secure the minimum qualifying marks in the first two papers and the minimum aggregate marks in the remaining seven papers are called for the Personality Test.
- Personality Test: The Personality Test is the final stage of the admission process, which is conducted by a board of competent and unbiased observers. The purpose of the Personality Test is to assess the candidate’s suitability for the post of IRAS.
- Final Merit List: The final merit list is prepared by UPSC based on the candidate’s performance in the Main Examination and Personality Test. Candidates who secure a rank in the final merit list are offered admission to the Indian Railway Accounts Service.
- Medical Examination: Candidates who have been offered admission to IRAS are required to undergo a medical examination to ensure that they meet the prescribed physical standards for the service.
