Emotional Quotient (EQ)
For
officials applying for the top 36 positions, such as Chairman, Member, or General
Manager, Indian Railways has decided to make "Emotional Quotient (EQ)" intelligence
exams required (GM). The railway official claimed in a press conference that
the "As part of our new empanelment process, EQ (emotional quotient) test
is now required for selection to 36 top railway posts.
For
roughly 15 to 20 minutes,
there will be an online test. This instrument will be used to evaluate role
fitness and personality.
The
online examinations would be used for the first time in the upcoming
empanelment process to fill twelve open positions for general managers,
according to a senior Indian Railways official.
For
instance, the Director-General position at the National Academy of Indian
Railways (NAIR), which is similar to the General Manager position, is an
administrative or desk position.
The
railway official stated that it is "probable that similar modules could be
extended for selecting DRMs in the near future" because the railroad
appreciates the emotional intelligence of its officers.
EQ Test Guidelines - Indian Railways
A
board resolution adopted by the Indian Railways in May 2022 agreed to combine
29 roles, mostly General Managers, and seven secretary-level positions to form
the Indian Railway Management Service (IRMS), which will sit at the top of the
railway organizational structure. The resolution also said that IRMS
was established in accordance with a cabinet decision made in December 2019.
The
board resolution is now in the public domain because it was made public on May
27, 2022, in the Gazette of India. A policy that was attached to the resolution
said that, in addition to taking applicants' evaluation reports and peer input
into account, there would be a "Psychometric Assessment" to rate their emotional
intelligence.
According
to the guidelines, the EQ test would be used to evaluate an officer's
personality on five different scales: self-perception (awareness of one's
strengths, weaknesses, ambitions, etc.), self-expression (aggression,
independent thinking, etc.), interpersonal skills, decision-making, and stress
management.
Over
1.2 million people are employed by Indian Railways, according to official
statistics. However, only the top 36 candidates have been required to take the
EQ exam.
About the Indian Railway Management Service
At
all levels, from Junior Scale to HAG+, the eight current Indian Railways
services are being combined to become the Indian
Railway Management Service (IRMS) (Higher
Administrative Grade). However, the Alternative Mechanism was supposed to
deliberate on the specifics of the unification and inter-seniority assignment.
In order to ensure that no one will be at a disadvantage, the Ministry of
Railways and DOPT collaborated to develop the appropriate formula before it was
adopted by Alternative Mechanism.
Apex
grade has been added to 27 GM jobs. The apex grade position of GM would be
given to qualified officials from all former services.
Only
officials of the IRMS (comprised of 8 services) would be eligible to serve as
Functional Members and Chairman/CEO of the Railway Board, according to the
cabinet note that was approved. The Government will choose how many independent members there will be. They will participate in the Board meetings as
non-executive members. They won't be involved in how the Railways run on a
daily basis. Their market and industry expertise will support Indian Railways'
strategic strategy.
