Emotional Quotient (EQ)

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.