Indian Railway Health Service Rules, 2026 – Ministry of Railways, Railway Board Notification dated 07-09-2026
MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS
(Railway Board)
NOTIFICATION
New Delhi, the 7th September, 2026
G.S.R. 784(E).—In exercise of the powers conferred by the proviso to article 309 of the Constitution and in supersession of the Railway Medical Service Recruitment Rules, 1999, except as respects things done or omitted to be done before such supersession, the President hereby makes the following rules, namely:-
1. Short title and commencement.— (1) These rules may be called the Indian Railway Health Service Rules, 2026.
(2) They shall come into force on the date of their publication in the Official Gazette.
2. Definitions.—In these rules, unless the context otherwise requires,—
(a) “Administrative post” means any post as specified by the Cadre Controlling Authority from time to time as specified in Schedule V;
(b) “Cadre Controlling Authority” means the Ministry of Railways, Government of India;
(c) “clinical post” means a post other than the Administrative Posts defined as specified in Schedule V.
(d) “Commission” means the Union Public Service Commission;
(e) “Departmental Confirmation Committee” means a committee constituted to consider confirmation in any grade;
(f) “Departmental Promotion Committee” means a committee constituted to consider promotion, in any grade;
(g) “Departmental Screening Committee” means a committee constituted to consider the grant of Non-Functional Upgradation;
(h) “duty post” means any post included in Schedule I to these rules;
(i) “examination” means the Combined Medical Services Examination conducted by the Commission;
(j) “Government” means the Government of India;
(k) “grade” means grades of duty posts specified in Schedule I to these rules;
(l) “regular service” in relation to any grade means the period or periods of service in that grade rendered after selection and regular basis under the rules and includes any period or periods—
(i) taken into account for the purpose of seniority in the case of those appointed at the initial constitution of the service;
(ii) during which an officer would have held a duty post in that grade but for being on leave or otherwise not being available for holding such post;
(m) “Schedule” means the Schedules appended to these rules;
(n) “service” means the Indian Railway Health Service constituted under rule 3.
3. Constitution of the Service.—(1) The service shall consist of posts specified in Schedule I.
(2) All the duty posts in the service, as specified in the aforesaid Schedule shall be classified as Group ‘A’ posts.
4. Grades, strength and its review.—(1) The duty posts included in the various grades, designations, numbers and level in the pay matrix shall be as specified in Schedule I.
(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-rule (1), the Government may by notification in Official Gazette,—
(a) make additions, alterations, substitutions or modifications to the number of duty posts or grades, designations and alter or modify the level in pay matrix as specified in Schedule I;
(b) in consultation with the Commission, include in the service any duty post or exclude from the service any duty post specified in Schedule I;
(c) in consultation with the Commission, appoint an officer to a duty post included in the service under clause (b) to the appropriate grade.
5. Member of the service.—All officers appointed to the service before the commencement of these rules and holding duty posts on regular basis in Junior Time Scale, Senior Time Scale, Junior Administrative Grade, Non-Functional Selection Grade, Senior Administrative Grade and Higher Administrative Grade of the Indian Railway Health Service as on the date of commencement of these rules shall be members of the service in the respective grades.
6. Future maintenance of service.—(1) The vacant post in any of the grades referred to in the Schedule I shall be filled in the manner provided under these rules.
(2) The method of recruitment, the field of selection for promotion including the minimum qualifying service in the immediate lower grade or lower grades, as the case may be, for appointment or promotion to the post in the respective grade and specialties concerned, included in the service shall be as specified in Schedule II.
(3) Hundred per cent. of the vacant duty posts in the grade of Junior Time Scale shall be filled by direct recruitment through Combined Medical Service Examination conducted by the Commission, as specified in Schedule II.
(4) Thirty per cent of duty posts in the grade of Senior Time Scale shall be filled by direct recruitment, as specified in Schedule II, in consultation with the commission.
(5) Ten per cent. of duty posts in the grade of Junior Administrative shall be filled by direct recruitment, as specified in Schedule II, in consultation with the Commission.
(6) The departmental promotions of duty post up to the grade of Senior Administrative Grade shall be made as specified in Schedule II without taking into account the vacancies and shall be made on the basis of selection from among the officers of the service on the recommendations of the Departmental Promotion Committee as specified in Schedule III.
(7) The educational and other qualifications, experience and age-limit for appointment to various duty posts in the service by direct recruitment shall be as specified in Schedule IV.
Note.—The number of posts in Junior Time Scale, Senior Time Scale, Junior Administrative Grade, Selection Grade and Senior Administrative Grade may be operated interchangeably within the combined strength of the posts as specified in Note 2 to Schedule I.
7. Seniority.—(1) The relative seniority of members of the service appointed to any grade shall be governed by their relative seniority in their respective grade, as determined before the date of commencement of these rules:
Provided that if the seniority of any such member had not been specifically determined on the commencement of these rules, it shall be determined by the Cadre Controlling Authority in accordance with the rules applicable to members of the similar services under the Government.
(2) The cases that are not covered under sub-rule (1) above, seniority shall be determined by the Government in accordance with the general instructions issued by the Government for the purpose, from time to time.
8. Probation and confirmation.—(1) Every officer appointed to the service in the grade of Junior Time Scale by direct recruitment shall be on probation for a period of two years and every officer appointed to the Senior Time Scale Grade and Junior Administrative Grade by direct recruitment shall be on probation for a period of one year:
Provided that the Cadre Controlling Authority may extend the period of probation in accordance with the instructions issued by the Government from time to time in this behalf:
Provided further that any decision for extension of probation period shall be taken immediately after the expiry of initial period of probation and ordinarily within eight weeks and communication in writing to the concerned officer together with the reasons for so doing within the said period.
(2) On completion of the period of probation or any extension thereof, officers shall, if considered fit for permanent appointment, be retained in their regular appointments on regular basis and be confirmed in due course against the available substantive vacancies.
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