RBE No.131/2023 PwBD – Extended Zone of Consideration & Upper Age Relaxation

No.E(NG)I/2023/PM4/13(E-3437365), dated 30.11.2023

Sub: Clarification on “Extended Zone of Consideration” and “Upper Age Relaxation” in Intermediate Apprentice Examination to the Persons with Benchmark Disability (PwBD) employee.

Ref: ICF’s letter No.PB/S3E/61/5/PQ/Vol.IV, dated 06.07.2023 and 02.11.2023.

1. Attention is invited to Board’s letter No.E(NG)I/2019/PM4/8, dated 01.07.2022 (RBE No.74/2022) along with instruction issued by DoP&T vide OM No.36012/1/2020-Estt.(Res-II), dated 17.05.2022 that have been made applicable mutatis mutandis for grant of reservation in promotion to PwBD in the Non-Gazetted posts of Indian Railways as identified vide Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment’s notification No.38-16/2020-DD-III, dated 04.01.2021 and Board’s letter E(NG)II/2017/RC-2/1/Policy, dated 27.02.2019.

2. One of the Production Units namely, ICF vide their letter under reference has raised the following doubts:

(a) Whether, extendng zone of consideration to 5 times the number of vacancies and alerting the PwBD employees whoever comes within the extended zone is correct or the demand of PwBD employee to extend the zone of consideration 5 times amongst the PwBD employees only to be considered.

(b) Whether PwBD employees are eligible for upper age relaxation in the Intermediate Apprentice Selection?

3. The issue of “Upper Age Relaxation” to PwBD employees in the Intermediate Apprentice Selection is still under deliberation with DoP&T.

4. With regard to “Zone of Consideration” Para 13.1, 13.2 and 13.3 of DoP&T’s O.M. dated 17.05.2022 may be applied.

5. In terms of Para 203.6 of IREM Vol.I, it is further clarified that the extended zone of consideration is with respect to number of vacancies and not vacancies identified for the reserved category alone. Zonal Railways/ PUs may please ensure that above procedure, as laid down in DoP&Ts OM dated 17.05.2022 are being complied with while filing up the reserved vacancies by promotion by selection/ non-selection.

This disposes off ICF’s letter No.PB/S3E/61/5/PQ/Vol.IV, dated 06.07.2023 and 02.11.2023.

Download Railway Board Circular RBE No.131/2023