Railway Board Clarification on Accident-Free Service Award (AFSA) Eligibility

Letter No. 2022/Safety(DM)/AFSA Policy , Dated: 21-07-2026

Sub: Award to Railway Staff for Accident-free Service.
Ref: Railway Board’s letter No. 86/Safety-I/24/35 dated 06.07.1998.

Ministry of Railways (Railway Board) have issued instructions specifying criteria for grant of Accident Free Service Awards vide letter no. 86/Safety-I/24/35 dated 06.07.1998. Subsequent instructions detailing clarification on the issues raised by Railways were also issued.

2. Instances have come to the notice of Railway Board where divergent interpretations are being adopted while assessing the eligibility of staff for grant of Accident-free Service Award in cases where disciplinary penalties have been imposed. Different forums of employees have raised the issue that while processing cases for grant of the Award, minor penalties pertaining to matters not having any bearing on safety, such as lapses relating to cleanliness, commercial duties, etc., are also being taken into consideration, resulting in denial/reduction of the Award.

3. The matter has been examined with reference to Railway Board’s letter No. 86/Safety-I/24/35 dated 06.07.1998 and subsequent instructions issued on the subject.

3.1 Railway Board vide letter No. 86/Safety-I/24/35 dated 06.07.1998, prescribed the criteria for grant of Accident-free Service Award.

3.2 The extant policy envisages that major penalties, irrespective of the nature of misconduct, render an employee ineligible for the Award. However, in the case of minor penalties, only those imposed in accident cases or for violations having a direct bearing on safety are required to be taken into account while determining eligibility for the Award.

3.3 Minor penalties imposed for reasons other than safety-related matters shall not be taken into consideration while assessing eligibility for the Award.

4. All Zonal Railways are advised to ensure strict compliance with the above instructions while processing proposals for grant of Accident-free Service Award so as to maintain uniformity in implementation across Indian Railways.

(Ashok Kumar Nakra)
Executive Director/EE/Safety
Railway Board