Order Details
| RBE No. | Instruction letter of RBE No.39/2026 |
| Letter No. | File No. PCIII/2019/CRC/1 |
| Date | 06.08.2026 |
| Issued by | Railway Board (Ministry of Railways) |
| Subject | Restructuring of Pointsmen Cadre – Detailed Instructions for Implementation |
| Effective from | 03.04.2026 |
Original Text of RBE
भारत सरकार / GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
रेल मंत्रालय / MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS
रेलवे बोर्ड / (RAILWAY BOARD)
| File No. PCIII/2019/CRC/1 | New Delhi, dated: 06.08.2026 |
The General Managers/CAOs(R),
All Indian Railways & Production Units,
(As per mailing list).
Sub: Restructuring of Pointsmen Cadre – Detailed Instructions for Implementation –regarding.
Ref: Board’s letter No. PC-III/2019/CRC/1 (RBE No. 39/2026) dated 14.05.2026.
Consequent upon approval of the Ministry of Finance and the Hon’ble President, the revised cadre structure of Pointsmen category of the Operating Department, as approved and communicated vide Board’s letter under reference, is reproduced below for ready reference: –
| Grade | Pay Level | Revised %age of posts | No. of posts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pointsmen Grade-I | Level-5 | 4.54% | 3,017 |
| Pointsmen Grade-II | Level-4 | 13.63% | 9,052 |
| Pointsmen Grade-III | Level-2 | 27.27% | 18,105 |
| Pointsmen Grade-IV | Level-1 | 54.55% | 36,214 |
| Total | 100% | 66,388 |
2. As indicated in Para 2 of the letter under reference, the revised structure is effective from 03.04.2026, and detailed instructions for implementation of the restructuring are issued below. While implementing these orders, the following instructions should be carefully and strictly adhered to: –
1. Date of effect
The restructuring of the Pointsmen cadre will be with reference to the sanctioned cadre strength as on 03.04.2026. Staff placed in higher Pay Level as a result of implementation of these orders will draw pay in the higher level w.e.f. 03.04.2026. The benefit of restructuring will be restricted to persons who were working in the cadre on the cut-off date, i.e. 03.04.2026.
2. Applicability
2.1 These orders will be applicable to the permanent regular posts (excluding surplus & supernumerary posts) of the Pointsmen cadre of the Operating Department on Open Line establishments and Production Units, comprising all categories currently subsumed within the cadre, namely Pointsman-A, Pointsman-B, Gateman (Traffic), Cabinman, Switchman and Leverman, howsoever designated.
2.2 These orders will not be applicable to ex-cadre and work-charged posts, which will continue to be based on worth of charge.
2.3 Only those temporary posts in the Pointsmen cadre which are in operation for at least three years may also be taken into account for the purpose of applying the revised percentage distribution. This will be subject to certification that these posts are meant for regular activities which will continue and not for any sporadic requirements.
2.4 Consequent upon this restructuring, the existing category of Pointsman ‘B’ (Level-1) shall be designated as Pointsmen Grade-IV, and Pointsman ‘A’ (Level-2) as Pointsmen Grade-III; Pointsmen Grade-II (Level-4) and Pointsmen Grade-I (Level-5) are new promotional grades created afresh in the cadre.
3. Recruitment Rules
3.1 The revised/amended Recruitment Rules for Pointsmen Grade-I, Grade-II, Grade-III and Grade-IV shall be notified by the Establishment (Non-Gazetted) Directorate. However, the existing rule as applicable for Pointsmen B in Level 1 will continue to be applicable for the initial stage of direct recruitment i.e. to the Grade of ‘Pointsmen Grade IV’ in the revised set up of the cadre.
4. Minimum qualifying/residency service for promotion
4.1 The existing uniform minimum residency period of 2 years, as applicable for promotion from a lower Level to the next higher Level in Group ‘C’ categories on Indian Railways, shall continue to apply for promotion from Pointsmen Grade-IV to Grade-III, Grade-III to Grade-II, and Grade-II to Grade-I.
5. Pay Fixation
5.1 The pay of staff promoted against the additional/higher-grade posts as a result of this restructuring (including chain/resultant vacancies) will be fixed as per the extant pay fixation rules on promotion under FR 22(I)(a)(1) read with Board’s letter no. RBE 79/2017 dated 31.07.2017.
6. Filling up of vacancies
6.1 Normal vacancies existing as on 03.04.2026 (except direct recruitment quota) and those arising from this cadre restructuring, including chain/resultant vacancies, should be filled as per the extant selection procedure applicable to the category, subject to Para 3 above.
6.2 All vacancies (including chain/resultant vacancies) arising purely due to this introduction of new grades should be filled by senior eligible staff, who should be given the benefit of promotion w.e.f. 03.04.2026. For normal vacancies existing as on 03.04.2026, staff found suitable as per applicable procedure will get promotion and higher pay from the date of actually taking over the post, as per normal rules.
6.3 All normal vacancies arising on or after 04.04.2026 will be filled as per the applicable procedure.
6.4 Since filling up of the posts in Level-5 requires completion of the prescribed minimum residency period in Level-4, till such time the employees in Level-4 complete the prescribed residency period, the newly created posts shall be operated in Level-4.
6.5 Employees already working in L2, will continue to work in L2 and the upgradation in that specific unit would be affected gradually as and when such employees get promoted or retired over time. Posts in L4 and L5 will be filled up by non-selection mode.
7. Matching savings / Financial neutrality
7.1 The entire scheme of restructuring is a self-financing and expenditure-neutral proposition. Matching savings have been ensured, as approved by the Ministry of Finance, through surrender of 3,770 posts in Pay Level-2, which has already been factored into arriving at the revised cadre strength of 66,388 posts shown at Para 1 above. The instructions for calculating the financial implications circulated by MoF through their O.M. No. 2(13)/E.III Desk/2017 dated 13.06.2018 and dt. 30.07.2018, are enclosed as Annexure for ready reference. The formula suggested therein may be followed and DA may be accounted as 60%.
7.2 While computing the number of posts to be surrendered at each Zonal Railway/Production Unit for matching savings, if the figure so arrived at is in fraction, it shall be rounded off to the next whole number, and the resultant surplus value generated, if any, shall be transferred to the vacancy bank for future utilization. Creation and surrender of posts shall invariably be done through HRMS as per existing instructions.
8. Reservation
8.1 The existing instructions with regard to reservation on promotion, wherever applicable, will continue to apply while filling up the posts upgraded through introduction of new Pay scales.
9. Vigilance/D&A clearance
9.1 Extant instructions for D&A/Vigilance clearance will be applicable for effecting promotions under these orders, with reference to the date of effect of these orders.
10. Pin-pointing of posts
10.1 The administration should take steps to pin-point the additional posts arising out of this restructuring, keeping in view operational and safety requirements of Station/Section working, before implementing these orders.
11. Rounding off of posts
11.1 While determining the number of posts admissible in each Grade on application of the revised percentage distribution to the sanctioned cadre strength of a Zonal Railway/Production Unit, only the whole number shall be taken into consideration; fractions shall not be rounded off/up. For example, where the cadre strength is such that application of the percentage yields 337.5 posts, only 337 posts shall be operated in the higher Grade and the remaining posts shall continue to be operated in the existing/lower Grade.
12. Reckoning for MACPS
12.1 Every promotion/financial upgradation granted to an employee under this restructuring shall be counted and offset against the financial upgradation admissible under the Modified Assured Career Progression Scheme (MACPS), in terms of extant instructions for regulation of MACPS.
13. This issues in consultation with the E(NG), E(SCT) Dte and with the approval of Competent Authority.
14. Further clarification is required on any point, the same may please be referred to Board’s office.
15. Hindi version will follow.
Digitally signed by Jaya Kumar G
Date: 06-08-2026 15:20:42
(Jaya Kumar G)
Joint Director, Pay Commission & HRMS
Railway Board
Ph. No. 011-47845125
e-mail :jaya.kumarg@gov.in
Download RBE
Summary / Introduction
Earlier, the Railway Board had approved a revised cadre structure for Pointsmen of the Operating Department through its letter No. PC-III/2019/CRC/1 (RBE No. 39/2026) dated 14.05.2026. This new letter gives the detailed instructions for implementing that restructuring. It repeats the four-grade structure with the revised percentages and number of posts, and it confirms that the structure is effective from 03.04.2026.
The letter then explains the practical rules Zonal Railways must follow. These cover who is covered, recruitment rules, residency period for promotion, pay fixation, how vacancies are filled, financial neutrality, reservation, vigilance clearance, pin-pointing and rounding off of posts, and counting of MACPS.
Key Highlights
- The revised Pointsmen structure has four grades: Grade-I (Level-5), Grade-II (Level-4), Grade-III (Level-2) and Grade-IV (Level-1), with a total of 66,388 posts.
- The restructuring is based on the sanctioned cadre strength as on 03.04.2026. Staff placed in a higher Pay Level draw pay in that level w.e.f. 03.04.2026.
- The benefit is limited to persons working in the cadre on 03.04.2026.
- Pointsman ‘B’ (Level-1) becomes Pointsmen Grade-IV and Pointsman ‘A’ (Level-2) becomes Pointsmen Grade-III. Grade-II (Level-4) and Grade-I (Level-5) are new promotional grades.
- The existing 2-year residency period applies for promotion from Grade-IV to III, III to II and II to I.
- Pay of promoted staff is fixed under FR 22(I)(a)(1) read with RBE 79/2017 dated 31.07.2017.
- Vacancies arising purely from the new grades are filled by senior eligible staff, with promotion w.e.f. 03.04.2026.
- Level-5 posts operate in Level-4 until Level-4 employees complete the prescribed residency period.
- Employees already working in L2 continue in L2, and upgradation happens gradually as they are promoted or retire. Posts in L4 and L5 are filled by non-selection mode.
- The scheme is self-financing. Matching savings come from the surrender of 3,770 posts in Pay Level-2, and DA may be accounted as 60%.
- Only the whole number of posts is counted in each grade, and fractions are not rounded up (for example, 337.5 means 337).
- Promotions and financial upgradations under this restructuring are offset against MACPS.
Revised cadre structure
| Grade | Pay Level | Revised % of posts | No. of posts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pointsmen Grade-I | Level-5 | 4.54% | 3,017 |
| Pointsmen Grade-II | Level-4 | 13.63% | 9,052 |
| Pointsmen Grade-III | Level-2 | 27.27% | 18,105 |
| Pointsmen Grade-IV | Level-1 | 54.55% | 36,214 |
| Total | 100% | 66,388 |
Eligibility
- Categories covered: Permanent regular posts (excluding surplus and supernumerary posts) of the Pointsmen cadre of the Operating Department on Open Line establishments and Production Units. This includes Pointsman-A, Pointsman-B, Gateman (Traffic), Cabinman, Switchman and Leverman, howsoever designated.
- Not covered: Ex-cadre and work-charged posts.
- Cut-off date: Only persons working in the cadre on 03.04.2026 get the benefit of restructuring.
- Temporary posts: Only those in operation for at least three years can be counted, subject to certification that they are for regular activities and not sporadic requirements.
- Residency for promotion: A minimum of 2 years for promotion from Grade-IV to Grade-III, Grade-III to Grade-II and Grade-II to Grade-I.
- Direct recruitment: The existing rule for Pointsmen B in Level 1 continues for the initial stage of direct recruitment, i.e. to Pointsmen Grade-IV.
- Vigilance/D&A: Extant clearance instructions apply to promotions under these orders.
- Reservation: Existing instructions on reservation in promotion continue to apply.
Our Opinion
This section is our own reading of the RBE and is not part of the official order.
- For employees: Only staff working in the cadre on 03.04.2026 benefit. Where posts arise purely from the new grades, senior eligible staff get promotion from 03.04.2026. For normal vacancies existing on that date, promotion and higher pay start only from the date of actually taking over the post.
- Unclear or missing: The letter does not describe the “non-selection mode” for L4 and L5 posts in detail, and the Recruitment Rules for all four grades are still to be notified. The Annexure with the MoF O.M. instructions is mentioned but is not part of the scanned letter.
- Phased benefit: Employees already working in L2 will continue there, and upgradation in that unit happens gradually as they are promoted or retire. Level-5 posts will operate in Level-4 until the residency period is completed, so the full benefit may not reach everyone at once.
- What Zonal Railways must do: They must pin-point the additional posts before implementing, apply the whole-number rule for each grade, work out the matching surrender of posts through HRMS, and fix pay under the stated rules. Any doubts are to be referred to the Board’s office.
FAQ
Q1. From which date is the Pointsmen restructuring effective?
It is effective from 03.04.2026, and the benefit is restricted to persons working in the cadre on that date.
Q2. What are the four grades and pay levels?
Grade-I (Level-5), Grade-II (Level-4), Grade-III (Level-2) and Grade-IV (Level-1).
Q3. What is the minimum residency period for promotion?
The existing uniform 2 years applies for promotion from Grade-IV to III, III to II and II to I.
Q4. How will the pay of promoted staff be fixed?
Under FR 22(I)(a)(1) read with Board’s letter RBE 79/2017 dated 31.07.2017.
Disclaimer: This post is for information only. The ‘Our Opinion’ and FAQ sections are our own explanation of the RBE. Readers should refer to the official Railway Board letter and their Zonal Railway’s orders for authentic reference. Railway Niyam is an unofficial information-sharing platform. Please verify with the original orders before acting.
Tags: RBE [XX]/2026, RBE 39/2026, Pointsmen Cadre Restructuring, Pointsmen Grade I, Pointsmen Grade II, Pointsmen Grade III, Pointsmen Grade IV, Pointsman, Gateman, Cabinman, Switchman, Leverman, MACPS, Operating Department, Railway Board Letter 2026
