Indian Railway Service of Mechanical Engineers
Designs, manufactures, deploys and maintains the Indian Railways' rolling stock — engines and carriages.
Overview
Indian Railway Service of Mechanical Engineers are primarily responsible for the design, manufacture, deployment and maintenance of the rolling stock of Indian Railways. Rolling stock refers to all the engines and carriages that are used on a railway.
Where they work
- Indian Railways
Work environment
You will work in an office set up. You are likely to handle a team. Local travel is not a part of the job profile. You are likely to work 5 to 6 days a week and 8 to 9 hours every day.
Opportunities for differently abled exist in this field.
Skills and interests
This career might suit you if…
- You like to build things.
- You are good at Maths.
- You like to lead.
- You enjoy repairing all kinds of mechanical objects.
Eligibility and education roadmap
Please check the duration of the course during enrolment.
- 1No specific certification is required.
- 2A Diploma in Mechanical Engineering or related fields can be helpful to understand the basics of mechanical systems, which are essential for the role of IRSME Officers. This is not mandatory but can provide a useful background.
- 3A Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or related fields (e.g., Production Engineering, Automotive Engineering) is mandatory to appear for the UPSC Civil Services Examination. The degree must be from a recognized university.
- 4Although not required, a Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering or related fields (e.g., Thermal Engineering, Industrial Engineering) can provide advanced knowledge in mechanical systems and railways, which may benefit you during training and in your role as an officer.
Forms, exams and applications
Entry requires a mechanical-engineering degree and is through the UPSC examination for the Indian Railway Management Service. Check the official notification for current eligibility and dates.
Exam names above are as printed in the source card. Application windows, eligibility and syllabi change — always check the official notification for current dates.
Where to apply
The course is offered by the Department of Mechanical Engineering. This list of institutes is indicative only.
Government institutes
- Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Mumbai, Maharashtra
- College of Engineering, Pune, Maharashtra
- Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, Vadodara, Gujarat
- Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi
- Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai, Tamil Nadu
- LD College of Engineering, Ahmedabad, Gujarat
- Veermata Jijabai Technological Institute, Mumbai, Maharashtra
Private institutes
Please check if the institute is affiliated and accredited before applying.
- MIT Manipal, Manipal, Karnataka
- Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore, Tamil Nadu
- SRM University, Chennai, Tamil Nadu
- Dayananda Sagar College of Engineering, Bengaluru, Karnataka
- RV College of Engineering, Bengaluru, Karnataka
- PSG College of Technology, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu
- Ramaiah Institute of Technology, Bengaluru, Karnataka
- BMS College of Engineering, Bengaluru, Karnataka
These institute lists are indicative examples from the source card, not a ranked or complete directory. Always verify accreditation on the institute's official website.
Career outcomes
Growth path
- 1Assistant Mechanical Engineer
- 2Divisional Mechanical Engineer
- 3Senior Mechanical Engineer
- 4Divisional Railway Manager
- 5Chief Mechanical Engineer (Planning)
- 6Chief Mechanical Engineer
- 7General Manager
- 8Additional Member (Mechanical Engineering)
- 9Member (Mechanical)
- 10Chairman (Railway Board)
Expected income
₹16,700 – ₹83,400 per month
This is the approximate salary of an Indian Railway Service of Mechanical Engineers officer. The figures are indicative and subject to change.
SourceRelated careers to explore
Mechanical Engineer
Designs, develops, builds and tests mechanical devices, tools, engines and machines.
Indian Railway Service of Electrical Engineers
Manages the electrical engineering organisation of the Indian Railways.
Student action plan
What you can do this month
- Read this whole roadmap and note any subjects, exams or institutes you don't recognise yet.
- Talk to a teacher or school counsellor about how your current subjects connect to Science, Maths.
- Look for a school club, competition or online course related to public service.
- Shortlist 2–3 institutes from the list above and check their official website for current admission details.
- Save this career and compare it with 1–2 others you're considering.
Example from the field
Anupam Sharma — The General Manager of East Central Railway (ECR). Sharma, an officer of the Indian Railways Service of Mechanical Engineers (IRSME), had joined the Indian Railways as a Special Class Apprentice in 1982. He has a Master's in Financial Management from Mumbai University, a post graduate diploma in Public Management and Policy (PGD-PMP) from Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad, and has attended leadership courses at Bocconi University at Milan, Italy and Carnegie Mellon University at Pittsburgh, USA.
Source: a personal interview, as credited on the printed card — no public page to link to.
This profile is shared for training/educational purposes only, as printed in the source card.
Sources and update notice
- Career card source: Exploring Career Paths with Career Cards, Volume 2, printed page 587 (NCERT / UNICEF India / PSSCIVE Bhopal, First Edition, April 2025).
- Income source: https://www.ambitionbox.com/salaries/indian-railways-salaries/mechanical-engineer
- Last reviewed on this site: 2026-08-21
Vellore Institute of Technology is printed in Andhra Pradesh; Vellore is in Tamil Nadu, and the state is corrected here. The government list is numbered with entry 7 missing. The profile's printed source is the same short link used for a different officer on the Indian Railway Service of Engineers card, so no link is shown.
Eligibility, fees, exam patterns and admissions change often. Always verify current details on official institute, exam-body or government websites before making decisions.