Indian Railways Traffic Service
Keeps freight and passengers moving quickly and smoothly across the Indian Railways network.
Overview
IRTS officers are responsible for the smooth and fast transportation of freight and passengers. He or she ensures optimum utilization of assets. This is achieved by coordinating with the service departments looking after various assets of railways like track, wagons, engines, signals, etc. There are two main streams of Traffic Department — Operations and Commercial, where these officers are posted.
Where they work
- Indian Railways
- Other government departments/ministries
Work environment
Your job role will need you to work both indoors and outdoors. You will handle a team of officials. 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 are a careful and organized person.
- You can make people work under your directions.
- You like to lead.
Eligibility and education roadmap
Please check the duration of the course during enrolment.
- 1No specific certification is required.
- 2A Diploma in Logistics, Transport Management, Public Administration, or Railway Operations can be helpful to understand the basics of railway traffic management. This is not mandatory but can provide useful background knowledge.
- 3A Bachelor's degree in any discipline from a government-recognized university is mandatory to appear for the UPSC Civil Services Examination. Degrees in disciplines such as Public Administration, Economics, Political Science, or Transport Management can provide relevant knowledge for administrative roles in the Indian Railways.
- 4Although not required, a Master's degree in Transport Management, Public Administration, Logistics, Public Policy, or Railway Management can provide advanced knowledge and specialized skills, which may be beneficial during the interview stage and in your role as an officer.
Forms, exams and applications
Entry is through the UPSC examination for the Indian Railway Management Service. A bachelor's degree in any discipline is the only mandatory qualification. 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
A bachelor's degree in any discipline from a recognised university qualifies you for the UPSC examination. See the note below on the institute list printed on this card.
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 Divisional Traffic Manager
- 2Divisional Traffic Manager
- 3Senior Divisional Traffic Manager
- 4Deputy Chief Operations Manager
- 5Chief Operations Manager
- 6Principal Chief Operations Manager
- 7Member Traffic, Railway Board
Expected income
₹56,100 – ₹2,18,200 per month or more
This is the approximate salary of an IRTS officer. The figures are indicative and subject to change.
SourceRelated careers to explore
Indian Railway Personnel Service
Handles the welfare and employment conditions of the Indian Railways' 1.5 million employees.
Loco Pilot
Train driver who operates and controls locomotives, managing speed, braking and emergencies.
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 Any Stream.
- 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
Ajay Shukla — A senior officer of 1979 batch of Indian Railway Traffic Service (IRTS). Currently, he is an Additional Member (Commercial) Railway Board. Shukla has done his Bachelor's in Science and Master's in History from the University of Lucknow.
SourceThis 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 593 (NCERT / UNICEF India / PSSCIVE Bhopal, First Edition, April 2025).
- Income source: https://testbook.com/ias-preparation/irts-indian-railway-traffic-service
- Last reviewed on this site: 2026-08-21
The institute lists printed on this card are the tool-design and engineering lists from the Robotics Engineer card (Central Institute of Tool Design, Central Tool Room, Colleges of Engineering at Vadakara and Pathanapuram, and so on), which have no connection to a traffic-management career that accepts graduates of any discipline; they are not reproduced. The work-environment panel also mentions visiting "warehouses and loco sheds", a line carried over from the Railway Stores Service card, which is left out here.
Eligibility, fees, exam patterns and admissions change often. Always verify current details on official institute, exam-body or government websites before making decisions.