As part of Railway Week, observed from April 10th to April 16th each year, the Ministry of Railways in India has revised its award system. The National Railways Award has been renamed as ‘अति विशिष्ट रेल सेवा पुरस्कार’ and the number of awardees has been limited to a maximum of 100.
Additionally, cash rewards have been eliminated, except in posthumous cases, where INR 50,000 will be given. Instead, awardees will receive a silver medal and merit certificate. The list of awardees will be announced on April 16th annually, and a schedule for the new award system must be followed.
Transforming of Awards
भारत सरकार GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
रेल मंत्रालय MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS
(रेलवे बोर्ड) (RAILWAY BOARD)
No.2023/O&M/12/4
Dated:- 11.04.2023
General Managers,
All Indian Railways/PUs
DG/NAIR & DG/RDSO
CAO/PLW, Patiala, CAO/WPO, Patna & CAO/RWP, Bela
Sub: Transforming of Awards
Every year, Railway Week is celebrated from 10th to 16th April. During the Central Function, Award is presented to selected Officers/staff for their exemplary, outstanding and meritorious performance.
- The entire award eco-system conferred by Ministry of Railways (Railway Board) has been revised and the following has been decided w.r.t. Award at Ministry of Railways level given during Railway Week from the year 2023 onwards:
(1) Award at Ministry of Railways level
a) National Railways Award is renamed as ‘अति विशिष्ट रेल सेवा पुरस्कार‘.
b) Number of awardees is restricted to maximum 100 numbers.
c) Cash component is withdrawn except in posthumous cases, which would be 50,000/- per case.
d) Silver Medal & Merit Certificate will be presented to the awardees.
e) List of awardees will be notified on 16th April of every year.
f) Following timelines shall be adhered to as per the following schedule:
| Activity | For year 2023 | From year 2024 onwards |
| Notification | – | on 1stJan |
| Last date of self-nomination | – | 31st Jan |
| Shortlisting & forwarding to Board by Zonal/PU level committee | 30th Apr | 28thFeb |
| Shortlisting by Board ‘s committee | 15th May | 31st Mar |
| Notification of list of Awardees | 31th May | 16th Apr |
Management System (HRMS) portal from year 2024 onwards.
h) Details of screening committees will be made available in public domain.
i) Existing system of presentation of rollover shields to Zonal Railways for excellence in particular field will continue.
j) Zone/PU-wise quota has been worked out based on man-on-roll. Accordingly, quota of nominations for अति विशिष्ट रेल सेवा पुरस्कार to be forwarded to Board’s Office by various Zonal/PUs/Others Unit shall be as under:
| Rlys | Quota | Rlys | Quota | Rlys | Quota | Rlys | Quota | Rlys | Quota |
| CR | 24 | NER | 12 | SER | 20 | CLW | 2 | RCF | 2 |
| ER | 26 | NFR | 14 | SECR | 12 | BLW | 2 | MCF | 1 |
| ECR | 21 | NFR (C) | SWR | 9 | PLW | 1 | CORE | 1 | |
| ECoR | 12 | NWR | 12 | WR | 23 | RWP | 1 | RDSO | 1 |
| NR | 33 | SR | 20 | WCR | 14 | RWF | 1 | NAIR | 1 |
| NCR | 16 | SCR | 20 | METRO | 1 | ICF | 2 | WPO | 1 |
(2) Award at Zonal/PU level
a) GM Award is renamed as ‘विशिष्ट रेल सेवा पुरस्कार’.
b) Number of awardees is restricted to maximum 100 numbers or 0.1% of the workforce, whichever is less.
c) Cash component is withdrawn.
d) Only Merit Certificate will be presented to the awardees.
e) List of awardees will be notified after 3 days of notification of awardees of ‘अति विशिष्ट रेल सेवा पुरस्कार’.
f) Following timelines shall be adhered to as per the following schedule from 2024 onwards:
| Activity | Timeline |
| Notification | on 1st Jan |
| Last date of self-nomination | 31st Jan |
| Shortlisting by Zonal/PU level screening committee | 15th Mar |
| Notification of list of Awardees | after 3 days of notification of awardees अति विशिष्ट रेल सेवा पुरस्कार |
g) e-self nomination will be allowed through Human Resource Management System (HRMS) portal from year 2024 onwards.
h) Details of screening committees will be made available in public domain.
i) Presentation of Annual awards at the level of Head of Department will be discontinued with immediate effect.
j) System of presentation of department-wise rollover shields for excellence in particular field will continue.
(3) Award at Divisional level
a) DRM Award is renamed as ‘विशिष्ट रेल सेवा पुरस्कार‘.
b) Number of awardees is restricted to maximum 100 numbers or 0.1% of the workforce, whichever is less.
c) Cash component is withdrawn.
d) Only Merit Certificate will be presented to the awardees.
e) List of awardees will be notified after 3 days of notification of awardees of रेल सेवा पुरस्कार
f) Following timelines shall be adhered to as per the following schedule from 2024 onwards:
| Activity | Timeline |
| Notification | on 1stJan |
| Last date of self-nomination | 31st Jan |
| Shortlisting by divisional level screening committee | 15m Mar |
| Notification of list of Awardees | after 3 days of notification of awardees of विशिष्ट रेल सेवा पुरस्कार |
g) e-self nomination will be allowed through Human Resource Management System (HRMS) portal from year 2024 onwards.
h) Details of screening committees will be made available in public domain.
- Accordingly, nominations of Officers/Staff for grant of अति विशिष्ट रेल सेवा पुरस्कार, 2023 from ZRs/PUs/Other Units as per the quota mentioned above (in Annexure-11-IV) is invited for further consideration by Board as per the guidelines indicated at Annexure-I Schedule, venue and other details for actual presentation function would be communicated separately.
- The receipt of this letter may be acknowledged through email and Name,” Designation, Telephone (P&T and CUG) and Email ID of coordinating officer of the Railway for अति विशिष्ट रेल सेवा पुरस्कार be intimated to US/O&M, Railway Board at neenakandpal.rb[at]gov.in
- Last date for forwarding the soft copy of nominations viz 30.04.2023 be strictly adhered to.
Encl:-4
(Sandeep Mathur)
Secretary/Railway Board
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