Railway Unions
Railway Unions
Key Information
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Oldest Railway Union | All India Railwaymen’s Federation (AIRF) – founded 1924 |
| Largest Recognised Union (2025) | National Federation of Indian Railwaymen (NFIR) |
| Recognition Rule | Unions must secure ≥30 % valid votes in secret ballot to be “recognised” |
| Ballot Conducted by | Election Commission of India (ECI) through Railway Board |
| Recognition Period | 5 years (last declared 1-1-2025, valid till 31-12-2029) |
| Apex Negotiating Machinery | Permanent Negotiating Machinery (PNM) – set up 1952 |
| PNM Meetings | Bi-annual (July & January) at Railway Board level |
| JCM Scheme Adopted | 1967 (Joint Consultative Machinery) |
| Recognition Grades | Group A (≥50 %), Group B (≥30 % but <50 %), Group C (<30 %) |
| AIRF Affiliation | Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC) |
| NFIR Affiliation | Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS) |
| First Women-led Railway Union | All India Railway Women’s Federation (AIRWF) – 1987 |
| Strike Ban | Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) applies to Railways |
| Code No. for AIRF | 26 (Railway Board circulars) |
| Code No. for NFIR | 27 |
| Recognition Order Issued by | Ministry of Railways (Railway Board) under Railway Services (Recognition of Service Associations) Rules, 1956 |
| Recognition Fee | ₹5 per member per annum deducted from salary |
| Recognition Validity Check | Railway Board’s “Pink Book” every January |
| Recognition Cancelling Authority | Ministry of Railways on ECI recommendation |
| Latest Recognition Gazette | 23-12-2024, effective 1-1-2025 |
Important Points
- AIRF & NFIR are the only two Group A unions (≥50 % vote share) as on 1-1-2025.
- No union can call a strike without 14-day advance notice under Industrial Disputes Act, 1947.
- Recognition is grade-specific: unions recognised for Group C staff cannot represent Group A officers.
- PNM agenda must reach Railway Board 30 days before meeting; decisions are binding on administration.
- JCM has three tiers: National, Zonal & Divisional; Railway Board level is the apex.
- Check-off system ensures fee collection—employer deducts union subscription from salary.
- Political affiliation is allowed but unions cannot use railway premises for election campaigns.
- Recognition loss leads to automatic withdrawal of facility of office space in railway premises.
- Women constitute ~22 % of railway workforce; AIRWF has 1.2 lakh members (2025).
- Retired employees can be life-members but cannot vote in recognition ballot.
- Recognition ballot uses single-transferable-vote system; NOTA option provided since 2015.
- Maximum 5 office-bearers per union granted duty leave for union work in a year.
Practice MCQs
Question:01 Which of the following is recognised as the oldest railway union in India?
A) National Federation of Indian Railwaymen (NFIR)
B) All India Railwaymen’s Federation (AIRF)
C) Indian Railway Employees Association (IREA)
D) Bharatiya Railway Mazdoor Sangh (BRMS)
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: The All India Railwaymen’s Federation (AIRF), established in 1925, is the oldest railway union in India.
Question:02 What minimum vote share is needed for Group A recognition?
A) 25 %
B) 33 %
C) 50 %
D) 75 %
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C
Explanation: A union must secure at least 50 % of the valid votes polled in the secret-ballot verification to be granted Group A recognition.
Question:03 Who conducts the recognition ballot for railway unions?
A) Ministry of Railways
B) Election Commission of India
C) Central Government
D) Railway Labour Tribunal
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: The Election Commission of India is the constitutional authority responsible for conducting the recognition ballot for railway unions.
Question:04 [How long is the recognition granted to a railway union?]
A) 2 years
B) 3 years
C) 5 years
D) 7 years
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C
Explanation: As per the extant Railway Board guidelines, recognition once granted to a railway union is valid for a period of 5 years, after which it must be renewed.
Question:05 Under which Act is strike in railways essentially banned?
A) Industrial Disputes Act, 1947
B) Trade Unions Act, 1926
C) Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA)
D) Railway Services Act, 1956
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C
Explanation: The Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) empowers the government to ban strikes in essential services, including railways, to ensure uninterrupted public service.
Question:06 Which among the following railway trade unions is affiliated to the Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS)?
A) All India Railwaymen’s Federation (AIRF)
B) National Federation of Indian Railwaymen (NFIR)
C) Indian National Railway Workers’ Federation (INRWF)
D) Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU)
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: The National Federation of Indian Railwaymen (NFIR) is the railway wing officially affiliated to the Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh, the labour arm of the RSS-BJP ideological family.
Question:07 When was the Permanent Negotiating Machinery (PNM) established?
A) 1948
B) 1952
C) 1956
D) 1960
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: The Permanent Negotiating Machinery (PNM) was set up in 1952 to institutionalize bipartite negotiations between the Ministry of Railways and the recognized railway unions.
Question:08 What is the code number allotted to AIRF in Railway Board circulars?
A) 24
B) 25
C) 26
D) 27
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C
Explanation: The All India Railwaymen’s Federation (AIRF) is assigned code number 26 in official Railway Board circulars.
Question:09 Which machinery handles bi-annual negotiations at the Railway Board level?
A) Joint Consultative Machinery (JCM)
B) Permanent Negotiating Machinery (PNM)
C) Standing Negotiating Committee (SNC)
D) Bi-annual Labour Council (BLC)
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: The Permanent Negotiating Machinery (PNM) is the statutory forum that conducts bi-annual negotiations between the Railway Board and the recognised federations of railway employees.
Question:10 Recognition of a union is announced in which official Railway document every January?
A) White Paper
B) Pink Book
C) Green Sheet
D) Blue Register
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: The Pink Book is the official Railway document released every January in which recognition of a union is announced.
BETA
