ACC clears Level-16 empanelment; eight 1989-batch officers made Railway GMs

ACC empanels eight 1989-batch officers to Level-16 and appoints them as General Managers across key Indian Railways zones and production units.

By
LO Bureau
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The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved the empanelment and appointment of eight senior officers as General Managers in Indian Railways for the 2025 panel year. These posts are at Level-16 of the Pay Matrix.

The approvals were given under relaxation of the Indian Railway (Selection to Senior Posts) Rules, 2025. This clears the way for new appointments in major railway zones and production units.

All eight officers belong to the 1989 batch of different railway services. With Level-16 empanelment, they become eligible to serve as General Managers or in equivalent top posts.

The officers appointed are:

  1. Manoranjan Pradhan (IRSS:1989) – General Manager, Rail Wheel Factory, Yelahanka
  2. Ashutosh Pant (IRSEE:1989) – General Manager, Banaras Locomotive Works, Varanasi
  3. Prabhas Dansana (IRTS:1989) – Director General, RDSO
  4. Mohit Chandra (IRSEE:1989) – General Manager, Chittaranjan Locomotive Works
  5. Rajesh Kumar Pandey (IRSSE:1989) – General Manager, Northern Railway, New Delhi
  6. Shalabh Goel (IRSEE:1989) – General Manager, Central Railway, Mumbai
  7. Ashish Bansal (IRSE:1989) – General Manager, Northeast Frontier Railway (Construction), Guwahati
  8. Ajay Nandan (IRSME:1989) – General Manager, Rail Coach Factory, Kapurthala

Several of these officers are expected to remain in service till 2028. This will provide continuity at the top level.

At the same time, 56 officers were not included in the 2025 Level-16 panel. This shows that the selection process was strict.

In a separate order, Ashok Kumar Verma (IRSS:1987), General Manager of Northern Railway since October 2024, has been appointed General Manager, Central Organisation for Railway Electrification (CORE), Prayagraj. He has been moved on a lateral transfer. His posting comes as Railways continues to push for full electrification of its network.

The appointment of Rajesh Kumar Pandey as General Manager of Northern Railway is important, as it is one of the largest railway zones in the country.

With eight new General Managers posted at the same time, Indian Railways has carried out a major leadership change at the top level.

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