New Delhi: The reservation of 10 percent of government jobs to the economically weaker sections (EWS), those outside high-income brackets, will result in the creation of 23,000 jobs under the upper caste quota over the next two years in two phases, said Union Minister Piyush Goyal, adding that the Indian Railways will be the first from the government to implement the reservation quota. Around 34,000, 17,000 and 62,000 posts will be reserved for SC, ST and OBC candidates respectively, an official release said. And 10 percent of these vacancies, i.e. around 23,000, shall be reserved for general category candidates under EWS quota.

Goyal added that the Railways will look to rope in around 1.3 lakh employees in the first phase of employment, which will be initiated in February-March 2019 and completed by April-May 2020. The remaining 1 lakh will be recruited in the second phase, which will be initiated in May-June 2020 and completed by July-August 2021, according to the release. The Indian Railways plans to provide about 4 lakh new jobs in the next two years.

With the recruitment for 1,51,548 posts going on, 1,31,428 posts are still vacant, the release added.

At present, the Railways has a sanctioned strength of 15,06,598 employees. Of these, 12,23,622 personnel are on the payroll, while the remaining 2,82,976 posts are vacant. With the recruitment for 1,51,548 posts going on, 1,31,428 posts are still vacant, the release added.

"These recruitment cycles will result in massive direct and indirect employment generation. Recruitment of 1,31,328 persons in the first phase, followed by recruitment of 99,000 persons shall create around 2,30,000 direct jobs," the release said.

"The resulting increase in efficiency and investment will boost the regional economies while enhancing connectivity through the Railways will integrate the economic potential of regions and give a further push to job opportunities for the youth of the nation."