Indian Railways inaugurated a new Centre of Excellence named CHIRAG at the South Central Railway grounds in Secunderabad, Telangana. The centre is dedicated to human resource management training, advanced research, and digital transformation across the national transporter’s network. Scheduled for complete operational readiness by May 2028, it will serve as the core technological training hub for the national railway workforce.
Understanding the CHIRAG Initiative
The Centre for HR Information Systems, Research and Analytics in Governance (CHIRAG) is a newly established Centre of Excellence located adjacent to the Zonal Railway Training Institute at Moula-Ali in Secunderabad, Telangana. It serves as an administrative and research hub designed to modernise personnel training and human resource governance across Indian Railways.
The facility is equipped with modern infrastructure to meet the digital demands of a large-scale workforce. It features advanced computer laboratories designed to enhance technical competency and digital literacy. Additionally, a dedicated iGOT Recording Studio will support the creation and distribution of high-quality e-learning modules under the government’s digital capacity-building initiative. A planned expansion project is also under way, with the foundation stone already laid for a new building to house broader training and research facilities. The entire project is scheduled to achieve full operational capability by May 2028.
Modernising HR Governance through Advanced Analytics
The establishment of CHIRAG represents a shift toward data-driven governance within Indian Railways. The centre is designed to leverage modern technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), and predictive analytics to reform personnel management. These technologies will be utilised to analyse recruitment trends, optimise manpower distribution, and support strategic workforce lifecycle planning.
A core component of this initiative is the development of a specialised workforce cadre named HRMS-MITRA. This cadre will consist of certified master trainers who undergo role-based training at CHIRAG. Once trained, these instructors will be deployed to various Zonal Railway Training Institutes across India. This strategy aims to decentralise the training process, ensuring that the latest digital methodologies are consistently taught to all railway employees nationwide.
The Human Resource Management System Context
CHIRAG will serve as the primary training and research backbone for the Human Resource Management System (HRMS) of Indian Railways. Launched on November 26, 2020, the HRMS is a comprehensive digital portal designed to bring all personnel processes under a single online platform. The system directly impacts more than 27 lakh families, including both serving railway personnel and pensioners, by digitising their service lifecycle records.
Before the introduction of the digital portal, personnel management was heavily reliant on manual and paper-based workflows. The HRMS has replaced these legacy processes with several key modules, including the Employee Self Service (ESS) portal, which allows staff to update personal data. Other key components include the Electronic Service Record (e-SR) for maintaining employment histories, the e-Pass/PTO Module for issuing travel passes, and the Settlement Module to expedite post-retirement benefits and pension processing.
South Central Railway and Zonal Training Infrastructure
The choice of Moula-Ali in Secunderabad for establishing CHIRAG leverages the existing infrastructure of the Zonal Railway Training Institute (ZRTI). As one of the principal training facilities of the South Central Railway (SCR), the ZRTI is responsible for conducting initial, promotional, and refresher courses for railway personnel across different departments, including operations, commercial divisions, and locomotive operations.
The South Central Railway zone itself plays a critical role in the operations of the national transporter. Headquartered in Secunderabad, the zone manages vast rail networks across several states.
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Rail Nilayam, Secunderabad, Telangana |
| Establishment Date | October 2, 1966 |
| Administrative Divisions | Secunderabad, Hyderabad, Vijayawada, Guntakal, Guntur, Nanded |
| Key Achievement | First railway zone to achieve 100% LED lighting at all stations |
By positioning CHIRAG within this established ecosystem, Indian Railways aims to integrate advanced governance research with practical, hands-on training for its personnel.
Key Takeaways
- The CHIRAG Centre of Excellence was established by Indian Railways at the South Central Railway grounds in Secunderabad, Telangana.
- The centre serves as the training and research backbone for the Human Resource Management System (HRMS) and is scheduled for full operational completion by May 2028.
- A specialised cadre of master trainers called HRMS-MITRA will be developed at the facility to standardise and decentralise digital training nationwide.
- The Human Resource Management System (HRMS) portal of Indian Railways was launched on November 26, 2020, to digitise personnel processes for over 27 lakh employees and pensioners.
- The South Central Railway (SCR) zone was formed on October 2, 1966, and is headquartered at Rail Nilayam in Secunderabad.
