The syllabus for the Indian Railway Management Service (IRMS) exam is defined by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) and consists of three stages: Preliminary Exam, Main Exam, and Interview. Below is the detailed syllabus for each stage:

1. Preliminary Exam Syllabus

The IRMS Preliminary Exam is common with the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination and includes two papers:

Paper I: General Studies (GS)

• Total Marks: 200
• Duration: 2 Hours

Topics:

• Current events of national and international importance.
• History of India and the Indian National Movement.
• Indian and World Geography (Physical, Social, and Economic Geography of India and the World).
• Indian Polity and Governance (Constitution, Political System, Panchayati Raj, Public Policy, Rights Issues, etc.).
• Economic and Social Development (Sustainable Development, Poverty, Inclusion, Demographics, Social Sector Initiatives, etc.).
• General issues on Environmental Ecology, Biodiversity, and Climate Change.
• General Science.

Paper II: Civil Services Aptitude Test (CSAT)

• Total Marks: 200 (Qualifying: 33% required)
• Duration: 2 Hours

Topics:

• Comprehension.
• Interpersonal skills including communication skills.
• Logical reasoning and analytical ability.
• Decision-making and problem-solving.
• General mental ability.
• Basic numeracy (Class X level), Data interpretation (charts, graphs, tables, etc.).
• English language comprehension (Class X level).

2. Main Exam Syllabus

The Main Examination consists of 9 papers: 2 qualifying and 7 counted for merit.

A. Qualifying Papers (Not Counted for Merit)

Paper A: Indian Language (300 Marks)

• Comprehension of given passages.
• Precise writing.
• Usage and vocabulary.
• Short essays.
• Translation (English to the Indian language and vice-versa).

Language options: As per the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution.

Paper B: English (300 Marks)

• Same structure as Paper A.

B. Papers Counted for Merit

Paper I: Essay (250 Marks)

• Topics on current issues, philosophical insights, and general knowledge.

Paper II: General Studies I (250 Marks)

• Indian Heritage and Culture.
• History of Modern India and the Indian Freedom Struggle.
• World History.
• Geography (Physical, Social, Economic Geography of India and the World).

Paper III: General Studies II (250 Marks)

• Governance, Constitution, Polity.
• Social Justice and International Relations.

Paper IV: General Studies III (250 Marks)

• Indian Economy and Planning.
• Science and Technology.
• Environment and Biodiversity.
• Disaster Management.
• Security and Internal Challenges.

Paper V: General Studies IV (250 Marks)

• Ethics, Integrity, and Aptitude.
• Case studies on decision-making and problem-solving.
• Emotional intelligence.

Paper VI & VII: Optional Subject (500 Marks; 250 each)

Candidates must select one optional subject relevant to IRMS. Options include:

• Civil Engineering.
• Mechanical Engineering.
• Electrical Engineering.
• Commerce and Accountancy.

3. Optional Subject Syllabus

The optional subject syllabus is the same as the respective UPSC engineering or commerce syllabi. Briefly:

Engineering Subjects (Civil, Mechanical, Electrical):

• Based on core subjects of the respective engineering discipline.
• Topics like Structural Engineering, Thermodynamics, Power Systems, etc., are included.

Commerce and Accountancy:

• Financial Accounting, Corporate Accounting.
• Cost and Management Accounting.
• Taxation.
• Auditing.
• Financial Management.
• Business Statistics and Economics.

4. Personality Test/Interview

• Total Marks: 275.

Focus on:

• Leadership qualities.
• Decision-making ability.
• Analytical skills.
• Knowledge of current affairs.
• Understanding of railway systems and public administration.

5. Preparation Tips

• Prelims: Focus on NCERTs, current affairs, and standard reference books.
• Mains: Develop in-depth knowledge of your optional subject and practice writing detailed answers.
• Interview: Stay updated with Indian Railways' functioning, policies, and current events.