About 2.74 lakh posts in the Railways, including more than 1.7 lakh in the safety category, are currently lying vacant. This information was revealed in an RTI reply to a query filed by RTI activist Chandra Shekhar Gaur from Madhya Pradesh. The Railways stated that a total of 2,74,580 posts in Group C, including Level 1, are currently vacant. Out of these, the safety category alone accounts for a vacancy of 1,77,924. The ministry further stated that the total number of non-gazetted vacant posts in the safety category of Group C on Indian Railways is 1,77,924. In December 2022, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw informed Parliament that there were 3.12 lakh non-gazetted vacant posts in the Railways. This indicates a significant shortage of manpower in the Railways, particularly in the safety category. The vacant positions need to be filled urgently to ensure the smooth operation and safety of the railway network.