-Transformative platform for strengthening Human Resource Governance & Data driven Decision making across Indian Railways

The Centre for HR Information Systems, Research and Analytics in Governance ‘CHIRAG’, a pioneering Centre of Excellence dedicated to Human Resource Management training, research, and digital transformation in Indian Railways, was inaugurated along with the foundation stone laid today i.e., 25^thMay,2026 at the SCR Grounds, adjacent to Zonal Railway Training Institute (ZRTI), Moula-Ali, Secunderabad, under the umbrella of the Indian Railways Institute of Financial Management (IRIFM), being the nodal Centralized Training Institutes (CTIs) for Indian Railways Personnel Services (IRPS) cadre.

 The Centre was inaugurated by Smt V.G. Bhooma, Additional Member (HR), Railway Board, who also performed the Foundation Stone laying ceremony for the proposed facility, in the presence of Smt.Aparna Garg, Ex-Member Finance Railway Board, and Director General, IRIFM; Shri Sanjay Kumar Srivastava, General Manager, SCR; Shri Siddharth Kati, Principal Chief Personnel Officer, SCR; Shri Sirra Shanti Raju, Addl.DG, IRIFM; Shri Lokesh Vishnoi, Dean, IRISET, Dr. R. Gopalakrishnan, DRM/Secunderabad, Senior Officials and other officers. Smt Aruna Nayar, Director General (HR), Railway Board joined the function virtually and addressed the gathering. She commended the initiative as a decisive step towards a data-driven, future-ready Railway HR workforce.

 Smt Aparna Garg, speaking o­n the occasion highlighted that in times to come, CHIRAG would serve as a research and innovation centre in Human Resource Management. She complimented the institutional leadership provided by DG-HR and AM-HR from Railway Board, who initiated this concept and gave direction and momentum to it. The teamwork exhibited by the team of IRIFM and SCR towards creating this dedicated training space was lauded. The detailed project roadmap envisages its full-fledged completion by May 2028.

 Shri Sanjay Kumar Srivastava General Manager, SCR underscored CHIRAG's prospective role in strengthening institutional HRMS capacity and positioning Indian Railways at the forefront of digital HR governance.

Drawing o­n the Upanishadic invocation तमसोमाज्योतिर्गमय — "Lead us from darkness unto light" - CHIRAG aims to illuminate governance through knowledge. In alignment with Mission Karmayogi, the NSCSTI framework, and the Capacity Building Commission, the Centre will deliver role-based, certified HRMS training across every cadre; develop a dedicated Human Resource Management System (HRMS) - MITRA master-trainer cadre for deployment across Zonal Railway Training Institutes; function as a think tank for HR policy and inter-system integration; embed Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning and Predictive Analytics into HR decision-support; and establish state-of-the-art computer laboratories and an iGOT recording studio for nationwide course dissemination.

The ceremony was concluded with a tree-plantation drive by the officers, symbolizing the Centre's commitment to sustainable and scalable growth.