Jaya Verma Sinha becomes first woman to take charge as CEO of Railway Board

A big decision by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has heralded a new era for the Indian Railway Management Services (IRMS). Jaya Verma Sinha, a seasoned member of the IRMS, has been granted approval to take the reins as the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Railway Board. This historic appointment is a significant milestone in the 166-year history of the Indian Railways, marking Jaya Verma Sinha as the first woman to hold this esteemed position.

Jaya Verma Sinha embarked on her journey in the Indian Railway Traffic Service (IRTS) in 1988. Currently, she serves as a Member of Operations and Business Development at the Railway Board, Ministry of Railways. Her purview includes overseeing freight and passenger transportation services across the vast network of Indian Railways.

With a career spanning over 35 years within the Indian Railways, Sinha has demonstrated her prowess across diverse domains such as operations, commercial, IT, and vigilance. A trailblazer, she was the first woman to be appointed as the Principal Chief Operations Manager of South Eastern Railway. She has also served as the Principal Chief Commercial Manager of Northern Railway and Divisional Railway Manager of Sealdah Division. Her role as the Railway Advisor in the High Commission of India in Dhaka, Bangladesh, saw the inauguration of the renowned Maitri Express from Kolkata to Dhaka.

Sinha’s elevation to the position of Chairman and CEO of the Railway Board is a testament to her exemplary leadership and expertise in Operations and Business Development. Her assumption of this prestigious role on or after September 1, 2023, heralds a new chapter in the railway sector. Her tenure, spanning her superannuation, with an additional re-employment period from October 1, 2023, to August 31, 2024, reinforces her dedication to the sector’s growth.

As Jaya Verma Sinha prepares to lead, her appointment not only underscores her exceptional capabilities but also exemplifies the growing recognition of gender diversity and inclusivity in leadership within India’s railways. The Railway Board, an institution founded in 1905, is now marking history as a woman takes the helm of Chairman and CEO for the first time.