About 1,72,689 posts related to A,B,C,D categories were lying vacant in Railways till December 31 last year, Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav informed the Lok Sabha on Thursday.
While the highest number of vacancies (1,27,400) are lying in Group "C", there are about 43,781 posts to be filled up in Group 'D', he said in a written reply.
There are about 1,908 vacancies in Group 'A' and 'B', he said and added
"Vacancies are filled primarily through open market recruitment, which is done through Railway Recruitment Boards or by Zonal Railways themeselves. Other vacancies in the promotional grade are, however, filled through departmental promotions", Prasad said.