Special Class Railway Apprentice
Encyclopedia
Special Class Railway Apprentices' (SCRA) refers to a handful of candidates that are selected by the Union Public Service Commission
India
, after a rigorous selection process, to the undergraduate program in Mechanical Engineering
at the Indian Railways Institute of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering
. This programme was started in 1927 and is one of the oldest in India.
Part I consists of a written examination carrying a maximum of 600 marks in basic academic subjects, such as English, Science and Mathematics. A personality test is given to those who qualified on the written exam.
The training is conducted at IRIMEE and the students stay at the Jamalpur Gymkhana
. The selected candidates undergo a four-year rigorous training programme in Mechanical Engineering
, for which IRIMEE has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Birla Institute of Technology, Mesra, Ranchi
. The semester system of BIT, Mesra is followed, with workshop training sessions during the holidays at BIT, Mesra.
A very selective group at best, the numbers have been further reduced due to the shrinkage in the Mechanical Department in the Indian Railways
. The alumni of the program are called SAMs [An acronym for Special Apprentice (Mechanical)].
This however is a recent development in the long history of the scheme. Earlier, it consisted of a sandwich system of training, with a mixture of theory and practice. The apprentices were required to pass either of the examinations conducted by The Engineering Council (London) or The Institution of Engineers (India), with many of them choosing to take both the exams.
UPSC SCRA has announced the admission for SCRA 2012 Examination. Registration for filing of Online forms was opened on 22-10-2011 and closed on 21st Nov 2011. Candidate need to file the application form online in 2 parts. The schedule date of exam is on 29th January 2012, for approximately 42 seats.
On completion of the probation in SCRA, one is posted as an officer in the junior scale. Promotion to the senior scale takes place after about two years of service in working post. After six to seven years of service, the officer is promoted to the Junior Administrative Grade, which has two levels. One can be serving in various assignments at the Junior Administrative Grade for 8-10 years. This is followed by the Selection Grade.
The next in seniority is the Senior Administrative Grade, equivalent to the Joint Secretary, Government of India which is obtained after 16-18 years of service. Officers of this grade may be posted as heads of various workshops in the field, as heads of a department functioning at the Headquarters office, as Addition Divisional
Railway Manager or as the Executive Director in the Railway Board. After six to eight years, while remaining in the same pay scale officers are selected to be appointed as Divisional Railway Managers (DRM).
The Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) heads the organization at the division level. There are currently 67 divisions on the system nationwide. The divisions are primarily involved with train running but may have loco sheds (repair shops for locomotives), coaching depots (repair home bases for passenger trains) and wagon depots (repair and maintenance points for freight stock).
Each division has all the functional (both line and staff) organizations. The heads of these functional groups report to the DRM for administrative purposes but rely on guidance from the railway board and the zonal headquarters for policy guidelines.
This branch of the Indian Railways looks after transportation and commercial matters pertaining to transportation. The branch is
further divided into two divisions:
A career with the IRTS begins with 3 years of probationary training.
The training is carried out for 2 years at Lal Bahadur Shastri Academy of Administration in Mussourie, zonal training centres and
incorporates on the job training.
This branch of the Railways deals with the accounting and finance operations of the Indian Railway.
Appointed officers of the IRAS begin their careers with two years of probationary service.
This division handles all matters relating to recruitment, promotions, training and even staff welfare, staff welfare activities,
transfers, disciplinary actions and so on. The officers of the personnel department also undergo a 3-year probation period.
This branch of the Indian Railway Services operates as other para-military forces. They are responsible for the maintenance of law
and order on trains and on premises owned and used by the Indian Railways.
On recruitment a RPF officer undergoes training for 3 years at Baroda, Lucknow and Police training establishments.
It is the technical side of the Indian Railways and is engaged in activities like installation, maintenance, construction and planning
of railway tracks, bridges and buildings.
Union Public Service Commission
The Union Public Service Commission is the central agency authorized to conduct the Civil Services Examination for entry-level appointments to the various Civil Services of India. The agency's charter is granted by the Constitution of India...
India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, after a rigorous selection process, to the undergraduate program in Mechanical Engineering
Mechanical engineering
Mechanical engineering is a discipline of engineering that applies the principles of physics and materials science for analysis, design, manufacturing, and maintenance of mechanical systems. It is the branch of engineering that involves the production and usage of heat and mechanical power for the...
at the Indian Railways Institute of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering
Indian Railways Institute of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering
The Indian Railways Institute of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering , started in the year 1888 as Technical School. In the year 1927, the training of Mechanical Officers for Indian Railways commenced. Thus, it is the oldest of the five Centralised Training Institutes functioning for training of...
. This programme was started in 1927 and is one of the oldest in India.
Exam and Training
The exam is in two parts.Part I consists of a written examination carrying a maximum of 600 marks in basic academic subjects, such as English, Science and Mathematics. A personality test is given to those who qualified on the written exam.
The training is conducted at IRIMEE and the students stay at the Jamalpur Gymkhana
Jamalpur Gymkhana
The Jamalpur Gymkhana , often referred to as Gymkhana by its members, is a hostel for young apprentice officers of the Indian Railways. It is also a club like any other Gymkhana. The difference is that membership to this club is restricted only to those who spend their formative years in its...
. The selected candidates undergo a four-year rigorous training programme in Mechanical Engineering
Mechanical engineering
Mechanical engineering is a discipline of engineering that applies the principles of physics and materials science for analysis, design, manufacturing, and maintenance of mechanical systems. It is the branch of engineering that involves the production and usage of heat and mechanical power for the...
, for which IRIMEE has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Birla Institute of Technology, Mesra, Ranchi
Ranchi
-Climate:Ranchi has a humid subtropical climate. However, due to its position and the forests around the city, it is known for its pleasant climate. Its climate is the primary reason why Ranchi was once the summer capital of the undivided State of Bihar...
. The semester system of BIT, Mesra is followed, with workshop training sessions during the holidays at BIT, Mesra.
A very selective group at best, the numbers have been further reduced due to the shrinkage in the Mechanical Department in the Indian Railways
Indian Railways
Indian Railways , abbreviated as IR , is a departmental undertaking of Government of India, which owns and operates most of India's rail transport. It is overseen by the Ministry of Railways of the Government of India....
. The alumni of the program are called SAMs [An acronym for Special Apprentice (Mechanical)].
This however is a recent development in the long history of the scheme. Earlier, it consisted of a sandwich system of training, with a mixture of theory and practice. The apprentices were required to pass either of the examinations conducted by The Engineering Council (London) or The Institution of Engineers (India), with many of them choosing to take both the exams.
UPSC SCRA has announced the admission for SCRA 2012 Examination. Registration for filing of Online forms was opened on 22-10-2011 and closed on 21st Nov 2011. Candidate need to file the application form online in 2 parts. The schedule date of exam is on 29th January 2012, for approximately 42 seats.
Career
After the completion of their training, they are absorbed into the highest level leadership program in the Railway organization (also called Group A Officers). This cadre of officers are attached to the IRSME.On completion of the probation in SCRA, one is posted as an officer in the junior scale. Promotion to the senior scale takes place after about two years of service in working post. After six to seven years of service, the officer is promoted to the Junior Administrative Grade, which has two levels. One can be serving in various assignments at the Junior Administrative Grade for 8-10 years. This is followed by the Selection Grade.
The next in seniority is the Senior Administrative Grade, equivalent to the Joint Secretary, Government of India which is obtained after 16-18 years of service. Officers of this grade may be posted as heads of various workshops in the field, as heads of a department functioning at the Headquarters office, as Addition Divisional
Railway Manager or as the Executive Director in the Railway Board. After six to eight years, while remaining in the same pay scale officers are selected to be appointed as Divisional Railway Managers (DRM).
The Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) heads the organization at the division level. There are currently 67 divisions on the system nationwide. The divisions are primarily involved with train running but may have loco sheds (repair shops for locomotives), coaching depots (repair home bases for passenger trains) and wagon depots (repair and maintenance points for freight stock).
Each division has all the functional (both line and staff) organizations. The heads of these functional groups report to the DRM for administrative purposes but rely on guidance from the railway board and the zonal headquarters for policy guidelines.
Types of Indian Railway Services from SCRA
- The Indian Railway Traffic Service
This branch of the Indian Railways looks after transportation and commercial matters pertaining to transportation. The branch is
further divided into two divisions:
- The commercial division: This division deals with all commercial responsibilities like ticket checking, catering, administration and management of stations, reservation, platform announcements etc.
- The operations division: This division deals with controlling movement of the trains, keeping a check on incoming and outgoing trains.
A career with the IRTS begins with 3 years of probationary training.
The training is carried out for 2 years at Lal Bahadur Shastri Academy of Administration in Mussourie, zonal training centres and
incorporates on the job training.
- Indian Railway Accounts Service (IRAS)
This branch of the Railways deals with the accounting and finance operations of the Indian Railway.
Appointed officers of the IRAS begin their careers with two years of probationary service.
- Indian Railway Personnel Service (IRPS)
This division handles all matters relating to recruitment, promotions, training and even staff welfare, staff welfare activities,
transfers, disciplinary actions and so on. The officers of the personnel department also undergo a 3-year probation period.
- Railway Protection Service/ Railway Protection Force
This branch of the Indian Railway Services operates as other para-military forces. They are responsible for the maintenance of law
and order on trains and on premises owned and used by the Indian Railways.
On recruitment a RPF officer undergoes training for 3 years at Baroda, Lucknow and Police training establishments.
- Railway Engineering Services
It is the technical side of the Indian Railways and is engaged in activities like installation, maintenance, construction and planning
of railway tracks, bridges and buildings.