SPECIAL CLASS RAILWAY APPRENTICE EXAMINATION

Special Class Railway Apprentice (SCRA) Entrance Exam:

Importants Dates SCRA 2012 Entrance Test: An examination for selection of canidates in Mechanical Department of Indian Railways (UPSC SCRA) are as described..

Date Of UPSC-SCRA 2012 Notification:  22.Oct' 2011

Last Date For RECEIPT Of SCRA 2012 Entrance Application Forms: 21 Nov' 2011 (Monday)

Date of Commencement of SCRA 2012 Exam: 29.January'2012 (Sunday) 

The Special Class Railway Apprentice (SCRA) scheme was started in 1927 by the British, to select a handful of most intelligent Indians to assist them in their Railway Operations, after training at their Railway's largest workshop, i.e. Jamalpur Workshop, and for one year in United Kingdom. The selected candidates were required to appear in the Mechanical Engineering Degree Exmination held by Engineering Council (London).


Since then, the few SCRA admission seats for one of the country's first engineering college have always been hotly contested, with as many as 1 to 1.5 lakh candidates taking the entrance examination, now Special Class Railway Apprentice (SCRA) conducted by Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) board, for about 10 seats.That translates into an astonishing ratio of 1 selection per 10,000 applicants . The SCRA entrance scheme has continued to draw the country's best talent after independence and has provided Indian Railways with its top-ranking officers in all walks. Many of the Institute's alumni have won international accolade for having acheived excellence in their chosen careers, which include inventors, academicians, entrepreneurs, and high-ranking officers in other nations.

SCRA Entrance Qualification Criteria:

Candidates aspiring for Special Class of Railway Apprentice (SCRA) exam, must follow qualification criteria like age, education criteria etc successfully which is describe below..

SCRA Age Criteria: Candidates must have attained lower age limit of 17 years of age & must have completed  upper age limit of 21 on 1st august of year of examination..

SCRA Test Educational Qualification: 

1.) To take admission in this examination, candidates must have passed Intermediate or an equivalent examination in first or in second division.
2.) University or board is of govenment approved.
3.) Mathematics and at least one of the subjects Physics and Chemistry as subjects of the examination.
4.) Mathematics graduate or students with at least one of the subjects Physics or Chemsitry as their degree level may apply also..

For more information, candidates must go through Railway-SCRA Qualification Criteria . 

SCRA Entrance Pattern:

The SCRA entrance pattern in entrance examination comprises written test in Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, English Language, General Knowledge, and Psychological Test (Mental Ability). The selected candidates are called for an interview, which is followed by a medical examination. The standard of syllabus is that of Class XII (CBSE equivalent). The notice for the examination, along with form and syllabus Mathematics, Physics ,Chemistry , English language is brought out by the UPSC around the months of June-July. According to the new rules issued by the Ministry of Railways, the exam is now conducted once every two years.


The selected candidates undergo a four-year rigorous training programme in Mechanical Engineering, for which the Institute has a Memorandum of Understanding with BIT, Mesra, Ranchi. The semester system of BIT, Mesra is followed, with workshop training sessions during the holidays at BIT, Mesra. The apprentices get a stipend in the scale of Rs. 4000-4400 with Dearness Allowance,making the final emoluments upto Rs. 7400, apart from medical benefits, privelege passes and PTOs.

After successful completion of four years of training, the candidates join as Indian Railway Services of Mechanical Engineers (IRSME) Officers in Indian Railways to face a challanging and satisfying career

Degree Awarded: SCRAs get a Bachelor of Engineering degree in Mechanical Engineering after successful completion of four years of training. This degree is recognised by the All India Council for Technical Education.


SCRA Entrance Test Centers:

Following cities in various states are SCRA Entrance test Centers..

1.) AGARTALA; 
2.) GANGTOK; 
3.) PANAJI (GOA); 
4.) AHEMDABAD;
5.) HYDERABAD;
6.)  PATNA
7.)  AIZWAL;
8.)  IMPHAL;
9.)  PORTBLAIR;
10.)ALLAHBAD;
11.) ITANAGARRAIPUR;
12.) BANGLORE;
13.) JAIPUR;
14.) RANCHI;
15.) BAREILLY; 
16.) JAMMU; 
17.) SAMBALPUR; 
18.) BHOPAL
19.) JORHAT; 
20.) SHILLONG; 
21.) CHANDIGARH; 
22.) KOCHI; 
23.) SHIMLA; 
24.) CHENNAI
25.) KOHIMA; 
26.) SRINAGAR; 
27.) CUTTACK; 
28.) KOLKATA; 
29.) THIRUVANATHAPURAM
30.) DEHRADUN LUCKNOW; 
31.) TIRUPATI; 
32.) DELHI; 
33.) MADURAI; 
34.) UDAIPUR
35.) DHARWAR; 
36.) MUMBAI; 
37.) VISHAKHAPATNAM; 
38.) DISPUR; 
39.) NAGPUR