UPSC SCRA Salary Revealed: Check Indian Railways Apprentice Job Benefits And Perks
The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) conducts the Special Class Railway Apprentice (SCRA) exam, which aims to select candidates for the prestigious position of Special Class Railway Apprentice in the mechanical department of the Indian Railways. The official notification for the SCRA exam can be found on the UPSC's website. Candidates who are chosen as SCRA apprentices enjoy a range of benefits, including medical and overtime benefits, in addition to their salaries. They are entitled to leave and retirement benefits, making the SCRA apprenticeship a highly desirable job opportunity. The attractive compensation package and perks associated with the SCRA exam make it an appealing choice for individuals aspiring to work as technical supervisors in the Indian Railway Services.
Upon completion of the SCRA program, successful candidates are recruited by the Indian Railway Service of Mechanical Engineers as Assistant Mechanical Engineers (AME). They are directly appointed as Group A officers in the Indian Railways, with opportunities for promotion to senior management positions. The SCRA recruitment for 2023 offers approximately 42 vacancies, with reservations for candidates belonging to the ST, SC, and OBC categories. Additionally, 2% of the seats are reserved for SC and ST candidates.
To be eligible for this apprenticeship, candidates must meet certain criteria. They should be between 17 and 21 years of age, with age relaxation based on UPSC rules. OBC and candidates from defense services receive a relaxation of 3 years, while SC/ST, Jammu and Kashmir residents, and Ex-Serviceman/ECOs/SSCOs/Military Services candidates receive an age relaxation of 5 years. Candidates must have passed their intermediate exams in physics, mathematics, and chemistry, obtaining a first or second-class grade. Undergraduate degrees in mathematics, chemistry, or physics are also accepted, and pre-engineering students are eligible if they pass with a second-class grade.
The UPSC SCRA selection process consists of two phases. The first phase includes a written exam with three papers: Paper I - General Ability Test, Paper II - Physical Science (Physics and Chemistry), and Paper III - Mathematics. The total duration of the exam is 6 hours, and it carries a total of 600 marks. The second phase involves a Personality Test or Interview, carrying 200 marks. Candidates who successfully complete Phase 1 proceed to Phase 2, which includes document verification and medical/physical tests. Upon successfully completing all phases, candidates undergo four years of training.
During the first and second years of training, SCRA apprentices receive a stipend of Rs 9,100 per month. In the third year, the stipend increases to Rs 9,400 per month. For the first 6 months of the fourth year, the stipend remains Rs 9,400, and it increases to Rs. 9,700 for the next 6 months.