The examination is conducted according to the following plan

Part I - Written Examination carrying a maximum of 600 marks in the subject  as shown below.
Part II - Personality Test carrying a maximum of 200 marks in respect of only those candidates who are declared qualified on the results of written examination.

1. The Subject of the Written Examination the time allowed and the maximum marks allotted to each subject are  as follows:

Paper I - General Ability Test (English, General knowledge and Psychological Test)  2 hours and 200 marks.
Paper II -  Physical science (Physics and Chemistry) 2 hours and 200 marks.
Paper III -  Mathematics  2 hours and 200 marks 

2. The papers in all the Subjects will consist of objective type questions only. The question papers ( Test Booklets) are set in English only.

3.In the question papers, wherever necessary, questions  involving  the Metric System of Weights and Measures only will be set.

4. Question Papers is approximately of the Intermediate standard.

5.Candidates must write the paper s in their own hand .In no circumstances are they allowed the help of a scribe to write the answers for them

6.The commission have discretion to fix qualifying marks in any or all the subjects as the examination.

7. The candidates are not permitted to use calculators or mathematical or Logarithmic tables for answering objective type papers (test Booklets). they should not, therefore .bring the same inside examination hall.

Personality Test - Personality Test carrying a maximum of 200 marks in respect of only those candidates who are declared qualified on the results of written examination. Each candidate will be interviewed by a Board who will have before them a record of his career both academic and extramural. They will be asked questions on matters of general interest. Special attention will be paid to assessing their potential qualities of leadership, initiative and intellectual curiosity, tact and other social qualities , mental and physical energy, power of practical application and integrity of character.

Exam centers 

Agartala, Gangtok, Panaji (goa), Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Patna, Aizwal, Imphal, Port blair, Allahabad, Itanagar, Raipur, Bangalore, Jaipur, Ranchi, Bareilly, Jammu, Sambalpur, Bhopal, Jorhat, Shillong, Chandigarh, Kochi, Shimla, Chennai, Kohima , Srinagar, Cuttack,  Kolkata, Thiruvanathapuram, Dehradun, Lucknow, Tirupati, Delhi, Madurai, Udaipur, Dharwar, Mumbai, Vishakhapatnam, Dispur, Nagpur 

Terms and Conditions of apprenticeship for special Class Apprentices selected through the Examination

The terms and conditions of Apprenticeship are as set out in the form of agreement prescribed in the Indian railway Establishment manual, brief particulars of which are given below:

• A candidate offered appointment as a Special Class Railway Apprentice has to execute an agreement in the prescribed form binding himself and one surety jointly and severally, to refund ,in the event of his failing to complete training as Special class Railway Apprentice or to accept the service as an officer on probation in the Indian Railway service of Mechanical Engineers, If offered to him to the satisfaction of the Government , any money paid to him and any other moneys expended by government on him, the government being the exclusive judge of the quantum of such expense.
  
  The apprentices will be liable to undergo practical and theoretical training for 4 years in the first instance under an indenture binding them, to serve on the Indian railways on the completion of their training, if their services are required .The continuance of  apprenticeship from year to year will  depend on satisfactory reports being received from the authorities under whom the apprentices may be working. If at any time during his apprenticeship any apprentice does not satisfy the superior authorities that he is making good progress, he will be liable to be discharged from the apprenticeship. The government of India may at their discretion alter or modify the periods and courses of training.
  

• The practical and theoretical training referred to above will be given in a railway workshop for four years of their Apprenticeship. Special Class apprentices must pass within this period either parts 1 and 2 of the council of Engineering Institutions Examination (London) or section 'A' and 'B' of the associate membership of Institution of Engineers India) Examinations. The apprentices are be granted a stipend of Rs.1300 per mensem during the 1st and 2nd  years and Rs. 1400 per mensem during the 3rd and 4th years. During the  apprenticeship, the candidates will be required to undergo both theoretical and practical  training. There will be in all six Semester examinations passing  each of which is compulsory. f unsuccessful at any of these  examinations they will, depending on their performance, be asked to sit for a pass in supplementary examination or reverted to the next lower batch or removed from apprenticeship.

  Note: Except as provided for in  paragraph 4 below or in cases of discharge or dismissal due to insubordination, intemperance or other misconduct or breach of agreement a week's notice of discharge from apprenticeship will be given.

• Before the completion of 4th year of training referred to in paragraph 2 above ,the apprentices will be listed in order of merit on the results of the examination held and the reports on the apprentices received during the period of apprenticeship. Successful apprentices are appointed on probation for 3 years in the Indian Railway Service of Mechanical Engineers.

  Note: An apprentice will be considered to have obtained the qualifying standard if he obtains a minimum of 50% marks in the aggregate in all the examinations held  during the six semester examination of his training. Including  the marks  of the reports  of the principal, Indian  railways Institute  of  Mechanical and Electrical Engineers, Jamalpur and of the deputy Chief Mechanical Engineer, provided that in each of the six semester exam. he has obtained a min. of 45 per cent marks in the aggregate and a min of 40 percent marks in any one subject.

• Unsuccessful apprentices are discharged from their apprenticeship, one month's notice of discharge being given along with the intimation that the apprentice has been unsuccessful.
  

• After Successful completion of 4 years apprenticeship ,the apprentices are appointed as probationers in the Indian Railway Service of mechanical Engineers, as per specified rules.