This examination is conducted for selection of candidates for appointment as Special Class Apprentices in the Indian Railway Service of Mechanical Engineers.

The examination is held once a year, generally in the month of August. Blank application forms and other particulars are published in Employment News, generally in the month of February. The last date for the submission of applications is usually the last week of March every year.

Age: 

A candidate must have attained the age of 17 years and must not have attained the age of 21 years on 1st August of year in which the examination is held.

The upper age limit may be relaxed in respect of the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Other Backward Classes and such other categories of persons as may from time to time be notified in this behalf by the Government of India to the extent and subject to the conditions notified in respect of each category.

Educational Qualifications: 

A candidate 
(a) Must have passed in the first or second division the Intermediate or an equivalent Examination of a University or Board approved by the Government of India with Mathematics and at least one of the subjects, Physics and Chemistry, as subjects of the examination. Graduates with Mathematics and at least one of the subjects, Physics and Chemistry, at there degree subjects may also apply, or

(b) Must have passed in the first or second division the Higher Secondary (12 years) Examination under 10+2 pattern of School Education with Mathematics and at least in one of the subjects, Physics and Chemistry, as subject of the examination, or

(c) Must have passed the first-year Examination under the three-year degree course of a University or the first examination of the three-year diploma course in Rural Service of the National Council for Rural Higher Education or the third year Examination for promotion to the 4th year of the four-year B.A./B.Sc. (Evening College) Course of the Madras University with Mathematics and at least one of the subjects, Physics and Chemistry, as subjects of the examination provided that before joining the degree/diploma course he passed the Higher Secondary Examination or the Pre-University or equivalent examination in the first or second division: Candidates who have passed the first/second year examination under the three year degree course in the first or second division with Mathematics and either Physics or Chemistry as subjects of the Examination may also apply ; provided the first/second year examination is conducted by a University; or

(d) Must have passed in the first or second division the Pre-Engineering Examination of a University, approved by the Government of India; 

(e) Must have passed in the first or second division the Pre-Professional/Pre-Technological Examination of any Indian University or a recognized Board, with Mathematics and at least one of the subjects, Physics and Chemistry, as subjects of the Examination conducted one year after the Higher Secondary or Pre-University stage; or

(f) Must have passed the first-year examination under the five-year Engineering Degree Course of a University. Provided that before joining the Degree Course, he passed the Higher Secondary Examination or Pre-University or equivalent examination in the first or second division. Candidates who have passed the first-year Examination of the five-year Engineering Degree Course in the first or second division may also apply provided the first year Examination is conducted by a University; 

(g) Must have passed in the first or second division the Pre-Degree Examination of the Universities of Kerala and Calicut with Mathematics; and at least one of the subjects, Physics and Chemistry, as subjects of the examination.

Plan of the Examination: 

The examination comprises: (i) Written Examination in the subjects as set out in Para 6 and Personality Test comprising interview carrying a maximum of 200 marks in respect of only those candidates who are declared qualified on the results of written examination.

Examination Subjects: 

The following are the subjects for the written examination:

Sl.No	Subjects	Time Allowed	Marks
PAPER I	General Ability Test (English, General Knowledge and Psychological Tests)	2 Hours	200
PAPER II	Physical Sciences (Physics and Chemistry)	2 Hours	200
PAPER III	Mathematics	2 Hours	200

Note: 

· The question Papers will consist of OBJECTIVE TYPE questions only.
· Question Papers will be approximately of Intermediate or 10+2 Standard.