This examination is conducted by the Commission for recruitment of Special Class Apprentices in the Indian Railway Service of Mechanical Engineers. The examination is conducted once a year generally in the month of August.

Age limit
A candidate must have attained the age of 17 years and must not have attained the age of 21 years on August 1st of the year in which the examination is held. The upper age limit is relaxable as per rules.

Minimum Educational Qualification
(a) A candidate 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 subject of the examination. Graduates with Mathematics and at least one of the subjects Physics and Chemistry as their 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 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 Services of the National Council for Rural Higher Education or the third year Examination for promotion to the 4th year of four-year BA/BSc (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 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; or

(e) Must have passed in the first or second division the Pre-Professional/Pre- Technological Examination of any Indian University or a recognised 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; or

(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.

Examination Fee
Rs 50/- (No fee for SC/ST candidates).

Part II : Personality Test (200 marks) of such candidates as may be called by the Commission.

Subjects of Examination
The subjects of the Written Examination under Part I, the time allowed and the maximum marks allotted to each subject/paper shall be as follows:

1. Paper-I
Subjects - General Ability Test (English, General Knowledge and Psychological Test)
Duration - 2 Hours
Marks - 200 Marks

2. Paper-II
Subjects - Physical Sciences (Physics and Chemistry)
Duration - 2 Hours
Marks - 200 Marks

3. Paper-III
Subjects - Mathematics
Duration - 2 Hours
Marks - 200 Marks

Optional Subjects and Syllabus
The papers in all the subjects will consist of objective type questions only. In the question paper wherever necessary, questions involving the Metric System of weights and measures only, will be set.

Question paper will be approximately of the Intermediate Standard. In English Subject the questions will be designed to test the candidate's understanding and command of the Language; and in general knowledge, the paper aims at testing a candidate's General Awareness of the environment around him and its application to Society. The standard of answers to questions should be as expected of Students of Standard 12 or equivalent.

Interivews Test/ Personality Test
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, fact and other social qualities, mental and physical energy, power of practical application and integrity of character.

All selected candidates are required to undergo a Medical Test.

How to Apply
The notification is given in Employment News/Leading Newspapers in the month of January/February. The Application Form along with Information Brochure must be obtained from the designated Head Post Offices/Post Offices throughout the country as listed in the notification published in Employment News/ Leading Newspapers against cash payment of Rs 20/-. Candidates must use the Form supplied with the information Brochure only and they should in no case use photocopy/reproduction/unauthorisedly printed copy of the Form. (Information compiled from Vidyapatha.com)