IREM Rule No.103: IREM Vol-I, Chapter-I, Section-B, Sub-section-I: General

103. Definitions:-

For the purpose of these rules, unless there be anything repugnant in the subject or context:-

(i) A “Group” means a series of classes, which form a normal channel of promotion.
(ii) A “Class” comprises all appointments in the same branch or department bearing the same designation.
Illustration:- All station masters form a class by themselves, similarly, all assistant station masters are in one class, guards, section controllers, firemen, drivers are other instances of classes.
(iii) “Grades” are sub-divisions of a class, each bearing a different scale of pay. An intermediate grade is any grade in a class, higher than the lowest.
(iv) An “apprentice” or a “trainee” means a person undergoing training with a view to employment in railway service, who draws pay, leave salary, subsistence allowance or stipend during such training but is not employed in or against a substantive vacancy in the cadre of a branch of deptt. On satisfactory completion of his training he is eligible for appointment of probation in a substantive vacancy but no guarantee of such appointment is given.
(v) “Direct recruitment” means the recruitment to the Group ‘C service of any person not already in the service of the railways or any person in railway service who may be permitted to apply for appointment subject to possession of requisite qualifications along with outsiders according to the procedure laid down for recruitment.