RBE No. 23/1998: Artisan – 25% Quota

No.E(NG)I-96/PM7/56, dated 02.02.1998

Sub: Procedure for filling up the posts of Skilled Artisan against 25% quota.

1. In terms of Para 159, Indian Railway Establishment Manual, Volume-I, 1989, the vacancies in the artisan category of Skilled grade since redesignated as Technician (Trade) in scale Rs.950-1500 (RPS)/ 3050-4590 (RSRP) are required to be filled as under:-

(i) 25% by selection from course completed ‘Act Apprentices’, ITI passed candidates and Matriculates from the open market; serving employees who are course completed Act Apprentices or ITI qualified could be considered against this quota allowing age relaxation as applicable to serving employees. 

(ii) 25% from serving Khalasis and Khalasi Helpers (formerly known as unskilled and semi-skilled respectively) with educational qualification as laid down in Apprentices Act.

(iii) 50% by promotion of staff in the lower grade as per the prescribed procedure. 

2.     The question of laying down a uniform procedure for filling up the vacancies against the quota referred to at 1(ii) above has been under the consideration of the Ministry of Railways. It has now been decided that henceforth the following procedure may be followed for filling up the vacancies in the category of Technician (Trade) grade Rs.950-1500 (RPS)/ 3050-4590 (RSRP) against the quota referred to and commonly known as qualified staff quota:- 

(i)    Khalasis/ Khalsi Helpers possessing the qualifications prescribed in the Apprentices Act, with a minimum of three years regular service will be eligible to appear in the selection. However, Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes candidates possessing the requisite qualifications will be eligible for being considered against the vacancies reserved for them as per the extant instructions, if they have completed a minimum of one year’s regular service.

(ii)    All the eligible volunteering employees may be subjected to a written test followed by a viva-voce. Distribution of marks between written test and viva-voce may be 85 and 15 respectively. Those securing 60% marks in the written test may be eligible to be called for viva-voce. Those securing 60% and above in the aggregate will qualify for being included in the panel.

(iii)   The panel may be drawn up on the basis of seniority from amongst those who qualify; the total number to be empanelled not exceeding the number of vacancies assessed to be filled against the prescribed quota. There will be no classification of outstanding.

(iv) The empaneled staff possessing the qualification of ITI/ Course Completed Act Apprenticeship in the relevant trade in the Railway Establishment may be subjected to a trade test and those passing the same may be promoted as Technician (Trade) grade Rs.950-1500/ 3050-4590 (RSRP).

(v) Such of the empaneled staff as do not possess the qualification of ITI/ Course Completed Act Apprenticeship in the relevant trade in the Railway establishment may be imparted suitable training.

(vi) On completion of the prescribed training the staff may be subjected to a trade test and such of them as pass the trade test may be promoted as Technician (Trade) grade Rs.950-1500/ 3050-4590 (RSRP).

(vii) Seniority of staff on promotion in the Skilled grade will be regulated in terms of Para 302 of IREM, i.e., with reference to the date of promotion (after passing the trade test) maintaining their inter-se-seniority in the respective group as at (iv) and (v) above. This also disposes of DLW’s letter No.27/236/66E/Pt.X, dated 06.11.1996.

Download Railway Board Circular RBE No.23/1988

Forward reference ⇒ RBE No.43/2017, RBE No. 94/2020