RBE No.48/2006: Stipend – Apprenticeship Training – In Service Candidates

No.PC-IV/2006/Misc/5, dated 17.04.2006

Sub: Admissibility of pay/ stipend and PLB, etc., to the in service candidate undergoing apprenticeship/ training on the Railways.

1. Apprenticeship training is required to be successfully completed before appointment against certain specified Group ‘C’ working posts/ absorption in service on the Railways. There are different situations wherein candidates who are already in Railway service also required to undergo such apprenticeship training before appointment against higher Group ‘C’ posts. Various entitlements of the apprentices/ trainees during period have been prescribed in the Indian Railway Establishment Code and the Indian Railway Establishment Manual as further clarified/ modified through specific orders issued by the Ministry of Railways (Railway Board). However, doubts have been expressed by some of the Railways/ Federations regarding interpretation on some of the issues such as admissibility of PLB, etc., in different situations, as also giving option to such candidates to draw either stipend or pay of their working cadre post during such period.
2. Accordingly, a review of the existing system has been undertaken by the Board and it is decided that stipend/ pay and allowances of in-service candidates (viz., Railway servants selected for higher posts on the Railways and undergoing apprenticeship/ training before absorption/ appointment against such posts may be regulated as follows:-

(a) Railway servants, who fulfill the terms and conditions of recruitment to various categories of apprentices as applicable to outsiders and allowed to compete for appointment as such along with outsiders without relaxation of educational qualification (with or without age relaxation) in open competition through RRB against direct recruitment quota will be governed by the provisions contained in Rule 1905 (Chapter-XIV of IREM, Vol-II (1990). They will also be entitled to the other allowances/ privileges as specifically laid down in the above Chapter.
(b) In-service candidates appointed as apprentices against an earmarked quota for them (viz., inter apprentices), but (c) below, will be treated as Railway servants on duty and will be governed by the provisions of Rule 1311 (FR 22) R-II (1990 – reprint). During such training/ apprenticeship, they will be eligible for all the allowances and privileges (including TA/DA & PLB) on the basis of their substantive cadre pay for the post held before being sent on training as per the provisions of relevant rules.
(c) In those categories of apprentices where direct recruitment and recruitment of in-service candidates against different/ specific quota is made (with same educational qualifications as for direct recruitment being a specific eligibility condition for in-service candidates), e.g., GDCE, the in-service candidates undergoing apprenticeship/ training may be given an option to draw any of the following:-

(i) Pay and allowance, etc., as in the case of (b) above.
(ii) Stipend (along with corresponding DA/DP) as applicable to outsiders/ open market candidates and other allowances (viz., HRA/ CCA with respect to their cadre pay subject to provisions of the relevant rules). They will not, however, be entitled to TA/ DA admissible to Railway servants on tour, or PLB or any other allowance unless specifically allowed to them.

(d) The candidate adjudged suitable for appointment of Group ‘C’ post on compassionate ground (with the same Educational Qualification as for direct recruitment for Group ‘C’, may also be governed by the provisions of Group ‘C’ posts, subsequently.

3. The past cases decided otherwise on the basis of practice already being followed on the Railways/ Production Units need not be re-opened.
4. This issues in consultation with Establishment Directorate and concurrence of Finance Directorate of the Ministry of Railways.
5. Action to make suitable amendments in IREM is being taken separately.

Download Railway Board Circular RBE No. 48/2006

Forward reference⇒RBE No.