Promotion: RBE No.67/2014 – From Group ‘C’ to Group ‘B’ posts – Consolidated Guidelines
No.E(GP)2001/2/32, dated 07.07.2014
Sub: Consolidated Guidelines for Personnel Officers & Evaluators of Question Papers of written examination held as part of 70% Selection 30% LDCE for promotion from Group ‘C’ to Group ‘B’ posts.
Ref: Board’s letter Nos.E(NG)I/98/PM1/7, dated 20.10.1999 (RBE No. 272/1999), E(GP)2001/2/32, dated 25.10.2001, E(NG)I-2005/PM1/16, dated 20.04.2005 & 12.03.2014 (RBE No. 26/2014), E(GP)2006/2/59, 14.11.2008 (RBE No. 176/2008) and E(GP)2010/2/4, dated 26.04.2010.
The authorities for setting up the question papers and evaluation of answer sheets of written examination held as part of 70% Selection/ 30% LDCE for promotion from Group ‘C’ to Group ‘B’ posts has been laid down in terms of Board’s letter No.E(GP)2001/2/32, dated 25.10.2001. The question of issuing consolidated Guidelines for information/ guidance of these authorities has been under consideration of the Ministry of Railway’s (Railway Board). The following guidelines have accordingly be comprise based on the extent provisions contained in Chapter-II, Section-A of Indian Railway Establishment Manual, Volume-I, 2009 Edition and the instructions issued from time to time.
1. General Instructions:-
(i) Para 204.5 of IREM, Vol-I: No moderation of the performance is permissible.
(ii) Para 208 of IREM, Vol-I: The answer paper of the written examination as well as the mask sheets of viva-voce should be marked with indelible ink. Each answer book should carry a fly leaf. Both fly leaf as well as answer book should be stamped and signed by the Gazetted Officer in charge of the conduct of the examination. The employees should write his name and designation on the fly leaf only. After the answer books are received from the employee, the fly leaf should be removed and allotted a roll number which should also be simultaneously recorded on the corresponding answer book. The answer books should be sent to the examiner with roll number alone indicated on the answer books. The fly leaves removed from the answer books should be carefully preserved in a sealed cover which should be kept in the personal custody of the CPO.
(iii) Extracts from Board’s letter No.E(GP)2010/2/4, dated 26.04.2010:
It is also desired that the work relating to Hindi transaction translation of the question papers and evolution of answer sheets of the written examination held as part of LDCE/ Selection for promotion to Group ‘B’ posts should be entrusted to competent and experienced officials.
2. Instructions for the Paper Setter:
(i) Para 204.2 of IREM, Vol-I: The question paper for the written test should have a practical bias i.e. it should be designed to test the ability of candidate to tackle the practical problems they are likely to face rather than their theoretical knowledge.
(ii) Para 204.3 of IREM, Vol-I: Ten percent of the total marks allotted for testing the professional ability should be set apart for questions on official language policy and official language rules. While the employees should be encouraged to attempt questions on official language policy and official language rules, the question should not be compulsory.
3. Instructions for Evaluators:
Board’s letter no.E(GP)2010/2/4, dated 26.04.2010 provide for taking into consideration instructions contained in Board’s letter nos.E(NG)I/98/PM1/7, dated 20.101999 (RBE No. 272/1999), E(NG)I-2005/PM1/16, dated 20.04.2005 and E(GP)2006/2/59, dated 14.11.2008 (RBE No.176/2008) so far as evaluation of answer sheets are concerned. E(NG)I’s letter No.E(NG)I-2005/PM1/16, dated 20.04.2005 has since been modified vide their letter of even no. dated 12.03.2014. Extracts of relevant paras of these letters are reproduced below:
3.1 Extracts from Board’s letter No.E(NG)I-98/PM1/7, dated 20.10.1999 (RBE No. 272/1999) & E(NG)I-2005/PM1/16, dated 12.03.2014 (RBE No. 26/2014):-
Para 9.1
Notes:
(1) Evaluating the answer sheets without the fly-leaves and dummy numbers is not allowed.
(Evaluating the answer sheets with the fly leaves and without dummy roll numbers is not allowed)
(2) Evaluation of answer sheets even where fly-leaf and dummy numbers are present but the candidate has written his name or roll number, in the other sheets of the answer book, is also not allowed.
(Evaluation of answer sheets even without fly-leaves and with dummy roll numbers where the candidate has written his name or roll number in the other sheets of the answer booklet is also not allowed).
(3) Proper and uniform evaluation of the answer sheets, especially for narrative type of question answers should be ensured. In order to achieve this objective the officer evaluating the answer sheets before starting the evolution, should keep ready the correct answers for the questions, separately for the objective and narrative type, and then evaluate the answer sheets with reference to these answers.
(4) It is wrong practice to first assign the marks with a pencil and marking in ink thereafter. Sometimes, the marks given in pencil and in ink differ.
(5) In both, the multiple choice objective types and narrative type of answers, while there should not be any over writing and erasing; correction of marks, if genuinely warranted, may be made by striking the marks originally given and entering the fresh marks duly attested the correction.
However, to avoid chances of mistake by the evaluators, it may strictly be ensured that the question setter provides the evaluator with correct/ model answers.
(6) It is wrong tendency on the part of evaluating officer to review their own evaluation and to award the marks keeping in mind the percentage of pass marks with a view to bringing more candidates into the zone for viva-voce test. The marks have to be awarded strictly based on the correctness and contents of the answers given by the candidates.
Para 9.3
After the evolution is over, the evaluating officer should tabulate the marks for each question and do the totaling. This is to ensure that only the required number of questions are answered and evaluated and totaling of the marks is correct. It has to be ensured by the evaluating officer that there are no erasers, cutting or over-writing or mistakes in totaling the marks granted to candidates.
Notes:
(1) It is often observed that one of the points emerging out of the Vigilance investigation is on evaluation of answer sheets pertaining to omission and commission of the marks. It is essential that whenever the answer sheets are sent for evaluation, the evaluating officer should be informed of the instructions on the subject.
(2) There should be no failure on the part of the evaluating officer to tabulate the marks awarded for each question on the top sheet of the answer book. This type of tabulation will ensure that only the required number of question are evaluated and the candidates have not resorted to the practice of answering the same question twice, etc.
(3) Decimal marks whenever given should be corrected to the first decimal and the same should not be rounded off. The aggregate also should be left as such without any rounding off.
(4) If any candidate has answered question in excess of the required number, the evaluating officers should ignore the same. However, if such questions stand evaluated only the marks awarded against the requisite number of answers attempted first should be included in the tabulation on the top sheet, of the answer book and the rest ignored.
(5) The evaluating officer should make out a separate statement of marks indicating the dummy numbers of the candidates and the total marks obtained on a separate sheet and send it to the Personnel Officer in-charge of the selection.
(6) There should have been cases of forcing developing officer by his superior panel approving authority to change the marks already awarded to the candidates after the evaluation is complete but before the results of the written test are published. This is highly irregular practice and the evaluating officer should not get pressurized even at the cost of incurring displeasure of his superiors.
Para 9.4:
Any delay in evolution by more than two months should be brought to the notice of the DRM or HOD. Delays of more than three months should be brought to the personal notice of the General Manager.
3.2 Extracts from Board’s letter No.E(GP)2006/2/59, dated 14.11.2008 (RBE No. 176/2008):-
2. It has been decided that in the answers to objective type questions, wherever such questions are included in the written examination, no corrections of any type may be permitted. In case any correction is made, that answer shall not be evaluated at all. The correction may be any one of the following types (the list is illustrative and not exhaustive):-
(a) Cutting;
(b) Overwriting;
(c) Erasing;
(d) Scoring off a ticked answer in multiple-choice and ticking another answer; &
(e) Modifying the answer in any way.
3. It may be mentioned here that the term objective type question will include questions of the following type:-
(a) Multiple choice questions;
(b) Answer in yes or no;
(c) Fill in the blanks (maximum four words);
(d) Match the following; &
(e) Any other type of question(s) for which answer is to be given in one word.
4. General Conditions:
4.1 It has also been decided by the Board that any distinguishing mark on the answer script would make the answer script invalid.
4.2 While referring to these guidelines, the original paras of IREM and circulars referred to herein should be read for proper appreciation. In case of a any doubt, the original paras and the circulars should be relied upon as authority.
4.3 If any provision of the IREM and the circular on the subject which has not been superseded has been missed in preparing these guidelines, the said para and the circular which has not been taken into consideration due to oversight should be treated as valid and operative.
Download Railway Board Circular RBE No. 67/2014
Forward reference ⇒ RBE No.142/2016