UPSC SCRA 2013 notification has been released. The examination for SCRA (Special Class Railway Apprentices) will be held on 20th January 2013 at the various centers across the country.

Special Class Railway Apprentices (SCRA) of mechanical department of Indian Railways is highly coveted among the candidates who wish to join the Indian Railway as a mechanical engineer.

The SCRA scheme was started in 1927 by the Britishers to manage the Indian Railways network. It is one of the most prestigious and competitive examination in India. SCRA exam is conducted by UPSC on behalf of Railway Board / Ministry On completion of their Engineering and Training they are appointed as assistant mechanical engineers in a division. Future promotions are the same as in other branches. Selected students are given Mechanical Engineering by IRIMEE, Jamalpur.

Students complete their course at BIT Mesra and IRIMEE Jamalpur. The selected candidates undergo a four-year rigorous training programme in Mechanical Engineering, for which IRIMEE (Indian Railway Institute of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering) has a Memorandum of Understanding with BIT, Mesra, Ranchi. The semester system of BIT, Mesra is followed, with workshop training sessions during the holidays at BIT, Mesra.Jamalpur Railway Workshops is the biggest industrial setup of Bihar.