Duties of Non Gazetted Popular Posts in Indian Railways | www.indianrailways.gov.in

Duties and Job Description of Various Non Gazetted Popular Posts in Indian Railways :

1. Commercial Apprentice 
   • Commercial Apprentices are trained as a sort of multi skilled supervisors in the Commercial branch.
   • 25% of the posts in the categories of Commercial Inspectors, Claims Inspectors, Rates Inspectors, Chief Booking/Parcel/Goods Clerks in GP 4200 will be filled by recruitment as Commercial Apprentices. {Update : As per 7th CPC Level 6 of the Pay matrix 35400 per month after completion of training. During Training Level 5 of Pay Matrix 29200 per month}
   • They will be given 2 year {Update : 80 Days} training in different categories of working of Commercial branch – training in duties of Commercial clerks, parcel clerks, goods clerks, catering, commercial inspectors.
   • They may be put to work independently also in these posts during training.
   • Job profile: After 80 days training they will be posted normally as Chief Commercial/Parcel/Goods Clerk even though they can be posted as Commercial inspectors also in principle.
   • Career path : Next promotion will be to Parcel/Goods supervisor in GP 4600.{Update: Level 7 of Pay Matrix 7th  CPC Rs 44900 per month} Future promotions to managerial (Gazetted) posts are based on departmental examinations. (Assistant Commercial Manager >> Divisional  Commercial Manager >> Senior Divisional  Commercial Manager )
2. Traffic Apprentice
   • • Traffic Apprentices are trained as a sort of multi skilled supervisors in the Transportation(Operations) branch.
     • 25  %  of  the  post  in  the  categories  of  Section  Controllers,  Station  Masters,  Yard  Masters  and  Traffic  Inspectors  in  Grade Pay 4200  will  be  filled  by  recruitment  as  Traffic  Apprentices. During Training 2800 Grade Pay (Level 5 of 7th CPC Pay Matrix 29200 per month)
     • They will be given 2 year {Update : 300 Days } training in different categories of working of Traffic branch – training as Station Master, Guard, Section Controller, Yard Masters, Traffic inspectors.
     • They will work short periods as  Station Master, Yard Master and Guard independently during training  also.
     • Job profile: After 2 years {Update : 300 Days} training they will be posted either as Station Master, Yard Master(Now both has been combined) or Section Controller. Their further promotion will be in that cadre to which he will be posted only.

     Career path :

     • Station Master /   Section Controller >>
     • Station Supt. /Chief Controller >>
     • Future promotions to managerial (Gazetted) posts are based on departmental examinations.
     • Assistant Opertions Manager >>   Divisional  Operations Manager
3. Health & Malaria Inspector (HI)
   • Health and Malaria Inspector normally work in big railway stations or under a Railway Hospital.
   • Duties of HI are supervisory in nature and there will no night shift. He will supervise cleanliness of station and sanitation. He will have staff working under him for cleaning, sanitation. He will have to collect water samples and send lab for testing. Malaria related duties previously assigned on HI are almost gone.
   • Career path : Health Inspector -> Chief Health Inspector -> Assistant Health Officer (Group B)
4. Commercial Clerk (CC) 
   1. CC can be posted in Ticket Booking Offices (known as Booking Clerk) or in Goods Shed (Known as Goods Clerk).
   2. Booking Clerk issues tickets to Passengers (either traditional paper tickets or through computerized Unreserved Ticket System – UTS), book Luggage and parcels, supervise their loading and maintains concerned registers.
   3. Nowadays in some small stations Booking Clerk is also given additional charge of Computerized Passenger Reservation.
   4. Booking Clerk can be given independent charge of a small station (known as Clerk-in-charge) stations or work under a Station Master or a Booking Supervisor in other stations.
   5. Goods Clerk works in major Goods dealing stations/yards. His job involves booking freight traffic, coordinate with SM/YM regarding allotment of wagon, loading/unloading etc.
   6. Career Path : Commercial Clerk >> Senior Commercial Clerk >> Chief Commercial Clerk >> Dy. Station Manager
5. Enquiry cum Reservation Clerk (ECRC)
   • Job of ECRC is to issue computerized reserved tickets for Railway passengers and to respond to enquiries regarding issue of the same or helping the passengers to plan their travel.
   • The job is only indoor, in most of the places in air conditioned offices. As such it is one of the best available posts for ladies in Indian Railways.
   • In most of the stations ECRC works in two shifts on alternate days – from 8-14 hrs and 14-22 hrs. In some small stations where the earnings are less, only one person works in one shift, the timings adjusted suitably as per local conditions.
     Career path : ECRC GrII (GP 2800) ->> ECRC Gr I (GP 4200) ->> Reservation Supervisor(GP 4600) ->> Assistant Commercial Manager ->> Divisional Commercial Manager
6. Junior Engineer (Mechanical)
   1. JE Mechanical is a supervisor in Mechanical department of Railways. He will be working under an SE and can be posted either station or Production Units/Workshops.
   2. Station :In stations he is known as Train Examiner and normally work in shifts including night shifts. He will be in charge of maintenance of trains. It is his duty to see that Goods wagons and passenger coaches are in good fettle and ready in time for train service as required by the operating personnel and as per the guidelines issued by SE. He will have technicians under him to actually do the job.
   3. Workshop : In workshops he will be in charge of periodic overhauling/ production components of loco/wagon/coaches. He will have to see that schedules are adhered to.
   4. Career path : SE Mechanical -> Assistant Mechanical Engineer(Gaz.) -> Divisional Mechanical Engineer -> Senior Divisional Mechanical Engineer.
7. Junior Engineer (Electrical)
   1. JE Electrical is a supervisor in electrical department of Railways. JE can be posted either station or Production Units. If posted in a station he will be in charge of the electrical installations of the station like bulbs, fan, pumps, generators etc. He will have technicians under him to actually do the job. Normally he will have a few small stations of a section under him, which means he has to travel to these stations.
   2. Career path : Section Engineer -> Assistant Electrical Engineer(Gaz.) -> Divisional Electrical Engineer -> Senor Divisional Electrical Engineer
8. Junior Engineer (Signal & Tele)
   1. JE S&T is a supervisor in signal and telecommunication department of Railways. JE can be posted either station or Production Units. If posted in a station he will be in charge of the signalling installations of the station or stations. He will have technicians under him to actually do the job. Normally he will have a few small stations of a section under him, which means he has to travel to these stations.
   2. Career path :  Section Engineer -> Assistant Signal and Telecommunication Engineer(Gaz.) -> Divisional Signal and Telecommunication Engineer -> Senior Divisional Signal and Telecommunication Engineer
9. Senior Section Engineer (Electrical)
   1. SSE Electrical is a supervisor in electrical department of Railways. JE can be posted either station or Production Units. If posted in a station he will be in charge of the electrical installations of the station like bulbs, fan, pumps, generators etc. He will have technicians under him to actually do the job. Normally he will have a few small stations of a section under him, which means he has to travel to these stations.
   2. Career path :  Assistant Electrical Engineer(Gaz.) >> Divisional Electrical Engineer >> Senior Divisional Electrical Engineer
10. Senior Section Engineer (Signal & Tele)
    1. SSE S&T is a supervisor in signal and telecommunication department of Railways.
    2. SSE can be posted either station or Production Units.
    3. If posted in a station he will be in charge of the signalling installations of the station or stations.
    4. He will have technicians under him to actually do the job.
    5. Normally he will have a few small stations of a section under him, which means he has to travel to these stations.
    6. Career path : Assistant Signal and Telecommunication Engineer(Gaz.) -> Divisional Signal and Telecommunication Engineer -> Senior Divisional Signal and Telecommunication Engineer.
11. Staff and Welfare Inspector (Personnel Inspector)
    1. Staff and Welfare Inspector is a supervisory job in Personnel department of Railways. He will be working under Personnel Officer (APO/DPO/SPO) and can be posted either in Divisional/Zonal Headquarters or in Production Units/Workshops.
    2. Visit staff at stations or at workspot, find out and redress their grievances by approaching/contacting the concerned officer.
    3. Educate staff in respect of their rights and responsibilities as provided in various laws.
    4. Aid staff in sending appeals and representation in connection with disciplinary and establishment matters.
    5. Explain staff about various welfare schemes and how to avail them.
    6. Assist the Railway employees in need of medical help from hospitals.
    7. Visit Railway colonies and take steps to improve sanction, maintenance of quarters, co-ordinate with concerned department for lighting and other facilities.
    8. Help staff retiring in getting settlements and pension benefits and also to the families of deceased employees in getting dues.
    9. Deal various activities of SBF(Staff Benefit Fund) including maintenance of fund & organize meeting etc.
    10. Help the staff & their families in distress and natural calamities.
    11. Visit periodically stations, colonies, place of work, workshops, hospitals, dispensaries, schools, Institutes, Welfare centre stations, sheds, depots and handicraft centers and report the drawbacks and suggest steps for improvements.
    12. Inspect various registers pertaining to Personnel department like Muster Roll/Attendance Register, Quarters Register, Overtime Register, Staff Grievance Register, HOER file, Observance of HOER provisions, Rosters etc. for compliance of Rules and regulations in force.
    13. Career path : Chief Staff and Welfare Inspector (GP 4600)-> Assistant Personnel Officer (APO – Gaz.) -> Divisional Personnel Officer (DPO)-> Senior Divisional Personnel Officer (Sr. DPO)
12. Trains Clerk (TNC)
    1. Job profile: Job of Train Clerk include checking the number of wagons and coaches in Railway yard, preparing train documents like Vehicle Guidance(VG), feeding these information in railway network terminals, giving and receiving information from control regarding train working, maintenance of registers related with working of trains etc.
    2. The job can be in either in Stations or Control offices in Divisional/Zonal headquarters. Job of train clerk in Control office is fully indoor whereas job of station train clerk is partly indoor and partly outdoor.
    3. Career Path : Trains clerk (GP 1900) ->> Sr. Trains clerk (GP 2400) ->> Chief Trains clerk (GP 4200)
13. Assistant Station Master (ASM)
    1. Job profile: ASM will be the in charge of running of trains at a station. He operates the signals, ensures that everything goes as per the rules laid out. He will be working in shifts. Big stations may have more than one ASM.
    2. Career path : Assistant Station Master -> Station Master -> Station Supt. ->
       Assistant Operations Manager-> Divisional Operations Manager
14. Job profile of Goods Guard
    1. Guard is the in charge of a running train. Goods Guard will be in charge of a goods train.
    2. Get the vehicle guidance (VG – written document containing numbers of wagons, their tare weight, load tonnage of individual wagons, total tonnage)from Station Master/Yard Master.
    3. Check the entire formation for anything that can endanger safe running of trains.
    4. Check that doors of wagons are closed.
    5. Check the brake continuity with Loco Pilot.
    6. Sign the Brake Power certificate(BPC) after ensuring sufficient brake power
    7. Constantly monitor the formation on the run for any abnormalities.
    8. Prepare train reports like Combined Train Reports, Late Arrival Reports…
    9. Attend along with LP/ALP minor troubles experienced on the run like brake binding etc.
    10. Career Path : Passenger Guard >> Express Guard. Another possible path is Passenger Guard >> Section Controller >> Chief Controller. When he is promoted to a non-running post like Section Controller his pay is fixed taking into consideration pay element of Running Allowance, which is highly benefitial for the employee.
        Guards can also write LDCE exams for Group B Gazetted post of Assistant Opertions Manager(AOM).
15. JE (Permanent Way)
    1. JE (Permanent Way) is a supervisor in Civil Engineering (Permanent Way) department of Railways.
    2. JE will be normally headquartered in junction/major/medium type stations normally.
    3. He will be the in charge of a section of track (let us say less than 50 km length) stretching over a couple of stations. He will be responsible for maintenance, repairs and attending to failures like rail fracture.
    4. He will be working under an SSE who will be overall in charge and he will have a team of workers consisting of trackman, gangman, khalasis, patrolman.
    5. Permanent way in railway parlance is the structure consisting of the rails, fasteners, sleepers and ballast, plus the underlying subgrade.
    6. The safe running of trains depends on the level of maintenance of the track and hence the role of a permanent way supervisor is crucial and he is answerable for the delay/omissions in this regard.
    7. He is supposed to conduct regular inspections, trolley inspections, foot plate inspection(by travelling in engine of running train) over his section.
    8. Career path : Junior Engineer-> Senior Section Engineer-> Assistant Divisional Engineer(Gaz.) (AEN) – Divisional Engineer(DEN) -> Senior Divisional Engineer(Sr.DEN)
16. SE Works
    1. SE Works is a supervisor in Civil Engineering department of Railways. Traditionally SE/Works was called Inspector of Works. SE/Works will normally be posted in major or junction stations. He will be in charge of the construction and maintenance of Railway buildings including staff quarters, water supply to these building, prevention of encroachment on Railway land etc. Normally he will have a small section consisting of few stations under his charge, which means he has to travel to these stations and do routine inspections and attending to repairs, failures. He will have a large team of workers including carpenter, mason, plumber etc.
    2. Career path : Assistant Divisional Engineer(Gaz.) (AEN) -> Divisional Engineer(DEN) -> Senor Divisional Engineer(Sr.DEN)
17. Senior Section Engineer (Mechanical)
    1. SSE Mechanical is a supervisor in Mechanical department of Railways. SSE can be posted either station or Production Units/Workshops.
    2. In stations he is known as Chief Train Examiner.
    3. He will be in charge of maintenance of trains. It is his duty to see that Goods wagons and passenger coaches are in good fettle and ready in time for train service as required by the operating personnel.
    4. He will have railway technicians under him to actually do the job. Normally he will be in charge of a fairly large maintenance yard-Goods or Passenger.
    5. Workshop : In warkshops he will be in charge of periodic overhauling/ production components of loco/wagon/coaches. He will have to see that schedules are adhere to.
    6. Career path :  Assistant Mechanical Engineer(Gaz.) >> Divisional Mechanical Engineer
       >> Senior Divisional Mechanical Engineer
18. Senior Section Engineer (Permanent Way)
    1. SSE (Permanent Way) is a supervisor in Civil Engineering (Permanent Way) department of Railways.
    2. SSE will be normally headquartered in major stations normally. He will be the in charge of a section of track (let us say 100-250 km length) stretching over a couple of stations.
    3. He will be responsible for maintenance, repairs and attending to failures like rail fracture.
    4. He will have a few JE(Junior Engineers) working under him and large team of workers consisting of trackman, gangman, khalasis, patrolman.
    5. Permanent way in railway parlance is the structure consisting of the rails, fasteners, sleepers and ballast, plus the underlying subgrade.
    6. The safe running of trains depends on the level of maintenance of the track and hence the role of a permanent way supervisor is crucial and he is answerable for the delay/omissions in this regard.
    7. He is supposed to conduct regular inspections, trolley inspections, foot plate inspection(by travelling in engine of running train) over his section.
    8. Career path : Assistant Divisional Engineer(Gaz.) (AEN) -> Divisional Engineer(DEN) -> Senor Divisional Engineer(Sr.DEN
19. Senior Permanent Way Supervisor (Sr.PWS)
    1. Senior Permanent Way supervisor(Sr.PWS) is a supervisor in Civil Engineering (Permanent Way) department of Railways.
    2. He will work under the supervision of a JE/SSE. He will be responsible for the maintenance of a section of track allotted to him by the section in charge JE/SSE.
       SSE will be his overall in charge and he will have a team of workers consisting of trackman, gangman, khalasis, patrolman.
    3. The safe running of trains depends on the level of maintenance of the track and hence the role of a permanent way supervisor is crucial and he is answerable for the delay/omissions in this regard.
    4. He is supposed to conduct regular inspections, trolley inspections, foot plate inspection(by travelling in engine of running train) over his section.
    5. Permanent way in railway parlance is the structure consisting of the rails, fasteners, sleepers and ballast, plus the underlying subgrade.
    6. Work of a PWS include supervision of work by his team, giving report of work done to SSE.
    7. Job is primarily outdoor, less suitable (even though not impossible) for female candidates.
    8. Career path : Senior Section Engineer-> Assistant Divisional Engineer(Gaz.) (AEN) ->
       Divisional Engineer(DEN) -> Senor Divisional Engineer(Sr.DEN)
20. Telecom Maintainer (TCM)
    1. Telecom maintainer (TCM) will be in charge of maintaining Telecom equipments in a section of Railways comprising a few stations – both normal maintenance and attendance during failure.
    2. The work indoor as well as outdoor where Railway communication equipments are provided.
    3. Responsible to maintain Railway Phones, Control phones, Station announcement systems, telegraph lines etc.
    4. As the job demands extensive stay outdoors in remote locations it is not advisable to women.
    5. TCM works under the control of Junior Engineer(Telecom).
    6. Career path : Technician Gr III GP 1900 >> Technician Gr II GP 2400 >>
       Technician Gr I GP 2800 >> Junior Engineer JE(Telecom) GP 4200 >>
       Section Engineer SSE(Telecom) GP 4600
21. Technician Signal (TSM)
    1. Previously known as Electrical Signal maintainer (ESM) /Mechanical Signal maintainer(MSM).
    2. Job profile: A Signal maintainer has to work indoor as well as outdoor where Railway signaling installations are provided. He has to maintain Block instruments and Panel provided in Station houses, Points and Crossings provided outdoor where Rails are joined, Gate signals. The work includes normal maintenance and attendance during failure. As the job demands extensive stay outdoors in remote locations it is not advisable to women. Signal maintainer works under the control of Junior Engineer(signal).
    3. Career path : Technician Gr III GP 1900 >> Technician Gr II  GP 2400 >> Technician Gr I GP 2800 >> Junior Engineer JE(Signal) GP 4200 >> Sr. Section Engineer SSE(Signal) GP 4600
22. Jr. Translator (Rajhhasha Sahayak)
    1. Known as Rajbhasha Sahayak before 6th Pay Commission, Junior Translator works in Official Language (Rajbhasha) Department of Indian Railways.
    2. Job profile: Job include translation from English to Hindi and from Hindi to English of subjects connected with Railway working, official language promotion activities , conducting Hindi classes for employees etc.
    3. Career path : Jr. Translator (Rajbhasha Sahayak ) -GP Rs.4200/- => Sr. Translator (Rajbhasha Supdt.) – GP Rs.4600 => Rajbhasha Adhikari (Group B Gazetted)
23. Assistant Loco Pilot (ALP)
    1. Previously known as Assistant Driver.
    2. Job profile: He assists Loco Pilot in Driving or piloting the train. Job require continuous attention and high degree of responsiveness. Your response to situations are tested by an Aptitude test. You will assist Driver in performing his duties including calling out signal as soon as one is sighted, fine-tuning Loco ,attending minor repairs of the Loco.
       The strenuous nature of the job is compensated by allowances of which the important one is Running Allowance. You are paid Running Allowance based on the monthly kilometres on the run.
    3. Career path : ALP’s next promotion is Sr. ALP followed by LP. After becoming LP one can write also exams for Power Controller, Crew Controller, Loco Foreman (Loco supervisor) . These posts have the added advantage of getting Running Allowance without actually running.

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