Railway Accounts Department Examinations

Thursday, July 24, 2025

Note-taking skill - To excel in Examinations

 


Note-Taking skill - Importance in Examinations


✍️ “One-time writing is equal to ten times reading.”I applied this powerful strategy during my preparation for the Appendix 3 Examination to become Senior Section Officer in Indian Railways — and soared to success as the All India Topper (1st Rank).

🧠 Handwriting is, in fact, mind-writing. Your hand merely executes what your mind processes. Note-taking is not a mechanical act — it is an intellectual process that reinforces understanding, retention, and recall.

💡 Based on expert inputs from research and study techniques, here are the key benefits and importance of effective note-taking:


🔑 Benefits of Note-Taking (Research-Based Insights)

  • Enhances Memory Retention
    Writing notes helps encode information into long-term memory better than passive reading.

  • Active Learning Tool
    Note-taking forces you to process, filter, and reframe information in your own words — boosting comprehension.

  • Boosts Concentration
    It keeps your mind engaged during study sessions or lectures, avoiding mental drift.

  • Improves Recall During Exams
    Organized notes serve as powerful revision tools for quick recall of key concepts and facts.

  • Promotes Better Understanding
    While writing, you’re more likely to spot gaps in knowledge and clarify difficult topics.

  • Develops Critical Thinking
    Condensing complex material into brief notes requires you to analyze and synthesize information.

  • Time-Saving Revision
    Well-structured notes help in faster and focused revision, especially before exams.

  • Supports Visual Memory
    Charts, bullet points, and diagrams in notes stimulate visual memory, aiding quicker recall.

  • Encourages Self-Discipline and Organization
    Maintaining notes cultivates consistent study habits and a more organized thought process.

  • Personalized Learning Resource
    Your notes reflect your understanding, which is far more relatable than borrowed or printed material.


💭 Final Thought:


Your hand may hold the pen, but it is your mind that writes. Let your notes reflect your thought clarity. If you want to top any competitive exam, cultivate the habit of note-taking from day one — like I did.

✒️ Write it once, revise it often, and success will follow.


Warm wishes,


Nageswara Rao
📞 9492432160


Wednesday, July 23, 2025

GK - International Border Trains

 


  • International Border Trains 


  • Samjhauta Express  (Delhi/Amritsar ⇄ Lahore, Pakistan):

    • Started: 22 July 1976; bi-weekly service; ~50 km; ~~11 hrs; only link between India–Pakistan until 2019 suspension

  • Thar Link/Thar Express (Jodhpur ⇄ Karachi, Pakistan):

    • Launched 18 Feb 2006; weekly; covers ~709 km in ~13 hrs; suspended since Aug 2019

  • Maitree Express (Kolkata ⇄ Dhaka, Bangladesh):

    • Inaugurated 14 Apr 2008; AC passenger express; runs ~5 times/week; resumed May 2022 after COVID halt

  • Bandhan Express (Kolkata ⇄ Khulna, Bangladesh):

    • Started 9 Nov 2017; twice-weekly AC service; ~172 km in ~5 h 20 m; suspended July 2024

  • Mitali Express (New Jalpaiguri ⇄ Dhaka, Bangladesh):

    • Launched 26 Mar 2021; passenger service via Haldibari; connects NE India to Bangladesh

  • Jaynagar–Janakpur DEMU (Jaynagar, Bihar ⇄ Janakpur, Nepal): Active DEMU service connecting India-Nepal


  • समझौता एक्सप्रेस (दिल्ली/अमृतसर ⇄ लाहौर, पाकिस्तान):

    • शुरू: 22 जुलाई 1976; साप्ताहिक-द्वि; लगभग 50 किमी, ~11 घंटे; 2019 में बंद हुई थी

  • थार लिंक/थार एक्सप्रेस (जोधपुर ⇄ कराची, पाकिस्तान):

    • शुरू: 18 फ़रवरी 2006; साप्ताहिक; ~709 किमी, ~13 घंटे; अगस्त 2019 से बंद

  • मैत्रे एक्सप्रेस (कोलकाता ⇄ ढाका, बांग्लादेश):

    • उद्घाटन: 14 अप्रैल 2008; AC यात्री ट्रेन; सप्ताह में ~5 बार चलती; COVID के बाद मई 2022 में फिर शुरू

  • बंधन एक्सप्रेस (कोलकाता ⇄ খুলনা, बांग्लादेश):

    • शुरू: 9 नवम्बर 2017; द्वि-साप्ताहिक AC सेवा; ~172 किमी, ~5 घंटे 20 मिनट; जुलाई 2024 से निलंबित 



  • मिताली एक्सप्रेस (न्यू जलपाईगुड़ी ⇄ ढाका, बांग्लादेश):

    • शुरू: 26 मार्च 2021; हल्दीबाड़ी मार्ग से उत्तर-पूर्व भारत को बांग्लादेश से जोड़ता है

  • जयगाँव–जनकपुर DEMU (जयगाँव, बिहार ⇄ जनकपुर, नेपाल):

    • निरंतर चलने वाली DEMU सेवा भारत–नेपाल को जोड़ती है


Tuesday, July 22, 2025

Appendix3 Examination - New Pattern - ACS

 Salient features of New pattern of Appendix III IREM Volume I Revised Edition, 1989 - ACS 282 dated 21.08.2023 




Appendix3 Examination

Item

Topic

Details



Merger



Merger of 3 streams i.e., SSO(A), Sr.TIA & Sr.ISA



New 

Designation

SSO/Accounts 

Or

SSO/Traffic Inspection

Or

SSO/Stores Inspection 


SSO stands for Seniro Section Officer


Effective Date


Prospective effect (From 21st August, 2023)



Conducted by 



Railway Board





When




Regular intervals  (The interval is not specified)






With or Without




Examination will be conducted - without Books 



CBT



Computer Based Test 


(for Objective/MCQ Question papers and Descriptive Question paper) 


Paper I 


MCQ


100 Marks


2 hours 


Pass: 40% 

  1. Books & Budget 

  2. Expenditure 

  3. Establishment (incl: PF, NPS, Pension, Labour Laws & Finance Establishment)  

  4. Bookkeeping

Paper 2 


MCQ


100 Marks


2 hours 


Pass: 40% 

  1. Stores Accounts incl: COS Procedure, Associated Finance

  2. Workshop Accounts incl: WMS, Costing, Associated Finance


Paper 3 


MCQ


100 Marks


2 hours 


Pass: 40% 

  1. Traffic Accounts incl: Traffic Costing/Statistics, Traffic Finance, Station Accounts & Inspection. 

The aggregate of all 3 Objective Papers- 45 % 


For Reserved candidates - 35 % (May be) 




Exemption for subsequent attempts will be 60%. 


Applicable for 5 years 


(Here clarification is required from Railway Board, whether it is 5 years or 5 attempts)



Relaxation in Passing marks for Reserved candidates


Individual Paper - 30 % (Maybe)  


Aggregate of 3 Objective Papers - 35 % (Maybe)




Negative Marks




Negative mark of 0.25 for each of the wrong answer in Objective type Question Paper 

Subjective Paper - 200 Marks - 3 Hours - Typing on Computer


Syllabus: General Essay, Rajbasha, Practical aspect of Finance & Accounts, Numerical question on Advanced Bookkeeping 


Permitted: Calculator  


Pass Marks - 40 (For Reserved Candidates, it maybe 30) 


Descriptive Paper will be corrected subject to the qualifying of Objective Papers. 






Hindi or English






Examination will be Bilingual as per the option of the Candidate, 

Candidates who qualify both Optional Papers (Individual & Aggregate) and Subjective paper will be declared successful to have passed the Appendix3 Exam. 

Eligibility conditions: 


  1. Passed Appendix 2 Examination

  2. 5 Years of Service or

  3. 3 Years of Service, if Graduate

Answer papers will be destroyed after 6 months from the date of declaration of the final result after obtaining vigilance clearance. 

No provision for Re-evaluation or Re-assessment of Answer sheets 



Permitted for Rechecks of Totals of Marks and Arithmetic mistakes

There will be no cap on the maximum number of attempts to appear in Appendix 3 Exam.

1 % of the posts of SSO/Accounts as on 01.01.2022 - earmarked for promotion of Non-Appendix3 exam qualified Accounts Assistants. The remaining 99% of SSO(A) posts should be filled from Appendix 3 qualified candidates.  


Not applicable for Sr.TIA and Sr.ISA posts


 




Candidates

Passing Marks 

Individual Paper

Aggregate of 3 Papers

General

40 Marks

45 %

SC/ST

30 Marks (Maybe)

35 % (Maybe)



Disclaimer: The author expressly disclaims all liability with respect to actions taken or not taken based on the contents of the following information. 


Probability

Total Questions 

(Guessed randomly, if not sure of the correct answer)

Correct

Wrong

Marks secured

Probability Percentage

First probability

5

5

Nil

5

16 %

Second probability

5

4

1

3.75

16 %

Third probability

5

3

2

2.5

17 %

Fourth probability

5

2

3

1.25

17 %

Fifth probability

5

1

4

Nil

17 %

Sixth probability

5

Nil

5

Minus 1.25

17 %

  

  •  83 %  Positive or Nil effect   


  •  17 % - Negative


  •  It is better for the Candidates to go to a random guessing subject to be confident of Correct answers for at least 60 objective questions out of 100 questions.