Selections 70% and LDCE 30 % exam reforms in Indian Railways (except Accounts & RPF)

 

Selections 70% and LDCE 30 % exam reforms in Indian Railways (except Accounts & RPF)

 

Link for Railway Board LetterNo.E(GP)2018/2/31 dated 16.10.2020

 

 

Salient Features of the New Examination Pattern

 

			Applicable for
Personnel	Stores	Engineering	Mechanical	Electrical	S&T	Traffic

 

	Not Applicable for
Accounts		RPF

 

Centralised Exam		Computer based		Objective type Exam
Qualifying Marks		Marks for every Correct Answer		Marks deducted for every Wrong Answer
60%		1		1/3
Duration of Exam		Question paper consists of		Question paper – Attempt only
2 Hours		125 Questions		100 Questions
Commencing from		Exam Centres		Medical Examination & Viva voce
01.01.2021		Zonal Hqrs and Divisional Hqrs		At Zonal level
Only one Paper carrying 100 Marks for both 70% and 30% exams (Previously LDCE is having Two Papers each 150 Marks)		Model Question papers of 100 questions each Dept will be circulated to the Candidates.  It means Question Bank will not be distributed to the Candidates.
		Selections 70% Examination Total 100 Marks
Professional Subject		Financial Rules & Establishment Rules		Official Language (Optional)
70 Marks		20 Marks		10 Marks
		LDCE 30% Examination Total 100 Marks
Professional Subject		Financial , Establishment Rules & Official Language (Optional)		GK (Excl: Current Affairs)
70 Marks		20 Marks		10 Marks
		Question Bank with Key – No of Questions
Professional Subject		Financial Rules		Establishment Rules
5000 Questions		500 Questions		500 Questions
Official Language				GK (Excl: Current Affairs)
500 Questions				1000 Questions
		Question Bank with Key  Preparation
Through CTIs		By Retd PHODs/HODs/Professors of Universities on Honorarium basis		Syllabus will be distributed chapter wise to Zonal Railways. Contribute at least 200  Questions each for 70% and30%

 

Mobile App - Study material on Railway Dept examinations

 I invite to you to download my mobile app-  Appendix3exam -for study material on Railway Departmental examinations

Mobile App Link

• The App is designed to assist aspirants of the Accounts and Finance Department, Indian Railways in clearing Appendix 2A, 3A, LDCE, 70% exams, etc.

• It provides write-ups on various subjects like Traffic, Expenditure, Books & Budget, Stores, Establishment, Workshop Accounts., etc, in a systematic, concise and simple English that helps even a candidate of average knowledge of the subject matter and that of the English language can understand easily.

• Special features are App 2A, App3A question bank is provided and sharing the current question papers instantaneously.

• LDCE 70% question papers pertaining to the various zones of The Indian Railways is furnished ,answers solved with special concentration on Management Accountancy and Official language policy.

• Providing short notes, elaborate answers, solving problems, teaching and clarifying doubts through Zoom Sessions, and also one to one through online and PPT, conducting model tests especially MCQs and providing results instantaneously, furnishing important and latest circulars,Office Orders, Memorandums, and highlighting matters related to the latest reforms in Indian Railways.

• Has helped many aspirants clear the departmental exams across all zones and even other departments of Indian Railways.

Tenative Time table for selections of Group B posts of All Depts (except Accounts & RPF) 70 % and LDCE

 Expecting similar reforms in Accounts Dept 70%,  LDCE, Appendix3 and Appendix2 examinations

Click for the Railway Board letter

Syllabus of Accounts and Establishment matters for Other Depts

Appendix 2 exam -ECR question paper

question papers of Appendix 2 exam -ECR

Railway Capex 2020-21 Budget

Top of Form

Railway Capex 2020-21 Budget

·         Capex - Capital Expenditure - 1,61,042 Crores

Source of Finance		Amount (Rs.in Crores)	Percentage
Capital	46500
RRSK	5000
CRIF	18500
Total - Gross Budgetary Support	70000	70000	43 %
DRF	1000
Development Fund	1500
RRSK	5000
Total - Internal Resources		7500	5 %
EBR - IRFC	30000
EBR - IF	28000
EBR - PPP	25292
Nirbhaya Fund	250
Total - External Resources	83542	83542	52 %
Grand Total		161042	100 %

Note: RRSK -  Rs. 10,000 Crores (Budgetary support - Rs. 5000 Crores & Internal Sources - Rs. 5000 Crores)

·         Make Indian Railways, the Growth engine of the Indian Economy.

·         GBS - Gross Budgetary Support  -  Rs. 70,000 Crores (includes RRSK - Rs. 5000 Crores & CRIF - Rs. 18,500 Crores)

·         Electrification - 6500 Route KMs - target (By 2023-2224 - target is entire BG network electrification)

·         New Lines, GC, Doubling, Tripling - 3750 Route KMs

·         Freight loading target - 1265 Million Tonnes.

·         Average freight lead - 553 KM

·         Originating Passengers - 879 Crores

·         S & T - to implement CTC - Centralized Traffic Control system along with Automatic Block Signaling system- 1830 Kms over 8 Zonal Railways.

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PMC - Project Management Consultancy -New concept

PMC - Project Management Consultancy

Ø  New concept in Indian Railways.

Ø  What is PMC ?  It is consultancy which brings specialized skills and knowledge to assist the companies /Organizations (like Indian Railways) by providing oversight & leadership in executing the projects "from planning to completion".   That is managing projects and related specific activities within given constraints of time, budget & quality.

Ø  Why PMC required in Indian Railways ?  Due to shortage of skilled staff for supervision of Railway projects in Indian Railways.  PMC can be obviated/avoided by launching a massive recruitment drive to fill the existing vacancies of supervisory staff in all departments.

Salient features of PMC

Ø  Works costing Rs. 10 crores and above in Open line, Construction and RE organisation (Railway Electrification)

Ø  Only for throughput enhancement construction projects i.e., Doubling, Traffic facility, Railway Electrification and S& T works only.

Ø  Personal approval of DRM/PHOD/CHOD would be required on case to case basis.  

Ø  All PMC tenders irrespective of its value shall be finalized by the tender committee of SAG level & above

Ø  PMC  is contract based, not project based.  Ideally high value projects should be executed on a composite contract basis covering works relating to all depts like Civil, Electrical, OHE, S& T etc.

Ø  PMC is distinct from other consultants, if any engaged for planning, survey and other activities that precede the actual award of Contract. 

Ø  PMC shall be finalized on QCBS - Quality & Cost Based Selection  method i.e., on parameters of qualification and experience of the Consultant and their key personnel.

Ø  PMC will be finalized on the Two packet system of Tendering i.e., Technical Bid followed  by Financial Bid.

Measurements  - For works, where PMC exist

Percentage Check	By PMC personnel	By Railway Personnel
100 %	Supervisor	-
20 % Test Check	Resident Engineer/Asst Resident Engineer	-
Not less than 10 % - Representative check	-	Nominated Engineer
Random check	-	Project Engineer i.e., Dy.CE (in charge)

Ø  Project Engineer - JAG officer is responsible for all issues such as 1) Billing 2) Measurements 3) Quantity variations 4) Progress Report, etc.  The detailed duties and responsibilities of the Project Engineer shall continue to be as per existing procedure except to the extent modified in PMC guidelines.

Ø  Hidden items - Test check shall be recorded in the presence of Railway Supervisor.

Ø  PMC shall indemnify the Railways for excess billing claimed (by oversight or intentional) duly taking out a Insurance policy against all risks as specified in the Tender.

Ø  It is the responsibility of PMC to keep a tag on variation in quantities in contracts and raise an alarm sufficiently in advance to enable Railways to take necessary action.

Ø  PG - Performance Guarantee - submitted by PMC for ensuring the execution of work with due control for safety, quality control and project progress monitoring.

Payments to PMC - Accepted Man month rates

80 %	Based on the actual deployment of staff of PMC duly certified by the In charge i.e., Dy.CE
10 %	Shall be released proportionally to the average financial progress of the work.
6%	On preparation & Submission of Final Bill
4%	During DLP - Defect Liability Period of one year (1% for each quarter)
100 %

Ø  DLP - Defect Liability Period is the fixed period of time  starting from the date of practical completion, during which the contractor has an express contractual right to return the site to rectify the defects. In Railways - PMC contracts , DLP is One year.

 

Ø  Penalties - 3 times the payable remuneration for non availability of key personnel of PMC during important activities like Pre-non interlocking, Non-interlocking work & commissioning of project.

Ø  PMC should ensure that the works contractor maintain systems,  such a QAS - Quality Assurance System in place and see that the same is properly implemented or not.

Ø  PMC is responsible for getting approval of the competent Railway authority 1) for construction methodology proposed by the Contractor 2) changes in design & scope of work, if any warranted during the project execution 3) timely reaching of milestones fixed 4) good performance of the asset created during defect liability period.

Ø   Success of PMC - depends on the minimum guaranteed fund allocation during the Construction period.

Ø  The expenditure incurred on PMCs should be within the D & G charges as per extant instructions. 

Ø  Initially the selected key personnel of PMC  - should undergo training at IRICEN, Pune (Indian Railways Institute of Civil Engineering) .  But cost of training & other incidental expenditure in this regard should be borne by the PMC consultant.

Ø  In PMC model contracts - responsibility of measurement and billing has been assigned to the Works Contractor.

Minimum qualification criteria - PMC

1.       Should have paid the cost of tender document & EMD

2.       Should be a valid, legal and duly registered incorporated entity individual /firm /society /company /valid JV/consortium

3.       Should not have been blacklisted

4.       should not have conflict of interest

5.       Technical eligibility as follows.

Minimum value of single work completed or substantially completed (80%) in previous 5 financial years & current financial year till the tender submission date	35% of the estimated cost of PMC tender - completed work for Railway/Metro/Central Govt/State Govt/PSU
Payments recd from consultancy contracts during the last 3 financial years and current financial year till the tender submission date	150 % of the estimated cost of PMC tender - completed work for Railway/Metro/Central Govt/State Govt/PSU

Conclusion: 

v  Amendments to the extant codal provisions in Engineering Code and Finance code can be undertaken after the PMC policy is introduced and sufficient experience gained. 

v  Till then, suitable clauses have been incorporated in the Model tender document to take care of deviations from the extant clauses, applicable to the Works Contracts.

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