Special Class Railway Apprentice (SCRA) is a programme by which candidates are selected by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) India, to train in the undergraduate program in mechanical engineering at the Indian Railways Institute of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Jamalpur.

Career in Special Class Railway :

On successful completion of SCRA four years apprenticeship, candidates are absorbed in IRSME (Indian Railway Services of Mechanical Engineers) as a probationer.

The duration of probation period is of sixteen months, after which candidates are posted as officers in junior scale. If the report of a probationer is not satisfactory, probationer may be terminated on three months notice on either side.

Promotion to the senior scale takes place after about two years of service in working post. After six to seven years of service, the officer is promoted to the Junior Administrative Grade, which has two levels.

One can be serving in various assignments at the Junior Administrative Grade for 8-10 years

. This is followed by the Selection Grade. After six to eight years of service in senor administrative grade candidates are promoted to Divisional Railway Managers (DRM).