No. AIRF/64 Dated: 01.08.2026
The Director General (HR),
Railway Board,
Rail Bhawan,
New Delhi.
Sub:
Review of policy regarding setting of question papers for recruitment under Scouts & Guides and Cultural Quota in Indian Railways.
Ref.:
- Railway Board’s letter No. E(WG)III-79/RR1/25 dated 25.08.1980.
- Railway Board’s letter No. E(NG)III/79/RR1/25 dated 13.05.1982, Letter No. E(NG)-84/RR2/I dated 14.09.1984, and Letter No. E(NG)I-88/RR2/11 dated 05.06.1989.
- AIRF’s Letter No. AIRF/66 dated 01.04.2026 & 10.04.2026.
Dear Sir,
With reference to the subject and correspondence cited above, the All India Railwaymen’s Federation (AIRF) once again invites the kind attention of the Railway Board to the need for an early review of the existing pattern of question papers prescribed for recruitment under the Scouts & Guides and Cultural Quotas in Indian Railways.
As per the extant instructions, the recruitment under these quotas is undertaken annually by the respective Railway Recruitment Cells, with the prescribed quota being four candidates per year per Railway and one per year per Production Unit for Group ‘C’, and not more than two candidates per Division per year for Group ‘D’ (Level-1). The instructions also provide for due preference to candidates possessing adequate training and experience in Scouting & Guiding, including desirable qualifications such as the President’s Scout/Guide Certificate.
Under the existing provisions of the IREM and Master Circular No. 7, the written examination for Group ‘C’ (Level-2) posts under the Scouts & Guides Quota consists of 60 marks, comprising 40 marks of objective-type questions and 20 marks of a descriptive/essay question, with a duration of 60 minutes and bilingual medium (Hindi & English).
The Federation wishes to point out that the examination and selection methodology in Indian Railways has undergone substantial modernization in recent years, with increasing emphasis on objective-type assessments and Computer Based Tests (CBT) to ensure greater transparency, uniformity, efficiency and impartiality. Even in departmental selections for ‘Selection’ posts, including Group ‘B’ (Gazetted) posts, the assessment is predominantly objective in nature, with little or no reliance on descriptive papers.
In this context, continuation of a 20-mark descriptive/essay component for recruitment to non-gazetted Level-1 and Level-2 posts under the Scouts & Guides Quota appears incongruous with the prevailing examination framework. The knowledge, aptitude and understanding of candidates in Scouting & Guiding can equally, and more objectively, be assessed through suitably designed objective-type questions covering the relevant organization, activities, training, rules and general awareness.
Replacing the descriptive component with objective-type questions would not only bring greater uniformity and standardization in the recruitment process but would also minimize subjectivity in evaluation, facilitate quicker assessment and make the selection process more transparent and consistent across all Zonal Railways and Production Units.
In view of the above, the Federation earnestly requests the Railway Board to kindly:
- Review the existing examination pattern prescribed for recruitment under the Scouts & Guides and Cultural Quotas; and
- Introduce an entirely objective-type question paper, dispensing with the 20-mark descriptive/essay component for recruitment to Group ‘C’ (Level-2) and Level-1 posts throughout all Zonal Railways and Production Units.
The Federation trusts that the matter, which has direct bearing on fairness, transparency, uniformity and standardization of the recruitment process, will receive the Railway Board’s early and sympathetic consideration and that necessary revised instructions may kindly be issued at the earliest.
Yours sincerely,
(Shiva Gopal Mishra)
General Secretary
Copy to:
General Secretaries, All Affiliated Unions of AIRF – For information.
