If you are eager to build a career in the Indian Railways, the role of a station master is an excellent opportunity for students seeking government employment. This article is tailored for those who are interested in exploring station master qualification, eligibility criteria and the selection process. The article aims to guide you through the necessary skills and other relevant information essential for aspiring students to pursue this career.
Who Is A Station Master?
As a station master, you will be responsible for maintaining the safety and efficiency of operation of railway stations. This government official is in-charge of the railway station and oversees everything related to train movement, staff management and passenger services. If you are willing to build a career in this profession, it is beneficial to build relevant skills like swift decision making, supervising and the ability to work under pressure.
Station Master Qualification Criteria
Are you wondering how to build a career as a station master in India? If yes, this article can help you get started. Read on to get a clear understanding of station master educational qualification and other eligibility requirements.
1. Educational qualification
As an applicant you are required to have at least a bachelor’s degree from a recognised university. As there is no restriction on course selection, candidates from any stream including science, commerce or arts are perfectly eligible to apply. This is due to the fact that many competitive exams in India contain more general purpose questions and hence are open to graduates from any discipline. This leads to a wider talent pool benefitting candidates from every academic background equally.
2. Nationality
The role of a station master strictly requires the applicant to be an Indian citizen. But subjects of Nepal, Bhutan or Tibetan refugees are also eligible to apply under specific conditions.
3. Age Limit
To be eligible for this role, candidates must be between 18 - 33 years. Although, candidates from reserved categories receive age relaxation, which is applicable as per the government rules.
4. Medical fitness
There is also a medical fitness test that candidates are required to attend. This involves A-2 medical standard which states:
Good vision without colour blindness
No hearing problems
Physical fitness
As required qualifications for the station master role.
Selection Process For The Station Master Role
As an aspirant reading this article, you are probably curious to know how to become a station master and what the selection process is for this profession. We will walk you through the various stages of the station master selection process in detail.
The recruitment process for the station master position is conducted by the Railway Recruitment Board (RRB) through the RRB NTPC (Non-Technical Popular Categories) Examination. The recruitment process is done through various stages suc as:
1. Computer Based Test (Cbt)- Stage 1
This is an objective type of examination which contains questions from areas like general awareness, mathematics and intelligence and reasoning.
2. Computer Based Test (Cbt)- Stage 2
Similar subject but with more depth than CBT 1
3. Computer Based Aptitude Test (CBAT)
This is an exam applicable for station master and traffic assistant posts testing decision making, memory and attention skills of the candidates.
4. Document Verification And Medical Test
After the successful completion of the examination stage, candidates go through document verification and medical tests.
Training and Probation Period
Once qualified, candidates are required to go through a training period at the zonal institute of Indian Railways. This training primarily focuses on teaching the qualified candidates about the rules and operations of Railways, safety systems and signaling along with skills for handling emergency situations.
This training program is followed by a probationary period where candidates are tested and evaluated based on their performance before providing permanent employment.
Starting Your Career As A Station Master
As a station master, your future career will be both challenging and rewarding. This is a position in Indian Railways that demands high responsibility and punctuality from the official’s side. Whether you are a recent graduate or someone who is just generally curious about Indian Railways Jobs, learning and understanding about the station master qualifications can give you a competitive edge. And with the right qualifications such as a bachelor’s degree and qualifying RRB NTPC selection process, you can build a remunerative and prestigious career in the Indian Railways.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
The position of a station master comes under pay level six of the Seventh Pay Commission pay matrix. The corresponding salary of this level is Rs. 35,600 which is the monthly basic pay of an entry level station master in India.
The important station master exam is the RRB NTPC (Non Technical Popular Categories) examination. It is conducted through multiple stages including:
Computer Based Test (CBT)- Stage 1: This is an objective type of examination which contains questions from areas like general awareness, mathematics and intelligence and reasoning.
ComputerBased Test (CBT) - Stage 2: Similar subject but with more depth that CBT1
Computer Based Aptitude Test (CBAT): This is an exam applicable for station master and traffic assistant posts testing decision making, memory and attention skills of the candidates.
During the medical fitness test an A-2 medical standard is followed. This mandates candidates to have good vision without colour blindness, no hearing problems and physical fitness required for field duties.
A candidate applying for the role of a station master needs to have a bachelor’s degree from a recognised university. Candidates with the minimum qualification of a bachelor’s degree are eligible for RRB NTPC examination. Qualified candidates can enter into the training program at the zonal institute of Indian Railways.
The candidates need to fall in the age category of 18 to 33 years. Candidates from reserved categories are provided with age relaxation, which is applicable as per the government rules.