Are you interested in becoming an Assistant Commercial Manager (ACM) in the railway department? If yes, then this article is for you. In this article, you will learn about the roles and responsibilities of an ACM in railway, the eligibility criteria and selection process for ACM through 30% LDCE quota, the syllabus and exam pattern for ACM 30% LDCE, and some preparation tips to ace the exam.
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What is ACM in Railway?
ACM stands for Assistant Commercial Manager, which is a Group B gazetted post in the commercial department of Indian Railways. The commercial department is responsible for generating revenue for the railways by managing passenger traffic, freight traffic, catering services, tourism services, and other commercial activities.
An ACM in railway is a middle-level officer who supervises the work of commercial inspectors and clerks at various stations and offices. Some of the roles and responsibilities of an ACM in railway are:
- To ensure smooth and efficient operation of passenger and freight trains.
- To monitor and control the collection of fares, freight charges, and other dues from passengers and customers.
- To handle complaints, grievances, and claims related to commercial services.
- To implement policies, rules, and regulations related to commercial department.
- To coordinate with other departments such as operations, engineering, safety, security, etc. for ensuring quality service delivery.
- To plan and execute marketing strategies for increasing revenue and customer satisfaction.
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Eligibility Criteria for ACM 30% LDCE
To become an ACM in railway, one has to clear the 30% LDCE (Limited Departmental Competitive Examination) quota, which is conducted by the Railway Recruitment Board (RRB) every year. The eligibility criteria for ACM 30% LDCE are as follows:
- Educational Qualification: The candidate must have a bachelor’s degree or equivalent from a recognized university or institution.
- Age Limit: The candidate must not be more than 40 years of age as on 1st January of the year of examination. However, there is a relaxation of 5 years for SC/ST candidates and 3 years for OBC candidates.
- Service Experience: The candidate must have completed at least 5 years of regular service as a Group C employee in the commercial department of railways. The candidate must also have passed the Appendix III (IREM) examination or equivalent.
- One-Time Option: The ministerial staff in commercial department who are eligible for Group B exam in personnel department or commercial department can exercise a one-time option to appear for either of the exams. Once the option is exercised, it cannot be changed later.
- Medical Fitness: The candidate must be medically fit as per the standards prescribed by the railways. The candidate must also fulfill other conditions such as character verification, no pending disciplinary action, etc.
Selection Process for ACM 30% LDCE
The selection process for ACM 30% LDCE consists of three stages: written exam (CBT), viva-voce, and assessment of record of service. The details of each stage are given below:
- Written Exam (CBT): The written exam is a computer-based test (CBT) that comprises two papers: Professional Paper I and Professional Paper II. Each paper has 100 objective type questions with four options each. The duration of each paper is 90 minutes. There is negative marking of 0.25 marks for each wrong answer. The minimum qualifying marks for each paper are 60% for UR candidates, 50% for OBC candidates, and 40% for SC/ST candidates.
- Viva-Voce: The candidates who qualify the written exam are called for viva-voce, which is conducted by a board of senior officers. The viva-voce carries 50 marks and tests the candidate’s knowledge, personality, communication skills, and suitability for the post. The minimum qualifying marks for viva-voce are 15 marks for UR candidates, 12 marks for OBC candidates, and 10 marks for SC/ST candidates.
- Assessment of Record of Service: The candidates who qualify both the written exam and viva-voce are assessed on their record of service, which carries 50 marks. The record of service includes the annual performance appraisal reports (APARs), awards, punishments, commendations, etc. of the candidate during his/her service period.
The final merit list and panel are prepared based on the aggregate marks obtained by the candidates in all three stages of selection process. The weightage given to each stage is as follows:
| Stage | Weightage |
|---|---|
| Written Exam | 50% |
| Viva-Voce | 25% |
| Assessment of Record of Service | 25% |
The panel is prepared zone-wise and category-wise according to the number of vacancies available. The candidates who are empanelled are promoted to the post of ACM in railway.
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Syllabus and Exam Pattern for ACM 30% LDCE
The syllabus and exam pattern for ACM 30% LDCE are as follows:
- Professional Paper I: This paper covers the topics related to the commercial department of railways, such as:
- Commercial Manual Vol. I and II
- Indian Railways Establishment Manual (IREM) Vol. I
- Indian Railways Commercial Circulars
- Indian Railways Code for the Accounts Department Part I
- Indian Railways Financial Code Vol. I
- Railway Audit Manual
- Railway Board’s letters and orders on commercial matters
- Professional Paper II: This paper covers the topics related to the general administration and management of railways, such as:
- Indian Railways Establishment Manual (IREM) Vol. II
- Indian Railways Establishment Code (IREC) Vol. I and II
- Indian Railways Financial Code Vol. II
- Indian Railways Vigilance Manual
- Indian Railways Act 1989 and Railway Claims Tribunal Act 1987
- Railway Board’s letters and orders on general administration matters
The exam pattern for each paper is as follows:
| Paper | Duration | Number of Questions | Type of Questions | Marking Scheme |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Professional Paper I | 90 minutes | 100 | Objective type with four options each | +1 for correct answer, -0.25 for wrong answer |
| Professional Paper II | 90 minutes | 100 | Objective type with four options each | +1 for correct answer, -0.25 for wrong answer |
Some sample questions for each paper are given below:
- Professional Paper I:
- Which of the following is not a type of passenger train in Indian Railways?
- A) Rajdhani Express
- B) Shatabdi Express
- C) Garib Rath Express
- D) Duronto Express
- Answer: D) Duronto Express
- What is the maximum permissible limit of hand baggage per passenger in AC First Class?
- A) 50 kg
- B) 70 kg
- C) 100 kg
- D) 150 kg
- Answer: B) 70 kg
- What is the rate of service charge levied by IRCTC for online booking of e-tickets?
- A) Rs. 10 per ticket for sleeper class and Rs. 20 per ticket for higher classes
- B) Rs. 15 per ticket for sleeper class and Rs. 30 per ticket for higher classes
- C) Rs. 20 per ticket for sleeper class and Rs. 40 per ticket for higher classes
- D) Rs. 25 per ticket for sleeper class and Rs. 50 per ticket for higher classes
- Answer: C) Rs. 20 per ticket for sleeper class and Rs. 40 per ticket for higher classes
- Which of the following is not a type of passenger train in Indian Railways?
- Professional Paper II:
- Which of the following is not a category of railway employees as per IREM Vol. II?
- A) Group A
- B) Group B
- C) Group C
- D) Group D
- Answer: D) Group D
- What is the maximum period of leave that can be granted to a railway employee without medical certificate?
- A) 15 days
- B) 20 days
- C) 30 days
- D) 45 days
- Answer: B) 20 days
- What is the full form of DARPG?
- A) Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances
- B) Department of Accounts and Revenue Planning Group
- C) Department of Audit and Railway Protection Force Group
- D) Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Program Group
- Answer: A) Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances
- Which of the following is not a category of railway employees as per IREM Vol. II?
Preparation Tips for ACM 30% LDCE
To prepare well for ACM 30% LDCE exam, you can follow some of these tips:
- Refer to the official books, manuals, circulars, codes, etc. related to the syllabus topics and revise them thoroughly.
- Use online resources such as websites, blogs, videos, etc. that provide useful information and guidance on ACM exam preparation.
- Join a reputed coaching institute or online course that offers quality study material, mock tests, doubt clearing sessions, etc. for ACM exam preparation.
- Practice previous year papers or sample papers to get familiar with the exam pattern, level of difficulty, and type of questions asked in the exam.
- Manage your time effectively and allocate sufficient time for each paper and topic according to your strengths and weaknesses.
- Revise your concepts regularly and clear your doubts from experts or peers as soon as possible.
- Improve your accuracy and speed by solving mock tests, quizzes, puzzles, etc. under time pressure and check your answers with solutions and explanations.
- Keep yourself updated with the latest policies, rules, and regulations related to commercial department of railways by reading newspapers, magazines, journals, etc.
- Prepare for the viva-voce by enhancing your communication skills, personality, confidence, and general awareness.
- Maintain a positive attitude and a healthy lifestyle during your preparation and exam.
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A Quick Recap!
Becoming an ACM in railway is a rewarding and challenging career option for those who want to work in the commercial department of Indian Railways.
To become an ACM in railway, one has to clear the 30% LDCE quota exam, which consists of three stages: written exam, viva-voce, and assessment of record of service. The exam tests the candidate’s knowledge, skills, and suitability for the post of ACM in railway.
The syllabus and exam pattern for ACM 30% LDCE are based on the topics related to the commercial department and general administration of railways.
To prepare well for ACM 30% LDCE exam, one has to follow some preparation tips such as referring to the official books and online resources, joining a coaching institute or online course, practicing previous year papers or sample papers, managing time effectively, revising concepts regularly, improving accuracy and speed, keeping oneself updated with the latest policies and rules, preparing for the viva-voce, and maintaining a positive attitude and a healthy lifestyle.
We hope this article has helped you understand how to become an ACM in railway and motivated you to work hard and smart for achieving your goal. All the best! 😊