Army recruitment CET set to be outsourced this year

Indian Military Veterans

Applications go online on August 6; close on September 22; Interviews between October 6 and 13 at Haveri

T he recruitment in the Indian Army is all set to see a massive change in the coming months. Going online for the registration process for soldiers, junior commissioned officers (JCOs) and other ranks is just the first step. From April 1 next year, the registration and common entrance exam for army recruitment will be outsourced to an external agency. This will avoid the rush at open rallies where candidates throng in large numbers with their credentials. 
Brigadier V Rajamani, deputy director general, recruiting (Karnataka, Kerala and Union Territory of Lakshadweep, Mahe) said, "The initiative will be taken six months after the online registration process kicks in. Right now, we are focusing at publicising this to filter the flow of aspirants. The external agency will be finalised at the national level."
Applications will be open for Karnataka from August 6 wherein candidates from Uttara Kannada, Shimoga, Udupi, Chikmangalur, Dakshina Kannada, Davangere, Bijapur, Dharwad, Haveri, Gadag and Bagalkot can apply. Those selected will be 'called for recruitment' for the open rally in Haveri between October 6 and 13. The dates for online application close on September 22. Those interested will have to get themselves registered at www.joinindianarmy.nic.in and apply for career options in the army.
Brigadier Rajamani said, "We are upgrading the whole process and going digital as part of the pan-India process. There will be no more open recruitment rally system. There will be no recruitment without registration. Even outsourcing it to an external agency will be a national initiative." The new website of Indian Army was launched on June 16. "The directorate has had a detailed discussion with the chief secretary to publicise the new proposal and they have been positive and encouraging. To curb the problem of connectivity in rural areas cyber cafes, central government/state government kiosks like the central government common service centre (CSC), India Post (post offices) and IT education centres run by KEONICS of government of Karnataka, have been roped in. It can be accessed at cyber cafes or any personal computer/tablet with internet facility. We hope that people will not go through touts and agents and (we hope to) make the system as transparent as possible. Going digital is going to make it possible to a large extent," he said.
He said there had been an overwhelming response from the people of north Karnataka, and more than fifty percent of recruits from the state still come from this area. "We are trying to motivate the youth from south Karnataka as well by showing them attractive aspects of the army. But they still seem to be attracted to other job opportunities in southern Karnataka," he added. Out of a total of 60,000 people in the army, Karnataka aims at supplying around 1,500-2,000 recruits every year.