Army alters recruitment process of Agniveers, JCOs; introduces online Common Entrance Test

The online exam, which commenced on April 17 and will continue till April 26, is being conducted with assistance from Education Consultancy Services India Limited, which is a Mini Ratna company under the Education Ministry. The online CEE is happening at 375 examination centres in 176 pan-India locations. 

The Indian Army has altered the procedure for recruitment of Agniveers, Junior Commissioned Officers and other categories with the introduction of a computer-based online Common Entrance Exam as the first step. 

The online exam, which commenced on April 17 and will continue till April 26, is being conducted with assistance from Education Consultancy Services India Limited, which is a Mini Ratna company under the Education Ministry. The online CEE is happening at 375 examination centers in 176 pan-India locations. 

According to Indian Army officials, the youth today is empowered to undertake an online exam instead of traveling long distances to appear for physical exams considering that the network connectivity and use of smartphones enhanced significantly.

While acknowledging the improvement in the technological threshold of youth in the nation, the Army believes that the changed methodology would prevent chances of malpractice and ensure an increased focus on the cognitive aspect during selection. 

Officers also believe that holding the CEE online will ensure wider reach across the country and reduce the large crowds normally witnessed during recruitment rallies to make them more manageable and easier to conduct.

The new recruitment procedure is being conducted in three phases. In phase one, all those who had registered and applied online on www.joinindianarmy.nic.in will undergo online CEE. In phase two, from June 2023 onwards, the shortlisted candidates will be called for recruitment rallies in batches to locations decided by the Army Recruitment Office. Here, they would undergo Physical Fitness Test and Physical Measurement Test. 

Finally, in phase three the shortlisted candidates will undergo medical test. Thereafter, the final merit list of the successful candidates will be declared.

According to officials, the recruitment process will be more streamlined and transparent by the modified recruitment system. The modified recruitment system is designed to optimally exploit the latest IT infrastructure available in the nation.