“Impersonation had become a menace during recruitment rallies all over the State with more than one or two persons appearing on behalf of a candidate. The candidate who appears for written test is replaced by another for the physical test for improving the overall score. To curb this menace, we have introduced a bio-metric fingerprint reader,” said Brig J M Devadoss, Deputy Director-General of Recruiting (Karnataka & Kerala), zonal recruiting office.

This bio-metric finger print reader system, introduced for the first time in the country for Army recruitment rallies, will help the recruitment officers eliminate fake candidates.

Impression
With the introduction of the system, all candidates appearing for the rally will have to place their right index finger on the screening equipment on the first day. The finger impression, along with the photograph and bio-data of the candidate, is fed into the computer.

When candidates appear for different tests, they have to undergo the same process. If the fingerprints match, they are allowed to undertake the next test.

“Earlier, many genuine candidates lost out due to impersonation. Now, that won’t be easy,” said Col S K Datta, Army Recruitment Director of Recruiting (Karnataka & Kerala).

Impressed with the system, the other zonal recruiment offices in Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh have decided to follow the Karnataka model.