Tirunelveli: Candidates appearing for a written test to join the Indian Army after clearing the compulsory physical test and medical examinations as soldiers would now have to consider a new hurdle as the written examination gets replaced with the online examination from 2011 onwards.

"No profound skill in the computer applications is required to appear for the proposed online test as it is just an attempt to test the candidate's ability to about basic computer operations. If the proposed scheme comes in action then it will also make the recruitment process more efficient and scrupulous," said Brigadier Pankaj Sinha, Deputy Director General-Recruiting (States), Headquarters Recruiting Zone, Chennai

Brig. Pankaj was here to scrutinize and select the physically fit youths during the six-day recruitment exercise.

The proposal is a part of the Army's quest to automate the selection process which is mulled to do online from next year.

Denying the general perception that army officers and experienced soldiers were leaving the military in search of greener pastures he said that, "Apart from a hefty salary, especially after the Sixth Pay Commission, we provide attractive perks to every member of the Indian Army. So leaving the Army comes out of question! Besides, the Army is attracting more number of youths, particularly engineers as military officers," Brig. Pankaj said.

Appealing to the masses, and particularly to the aspirants about the touts promising employment in the armed forces, he strictly asked them to report the matter to the police or the army officials.

He claimed that, "The only barometer to fetch a job in the armed forces is your physical fitness and your performance in the written test. Nothing else would work here."

Col. Sanjeev, Director, Army Recruitment, Tiruchi Region, expressed immense satisfaction with the turnout of the youths for the recruitment. "More than 5,000 have passed the physical test out of the 8,000-odd youths we have received from fifteen districts," he said.

Deputy Commissioner of Police, Tirunelveli City Avinash Kumar, Corporation Commissioner K. Baskaran and District Sports Officer K. Xavier Jothi Sargunam were present.