The Indian Army has changed its recruitment process under the Agniveer scheme, senior army officials said here on Saturday. From now, screening in the common entrance examination (CEE) will be the first step.

Till now, CEE was the last step. Col K. Sandeep Kumar, director (recruiting) of the defence force, said that earlier candidates under the scheme had to first undergo the physical fitness test, followed by medical tests and the online CEE.

“CEE was the last step. However, the entire process has been reversed. From now on, qualifying in the CEE is the first screening step which will help in the selection of better-qualified candidates. They will then go for a physical fitness test and the medical test will be the last step,” Col Kumar told the media at the army recruiting office of Siliguri near the Sevoke military station.

The CEE, sources said, is a computer-based test. “A mock test is available on the official website (www.joinindianarmy.nic.in),” said a source. Col Kumar said the next CEE would be held on April 17. The registration process started on February 16 and will go on till March 15, he said.

The new process, sources said, will cut costs and streamline logistics. Earlier, thousands would turn up for physical tests and security personnel had to be engaged to maintain law and order. Army officers said that to encourage youths to join the army through Agniveer, they had started visiting educational institutions.

Since the Agniveer scheme was introduced, around 400 youths from north Bengal and Sikkim have joined the army, an officer said. Officers are also visiting educational institutions to encourage youths to apply.

“Schools and colleges in north Bengal apart, we are also visiting the ITIs (industrial training institutes),” said an officer.