The Hindu Business Line : Rlys to use RFID for physical efficiency test during recruitment

Chennai, Dec. 4 For the first time in India, the use of RFID (radio frequency identification)-based technology is being planned to replace manual conduct of ‘physical efficiency test’ in recruiting candidates for Group D posts — the non-gazetted subordinate staff — in the Railways.

The Railway Recruitment Cell (RRC), Southern Railway, has got approval from the Ministry of Railways to use RFID for conducting physical efficiency test of candidates applying for the posts, according to sources. It has sought ‘expression of interest’ from vendors in this regard.

RFID is an automatic identification method relying on storing and remotely retrieving data using devices called RFID tags or transponders.

The RFID-based technology will record the timings of the candidates in the physical test, which is mandatory for recruiting in the Group D category staff. The male and female candidates are required to run 1,500 metres and 400 metres in 6 minutes and 3 minutes respectively. While they are running, their individual timings — from start to finish and the net time — are to be recorded automatically using RFID.

Unique ID number

RFID was used in London and New York marathons and the RRC would like to use the same here. The idea is to avoid human intervention and have transparency in the recruitment system. The RFID tag with a unique identification number of the candidate will be attached in the number tag or in the ankle of the person, sources said.

An EOI issued by RRC, Southern Railway, says the physical efficiency test will be conducted at one location for around 3 lakh candidates, by subjecting around 10,000 candidates to it in a day. The test will be conducted for eight-ten hours a day and continuously for around 50 days.

The RFID agency/firms should have experience in successfully recording the timings of participants using RFID-based technology in international/national level marathons and similar timing events such as cycling and skating for the past five years.

An official of a Chennai-based company dealing with RFID technology said there are two ways of having the RFID tags — insert the chip in to the person to monitor the activities or give a unique ID card to undertake various tests, including blood pressure. However, in the case of the Railways, they are experimenting in a different way.

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