For the first time, police use RFID tags for recruitment

For the first time, the Mumbai Police are using radio frequency identification (RFID) tags in the physical tests of their recruitment process to electronically record the time taken by candidates to finish the mandatory 1.5-km run. The tags have cut down the time taken in the process down to half. The decision to use RFID tags was taken after seeing its success in the Mumbai Marathon, in which participants are given bibs with inbuilt RFID tags. The idea was suggested by Mumbai Police officers, who participate in the marathon every year, and after discussions, the police contacted some private suppliers and an arrangement was reached to procure the tags, said officials.