TV
The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has successfully tested an AI-enabled facial authentication system to ensure quick, seamless, and secure candidate verification at exam centres. UPSC Chairman Ajay Kumar announced the development on Friday, calling it a major step towards modernising the examination process.
A Leap Towards Smarter Exams
Developed in collaboration with the National e-Governance Division (NeGD), the new system digitally matches candidates’ live facial images with the photographs submitted during registration. According to officials, this reduces entry verification time to just 8–10 seconds per candidate, making the process faster and more efficient.
Pilot at Defence Exams
The pilot project was carried out during the NDA & NA (II) 2025 and CDS (II) 2025 examinations held on September 14 across select centres in Gurugram. Over 2,700 successful scans were completed for 1,129 candidates across different sessions.
Kumar noted that while the pilot results were encouraging, logistics such as Wi-Fi availability and staff training remain key considerations before large-scale rollout. The commission is also drafting Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to guide implementation.
Integrity and Transparency First
The UPSC chairman emphasised that the commission conducts some of India’s most prestigious examinations, including the Civil Services Exam, to recruit IAS, IFS, and IPS officers. Introducing AI-based technology, he said, is part of UPSC’s commitment to uphold the highest standards of fairness and transparency.
“This pilot with AI-based facial recognition is a significant step in our endeavour towards smarter, secure, and efficient exams. The integrity of our process remains paramount,” Kumar added.
