The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has successfully tested an Artificial Intelligence-driven facial authentication system to speed up and secure candidate verification at examination centres.
UPSC chairman Ajay Kumar said the pilot, developed with the National e-Governance Division (NeGD), was conducted during the NDA & NA II and CDS II examinations held on 14 September across select centres in Gurugram.
“Across the pilot locations, about 2,700 successful scans were completed for 1,129 candidates across different sessions. The successful trial marks an important step towards leveraging advanced technology for smarter, more secure and efficient examinations,” Kumar said.
The system matched candidates’ facial images with photographs uploaded during registration, reducing verification time to an average of 8 to 10 seconds per person. Officials said this has significantly streamlined entry while adding a layer of security.
Kumar informed that the commission intends to expand the use of the technology across all its recruitment examinations, including the prestigious civil services exam that selects IAS, IFS and IPS officers.
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“The UPSC plans to use facial recognition of candidates from all its examinations, including the civil services exams, going forward,” he said.
According to Kumar, challenges such as Wi-Fi availability at centres and the training of invigilators are being factored in, with standard operating procedures under preparation.
The chairman emphasised the importance of adopting innovation without compromising fairness. “This pilot with AI-based facial recognition is a significant step in our endeavour towards a smarter, secure and efficient exam process. While the UPSC is committed to modernising its practices, the utmost care has been given for safeguarding the integrity of our processes,” he noted.
The commission, which oversees some of the country’s most competitive examinations, views this technology as a safeguard against impersonation and malpractice while easing the experience for genuine candidates.
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