The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), in collaboration with National e-Governance Division (NeGD), has piloted an AI-based facial authentication system during the NDA & NA II 2025 and CDS II 2025 examinations. The trial was conducted at select exam centres in Gurugram, where facial images of candidates were matched against registration photographs. Verification time reduced significantly to 8–10 seconds per candidate. Approximately 2,700 scans were successfully completed for 1,129 candidates across sessions. The pilot marks a step toward more secure, efficient examination processes.
This pilot demonstrates how AI can streamline identity verification in high-stakes government processes, potentially reducing delays, fraud, and administrative overhead. Scaling such systems could strengthen procedural integrity in public services (exams, recruitment, licences).
Relevant Question for Policy Stakeholders: What safeguards-on bias, data privacy, auditability, and transparency-must be built into AI-based identity systems to ensure fairness and trust when deployed at national scale?
Follow the full news here: PIB Release – UPSC Pilots AI-Enabled Facial Recognition
