In a significant move to enhance the integrity and security of its examination process, the government has authorized the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) to carry out Aadhaar authentication for candidates appearing in 14 of its examinations, including the prestigious Civil Services Examination. This decision comes in the wake of recent controversies, notably the case of former IAS trainee Puja Khedkar, who allegedly faked her identity during the 2022 Civil Services Examination.
Last month, the UPSC issued a tender for implementing “Aadhaar-based authentication and facial recognition of candidates, QR code scanning of e-Admit cards, and live AI-based CCTV surveillance” to bolster the verification process and ensure the authenticity of candidates throughout the examination stages.
On Wednesday, the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) announced the authorization, stating that the UPSC can perform Aadhaar authentication on a voluntary basis. This will be used to verify candidates’ identities at the time of registration on the ‘One Time Registration’ portal and at various stages of examination and recruitment tests, employing either Yes/No or e-KYC authentication.
The UPSC intends to leverage cutting-edge digital technology to cross-check biometric details and monitor candidate activities during examinations, aiming to prevent cheating, fraud, and impersonation, thereby upholding the credibility of its recruitment processes.
