The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) is set to enhance its examination security measures by adopting the latest digital biometric technologies. This initiative aims to prevent impersonation, cheating, and fraud during its exams. The decision follows an incident involving trainee IAS officer Puja Khedkar, who allegedly falsified her identity to take the civil services exam. Consequently, the UPSC has issued a show cause notice to cancel her appointment.
To address such issues, the UPSC plans to integrate Aadhaar-based fingerprint authentication, facial recognition systems, and AI-powered CCTV surveillance. These technologies will be used to verify candidates on the day of the exam, utilizing data and images submitted during the online registration process. Fingerprint scanners and facial recognition devices will be deployed at examination centers to ensure the authenticity of candidates.
The UPSC conducts 14 major exams annually, including the Civil Services Examination (CSE) and various recruitment tests for Group ‘A’ and Group ‘B’ posts in the Government of India. In 2023, over 10.1 lakh individuals applied for the CSE, with around 5.9 lakh candidates appearing for the exam. The commission aims to recommend candidates for prestigious services such as the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) and the Indian Police Service (IPS).
The adoption of these advanced technologies is a response to the recent controversy involving Khedkar, who “fraudulently availed attempts beyond the permissible limit under the Examination Rules by faking her identity by way of changing her name, her father’s and mother’s name, her photograph/signature, her email ID, mobile number, and address,” according to a UPSC statement.
To ensure the integrity and fairness of its examinations, the UPSC has invited tenders for these technological solutions. While the specific timeline for implementation is yet to be determined, this move underscores the commission’s commitment to maintaining the highest standards of transparency and security in its examination process.
