UPSC Pilots AI Facial Recognition for Candidate Verification in Exams

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has successfully completed a pilot project using artificial intelligence (AI)-based facial recognition technology to verify candidates at exam centres. The pilot was conducted during the NDA & NA (II) 2025 and CDS (II) 2025 examinations, held on 14 September 2025.

Pilot Conducted at Select Centres

The pilot was carried out at selected exam centres in Gurugram, in collaboration with the National e-Governance Division (NeGD). Under this system, candidates’ live facial images were matched with the photographs uploaded in their application forms. This ensured a quicker and more secure verification process.

• Average verification time: 8–10 seconds per candidate
• Total scans completed: Around 2,700 across different sessions
• Total candidates verified: 1,129 at pilot locations

The use of AI helped reduce manual checks, streamline the entry process, and strengthen exam security.

Smarter and More Secure Exams

Dr. Ajay Kumar, Chairman of UPSC, highlighted the significance of this trial. He said the Commission is committed to adopting cutting-edge technology to enhance fairness and transparency in its recruitment examinations.

“This pilot with AI-based facial recognition is a significant step in our endeavour towards smarter, secure, and efficient exam processes. While UPSC is modernising its practices, utmost care has been taken to safeguard the integrity of the process,” he stated. The AI-enabled process adds an extra layer of security by minimising impersonation risks, which has been one of the concerns in large-scale national examinations.

Benefits of AI Facial Authentication in UPSC Exams

The pilot demonstrated multiple advantages:

• Faster candidate entry: Verification time reduced to under 10 seconds.
• Reduced human error: Automated matching leaves little room for mistakes.
• Improved security: Lowers chances of impersonation or fraudulent entries.
• Ease of entry: Candidates could complete verification without lengthy manual checks.

If implemented widely, this technology could significantly improve the exam-day experience for lakhs of aspirants appearing for UPSC’s competitive examinations.

What Lies Ahead?

The Commission has not yet confirmed the official rollout timeline, but the successful pilot indicates that similar digital verification systems may be expanded in future UPSC examinations. Before a full-scale launch, the Commission is expected to conduct further trials in varied conditions to ensure robustness. Technology adoption in recruitment exams is not new. Several state-level commissions and recruitment boards have already introduced biometric authentication. However, UPSC’s move towards AI-powered solutions represents a major step at the national level.