UPSC tests AI facial recognition system

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has tested an Artificial Intelligence-based facial authentication system on a pilot basis in Gurugram earlier this month. The Commission said the initiative aims to make candidate verification faster, safer and more transparent.

The trial was conducted on September 14 during two major recruitment examinations — the National Defence Academy and Naval Academy (NDA & NA II) Examination, and the Combined Defence Services (CDS II) Examination 2025.

The UPSC collaborated with the National e-Governance Division (NeGD) to trial the technology, designed to prevent impersonation during competitive examinations. The AI-enabled system was able to complete verification in just 8 to 10 seconds per candidate. Officials said that once implemented across centres, the technology would significantly reduce entry time at examination halls. In total, about 2,700 successful scans were carried out. This is in line with the UPSC’s vision of curbing cheating and impersonation in exams.

UPSC Chairman Ajay Kumar said the commission is working to use new technology and added that AI-based tools will help make exams smarter, secure, and efficient. He also stressed that candidate privacy remains a top priority.