New Delhi: The National Testing Agency (NTA) will introduce facial recognition-based identification for all major entrance examinations, including NEET and JEE, from next year to curb impersonation, ThePrint has learnt.
Government officials said Wednesday the move follows recommendations from a seven-member panel led by former Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) chairman K. Radhakrishnan. The panel was constituted in 2024 after allegations of irregularities in that year’s National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (Undergraduate), or NEET-UG. It recommended capturing candidates’ biometric data, such as fingerprints or facial images, to verify their identity using Aadhaar cards.
Last year, the NTA piloted such verification at select centres during the NEET-UG exam.
The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) successfully conducted a proof of concept (PoC)—a small-scale trial to check whether a technology or method works effectively—on the use of face authentication during the NEET examination, senior government officials said.
“The PoC was aimed at assessing the feasibility and effectiveness of Aadhaar-based face authentication for verifying candidates’ identities,” a senior official told ThePrint.
“As part of the exercise, Aadhaar-based face authentication technology was deployed at select NEET centres in Delhi and integrated with NI’’s digital infrastructure as well as NTA’s examination protocols. This will be deployed at all centres for major entrance examinations from 2026, beginning with the JEE Main Session 1 scheduled for January,” the official added.
The testing agency has also introduced live photograph-capture during the application process. Candidates must now take a live photograph using a webcam or mobile camera at the time of registration, replacing the earlier requirement of uploading a regular photograph.
“This is to ensure that the person filling out the form is the same individual who will appear for the exam. The photograph will also be verified against the candidates’ Aadhaar records,” the official added.
The Radhakrishnan panel recommended conducting all entrance exams online and suggested a “hybrid mode” in areas where computer-based tests are not feasible.
In September, ThePrint reported that the Ministry of Education is analysing the existing digital infrastructure and reviewing the impact of computer-based testing in other entrance examinations.
NEET-2024 came under scrutiny after results for the medical entrance test were released that year. Allegations against it ranged from errors in the question papers to grace marks, and paper leaks and frauds.
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