Aadhaar Face Authentication Enhances Transparency in Competitive Exams: IT Ministry

Quick Summary

• The Ministry of Electronics and Data Technology informed Parliament that Aadhaar face authentication is being implemented to enhance clarity, trust, and administrative accountability in competitive examinations.
• The Staff Selection Commission (SSC) and Railway Recruitment Board (RRB) are using Aadhaar facial recognition for examinees’ authentication.
• Aadhaar face authentication uses “liveness” detection via basic phone cameras to match individuals with their enrollment photo. The feature addresses failures in fingerprint authentication among laborers and the elderly due to worn-out biometrics.
• Recent initiatives include:

– Employment Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO): Universal Account Numbers now require Aadhaar face authentication.
– India Post Payments Bank (IPPB): Integration of the feature as part of government missions on Digital India and Financial Inclusion.
– Sports Authority of India: Use of Aadhaar for athlete/coach registration, attendance marking, and funds distribution under schemes like Khelo India.

• The IT Ministry manages approvals for all Aadhaar-based authentications through pre-vetted proposals submitted via the Social Welfare, Innovation, Knowledge (SWIK) portal under rules framed this year.
• Since 2020, 312 government organizations have received approval to use such authentications.

Indian Opinion Analysis
The expansion of Aadhaar face authentication signifies India’s increasing reliance on biometric technology for governance efficiency. Its implementation aims at tackling systemic challenges like identity fraud while promoting inclusivity by accommodating those unable to use fingerprint-based systems – a concern prevalent among marginalized groups like laborers or elderly citizens.

Though, achieving transparency and accountability requires balancing security with privacy protection amid rising scrutiny over data safety measures. Moreover,expanding such technology across sectors could strengthen public service delivery but calls for ongoing oversight from authorities like UIDAI to prevent misuse or exclusion errors during its deployment.

Read more