• Source:JND
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For the first time, the Centre has authorised the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) to implement Aadhaar-based authentication for verifying candidates' identities, on a voluntary basis, during registration, and at various stages of examinations and recruitment.

This decision comes in the wake of the UPSC's recent action against probationary IAS officer Puja Khedkar, who was found to have fraudulently exceeded her allotted attempts in the civil services examination. Khedkar is also accused of misusing disability and Other Backward Classes (OBC) quotas. As a result, her provisional candidature was canceled, and she has been barred from future examinations.

In a notification, the personnel ministry stated that the UPSC is permitted to perform Aadhaar authentication voluntarily for verifying candidates' identities during registration on the "One Time Registration" portal and throughout various stages of examinations and recruitment tests. The authentication can be done using Yes/No or e-KYC facilities.

The UPSC is required to comply with the Aadhaar (Targeted Delivery of Financial and Other Subsidies, Benefits and Services) Act, 2016, its associated rules and regulations, and directives from the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI). Aadhaar, a 12-digit number issued by UIDAI, is based on biometric and demographic data of eligible citizens.

In July, the UPSC had already begun measures against Khedkar, including initiating a forgery case for fraudulent attempts in the civil services exam. The Delhi Police are investigating the matter further.

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Moreover, in June, the UPSC decided to employ facial recognition and AI-based CCTV surveillance to curb cheating and impersonation in its exams. The commission invited bids for two technological solutions: "Aadhaar-based fingerprint authentication (or digital fingerprint capturing) and facial recognition of candidates and QR code scanning of e-admit cards" and "Live AI-based CCTV surveillance service."

The UPSC conducts 14 major exams annually, including the prestigious civil services examination for selecting officers for the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Foreign Service (IFS), and Indian Police Service (IPS), as well as various recruitment tests and interviews for Group 'A' and Group 'B' central government posts.

(With PTI Inputs) 

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