NTA to roll out facial authentication, live photos to curb exam malpractices
New Delhi, Dec 23: In a major step to tighten security, aimed at eliminating impersonation and other unfair practices in entrance…
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New Delhi, Dec 23: In a major step to tighten security, aimed at eliminating impersonation and other unfair practices in entrance examinations, the National Testing Agency (NTA) will introduce facial biometric authentication at examination centres and mandatory live photography at the time of application submission.
The new system will be rolled out from the January 2026 session, beginning with the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Main.
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The initiative will enable real-time identity verification of candidates at multiple stages of the exam process.
Higher Education Secretary Vineet Joshi said facial recognition will be used during the examination, while live photographs will be captured when candidates apply, marking a significant shift in how candidate identity is validated.
JEE (Main) 2026, conducted by the NTA, is scheduled to be held between January 21 and 30. The agency, established in 2017, conducts several high-stakes national exams, including JEE Main for engineering admissions, NEET-UG for medical courses, and the Common University Entrance Test (CUET) for undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in central universities.
The enhanced security framework follows recommendations of the Radhakrishnan Committee, formed after widespread concerns over irregularities in the NEET-UG 2024 examination.
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The seven-member panel, chaired by former ISRO chief R. Radhakrishnan, has suggested sweeping reforms to India’s entrance examination system with a strong emphasis on digital security and transparency.
