NTA to Implement Facial Biometric Authentication in Entrance Examinations
The National Testing Agency (NTA) has announced plans to enhance exam security by implementing facial biometric authentication during entrance examinations, starting with JEE (Mains) in January 2026. This new measure aims to prevent impersonation and malpractices by verifying candidates’ identities in real-time at various stages of the examination process.
According to Secretary of Higher Education Vineet Joshi, the facial recognition system will be activated during the exam, while live photography will be conducted during the application process. These measures will be rolled out starting from the upcoming JEE (Mains) exam.
Facial biometric verification involves analyzing unique facial features to create a digital template for comparison with stored data, often utilizing AI technology for analysis. Additionally, real-time photo capture via webcam or phone will be used to prevent impersonation during online application and exam processes.
The Joint Entrance Examination (Main) 2026, administered by NTA, is scheduled to take place from January 21 to 30, 2026. NTA, established in 2017, conducts various entrance examinations, including JEE Main for engineering, NEET-UG for medicine, and CUET for general undergraduate and postgraduate programs in central universities.
These security measures are part of the recommendations made by the Radhakrishnan Committee, which was formed in response to reports of malpractices in the NEET-UG exam in 2024. The committee proposed a significant overhaul of India’s entrance exam system, focusing on digitalization, security, and process optimization.
Led by former ISRO Chief R. Radhakrishnan, the committee outlined a two-phase reform plan. The Immediate/Short-Term phase includes restructuring NTA and implementing multi-level biometric verification, while the Long-Term phase involves the introduction of a “Digi-Exam” platform for biometric-based digital exams.
To enhance exam security further, the committee recommends multi-level biometric verification at various stages, such as registration, test centers, counseling, and admissions. This comprehensive approach aims to create a secure and tamper-proof testing environment.
