NEW DELHI: In a major technological move to curb impersonation and strengthen the credibility of national-level entrance examinations, the National Testing Agency (NTA) is set to introduce facial biometric verification and live photography features from 2026. The initiative will cover flagship exams such as the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) and the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE). According to official sources, the NTA is planning to integrate AI-based facial recognition technology for candidate verification. The new system will authenticate a candidate’s identity by analyzing unique facial features such as eye spacing, nose shape, and facial contours, creating a digital template for comparison with stored data.
The agency is also introducing an option to capture live photos during the application process. Candidates will be required to take a real-time photo via webcam or smartphone while completing the exam form, replacing the earlier practice of uploading scanned or edited photos. This measure aims to prevent fraudulent practices and ensure that the person appearing for the examination is the same as the one who registered.
“During the 2025 NEET examination, the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) successfully conducted a Proof of Concept (PoC) to test the use of facial authentication,” a source familiar with the development said. “The trial was implemented at select NEET centres in Delhi, where it was integrated with the National Informatics Centre’s (NIC) digital systems and the NTA’s examination framework,” the source added.
The pilot project, conducted jointly by UIDAI, the National Informatics Centre (NIC), and the NTA, aimed to evaluate the feasibility and accuracy of Aadhaar-based facial authentication for large-scale examinations. Following its success, the system will now be implemented across all major entrance exams beginning in 2026.
Officials said the new verification mechanism is expected to eliminate impersonation cases and curb the use of unfair means during exams. The live photo capture feature in the online application system will act as an additional safeguard, ensuring that the candidate’s facial data matches across registration, admit card, and examination centre records.
The step aligns with the recommendations of the Radhakrishnan Committee, which was constituted by the Centre following recent incidents of paper leaks in various recruitment and entrance tests. The committee recommended stronger technological interventions, including biometric and facial authentication, to enhance the transparency and integrity of examination systems.
Facial biometric verification converts a person’s facial image into a digital biometric map, which is then compared with pre-registered data to verify identity. The system is already in use in several government services and banking processes and is now being expanded to the education and assessment sector. Officials noted that the NTA will collaborate with UIDAI and NIC to ensure data privacy and cybersecurity compliance while using facial biometric data. All collected information will be stored securely in accordance with India’s data protection guidelines.
Experts believe that the move will bring a significant shift in how large-scale entrance examinations are conducted in India. With over 35 lakh candidates appearing annually for NEET and JEE combined, the integration of AI-backed verification and live photo technology is expected to streamline the process and restore public trust in examination systems.
NTA officials said similar security features could later be extended to other national-level tests such as CUET (Common University Entrance Test) and UGC-NET, depending on the success of the initial rollout. The introduction of these technologies marks a step toward digitally secure, transparent, and accountable examination management in India. By combining artificial intelligence, real-time authentication, and Aadhaar-linked systems, the NTA aims to make exam processes tamper-proof and merit-based.
