UPSC Exam 2026: Face Recognition Now at UPSC Exam Centers, Rules Made Even Stricter

To ensure that only genuine candidates appear for the exam and to prevent any kind of fraud, the UPSC has decided to implement a face recognition system at all its examination centers.

The UPSC conducts some of the country's most prestigious and competitive examinations, in which millions of candidates participate every year. Candidates dream of joining high-ranking services like the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Police Service (IPS), and Indian Foreign Service (IFS) by appearing in these exams. Therefore, it is crucial to ensure that only the correct candidates appear for the exam and that there is no fraud.

With this objective in mind, the UPSC has now decided to implement a face recognition system at all its examination centers. This means that candidates' faces will now be verified at the examination center for entry into the exam. This step is a major change towards increasing transparency and security in the commission's examination process.

Why is UPSC implementing face authentication?

The UPSC conducts several important recruitment examinations every year, and millions of candidates from across the country participate in these exams. Until now, candidates' identities were primarily verified through documents and ID cards. However, officials say that the face recognition system will make this process even more robust and secure. The main objective is to verify the identity of the correct candidate, i.e., to ensure that the person appearing for the exam is the same person who applied. This will prevent impersonation and stop someone from taking the exam on behalf of another candidate. It will also maintain candidates' trust in the recruitment process and reduce manual checks. The identification process will now be more automated, saving time that would otherwise be spent in long queues or manual verification.

How does face recognition work?

Face recognition technology is entirely AI-based. The process is very simple. When the candidate applied for the UPSC exam, they uploaded their photograph. On the day of the exam, the candidate will stand in front of a camera installed at the entry gate. The system will match the live photo of the person with the photo submitted in the application. If the photos match, the candidate will be allowed entry into the examination hall. The entire process is completed in just 8-10 seconds and requires no manual intervention. Officials say the system will function smoothly under normal exam-day conditions, and candidates will not have to wait for long periods.

Pilot Testing and Experience

Before fully implementing this system, the UPSC conducted a pilot project during the NDA and CDS examinations. It was tested at select centers in Gurugram on September 14, 2025. In the pilot test, live photos of the candidates were digitally matched with the photos uploaded in their applications. The verification process took only 8-10 seconds. This experiment showed improvements in both security and the entry process. As a result, the commission decided to implement it in all UPSC recruitment examinations.

What do candidates need to prepare on the day of the exam?

Now that face recognition is mandatory, candidates need to keep a few things in mind. The photo uploaded during registration and the candidate's actual face should match closely.  Candidates should carry essential documents like their ID and admit card, as before. They will need to stand in front of the camera at the entry point to complete the verification process. The examination center must ensure that the cameras and internet connectivity are in proper working order to avoid delays.