UPSC To Revamp Its Examination Process Through Technology

After the recent NEET examination-related irregularities and trainee IAS officer Puja Khedkar row who forged documents to appear at the UPSC 12 times, which is beyond the permitted limit, the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) is planning to revamp the most coveted exams of civil services through technological solutions. The commission will use technologies such as Aadhaar-based fingerprint authentication and facial recognition systems and closed circuit television (CCTV) surveillance systems using Artificial Intelligence (AI).

Every year UPSC conducts 14 examinations that include Civil Services Examinations (CSE) and several recruitment tests and interviews for induction to Group ‘A’ and Group ‘B’ posts in the Government of India. UPSC conducts the CSE to recommend candidates for appointment to the prestigious Indian Administrative Services (IAS) and Indian Police Service (IPS) among others.

In the wake of ongoing circumstances, UPSC issues a tender on June 20 asking for bids from Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) to seek positive changes in the examination process. The Commission intends to use the latest technology to prevent cheating, fraud, unfair means, and impersonation by monitoring the activities of the candidates during the examination by matching and cross-checking the biometric details of the candidates.

UPSC will provide candidates’ data and images to the service provider for the Aadhar-based fingerprint authentication and facial recognition system to verify candidates for the exam to prevent impersonation. It has proposed a real-time attendance monitoring system and GPS coordinates to ensure that enrolment is done during the stipulated shift.

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To auto-fetch the candidate details from the Application Database, the QR code on the Admit Card should be scanned. If QR code is not scannable, then manual entry of candidate’s roll number from Admit Card has to be done, UPSC said.

Additionally, Commission will implement CCTV/video surveillance for recording and live broadcast system to monitor various activities of the candidates at the centres. For every 24 candidates, a CCTV colour cameras will be installed in every classroom at the entry and exit gates of the exam centre and in the control room where sensitive examination material will be kept. The UPSC will also view the live streaming through its own control room.