INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
It's crucial to keep your Aadhaar card updated
Photo: Shutterstock3 min read Last Updated Aug 29 2024 | 9:00 AM IST
The central government on Wednesday allowed the Union Public Service
Commission (UPSC) to implement Aadhaar-based authentication to verify candidates' identities on a voluntary basis
This new measure will be applicable both during the registration process and at various stages of examinations and recruitment.
The
decision, formalised in a notification issued by the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances, and Pensions yesterday, aims to enhance the
integrity of the examination process.
The UPSC will now be able to use Aadhaar's Yes/No or e-KYC authentication facilities for identity
(Targeted Delivery of Financial and Other Subsidies, Benefits and Services) Act, 2016, and the Aadhaar Authentication for Good Governance
(Social Welfare, Innovation, Knowledge) Rules, 2020, as the legislative framework supporting this decision
The UPSC is required to comply with all relevant provisions of the Act, rules, and directives issued by the Unique Identification Authority
of India (UIDAI), which manages the Aadhaar system.
IAS officer Puja Khedkar's candidature cancelled
The latest development comes in
the wake of recent actions taken by the UPSC against probationary IAS officer Puja Khedkar, whose provisional candidature was cancelled
after it was discovered that she had fraudulently availed herself of additional attempts in the civil services examination
Khedkar, who was accused of manipulating her identity and misusing quotas such as the Other Backward Classes (OBC) non-creamy layer
category, was permanently barred from all future UPSC exams and recruitment processes.
The UPSC's decision to adopt Aadhaar-based
authentication is likely to be seen as a response to such incidents, aiming to prevent identity fraud and ensure that only eligible
candidates participate in its examinations.
The UPSC, conducts 14 major exams annually, including the prestigious civil services
examination for posts in the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Foreign Service (IFS), and Indian Police Service (IPS), as well as
various recruitment tests for Group 'A' and Group 'B' positions, has been exploring advanced technologies to uphold the integrity of its
processes.
In June, the commission announced plans to introduce facial recognition and artificial intelligence-based CCTV surveillance
systems to combat cheating and impersonation
It invited bids for two key technological solutions: Aadhaar-based fingerprint authentication and facial recognition of candidates, and live
thousands of candidates across the country every year
By incorporating advanced identity verification and monitoring techniques, the commission seeks to maintain the highest standards of
