NTA to roll out facial biometric checks, live photography in entrance exams from 2026

New Delhi: The National Testing Agency will introduce facial biometric authentication during examinations and live photography at the application stage across all major entrance tests from 2026, beginning with JEE Main in January.

Officials said the move aims to strengthen exam security and curb impersonation and other malpractices through real time identity verification at multiple stages of the examination process.

Secretary Higher Education Vineet Joshi said facial recognition will be used during examinations, while live photographs will be captured at the time of filling application forms. He said the system will be implemented from January with JEE Main.

JEE Main 2026 is scheduled to be held from January 21 to January 30.

Facial biometric verification works by analysing unique facial features to confirm identity and match them with stored data. Live photography through webcams or mobile devices during applications and exams is intended to prevent the use of proxies.

The measures follow recommendations of the Radhakrishnan Committee, constituted after reports of irregularities in NEET UG 2024. The committee has suggested a major overhaul of the entrance examination system with emphasis on digitalisation, security, and streamlined processes.

The seven member panel headed by former ISRO chief R Radhakrishnan proposed a two phase reform plan. Short term steps include restructuring of the NTA and multi level biometric verification at registration, examination centres, counselling and admissions. Long term measures include development of a biometric based digital examination platform on the lines of DigiYatra.

Established in 2017, the NTA conducts major national level entrance examinations including JEE Main for engineering, NEET UG for medical courses, and CUET for undergraduate and postgraduate admissions.

Officials said the proposed reforms aim to create a secure, transparent and tamper resistant examination system.