UIDAI Pilots Face Authentication at NEET UG 2025 to Bolster Exam Security

To that end, the PoC tested the efficacy of Aadhaar-based face authentication as a contactless, real-time verification mechanism.

In a landmark move aimed at revolutionizing identity verification in India’s high-stakes examination ecosystem, the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has successfully completed a Proof of Concept (PoC) for Aadhaar-based face authentication during the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET UG) 2025. The trial was conducted in select centers across New Delhi, in collaboration with the National Informatics Centre (NIC) and the National Testing Agency (NTA), underscoring the government’s push toward leveraging cutting-edge technology for public service reforms.

A Technological Leap in Candidate Authentication

The initiative marked a major stride in enhancing examination security and candidate authentication processes through the use of biometric innovations. NEET UG, one of India’s most competitive entrance tests for undergraduate medical courses, attracts millions of candidates annually. Ensuring the legitimacy of each participant's identity is paramount in maintaining the examination’s integrity.

To that end, the PoC tested the efficacy of Aadhaar-based face authentication as a contactless, real-time verification mechanism. By deploying face recognition systems linked to the Aadhaar biometric database, UIDAI and its partners were able to assess the viability of replacing or supplementing conventional verification methods, such as admit card and photo ID checks, with more advanced solutions.

Seamless Integration with NIC and NTA Systems

The face authentication system was smoothly integrated with NIC’s digital backbone and NTA’s examination management protocols. At designated NEET UG centers in New Delhi, candidates underwent biometric face scans, which were instantly matched against Aadhaar’s central database for identity confirmation.

The trial was conducted in a real-time, high-volume environment to simulate the pressures and logistical demands of an actual national-level entrance exam. Despite the complexity of such an undertaking, the process remained efficient, quick, and non-intrusive, minimizing wait times and physical interaction at exam centers—an important consideration in a post-pandemic world.

Promising Results Signal Wider Applications

According to UIDAI officials, the PoC demonstrated a “very high” level of accuracy and success in authenticating candidates. The results showed that Aadhaar face authentication can serve as a highly reliable, scalable, and student-friendly tool, not only for NEET UG but also for other mass-scale competitive examinations in the future.

The technology proved its merit in tackling one of the examination ecosystem’s most pressing challenges—impersonation. By validating identities using a biometric method that is extremely difficult to forge or duplicate, the initiative significantly reduces the chances of fraudulent candidates gaining access to examination halls.

Toward a Digitally Secure Examination Infrastructure

This collaboration between UIDAI, NIC, and NTA reflects a broader governmental vision of embedding digital innovation into critical public services. It illustrates how biometrics and Aadhaar infrastructure can be leveraged not just for welfare schemes or banking services, but also for ensuring fairness in educational opportunities.

Going forward, UIDAI and its partners are expected to analyze the full scope of the PoC findings, possibly paving the way for broader deployment in upcoming national-level exams such as JEE, UGC-NET, and civil services prelims.

In summary, the successful trial of Aadhaar face authentication during NEET UG 2025 could herald a new era of secure, transparent, and technologically-empowered examination practices in India. The move also aligns with the Digital India initiative, which emphasizes tech-driven governance and the modernization of public systems for efficiency, inclusion, and accountability.