Policy | 6/11/2025
Karnataka Introduces AI Facial Recognition for School Attendance
Karnataka is set to implement an AI-based facial recognition system for student attendance in government and aided schools. While the initiative aims to improve administrative efficiency and transparency, it raises concerns about privacy and data security.
Karnataka's AI Initiative in Schools
The state of Karnataka is preparing to launch an Artificial Intelligence (AI) powered facial recognition system to track student attendance in all government and aided primary and high schools. This system, expected to be fully operational by the 2025-26 academic year, was announced by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah as part of the 'Nirantara' initiative in the 2025-26 budget. The initiative aims to modernize school administration, ensure accurate attendance records, and enhance transparency in student-focused welfare programs.
Implementation and Functionality
The Department of School Education and Literacy (DSEL) is developing a mobile application for this purpose, which teachers will use on their smartphones. This eliminates the need for additional hardware. The app will be linked to the existing Students Achievement Tracking System (SATS) and will use facial recognition technology to identify students by their facial features, such as eyes and nose, without storing entire photographs.
Benefits and Efficiency
The system promises to capture attendance for a class of 50 students in seconds, reducing the administrative burden on teachers and allowing more time for instruction. It will also help monitor the distribution of government schemes like mid-day meals and other welfare programs, addressing discrepancies between enrollment data and actual student presence.
Privacy and Security Concerns
Despite the benefits, the initiative has sparked debate over privacy and data security. Critics argue that collecting biometric data of minors raises ethical concerns and risks of misuse. While officials assure that only facial features will be used, some experts remain skeptical about the system's data protection measures.
Broader Implications
Karnataka's move reflects a growing trend in adopting AI technologies in public sectors across India. However, it highlights the need for robust oversight and accountability mechanisms, especially in the absence of a comprehensive legal framework governing facial recognition technology in India. The success of this initiative could influence the future trajectory of AI adoption in education and other sensitive sectors.