Bharathiar University in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, has launched a Biometric Attendance Marking System (BAMS) for staff, implementing a state directive aimed at improving punctuality and accountability in higher education institutions. The system, which began operation on September 1, 2025, follows instructions from the Tamil Nadu higher education department issued in December 2024 after complaints about staff attendance practices.
System Rollout and Operation
According to University Registrar R. Rajavel, the university has installed 45 biometric machines across campus to handle attendance for around 1,000 teaching and non-teaching employees. Staff now mark attendance by scanning their faces at designated times: 9:45 a.m. when arriving on campus and 5:30 p.m. when leaving. Attendance records are stored in the BAMS system, and an administrator has been appointed to monitor compliance.
Under the new rules, staff members who arrive late more than twice in a given period will see those days counted as casual leave. This measure is designed to discourage repeated tardiness and ensure consistent adherence to scheduled working hours. The directive originated with former higher education secretary K. Gopal, who ordered universities to install biometric systems following reports of unauthorized late arrivals and early departures.
Early Results and Staff Feedback
Initial feedback suggests the system is already having an impact. A non-teaching staff member, speaking anonymously, told local media that punctuality has noticeably improved since the rollout, with colleagues who had a history of arriving late now showing up on time. The same source recommended that the university conduct monthly attendance reviews to ensure the policy delivers sustained results.
The attendance system reflects Tamil Nadu’s broader effort to upgrade biometric attendance tracking in education, aligning with a nationwide trend of integrating biometrics into public administration. At the national level, biometric authentication continues to expand across sectors, as seen in India’s recent move to expand Aadhaar-based face authentication into private sector applications.
Additional Security Upgrades
Alongside the attendance system, Bharathiar University is investing in campus safety through expanded video surveillance. More than 50 CCTV cameras are being installed in key locations, including women’s hostels, with a central monitoring screen placed in the Registrar’s office. The dual measures—biometric attendance tracking and CCTV coverage—are intended to enhance both administrative efficiency and campus security.
While biometric attendance systems have drawn mixed responses in some institutions, Bharathiar University’s early experience suggests a positive impact on accountability and punctuality. With monitoring mechanisms and additional infrastructure in place, the university aims to set an example for other institutions in the state looking to modernize administrative practices.
Source: The New Indian Express
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By Ali Nassar-Smith
