The National Medical Commission (NMC), India’s apex regulatory body for medical education, has mandated a nationwide transition from fingerprint-based to face-based Aadhaar authentication for tracking faculty and staff attendance in medical colleges. The new system will take effect on May 1, 2025, replacing the existing Aadhaar Enabled Biometric Attendance System (AEBAS) infrastructure across all institutions under NMC oversight.
The transition aligns with India’s broader effort to modernize biometric systems in public services. Similar upgrades have been initiated in states such as Tamil Nadu, and recent rule changes have expanded Aadhaar authentication access to private sector entities as well.
As part of the implementation, all medical colleges are required to submit GPS coordinates of their campuses for geofencing by April 20, 2025. Each coordinate must represent a 100-meter radius and be officially signed and stamped by the institution’s Dean or Principal. Additionally, institutions must designate nodal officers and ensure all faculty members install the face-based Aadhaar Authentication App on their mobile devices.
The face authentication app, available for Android and iOS platforms, will be activated on April 24, 2025, initiating a one-week transition period during which colleges can resolve any technical issues. Starting May 1, 2025, only face authentication, via mobile devices or wall-mounted terminals, will be accepted. Fingerprint-based systems will be fully discontinued under the new protocol.
The change is intended to address operational issues commonly associated with fingerprint authentication, such as device failures and problems recognizing worn fingerprints. It also seeks to improve attendance transparency, reduce administrative intervention, and help prevent practices such as “ghost faculty” listings. Institutions will be expected to rely on biometric data and digital records for routine attendance audits, with physical inspections reserved for exceptional cases.
While the NMC has emphasized the benefits of the new system, including usability and efficiency, the shift also raises important considerations around data privacy and security. Face-based Aadhaar authentication is governed by the Aadhaar Act and must comply with India’s Digital Personal Data Protection framework. Institutions handling biometric data are required to obtain user consent and implement safeguards to protect sensitive information.
The directive currently applies to faculty and staff in NMC-affiliated medical institutions. It does not extend to students or to other categories of educational institutions unless otherwise directed by relevant authorities. Technical support for institutions encountering issues during the transition is available until April 30, 2025, through designated channels.
Sources: South First, Education Times
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April 17, 2025 – by Ji-seo Kim
