The National Medical Commission (NMC) of India has implemented a new face-based mobile Aadhaar authentication system for teacher attendance tracking across all medical colleges in the country. The system, which became effective May 1, 2025, replaces previous fingerprint-based biometric and facial QR code-based attendance methods, building on the successful pilot programs conducted by the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) in medical education settings.
Under the new mandate, all faculty members at medical colleges must install and use a face-based Aadhaar Authentication App on their mobile phones for attendance marking. The NMC has provided comprehensive documentation to guide users through the installation and usage process. The implementation uses the UIDAI’s enhanced facial authentication technology, which has been refined through multiple iterations to improve accuracy and security.
In its official notice dated September 26, 2025, the NMC announced the complete discontinuation of facial QR code-based attendance devices by October 1, 2025. The notice referenced earlier communications from April 2025 that initiated the transition to the new system.
The face-based authentication system operates through the NMC AEBAS platform and uses Aadhaar’s established biometric facial recognition technology, which is already deployed across various government offices through the National Informatics Centre (NIC). The system improves the accuracy of attendance records while providing a more streamlined user experience. The AEBAS platform has been specifically enhanced to handle the high-volume authentication requests from medical institutions while maintaining strict security protocols.
The new system is part of a broader movement toward Aadhaar-based authentication systems across India’s public sector. Similar systems are being deployed in other educational institutions, including Eklavya Model Residential Schools, where biometric attendance has been mandated to address attendance irregularities. The expansion follows the successful deployment of facial authentication in banking and other public services.
The state of Himachal Pradesh has emerged as an early adopter of Aadhaar facial authentication technology, having implemented it for public services such as ration distribution. The medical college attendance system represents a continuation of this technological integration across India’s public institutions, building on the state’s pioneering implementation of facial authentication for public service delivery.
Sources: Medical Dialogues, The Telegraph India, The Statesman, Mobile ID World
