India’s Medical Colleges to use Biometric Identification

Medical colleges in India have turned to the use of biometric identification processes to detect impersonations, out of fear applicants are switching after admissions.

Directorate of Medical Education (DME) Dr. S C Tiwari, during an interview with Times of India, said the use of biometrics would be extended to all medical colleges.

Dr. Tiwari said that impersonations can happen after two stages of verification, but with the use of biometrics could be curtailed. “There have been instances where after taking admission, students take a medical leave only to return weeks later. This leaves room for a switch to take place.”

However, the use of biometrics has not convinced the professional examination board (PEB). The board emphasized that biometrics is just a preventive step, not part of the examination and not in the rule book.

In addition, PEB and DME do not see eye to eye as to which company will administer the biometrics. The biometrics services of a private company that DME is planning to use has been blacklisted by PEB on account that it has falsely red-flagged a candidate this year.

“We conduct hundreds of exams every year. We cannot use biometrics as a regular feature,” said an official with the a href=”http://www.vyapam.nic.in” target=”_blank”>Madhya Pradesh Professional Examination Board.

Article Topics

access control  |  biometrics  |  education  |  fraud  |  identity proofing  |  secure identification