Karnataka Schools Mandate AI Face Recognition for Attendance

• Karnataka's School Education and Literacy Department makes AI face recognition mandatory for attendance in all government schools.
• The system aims to eliminate fake attendance, improve teacher punctuality, and ensure accurate student records.
• Attendance will be marked via a mobile app/device, using geofencing to confirm physical presence on campus.
• Rolling out from the 2026–27 academic year, it will link accurate attendance to student benefits like scholarships.
• Concerns about privacy, data security, and connectivity in rural areas have been raised by teachers' associations.

Why It Matters: Karnataka implements mandatory AI face recognition for school attendance, aiming for accuracy and accountability.