Bihar Education Dept Introduces AI‑Driven Attendance to Prevent Proxy Check‑Ins

Bihar's education ministry has announced the introduction of an AI‑powered attendance solution that will make false check‑ins by teachers virtually impossible. The forthcoming system integrates facial recognition, iris biometric scanning and real‑time GPS validation into the existing e‑Shikshakosh mobile application.

Teachers will open the attendance module, complete an e‑KYC step and then select 'Capture Attendance'. The app will instantly take a front‑camera photograph, compare the face with the data stored in the department's registry, and verify the iris's unique pattern. Simultaneously, the phone's GPS will be examined to ensure the device lies within the school's designated coordinates. Only after all three checks succeed can the teacher register an IN or OUT punch.

The move comes after audits revealed that a significant number of the state's six lakh government teachers either failed to log any attendance or had missing entries on specific dates – 27,500 teachers showed no records at all, and 48,050 entries were absent for a single day's report. By demanding on‑site verification, the department expects to curb the practice of handing over phones to proxies.

In addition to preventing fraudulent entries, the dual‑timestamp feature will digitally capture the exact moments teachers arrive and depart, creating a reliable log for administrators. The integration of AI, biometric and location technologies marks a major step toward a more accountable and data‑driven public‑education system in Bihar.