New Delhi: In a major digital shift, the National Medical Commission (NMC) has announced that all medical colleges and institutions in India will adopt a face-based Aadhaar authentication system for faculty attendance starting May 1, 2025. This move replaces the current fingerprint-based biometric system under the Aadhaar Enabled Biometric Attendance System (AEBAS), with a new mobile-app-based face recognition mechanism.
Transition to Mobile-Based Face Authentication
The upgraded system, designed to enhance convenience and accuracy, will operate via a mobile application using facial recognition technology. Already in use in several government departments, this method will now be mandated across all private and government medical institutions affiliated with the NMC.
According to a public notice issued on April 16, 2025, by NMC Secretary Dr. Raghav Langer, all medical colleges must submit GPS coordinates of designated attendance zones within their campus by April 20. These geofenced locations—each covering a 100-meter radius—will define the zones where attendance can be logged using mobile phones.
Colleges Directed to Ensure App Installation and Compliance
All institutions are required to appoint a nodal officer and ensure that faculty members install the face authentication app, available on both Android and iOS platforms. The application will be activated on April 24, offering a one-week window for users to adapt before the fingerprint system is permanently disabled on May 1.
Medical colleges must email the required GPS data (as per Annexure-I format) to support.aebas@nmc.org.in with the subject line “Face AEBAS – <College Name> – <City>.” The email must include the contact details of the nodal officer and bear the official stamp and signature of the Dean or Principal.
Attendance Marking Process Simplified
The new process requires users to:
- Open the FACE BAS App
- Select the domain “NMC&NCH”
- Enter their 8-digit Attendance ID
- Choose the entry point
- Scan their face for authentication
Upon successful verification, the system will confirm the attendance with an “open” or “close” status. The app also includes features such as geo-fencing updates, attendance notifications, and transaction logs showing recent entries.
Technical Requirements and Support
To ensure a seamless experience, the minimum device specifications include Android version 9+, iOS version 14+, 4GB RAM, and a 5MP+ camera. Institutions facing technical issues are advised to contact the AEBAS support team before April 30.
Face Over Finger: A New Era in Biometric Attendance
Unlike the earlier fingerprint or iris-based system, the new model uses a photo from the UIDAI’s CIDR database for verification. The system ensures real-time, secure attendance with instructions to maintain adequate lighting and avoid multiple faces in the frame during authentication.
The NMC has urged all medical colleges to act swiftly to meet the deadline, ensuring full implementation by May 1, when fingerprint-based attendance systems will be deactivated.
