About the IndiaAI Face Authentication Challenge

IndiaAI, an Independent Business Division (IBD) under the Digital India Corporation (DIC) of the Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY), serves as the implementation agency of the IndiaAI Mission. This mission aims to democratize the benefits of artificial intelligence across all strata of society, bolster India’s global leadership in AI, foster technological self-reliance, and ensure the ethical and responsible use of AI. As part of this mission, the IndiaAI Application Development Initiative (IADI) is dedicated to promoting the development, deployment, and adoption of AI applications in critical sectors that have the potential to catalyze large-scale socio-economic transformation.

In alignment with these goals, IndiaAI has partnered with public institutions responsible for conducting large-scale examinations. The partnership aims to develop AI solutions for ensuring a just, fair, and impartial merit-based selection of candidates in public services.

Challenge Objective

The primary goal is to strengthen the integrity of public examinations processes. The Challenge requires the development of a secure, scalable, and highly accurate AI-enabled de-duplication application.

This solution must perform photo verification and de-duplication by cross-referencing new applications against a historical database using one-to-many matching techniques. The high volume of applications and the risk of duplicate registrations necessitate a reliable, end-to-end AI solution to ensure fair, transparent and merit-based framework, safeguarding both applicants future and institutional integrity.

Expected Output

Automated Duplicate Detection: Utilize advanced facial verification algorithms to accurately identify multiple applications submitted by the same individual across a pre-defined time period. This moves beyond the limitations of traditional, logic-based de-duplication methods (which rely solely on demographic data) to ensure complete application integrity.

One-to-Many Identity Verification: Implement a secure, automated system that performs de-duplication and guarantees the issuance of a single, unique ID for every authorized applicant.

Who Can Apply?

• Indian Companies, registered under the Indian Companies Act. An Indian company must have 51% or more shareholding by Indian citizens or persons of Indian origin.
• Start-ups, as defined by the latest Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) notification accessible at Startup India.

Applicants must provide proof of proprietary innovation and verifiable documentation covering technical specifications, necessary certifications, IP and patents etc.. Additionally, applicants must demonstrate relevant experience of previous engagements in public or private sector.

Major Milestones

• Stage 1: Registration and Submission of Solutions
• Stage 2: Evaluation Process
• Stage 3: Up to 10 shortlisted teams will receive INR 5 Lakhs to refine and test their solutions on a sample dataset of 5,000 images
• Stage 4: Up to 2 teams may secure a two-year contract and be awarded up to INR 1 Crore to deploy their solutions

Submission Guidelines

Please download the comprehensive submission guidelines for IndiaAI Face Authentication Challenge.

Key Dates

• Launch of IndiaAI Face Authentication Challenge: 7th October, 2025
• Last date for form submission: 25th October, 2025

Apply Now

Application Portal: Click here

For any queries or clarifications, please reach out to fellow3.gpai-india@meity.gov.in and am-projects4@indiaai.gov.in, using the subject line: “IndiaAI Face Authentication Challenge – Query -[Applicant Name]”.