‘It can have unimaginable consequences': experts urge Karnataka Govt to scrap facial recognition attendance in schools
A coalition of 31 experts and organisations wrote to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah Monday, urging him to roll back the initiative, and instead strengthen community-based accountability in the education system.
The Department of School Education and Literacy has announced plans to link a mobile-based facial recognition system to the Students Achievement Tracking System (SATS) to monitor absenteeism, and track beneficiaries of government welfare schemes such as midday meals.
The scheme was piloted in a few schools and highlighted in the 2025-26 Karnataka Budget. However, its implementation has been delayed, and critics argue that it should not be launched at all.
Experts fear that capturing and storing children's biometric data could expose them to serious risks, including surveillance, misuse, and trafficking. They pointed to past instances where data collected by the education department, such as SSLC examination results, was shared with private coaching centres for commercial purposes.
'If such sensitive facial data is harvested and misused, it can have unimaginable consequences, including falling into the hands of child traffickers and criminals,' said Niranjanaradhya V P, Convener, People's Alliance for Fundamental Right to Education (PAFRE).
Concerns also centre on the misuse of technology for sexual exploitation. The joint statement highlights that advances in artificial intelligence have made it possible to morph children's images into explicit content, fuelling a rise in sextortion cases worldwide. Activists argue that classrooms are not public spaces but protected environments where children should feel safe.
'By introducing surveillance through facial recognition, we are creating vulnerabilities for children instead of protecting them. Schools must remain safe spaces, not zones of surveillance,' said Niranjanaradhya.
The statement also draws attention to wider risks in India's 'leaky data environment,' where CCTV footage and personal details are often misused or leaked. It notes high-profile cases of breaches in public security systems, including the Digi Yatra app, and instances of private videos being circulated from surveillance feeds. Critics argue that if even secure aviation systems face breaches, data collected from schoolchildren would be even harder to safeguard.
Internationally, several countries have restricted or banned the use of facial recognition technologies in educational settings. The UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Education has also recommended a global prohibition on such surveillance in schools. Even China, one of the world's leaders in AI surveillance, has moved to curb its use in classrooms.
Activists further cautioned that the push for facial recognition reflects a misplaced faith in technology-driven 'quick fixes.' They argue that real accountability in schools can only come from empowering local communities, teachers, and parents.
'The government already mandates School Development and Monitoring Committees in every school. If these are strengthened and supported, they can ensure far greater accountability than any surveillance tool ever could,' said Niranjanaradhya.
The joint statement also warned that deploying facial recognition in schools would put children's privacy, dignity, and safety at risk while offering little real benefit. The signatories — including academics, child rights organisations, teachers' unions, parents' associations, and public health experts — have demanded that the government drop the plan altogether and introduce a policy banning facial recognition in education.
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India Today
3 hours ago
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Karnataka Cabinet approves internal reservation, splits 17% SC quota into three
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News18
3 hours ago
- News18
'Undemocratic': Congress, BJP Exchange Barbs In Karnataka Assembly Over Greater Bengaluru Bill
The Congress government presented the bill as a means to improve governance in the rapidly growing metropolis, while the BJP accused the Congress of seeking to centralise power. The Greater Bengaluru Governance (Amendment) Bill, 2025 sparked intense debate in the Karnataka Assembly, with both the ruling Congress and the Opposition BJP clashing over its implications for the city. The Congress government presented the bill as a means to improve governance in the rapidly growing metropolis, while the BJP accused the Congress of seeking to centralise power and diminish the role of elected officials. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah rebutted these claims, accusing the Opposition of distorting facts to mislead the public. The bill, introduced by Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, who also oversees Bengaluru Development, was passed by the Karnataka Legislative Assembly on Monday. The discussions were marked by heated exchanges, with BJP leaders arguing that the amendment would undermine the autonomy of corporators and concentrate power in a few hands. Congress ministers dismissed these concerns as mere political posturing. An amusing moment occurred when MLA Munirathna attempted to disrupt the discussion on the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA). Shivakumar quipped, 'We will give you an opportunity to participate, don't worry. We had forgotten about you as you are busy running around between SIT's and investigations," a comment that elicited laughter from the legislators. So why was the amendment made? Shivakumar elaborated that despite the PIL being dismissed, the amendment was necessary to make it clear that 'the GBA will not interfere in the functioning of the corporations" and to prevent future misunderstandings. He emphasized that the amendment was intended to protect the autonomy of the Mayor and councillors as per the Constitution. He also highlighted the disparity in tax contributions, pointing out that areas like Mahadevapura contribute the most taxes in Bengaluru, while central areas collect far less. He reassured that Mayors and corporators would retain their constitutional powers. Addressing concerns about the inclusion of villages and financial assistance, Shivakumar noted that constitutional rules limited direct fund transfers. 'We will deliberate on which villages to include and are ready to withdraw the amendment if the Opposition disagrees," he said. Reiterating the government's non-political stance on governance, Shivakumar stated, 'We do not want to do politics over Bengaluru's future. The government will not interfere with financial independence, tax collection, elections, or reservation. The 74th amendment has been fully protected." A notification is expected by August 25, after the Governor's assent. Why is the BJP objecting? The Karnataka BJP strongly opposed the Bill, arguing that it undermines the Constitution's spirit. Opposition members claimed that the Greater Bengaluru Authority, led by the Chief Minister, was designed to weaken the autonomy of city corporations. 'The Bill is undemocratic and against the spirit of decentralisation," they argued. Leader of the Opposition R. Ashok criticised the proposed name 'Greater Bengaluru', suggesting a Kannada name instead. He warned that Kannadigas might lose their political voice in areas with high migrant populations, citing Delhi's failed experiment with multiple corporations as a cautionary example. He also noted the potential economic disparities due to differing revenue contributions from areas like Mahadevapura. The key contention in the Bill A primary point of contention was the proposal to divide Bengaluru into several municipal corporations, which the BJP opposed. The Opposition argued that splitting the city would reduce native Kannadiga control, particularly in migrant-dominated areas. Ashok called it an 'emotional issue," warning the government of long-term repercussions. 'Secondly, the concept of decentralisation has been damaged and freedom taken away. The corporation should have been independent, but you have made it a parasite by dividing it into five divisions. If one corporation collects good revenue, another will go bankrupt. They will come under the grip of the government," he said. Ashok further criticized the Bill, stating, 'Former PM late Rajiv Gandhi brought the 73rd Amendment to the Constitution, but this Bill goes against its objectives. What benefit will the people of Bengaluru get? This is not decentralisation of power. Since Dy CM Shivakumar is in charge of Bengaluru, there is centralisation of power. We don't want this. You may have the majority and get it passed, but this is not in the interest of society. Roll back this Bill." Raising concerns over discrimination politicking Other BJP MLAs, including Yelahanka's SR Vishwanath, cautioned that the Congress-led government might politically discriminate in allocating funds to corporations, especially if different parties controlled the state and civic bodies. They urged the government to wait until the ongoing delimitation exercise was completed to avoid confusion in constituency boundaries. Former Deputy CM and MLA CN Ashwath Narayan appealed to Congress MLAs to protect local bodies' rights. He warned that judicial intervention might become necessary if constitutional objectives were not upheld. He questioned the need for the PIL against the GBA Act and highlighted the importance of local bodies functioning independently as per the Constitution. Narayan elaborated, 'The head of the state is the Chief Minister, and the head of the GBA is also the Chief Minister. The freedom and empowerment that should have been given to local bodies are taken away through this Bill. The Greater Bengaluru Governance Act, overall, intends to interfere, and this is evident." He demanded more autonomy for civic bodies, arguing that local bodies should have authority over tax collection. 'If the CM and Dy CM interfere, how will you save democracy?" Congress defends the Bill Shivakumar responded to the Opposition, emphasising the need for proper governance in Bengaluru. He invited open discussions, stating, 'There must be clarity in this matter. Bengaluru needs proper governance. Let us discuss this for a full day if needed. Opposition members have more experience than us, and I am ready to accept their suggestions. If there are flaws in our draft, we will correct them. There is no secrecy here. We even formed a House Committee for open discussions." He assured that the government would consider Opposition leaders' opinions while finalising the bill. 'Let us first conduct elections. August 18 was the last date for objections, August 25 is the deadline for the Governor's assent, and the final notification will be issued on September 2." top videos View all BJP members questioned the necessity of a GBA headed by the Chief Minister when Mayors already head city corporations. They warned that multiple corporations would create revenue and development imbalances. They also raised concerns about notices sent to 30,000 households demanding additional taxes and accused the Commissioner of bypassing MLAs on various issues. Congress leaders defended the Bill, highlighting its importance in addressing Bengaluru's civic issues. Shivajinagar MLA Rizwan Arshad, who chaired the Joint Committee for GBA, stressed the need for decentralisation due to the city's diverse problems. Shivakumar rejected claims that the Bill aimed to divide the city, arguing that administrative efficiency required such measures. 'This is only a small amendment for the sake of clarity. The government's intention is to ensure no interference in the administration of city corporations," he explained. About the Author Rohini Swamy Rohini Swamy, Associate Editor at News18, has been a journalist for nearly two decades in the television and digital space. She covers south India for News18's digital platform. She has previously worked with More Click here to add News18 as your preferred news source on Google. Get Latest Updates on Movies, Breaking News On India, World, Live Cricket Scores, And Stock Market Updates. Also Download the News18 App to stay updated! tags : bengaluru karnataka politics view comments Location : Bengaluru, India, India First Published: August 20, 2025, 13:04 IST News politics 'Undemocratic': Congress, BJP Exchange Barbs In Karnataka Assembly Over Greater Bengaluru Bill Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. 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Indian Express
4 hours ago
- Indian Express
Karnataka govt clears 6:6:5 formula for Dalits' internal reservation after special Cabinet meeting
After a marathon special Cabinet meeting on Tuesday night, the Congress government in Karnataka arrived at a new formula to provide internal reservations for the Scheduled Caste (SC) community in jobs and education within the 17 per cent quota available to the 101 castes that fall under the category in the state. The Cabinet meeting headed by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah decided to uphold the recommendation of the Justice (retired) H N Nagamohan Das Commission to provide six per cent reservation to the most backward SCs categorised as the Dalit Left and comprising groups considered 'untouchables', like the Madigas. However, the Cabinet rejigged the quotas recommended for the Dalit Right group comprising communities like the Holeyas, who are more socially accepted, from the five per cent recommended by the Commission to six per cent. It has also done away with three sub-groups of 'touchable' castes and others, indicated by the Commission, and merged them with the 'touchable' group with five per cent quota. The 6:6:5 formula for the 17 per cent reservation is expected to be formally announced by Siddaramaiah on Wednesday during the ongoing Monsoon Session of the state legislature. The Chief Minister's Office (CMO) confirmed the new formula for internal quotas for SCs. On Tuesday night, Siddaramaiah was felicitated by Dalit Left groups for the Cabinet decision. They had been protesting over the last week seeking the implementation of the Justice Nagamohan Das Commission report. 'There will be a revolution if the internal quotas are not implemented. The government has to come up with some formula that is acceptable to all,' H Anjaneya, former minister and Dalit Left group leader, said on Tuesday ahead of the Cabinet meeting. The Congress party had promised to provide internal quotas for the SC community ahead of the 2023 state polls after Siddaramaiah had hesitated to implement internal quotas during his first tenure (2013-2018). The internal quota formulas, where the Dalit Left group got a larger share of the 17 per cent reservation, was opposed by politically stronger groups in the Congress, like the Dalit Right group which has prominent leaders like All India Congress Committee (AICC) president Mallikarjun Kharge and state Home Minister G Parameshwara. The touchable group has also opposed internal quotas. The delay in implementation of the internal quota system for Dalits had led to a freeze in government recruitments in Karnataka since October 2024. The decision to implement a new 6:6:5 quota plan is expected to restart the hiring process. The report on the social, economic, and educational situation of the SCs, prepared by a Commission headed by retired high court judge Justice H N Nagamohan Das, was presented to Siddaramaiah on August 4 and it was accepted by the government during a Cabinet meeting on August 7. A survey of SC subcastes, conducted on the recommendation of the Commission, found that the total SC population in Karnataka is 1,07,01,982. However, after removing the Budaga Jangam-Beda Jangam population (1,77,662) – regarding which there is a controversy due to a similar subcaste nomenclature among Lingayats – and the number of inter-caste married people who are not Scheduled Castes (14,449), the total population of SCs has been recorded as 1,05,09,871. As per the 2011 Census, the population of SC communities in Karnataka was 17 per cent (1.04 crore) of the total population (6.1 crore). The Commission recommended classifying the Dalit sub-castes into five categories, instead of the existing four, and to accord reservations according to their backwardness. 'Each category includes many castes. If the 17% reservation available for Scheduled Castes in the state of Karnataka is to be distributed to these categories, the reservation should be distributed according to their population,' the commission has stated in its report. 'However, if the reservation quota is distributed only according to population, the goal of social justice cannot be achieved. In addition to population, the reservation quota should be determined keeping in mind the educational, occupational, and social backwardness. It needs to be distributed,' the Commission stated in its report. The Commission recommended one per cent reservation to Category A, comprising 59 SC sub-castes with a population of 3.97 per cent; and six per cent for Category B (SC Left group), which is considered the most backward and constitutes 34.91 per cent of the SC population with 18 sub-castes. The Commission also recommended five per cent for Category C (SC Right group), who are considered less backward and politically established, and constitute 28.63 per cent of the SC population with 17 sub-castes; and four per cent for Category D (the 'touchables') who make up 26.97 per cent of SCs with four subcastes. A new Category E comprising 4.52 per cent of the SC population who have not been identified under a clear sub-caste but have been classified under three broad sub-groupings of Adi Dravida, Adi Andhra, and Adi Karnataka, has been recommended one per cent reservation. 'In the last 75 years, some Scheduled Castes have been empowered to some extent by enjoying reservation facilities. But the life of some people from these same Scheduled Castes is still miserable. The educational level of them and their children is very low,' the Commission noted. 'As a result, there is no higher education and no government jobs. The educational, occupational, and social backwardness of such castes should also be taken into consideration while distributing the amount of reservation,' the Commission stated. Further, it said that 'some castes that have received reservation facilities have seen educational, occupational, political, economic and social mobility. At the same time, some castes have not been able to get the benefit of reservation at all.' 'Understanding the situation, those who are better off have to make sacrifices for those who are less fortunate than them. The hungry should be fed first. Those who are well-fed should make some sacrifices. In accordance with this policy, the quota of reservation should be distributed on priority,' the Commission said, while justifying its division of the 17 per cent SC quota. Since the Karnataka government has halted recruitments in government services since October 2024 on account of the pending decision on internal quotas for SCs, the Commission said age relaxations should be extended to people from the SC community who have lost out on job opportunities in the last 10 months. In January 2025, the Karnataka government constituted the Justice Nagamohan Das Commission to study and submit a report on internal reservation for Scheduled Castes in the state. The Commission submitted an interim report on March 27 and requested a fresh survey of numbers due to the lack of accurate data. The door-to-door survey was conducted from May 5 to July 6, 2025. The survey covered 27,24,768 Scheduled Caste families and 1,07,01,982 people, the report said, noting poor response in urban areas. The survey also saw leaders of various SC communities directing community members to clearly state their sub-castes. As per the Supreme Court, classification of sub-castes can be done on the basis of educational backwardness, lack of representation in government employment, and social backwardness. The survey of sub-castes is part of the Congress government's efforts to fulfil an electoral promise to provide internal reservations for socially weaker sub-castes within the SC quota in the state. In Karnataka, the SC community is currently classified under four broad heads – the SC Left (the most backward like the Madigas who were considered untouchables in the caste system); the SC Right (like the Holeyas, who are less backward and accepted by other castes); the 'touchable' communities such as Banjaras and Bhovis (who are tribes in other states); and dozens of small communities who are classified as Others. The Dalit community has long demanded the caste survey to ascertain the numbers in each of the sub-castes to decide the division of quotas in government jobs, education, and political representation, which is now allegedly hogged by upwardly mobile social groups among the SCs like the Holeyas, and the Banjaras and Bhovis. The Justice Nagamohan Das Commission was set up by the Congress government after the previous BJP government (2019-2023) arrived at an ad hoc sub-quota number. During its tenure between 2019 and March 2023, the BJP government had enhanced SC quotas in the state from 15 per cent to 17 per cent in 2022, and announced internal reservation for SC communities in March 2023 by providing six per cent of the total of 17 per cent quota for the community to the SC Left group, 5.5 per cent to the SC Right group, 4.5 per cent to the touchables and one per cent to other SC groups. The BJP government fixed the internal quota on an ad hoc basis by considering the 2011 caste census numbers and by considering certain aspects of the 2012 Justice A J Sadashiva Commission report on internal quotas, while rejecting the Sadashiva Commission report itself. The most backward Dalit groups, like the Madigas, have been demanding the implementation of the Justice Sadashiva Commission report on account of the Commission recommending six per cent for the SC Left group, five per cent for the backward SC Right, three per cent for the 'touchable' group (Lambani, Bhovis, Korachas, Kormas), and one per cent for others. The Commission found that the majority of the reservation for the 101 sub-sects of Dalits in Karnataka was being cornered by the Dalit Right, including the Holeyas, and new SC groups like Bhovis and Lambanis, while the most backward groups, like the Madigas, remained deprived. The BJP's internal quota scheme backfired on the party to some extent, with the 'touchable' groups like the Bhovis and Banjaras expressing their displeasure against the party during the 2023 polls over the reduced internal quota of 4.5 per cent (against the previous 15 per cent) available to them. The BJP's scheme was, however, not implemented since the mandate for changing internal quotas was vested with the Union government at the time. In August 2024, a Supreme Court ruling said the granting of internal reservation is a constitutional measure and states can implement it on the basis of empirical data. While constituting the Justice Nagamohan Das Commission, the government felt that internal reservations for SCs based on population numbers – like in the Sadashiva Commission report – could possibly be struck down by courts for want of proper data as ordered by the Supreme Court. 'In the wake of three decades of continuous demands and pressure for internal reservation in the state, the Cabinet has agreed in principle to provide internal reservation for Scheduled Castes. There are 101 sub-castes…and the government has decided to take all of them into confidence and scientifically implement internal reservation,' Siddaramaiah said in 2024 when the Cabinet decided to set up the new Commission. The chief minister indicated that the Telangana government had already constituted a Commission along the same lines for the implementation of internal reservation, and that data is required for the scientific implementation of internal reservation as directed by the top court. Politically, the SC internal quota issue is a tricky subject for the Congress in Karnataka which has traditionally drawn its support from the SC Right group to which many of its prominent leaders belong. While the SC Left has supported the Congress in the past, many of these communities have moved towards the BJP in recent times on account of alleged neglect by the Congress in terms of political representation and opportunities. The most prominent SC Left leader in the Congress at present is K H Muniyappa, a seven-time MP and former Union minister. The SC Right group and the 'touchables', who have reportedly enjoyed the most access to the entire 15 per cent SC quota available in the state until now, are expected to resist any move by the Siddaramaiah-led Cabinet to divide the SC quota in the state since these two politically powerful groups will get reduced shares of five per cent and four per cent, respectively. Total population- 1,05,09,871 Total subcastes – 101 Total reservation – 17%
