Latest news with #Khedkar
India Today
23-05-2025
- Politics
- India Today
UPSC to use biometric, AI tools in exams from June to curb cheating
In a move aimed at tightening exam security and curbing fraudulent practices, the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) is preparing to introduce Aadhaar-based biometric authentication and AI-powered surveillance for its recruitment exams beginning June this year. However, this upgrade in examination protocol will not be applied to the upcoming Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2025, scheduled for Sunday, which will see nearly 9.5 lakh candidates across 80 to sources, the biometric verification system will include fingerprint authentication, facial recognition, and QR code scanning of e-admit cards. Additionally, live AI-enabled CCTV monitoring will be deployed to prevent impersonation and detect suspicious behaviour during decision comes in the wake of high-profile controversies such as the Puja Khedkar case, where the former IAS probationer was accused of using multiple identities to exceed the permissible number of attempts in the Civil Services Examination (CSE). The UPSC had revoked her candidature for the 2022 exam after determining that she had applied under different names, including changes to her parents' details. Although Khedkar has challenged the action in court, the incident has triggered a comprehensive review of UPSC's examination and verification systems. The groundwork for the biometric and AI integration was laid last year when the UPSC invited bids from public sector undertakings for implementing the technological overhaul. The Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) later approved the Commission's request to use Aadhaar authentication voluntarily for identity verification at various stages of the recruitment Chairman Dr Ajay Kumar confirmed that the new systems will be operational for all exams starting in June. The Commission conducts 14 major exams annually, including the Civil Services, Engineering Services, and Combined Medical Services exams, among the Khedkar controversy, the UPSC conducted a retrospective analysis of over 15,000 candidates recommended between 2009 and 2023. The investigation revealed no other anomalies in terms of excessive attempts, reinforcing the need for a more robust identity verification UPSC has also committed to refining its Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to prevent similar breaches in the future, signaling a broader push toward greater transparency and accountability in one of the country's most prestigious recruitment processes.
Indian Express
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
UPSC likely to implement biometric authentication from June
In order to prevent malpractices by candidates, the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) is likely to implement Aadhaar-based biometric authentication for its exams starting in June, The Indian Express has learnt. This, however, will not affect the Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2025, which is scheduled to be held across 80 centres with around 9.5 lakh students expected to appear on Sunday, as per UPSC sources. The Commission had in June last year kicked off the project by inviting bids from public sector undertakings for 'Aadhaar based Fingerprint Authentication/Digital Fingerprint Capturing & Facial Recognition of Candidates, QR Code Scanning of e-Admit Cards and Live AI-based CCTV Surveillance', as per the tender document. Following that, the Department of Personnel and Training had on August 28, 2024 notified that the UPSC was 'allowed to perform Aadhaar authentication, on voluntary basis, for verification of identity of candidates at the time of registration on 'One Time Registration' portal and various stages of examination/recruitment test, using Yes/No or/and e-KYC authentication facility.' When asked about the status of the project, UPSC chairman Dr Ajay Kumar told The Indian Express: 'This will be launched for all exams starting in June itself'. The UPSC conducts 14 major examinations as well as recruitment tests and interviews for Group A and Group B posts in the Union Government. As per its tender document, the UPSC called for Aadhaar-based fingerprint authentication and facial recognition of candidates and scanning of e-Admit Cards with QR codes to prevent impersonation, and live AI-based CCTV surveillance during exams to check for cheating. The move comes at a time when the UPSC is facing scrutiny over the case of Puja Khedkar, the former IAS probationer who was dismissed from service last year following allegations of forgery and misconduct. The UPSC had in July 2024 cancelled Khedkar's candidature for the CSE 2022 saying that she had appeared for the examination beyond the maximum attempts allowed and had applied under different names herself and of her parents. The DoPT then dismissed her from service. Khedkar has denied the charges and has contested the decision in court. Following the case, the UPSC had examined the data of the number of attempts availed by over 15,000 recommended candidates from 2009 to 2023. 'After this detailed exercise, barring the case of Ms. Puja Manorama Dilip Khedkar, no other candidate has been found to have availed more number of attempts than permitted under the CSE Rules. In the lone case of Ms. Puja Manorama Dilip Khedkar, the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) of the UPSC could not detect her number of attempts primarily due to the fact that she changed not only her name but also her parents' name. The UPSC is in the process of further strengthening the SOP to ensure that such a case does not recur in the future,' the UPSC had said in a statement on July 31 last year. Damini Nath is an Assistant Editor with the national bureau of The Indian Express. She covers the housing and urban affairs and Election Commission beats. She has 11 years of experience as a reporter and sub-editor. Before joining The Indian Express in 2022, she was a reporter with The Hindu's national bureau covering culture, social justice, housing and urban affairs and the Election Commission. ... Read More
Hindustan Times
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
SC grants pre-arrest bail to ex-IAS trainee officer in UPSC fraud case
The Supreme Court on Wednesday granted anticipatory bail to former Indian Administrative Service (IAS) trainee officer Puja Khedkar, accused of forging documents to obtain eligibility for the 2022 civil services examination exam. 'Having regard to the nature of offences registered against her and bearing in mind the facts and circumstances of the case, this is a fit case where the high court ought to have granted the relief of anticipatory bail to the appellant,' a bench led by justice BV Nagarathna said. While disposing off Khedkar's plea, the court also permitted Delhi police to seek cancellation of bail in the event she is found to tamper with evidence, influence witnesses or not cooperating with the probe. 'In the event of her arrest, the appellant shall be released on shall extend full cooperation in the investigation and shall not misuse her liberty. She shall not, in anyway, influence the witnesses or tamper with the materials on record,' the bench, also comprising justice SC Sharma, said. The court further required her to furnish cash sureties of ₹25,000 with two live sureties. In December 2024, the Delhi high court refused to grant her anticipatory bail, forming a prima facie view that a larger conspiracy needs to be probed behind her attempt to dupe the UPSC. Senior advocate Siddharth Luthra, appearing for Khedkar along with advocate Bina Madhavan, pointed out that pursuant to the order passed last month, she has been cooperating with the probe and had appeared before the officer concerned on May 2. Khedkar was granted protection from arrest in February this year and this order was extended from time to time. Luthra urged the court to consider making the relief permanent subject to the conditions that the court may impose. The police opposed the grant of pre-arrest bail ,pointing out that the investigation is still on and the charges against her are serious. However, the court balanced the apprehension of the state in its order, saying, 'Should there be any violation of the aforesaid conditions, liberty is granted to the respondents to seek cancellation of anticipatory bail.' As per the case against Khedkar, from 2012 to 2017, she appeared in the CSE using an OBC certificate issued to her by sub-divisional officer, Pathravi in Ahmednagar district of Maharashtra. In 2018, when the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 (RPwD) Act came into force, she became eligible to appear as PwBD candidate and appeared as such in the CSE since 2018. According to the investigation conducted against her, while attempting CSE 2020, she had already exhausted all the nine permissible attempts available to PwBD + OBC candidates and was not eligible to appear in CSE 2021. However, she changed her name in 2021, and appeared in CSE 2021, 2022, and 2023 by making 'incorrect or false statements' regarding the number of attempts already availed by her. The UPSC issued her show cause notices in July last year for alleged suppression of information. This was followed by show cause notice issued by the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pension before UPSC cancelled her provisional candidature on July 31, 2024. Khedkar, in her petition, said that the high court failed to appreciate that the charges against her pertain to cheating and fraud based on documentary evidence which is already in possession of the police, making it a fit case for grant of anticipatory bail. She claimed to be suffering from multiple disability of low vision, hearing impairment, and mental illness to be eligible under the disability category as well.
United News of India
21-05-2025
- Politics
- United News of India
SC grants anticipatory bail to ex-IAS officer Puja Khedkar in fake certificate case
New Delhi, May 21 (UNI) The Supreme Court on Wednesday granted anticipatory bail to former IAS probationer Puja Khedkar, who is facing serious allegations of submitting forged OBC and PwBD (Persons with Benchmark Disabilities) certificates to clear the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) Civil Services Examination. A Bench comprising Justice B.V. Nagarathna and Justice Satish Chandra Sharma allowed the criminal appeal filed by Khedkar challenging the Delhi High Court's earlier denial of anticipatory bail. 'In view of the nature of offences and facts and circumstances of the case, this is a fit case where the High Court ought to have granted the relief of anticipatory bail,' the Bench observed. The Court made permanent the interim protection from arrest that had been granted to Khedkar in January. The final order reads, 'In the event of arrest, the appellant shall be released on bail upon furnishing cash surety of Rs 25,000 along with two live sureties. She shall extend full cooperation in the investigation, shall not misuse her liberty, and shall not influence witnesses or tamper with evidence. Liberty is reserved to the respondent to seek cancellation of bail in case of any violation.' The Court rejected the argument of the State Counsel, who contended that Khedkar, while appearing before the investigating agency, was not fully cooperating. It was also argued that the accusations were grave in nature, involving exceeding permissible UPSC attempts by using fake certificates, and therefore she should not be granted anticipatory bail. Appearing for Khedkar, Senior Advocate Sidharth Luthra countered these submissions and maintained that she was entitled to protection under law. The case against Khedkar stems from an FIR filed by UPSC, which alleged that she forged documents to claim reservation under OBC and PwBD categories, and thereby appeared for the examination beyond the permissible number of attempts. Earlier, on March 18, the Supreme Court had extended Khedkar's interim protection and denied the Delhi Police's request for custodial interrogation, despite the police's claim that they were probing a 'larger scam' involving forged documents in the civil services examination. In December 2024, the Delhi High Court had dismissed Khedkar's anticipatory bail plea, holding that she was not prima facie eligible for benefits meant for disadvantaged sections and had manipulated the system through forgery and misrepresentation. The High Court had also expressed concern that releasing her could adversely affect the ongoing investigation. Khedkar joined the Pune Collectorate as an IAS probationer in June 2024. Following public controversy and the FIR, UPSC issued a show-cause notice for cancellation of her selection and barred her from future exams. A public statement issued by the UPSC further revealed that Khedkar changed her name, her parents' names, photograph, signature, email ID, mobile number, and residential address to fraudulently obtain additional attempts at the CSE and to fake her social and physical status. While granting relief, the Supreme Court has made it clear that the bail conditions must be strictly followed, and any breach will allow authorities to seek cancellation.
India Gazette
21-05-2025
- Politics
- India Gazette
SC grants anticipatory bail to former IAS trainee Puja Khedkar in fraud case
New Delhi [India], May 21 (ANI): The Supreme Court on Wednesday granted anticipatory bail to former Indian Administrative Service (IAS) trainee officer Puja Khedkar, accused of forging her documents to obtain eligibility for the 2022 Union Public Service Commission test. A bench of Justices BV Nagarathna and Satish Chandra Sharma asked Khedkar to cooperate in the probe. During the hearing, the bench said, 'What is the grave crime she has committed? She is not a drug lord or a terrorist. She has not committed 302 (murder). She is not an NDPS offender. She has not committed 376 offence (rape).' The apex court while granting anticipatory bail to her said that she will cooperate with the investigation and shall not in anyway influence the witnesses or tamper with the material on records. 'In the event of arrest, the appellant shall be released on bail, furnishing cash sureties of Rs. 35,000 with two sureties. She shall extend complete cooperation in the ensuing investigation and shall not misuse her liberty, and shall not in any way influence the witnesses or tamper with the material on records. Should there be any violation of the aforesaid conditions, the liberty is reserved to the respondent to seek cancellation of anticipatory bail. With the aforesaid directions, criminal appeal is allowed,' the order stated. Khedkar is accused of cheating and wrongly availing OBC and disability quota benefits in the civil services examination. Earlier, the apex court had been extending its interim order of granting protection from arrest to Khedkar. Khedkar has opposed her plea and said that she has not cooperated with the probe. Khedkar had challenged in the top court the Delhi High Court order rejecting her anticipatory bail plea. In January, the apex court granted her interim protection from arrest and asked her to cooperate in the investigation. Khedkar is accused of fraudulently availing a reservation meant for Other Backwards Classes (OBC) and Persons with Benchmark Disabilities in order to clear the Union Public Service Commission exam (UPSC exam). The Delhi High Court while dismissing anticipatory bail plea had made strong observations against Khedkar saying its a 'classic example of fraud, not only with a constitutional body but also with society and the nation as a whole.' The High Court had emphasised that interrogation is necessary to uncover the conspiracy involved. The High Court had also highlighted that the father and mother held high-ranking positions, suggesting the possibility of collusion with influential individuals. Khedkar is facing criminal charges filed by the Delhi Police, accusing her of cheating and unlawfully claiming OBC and disability quota benefits in the civil services examination. (ANI)
