The Common Admission Test (CAT) 2026 will for the first time see AI-based facial recognition, with the technology being deployed across all examination centres to strengthen candidate identity verification and prevent impersonation.
Confirming the development, IIM Indore Director Himanshu Rai said the new mechanism would be used to match candidates appearing for the examination with the photographs submitted during the application process. IIM Indore is conducting CAT 2026 this time.
“Yes, it is being introduced for the first time for CAT. The procedure will be implemented across all examination centres,” Rai said.
The introduction of AI-based verification, however, may raise concerns among candidates about being denied entry due to technical glitches, poor image quality or the system’s inability to recognise their faces.
Addressing these concerns, Rai assured candidates that the institute has put safeguards in place to prevent genuine applicants from facing entry-related difficulties.
“A standard operating procedure has been developed to address such eventualities. The process ensures that this year no candidates are denied entry as a result of mismatch,” he said.
CAT 2026: HOW WILL AI FACIAL RECOGNITION WORK?
The facial recognition mechanism will serve as an additional layer of identity verification at examination centres. It will compare the face of a candidate appearing for the test with the photograph uploaded during the CAT application process.
According to Rai, the primary objective behind introducing the technology is to strengthen the examination’s identity verification mechanism and prevent impersonation.
“The primary objective is to strengthen the examination’s identity verification mechanism and prevent impersonation,” he said.
The technology will be deployed at all examination centres, rather than being restricted to select locations.
WHAT ABOUT CANDIDATES’ FACIAL DATA AND PRIVACY?
The introduction of AI-based facial recognition has also raised questions about the collection, storage and protection of candidates’ personal information.
Clarifying the institute’s position, Rai said the mechanism would be used exclusively for identity matching and would not involve storing any new data.
“The facial recognition mechanism is used solely to match the candidate present at the examination centre with the photograph submitted at the time of application. No new data is stored,” he said.
However, the director’s response did not specify a separate data-retention timeline or elaborate on the technical safeguards governing the processing of candidates’ facial information.
CAT 2026: WHY IS IIM INDORE INTRODUCING AI VERIFICATION?
CAT is the national-level entrance examination for admission to postgraduate management programmes at the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) and several other business schools.
With AI-based facial recognition being introduced for the first time, CAT 2026 will see an additional layer of technology-assisted identity verification across its examination network.
The move is aimed at curbing impersonation while ensuring that genuine candidates are not inconvenienced by technical failures during the verification process.
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