IndiaAI challenge empowers startups to tackle exam duplication with AI

IndiaAI, an Independent Business Division under the Digital India Corporation (DIC) of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), has launched the IndiaAI Face Authentication Challenge as part of the IndiaAI Application Development Initiative (IADI). This initiative invites startups and companies to develop highly accurate, secure, and scalable AI-enabled solutions for image verification and application de-duplication, aiming to enhance the integrity of large-scale public examinations and ensure a just, fair, and impartial merit-based selection of candidates. The solutions developed should have cross-sectoral applicability for deployment across various government departments and state organizations.

The challenge requires participants to develop applications capable of robust photo verification and de-duplication using one-to-many matching techniques against historical applicant databases. These end-to-end AI solutions must move beyond traditional logic-based methods, utilizing advanced facial verification algorithms for automated duplicate detection. The goal is to guarantee the issuance of a single, unique ID for every authorized applicant, thereby safeguarding institutional integrity and promoting accountability by eliminating duplication and identity fraud in examination processes.

The challenge offers an exciting prize pool of ₹2.5 crore. Up to 10 shortlisted teams will receive ₹5 lakh each to refine and test their solutions on a sample dataset. Additionally, up to two top teams may be awarded a two-year contract and up to ₹1 crore for final solution deployment. This initiative aligns with the Government of India's vision of leveraging AI for inclusive growth and responsible development of AI. Interested participants can find the application portal and submission guidelines on the IndiaAI website: indiaai.gov.in . The last date for form submission is October 25, 2025.

IndiaAI is the implementation agency of the IndiaAI Mission, which aims to democratize AI's benefits across all strata of society, bolster India’s global leadership in AI, foster technological self-reliance, and ensure ethical and responsible use of AI.