The Common Admission Test for 2026 will incorporate artificial intelligence-based facial recognition technology for the first time, deploying the system across every examination center to bolster identity verification and stop proxy test-takers. IIM Indore Director Himanshu Rai confirmed the update, explaining that the new security procedure will compare test-takers against the pictures they provided when submitting their entrance applications. As the institution organizing this year's exam, IIM Indore intends to roll out the technology universally rather than limiting it to specific testing locations.
The deployment of automated facial scanning naturally triggers worries regarding technical errors, poor lighting or camera resolution, and potential entry rejections. To counter these anxieties, Rai guaranteed that administrative safeguards have been established to protect authentic applicants from suffering any barriers at the test gates. A comprehensive standard operating procedure has been formulated to handle any scanning inconsistencies, guaranteeing that no applicant will be barred from taking the test on the grounds of a facial mismatch.
Regarding privacy concerns over the collection and retention of biometric records, Rai emphasized that the technology functions solely to authenticate the individual present at the venue against the original application photo, without archiving any newly gathered biometric information. CAT serves as the premier national entrance examination for securing admission into postgraduate management programs throughout the Indian Institutes of Management and numerous other elite business schools across the country. By integrating this extra layer of digital verification, the testing authorities aim to eliminate fraudulent attempts while keeping the process seamless for legitimate candidates.