AI tools to be used to verify attendance in jobs scheme, Pg9

Key Highlights:

• Union Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan announced an upgraded mobile application for attendance verification in the Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission Gramin (VB-G RAM G) scheme.
• The new version incorporates AI-based verification, liveness detection, and enhanced security features to prevent tampering and fraudulent attendance.
• This upgrade aims to address previous issues like "photo-to-photo capturing" instead of live images, mismatches in worker counts, and discrepancies in gender composition.
• The system includes an AI-based photo de-duplication module that identifies suspicious or repeated photographs, withholding wage payments until checks are completed.
• Provisions for offline attendance and an authorized exception mechanism for elderly workers, persons with disabilities, or technical issues are also included.

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Detailed Insights:

• The VB-G RAM G scheme, which replaced the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) from July 1, 2026, aims to ensure transparent use of public funds and protect workers' wages.
• Face authentication was initially introduced in the National Mobile Monitoring System (NMMS) in March 2026 to combat fake attendance under the previous rural employment program.
• Despite earlier face authentication, issues persisted, including static photo capturing, inaccurate worker counts, and repeated photographs across muster rolls.
• The upgraded system's liveness detection verifies that the person appearing before the camera is a real, live worker, not a dummy image or old photograph.
• AI-based face verification has been refined to account for differences across States and geographical regions.
• The multi-layered verification system ensures payments correspond to genuine work, with the AI de-duplication module flagging suspicious entries.
• The VB-G RAM G Act, 2025 guarantees 125 days of wage employment per rural household annually, an increase from the 100 days under MGNREGA.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission Gramin (VB-G RAM G): India's new rural employment scheme, replacing MGNREGA, guaranteeing 125 days of wage employment per rural household annually.
• Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA): A social welfare measure enacted in 2005, guaranteeing 100 days of wage employment to rural households.
• National Mobile Monitoring System (NMMS): A mobile application used for real-time attendance and geo-tagged photo capture of workers at worksites.
• AI-based Verification: Use of artificial intelligence for facial recognition, liveness detection, and photo de-duplication to ensure accurate attendance.