Karnataka to roll out centralised facial recognition attendance system for PU college staff
Bengaluru: The Director for School Education and Literacy (Pre-University) will reportedly be introducing a facial recognition system to record the attendance of lecturers and principals in PU colleges across Karnataka from December 2025.
At present, a biometric system is used to track the attendance of lecturers in colleges, but it operates on a decentralised basis. Attendance is recorded individually at each college, rather than being centrally managed.
“The current facial recognition system is a centralised one which means the director of PU department can access and keep a tab on the attendance of lecturers and principals. An app called Karnataka Attendance Management System (KAMS) has to be downloaded by lecturers, principals and clerical staff of a college,” The New Indian Express quoted an official from the Department of Pre-University Education as saying.
The official explained the process that when lecturers arrive at college, they need to log in, take a picture that captures the address or geotag of the college location, and upload it to KAMS. For lecturers on deputation to two different colleges, they must upload a picture each time they visit either college on their assigned days.
This isn't the first time the facial recognition system has been introduced in colleges. Earlier this year, the system was tested on a pilot basis in one of the PU government colleges in Gadag, where it produced positive results, added the report.
The official noted that the centralised system eliminates the hassle of spending money on the maintenance of biometric systems. Since each college in the state has purchased its system from different vendors, the vendors charge whatever they wish, and when the machines break down, they often fail to address complaints, particularly in rural areas, the official added.
Karnataka has approximately 2,000 government and aided PU colleges, employing around 7,627 lecturers. The introduction of the facial recognition system was also announced in the State Budget for 2025–26.
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Jazeera likely to operate bi-weekly charter flights between Kuwait-M'luru via Dammam from April 8
Mangaluru: Kuwaiti low-cost carrier, Jazeera Airways will likely operate special bi-weekly charter flights between Kuwait and Mangaluru via Dammam starting April 8, 2026, sources said.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has reportedly granted permission for the special operations. The flights will operate twice a week, on Wednesdays and Sundays.
As per the plan, passengers will be ferried from Kuwait to Dammam by road, a journey of around six hours. The route will include a mandatory stop at the Saudi border for checks before reaching Dammam airport, from where they will board the flight to Mangaluru. A similar process will be followed on the return journey, with a stop at the Kuwait border for mandatory checks.
Flight J9 3417 will depart Kuwait at 8.40 am (local time) and arrive in Mangaluru at 4.10 pm IST. On the return leg, Flight J9 3418 will depart Mangaluru at 4.55 pm IST and reach Kuwait at 7.40 pm (local time).
Jazeera Airways had earlier operated special charter flights to Mangaluru during the global pandemic.
The airline is also considering increasing the frequency from two to four flights per week, subject to approvals from the authorities, sources added.
