India Implements Facial Recognition for Poshan 2.0, Anganwadi Services

India's Ministry of Women and Child Development, led by Union Minister Annapurna Devi, has implemented a facial recognition system (FRS) under Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0 to eliminate duplication and ensure benefits reach genuine beneficiaries. The system involves a one-time Aadhaar-based eKYC and live photo capture, followed by monthly face matching during take-home ration distribution, making physical presence at Anganwadi centers mandatory. This technology aims to enhance transparency, accountability, and efficiency in service delivery while promoting greater interaction between beneficiaries and Anganwadi workers. Since July 1, 2025, FRS has been mandatory nationwide, with full registration required from August 1. Parliamentary committees have reviewed the implementation, praising the system's role in preventing leakages and discussing operational details such as offline functionality and integration with the Poshan Tracker app for real-time monitoring. However, concerns about facial recognition technology's privacy implications persist globally, highlighted by security breaches in unrelated apps like Tea Dating Advice, which failed to protect user data despite privacy claims.