UP Scholarships: UP Introduces Biometric Attendance for Student Scholarships: Key Rules You Need to Know 

Following a landmark change in its scholarship scheme, the Uttar Pradesh government has now made it mandatory for students to maintain at least 70% biometric attendance to avail scholarships offered during the 2024-2025 academic year. These rules are applicable both for pre-matric and post-matric scholarships, which are designed for students studying 9th and 10th,

11th and 12th, and undergraduate levels.

Scholarship Notification 2024-2025: Biometric Attendance Mandatory
The Social Welfare Department of Uttar Pradesh issued a notification wherein the new rule for obtaining scholarships is to be based on biometric attendance. Scholarships were handed out without biometric verification till now, and some cases of fraud have been reported. To avoid this kind of thing from happening in the future, only deserving students will receive the scholarship by making biometric attendance compulsory.

The following conditions apply to students:

• Minimum 70% of attendance will be recorded biometrically.
• Attendance will be tracked and confirmed by fingerprints captured at the college or school.
• Students who do not achieve the required attendance number will not be eligible for any scholarships, and their names will be delisted in the beneficiary list.

How The Biometric Process Works

The government has appointed nodal officers to oversee the use of biometric attendance.

1. Nodal Authority: District Social Welfare Officers will be nodal officers at district level. School principals, and college administrators have been appointed as nodal officers at the institute level.
2. Registration: Students' fingerprint enrollment will be taken and their biometric enrollment will be done under the aegis of school or college authority
3. Recording of Attendance: After enrolment, student has to compulsorily mark his/her attendance through biometric every day.
4. Verification: The rule indicates that only students who obtain 70% of biometric attendance shall be eligible for scholarships

Effect on Pre-Matric and Post-Matric Scholarships

The rule cuts across both pre-matric and postmatric scholarships because it ensures that the same standards are met at both educational levels. The scholarship is targeted towards the economically weaker sections and caters for tuition fees, amongst other education costs.

Why the Change?

There have been some cases of scams reported during the past few years where a name gained scholarship solely based on the non-verification process. Now, the biometric attendance systems have been incorporated:

• It reduces the chances of fake or ghost beneficiaries.
• Determines regular attendance by attending classes to qualify.
• Reduces the paperwork and makes the process easier, free of human errors, due to digital attendance systems.

What happens if the attendance is 70% or less?

All these students who cannot maintain at least 70 percent biometric attendance will be forced out of the scholarship program. Their names will automatically be struck off the eligible list, and no financial assistance will be provided to them for that academic year.

Role of Social Welfare Department

The Social Welfare Department has been responsible for deploying and ensuring the correct operation of the biometric system. The department has instructed schools and colleges to properly follow the guidelines so that these systems are properly deployed.

• Installing biometric devices is the responsibility of the principals and administrators.
• Students and staff are being trained to correctly use this system.
• Benefits of Biometric Attendance for Scholarships

Students, schools, and the government benefit from the biometric system:

Reduced Frauds: Only true scholarship-worthy candidates will get their scholarships, not truants.

• Increased Accountability: Daily attendance and class attendance are enhanced.
• Efficient Tracking: Biometric-based attendance is reduced by manual errors.

Criticism and Challenges

As this efficiency-enhancing system is implemented, the drawbacks are also surfaced:  

• Implementation Expenses: The costs of setting up biometric equipment will need to be borne by educational institutions.
• Technical Glitches: Power cuts and dysfunction of devices may affect attendance recording.
• Impact on Marginalized Students: Students who reside in isolated locations that are far away from schools face the challenge of increasing attendance levels.

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