AI Technology in Rural Employment Scheme: Centre Focuses on Curbing Irregularities

The Central Government plans to upgrade the National Mobile Monitoring System used for rural employment guarantee works by introducing artificial intelligence (AI)-based verification to curb fake attendance and prevent the misuse of funds. Union Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said the new system is being developed after authorities found that irregularities continued despite the introduction of facial authentication in March this year. In some cases, workers’ photographs were reportedly being captured instead of verifying the actual person. The AI-based system is intended to ensure that attendance is recorded only when a living person appears in front of the camera. If fake attendance or other irregularities are detected, the related Fund Transfer Order (FTO) will automatically be suspended until the issue is corrected. Attendance will continue through offline methods at worksites without mobile network connectivity. Exemptions will also be available for elderly workers, persons with disabilities and cases involving technical difficulties.

Chouhan also announced that India had achieved a major milestone in digital agriculture by issuing unique Farmer ID cards to 11 crore farmers ahead of schedule. The government had set a target of issuing 11 crore Farmer IDs by March 31, 2027, but reportedly completed the task five months earlier than planned. The digital identity system is intended to strengthen agricultural services and help streamline access to government schemes. The announcement highlights the Centre’s parallel efforts to use digital technology both to improve transparency in rural employment programmes and to expand digital identification in the agriculture sector.