Karnataka Launches AI‑Powered Kartavya‑KAAMS App for Real‑Time School Staff Attendance
The Karnataka state education department rolled out the Kartavya‑KAAMS (Knowledge‑Assisted Attendance Management System) mobile application on May 11, 2026, mandating that all teaching and non‑teaching staff record their attendance twice daily from their exact duty location beginning the 2026‑27 academic year.
The initiative aims to curb absenteeism and improve transparency in the state’s 25,000 public schools, aligning with the central government’s Digital India objectives. The app integrates artificial intelligence for facial recognition and geographic information system (GIS) verification, ensuring that entries are authentic and location‑based.
The Hindu reported that the department’s director, Dr. S. Kumar, emphasized that “non‑compliance will attract disciplinary action” and that the system will feed data into the state’s education management information system (EMIS). Meanwhile, a review by the National Institute of Education Governance noted that similar biometric attendance systems have reduced teacher absenteeism by up to 30 % in pilot districts.
Education experts caution that privacy concerns and technical glitches could hinder adoption, especially in remote schools with limited internet connectivity. Dr. Nisha Patel, a policy analyst at the Indian School of Development, called for robust data‑protection safeguards and offline verification options.
The education department will monitor implementation during the first quarter of the 2026‑27 session, with a plan to publish periodic compliance reports. The success of Kartavya‑KAAMS may influence other Indian states considering AI‑driven attendance solutions for public sector employees.