India is set to implement facial recognition technology (FRT) for international air travel, with a pilot study scheduled for June 2025, announced Suresh Khadakbhavi, CEO of the Digi Yatra Foundation. “We are planning an international pilot project in June 2025 between two countries. We don’t want to overcommit, but we are actively working in this direction,” he stated.
Currently, the DigiYatra service is available for domestic travelers, enabling contactless airport entry through facial recognition. This mobile-based platform allows air travelers to securely store their identification and travel documents, eliminating the need for physical ID checks.
While DigiYatra is presently limited to domestic travelers in India, the plan is to extend this technology to international visitors. Khadakbhavi mentioned, “We will collaborate with the Bureau of Immigration and visa-issuing agencies to facilitate this service for international travelers entering and leaving India.”
Currently, DigiYatra is operational at several airports, including Indira Gandhi International Airport (Delhi), Kempegowda International Airport (Bengaluru), Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport (Varanasi), Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (Hyderabad), Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport (Kolkata), Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (Mumbai), Pune International Airport, and Cochin International Airport.
Additionally, Khadakbhavi revealed that e-passports are in development for Indian international travelers. “We will initially roll out e-passports for international passengers, and Indian citizens will gain access once the government begins issuing them,” he noted. He also mentioned that countries like Singapore and those within the European Union have already launched e-passports, with a significant portion of their populations holding these documents. Thus, the pilot project will involve their participation.
