Biometric/OTP Based Geo Tagged Attendance System for GDS through Dak Saathi App
Biometric/OTP-Based Geo-Tagged Attendance System for GDS through Dak Saathi App
The Department of Posts has initiated the implementation of a Biometric/OTP-based Geo-tagged Attendance System for Gramin Dak Sevaks (GDS) and departmental employees through the Dak Saathi App, with the objective of establishing a reliable and independent attendance mechanism.
The initiative follows a review meeting chaired by Member (Personnel) on 18 September 2026 regarding the implementation of geo-tagged biometric/facial attendance for Branch Postmasters (BPMs) and other categories of staff. The Department noted operational constraints with the existing AeBAS application on MDM-enabled IPPB devices and accordingly requested CEPT to deploy the attendance module within the Dak Saathi App, formerly known as the My Employee App.
Pilot Rollout from 1 October 2026
Following the sharing of the Dak Saathi APK with India Post Payments Bank (IPPB), the application has already been pushed to 15 devices of Branch Offices in Madhya Pradesh Circle for initial testing.
The implementation will proceed in two phases:
- Phase-I – Pilot Rollout: Across all Branch Offices of two selected Postal Divisions in every Postal Circle from 1 October 2026.
- Observation Period: Circles will monitor field performance and submit feedback and observations by 5 November 2026.
- Phase-II – Pan-India Extension: Rollout to all remaining Branch Offices across the country from 1 December 2026.
For the Phase-I pilot, each Circle has been requested to identify two Divisions—one rural/remote and one urban—and ensure operational readiness before the launch.
Key Responsibilities of CEPT
CEPT has been entrusted with several important technical and operational activities, including coordination with IPPB for the deployment of the stable Dak Saathi application on MDM-enabled BPM devices across Circles.
CEPT will also provide the detailed Standard Operating Procedure (SOP), process flow and technical requirements necessary for successful implementation of biometric/OTP-based attendance.
Another major component is the development of an administrative MIS Dashboard at Directorate, Circle and Divisional levels. The dashboard is intended to facilitate real-time attendance monitoring, anomaly detection and leave reconciliation.
Transition to Facial Recognition
The Department has also directed CEPT to expedite the final development, testing and rollout of the facial recognition-based attendance feature. This is intended to replace the interim OTP/biometric authentication mechanism at the earliest.
Evaluation of Pilot Implementation
The Madhya Pradesh Circle has been asked to submit a consolidated evaluation report covering the initial 15 pilot Branch Offices. The report will specifically assess:
- App stability
- Geo-fencing accuracy
- Authentication performance
- Operational issues
The report is to be submitted by 28 September 2026.
All Postal Circles are also required to submit a comprehensive one-month performance and feedback report to the Directorate by 10 November 2026.
Extension to Departmental Employees
The Department has further asked for examination of the feasibility and scope of extending the Dak Saathi attendance module to departmental staff, including eligible cadres. This examination will also cover the choice of interim authentication methods, including OTP or Circle-provided MANTRA biometric devices, as well as administrative instructions concerning the use of mobile applications on personal devices.
Conclusion
The Dak Saathi-based attendance initiative represents a phased approach to implementing geo-tagged, authenticated and digitally monitored attendance across Branch Offices. With the pilot scheduled from 1 October 2026, followed by nationwide expansion from 1 December 2026, the system is expected to provide centralized monitoring, improved attendance verification and better anomaly and leave reconciliation capabilities. The eventual transition to facial recognition is also planned as the next stage of the attendance mechanism.