CURRENT AFFAIRS

Detailed explanation-1: -What is the DigiYatra scheme? Launched by the Ministry of Civil Aviation, DigiYatra is a biometric-based digital processing of passengers at airports. Passengers will be automatically processed based on a facial recognition system at checkpoints, including entry point check, security check, aircraft boarding.

Detailed explanation-2: -The first such robust system for indexing fingerprints was developed in India by Azizul Haque for Edward Henry, Inspector General of Police, Bengal, India. This system, called the Henry System, and variations on it are still in use for classifying fingerprints.

Detailed explanation-3: -In the first phase, the initiative will be launched at seven airports, starting with three - Delhi, Bengaluru, and Varanasi, followed by four airports namely Hyderabad, Kolkata, Pune, and Vijayawada by March 2023. Subsequently, the technology will be implemented across the country.

Detailed explanation-4: -The new system A passengers’ facial features will be scanned by the facial recognition system at e-gates located at these checkpoints to establish their identity, which will be linked to their boarding pass. For the contactless process, passengers’ travel details will have to be linked to a mobile application.

Detailed explanation-5: -In order to simplify air travel, the government has made certain airports paperless. Under this drive, air terminals will utilise a facial acknowledgment programming called ‘DigiYatra’ for passage. As a result, passengers will not be required to carry their boarding pass and ID.