In a bid to enhance workplace discipline and modernize attendance tracking, the Tamil Nadu government has mandated the use of biometric and Face ID-based attendance for officers and staff of the Human Resources Management Department at the State Secretariat starting June 1. This initiative, a first in a Secretariat department, is set to be gradually expanded to other departments. Employees are required to record their attendance using biometric authentication or Face ID verification as per a circular issued by the Human Resources Management Department.
The new system aims to promote transparency, accountability, and punctuality among government employees. Staff members must report for duty before 10 a.m. and ensure their attendance is logged through the digital system. Alongside the electronic mechanism, manual attendance records must also be maintained until further notice. The circular emphasizes the implementation of the biometric or Face ID attendance system from June 1, urging all officers and staff to comply.
In addition to the attendance requirement, employees are instructed to wear their official identity cards while on duty within the Secretariat premises. The attendance system, previously trialed and temporarily halted due to employee concerns, has now been reinstated after a successful trial phase and operational review. This move aligns with the state government’s broader agenda to enforce attendance and punctuality norms across departments.
The Human Resources Management Department will lead the initiative as a pilot project, with plans to extend the digital attendance system gradually to other Secretariat departments. This phased approach is expected to streamline attendance monitoring and enhance operational efficiency in government offices.
