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Indian students issued with smart cards
16 Apr 2010

In order to curb the proliferation of fake degree certificates, Indian students are to be issued with contactless smart cards when claiming their degrees.

The smart cards are designed to combat a plague of degree forgeries, which often prevent employers from being able to tell how well qualified a potential candidate may or may not be.

Speaking to the Press Trust of India, Rajesh Tope, Indian higher and technical education minister, said: "All universities in the state would be directed under University's Act 8, about the smart cards, to check bogus certificates and degrees by the students."

"Employers can verify validity of the certificates from the University websites."

Smart cards are already being used by the Indian government to cut crime in other areas.

In Delhi, citizens on welfare have been given contactless smart cards containing biometric security data and details of their entitlements in a bid to cut benefit fraud and ensure that welfare is effectively delivered to those who need it.

Other parts of the world have seen contactless smart cards used by organisations such as the UK-based sQuid for quick and effective transit payment, paying for low value retail goods and in cashless catering schemes in schools.

sQuid has recently rolled out a nationwide loyalty card scheme following a successful trial with Coffee Republic.