Facial biometric data

Facial biometric data
Question: Recently which country became the first nation to issue biometric sailor identification document?
(a) India
(b) China
(c) Russia
(d) Japan
Answer: (a)
Related facts:
  • India has become the first country in the world to issue Biometric Seafarer Identity Document (BSID).
  • Shri Manshukh Mandaviya, MoS shipping and chemical & Fertilizers launched the project in New Delhi on 28th of August, 2019.
  • It will capture the facial bio-metric data which is upgraded version of earlier system based on two finger and two iris data of seafarers.
  • The new document will give a foolproof identification to seafarers which will facilitate their movement, provide ease of getting jobs and help in identifying them from any location in the world.
  • The new card is in confirmation of the Convention No. 185 of the International Labour Organization on BSID.
  • BSID will have a biometric chip embedded in it. The security of the BSID card is ensured at various levels and through different methods.
  • The card has two optical security features- Micro prints/micro texts and Unique Guilloche pattern.
  • A record of each SID issued will be maintained in a national database and its related information will be internationally accessible.
  • The issuance of SID involves the collection of biometric and demographic details of the seafarers, their verification and then issuance of the card to them.
  • Nine data collection centers have been setup at Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Noida, Goa, New Mangalore, Kochi, Vizag & Kandla for issue of BSID. 
  • Every Indian seafarer who possesses a valid Continuous Discharge Certificate issued by the Govt. of India will be eligible for issue of a BSID.
  • The total number of existing Indian seafarers who will be required to be issued BSIDs is around 3,50,000 .

Link:

https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1583253