New Delhi: Delhi University is planning to develop an artificial intelligence (AI)-based document verification tool for the next admission cycle after detecting multiple instances of AI-generated and digitally manipulated certificates during the ongoing undergraduate admissions process.

Dean of Admissions Haneet Gandhi said several cases of forged documents had been reported by colleges, with fake QR codes and digitally altered certificates being identified during verification.

"Multiple such cases have been brought to the admission department's notice from various colleges. We have found digital certificates that are supposed to have QR codes, but when those codes are scanned, they turn out to be completely false or AI-generated documents," Gandhi told PTI.

She said that in some cases, scanning the QR code displayed the details of another person, indicating that the digital records did not match the candidate's credentials.

According to Gandhi, such cases have been detected across various categories, including applications under the Extra-Curricular Activities (ECA) quota, category certificates and other admission documents submitted by candidates.

She said the university was now exploring the development of an AI-enabled verification mechanism to make the scrutiny process more efficient in future admission cycles.

The university, however, is yet to determine the total number of applications involving suspected manipulated documents.

On Sunday, Delhi University issued a public notice warning applicants against uploading AI-generated, digitally altered or heavily edited certificates, mark sheets and identity proofs during undergraduate and postgraduate admissions.

The university directed candidates to upload only scanned copies of original documents without any digital modification and warned that verification tools would be used to identify manipulated files.

It said candidates found submitting fraudulent or AI-altered documents at any stage of the admission process would face immediate cancellation of their candidature or admission without prior notice. The university also reserved the right to initiate legal action, adding that admission fees would not be refunded in such cases.