Karnataka to Mandate Night Shift Attendance via Mobile App for Government Staff

The Karnataka government has introduced a digital attendance system aimed at improving accountability among its workforce during night shifts. The 'Kartavya' mobile application will make it mandatory for government employees and medical professionals to register their attendance electronically rather than through traditional methods.

The initiative will be rolled out as a pilot project beginning November 1, 2026, focusing initially on health department infrastructure. Government-run hospitals and primary health centres across the state will be the first facilities to implement the new system.

The move is part of broader efforts to modernize government operations and enhance workforce monitoring. Night shift staff have been identified as requiring particular attention in the attendance tracking process, given the logistical challenges associated with after-hours work schedules.

While the application will apply broadly to night shift workers, certain categories of employees are expected to receive exemptions from the requirement, though specific details regarding which staff members will be excluded have not yet been detailed. The phased implementation approach through pilot testing is intended to allow for refinements before potential wider adoption across other government departments.

Photo: Vidhana Soudha, seat of the Karnataka government, in Bengaluru. Moheen Reeyad via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0).