Delhi’s security apparatus is entering a new technological phase as police personnel prepare to use artificial intelligence-enabled glasses during Republic Day celebrations this week. The pilot deployment, focused on high-density public zones around Kartavya Path, reflects a broader shift towards data-driven policing in one of the world’s fastest-growing megacities.
The wearable devices, fitted with miniature cameras and linked to mobile applications, are designed to scan faces in real time and compare them against a criminal database maintained by law enforcement agencies. Officials familiar with the system said the face recognition technology can flag potential matches instantly, allowing officers on foot patrol to respond without relying solely on static surveillance infrastructure. From an urban governance perspective, the move highlights how cities are experimenting with smart policing tools to manage the security challenges of large civic events. Republic Day draws hundreds of thousands of spectators and requires layered security planning, combining human deployment with digital monitoring. More than a dozen of the AI-enabled glasses have already been issued to personnel as part of a limited field trial.
A senior police official involved in the programme said the system has been trained to identify individuals even when there are significant changes in appearance, using artificial intelligence to generate updated facial profiles from older images. This capability, officials argue, is meant to reduce the margin for error in suspect identification across long time gaps. The technology also includes thermal scanning features that can help screen crowds for concealed items or unusual heat signatures, a function that may add another layer of situational awareness for officers operating in congested public spaces. While the full operational scope is still being evaluated, security planners view the glasses as a supplement to existing surveillance cameras and on-ground patrols rather than a replacement.
Industry experts say such deployments signal the gradual normalisation of biometric surveillance in Indian cities. “Wearable AI tools reduce response time and improve the reach of frontline personnel,” said a smart cities consultant. “However, they also raise important questions around data accuracy, oversight and proportional use, especially in dense urban environments where misidentification can have social consequences.”
The rollout comes alongside an extensive security mobilisation for January 26, with tens of thousands of police and paramilitary personnel, specialised commandos and aerial monitoring assets being deployed across the capital. Transport hubs, markets, transit corridors and the airport have all been placed under heightened surveillance, reflecting the scale of logistical planning required to secure a city of over 20 million residents. Urban planners note that public safety investments increasingly intersect with infrastructure and real estate considerations. High-visibility security technology is becoming part of the civic landscape around ceremonial boulevards, transport interchanges and commercial districts, influencing how public spaces are designed and managed.
For Delhi, the introduction of AI glasses security marks a test case in balancing innovation with accountability. While the immediate objective is event security, officials indicated that performance data from the trial will inform whether the devices are scaled up for routine policing in crowded markets and transit nodes.
As the capital continues to position itself as a smart, climate-resilient city, the challenge will be ensuring that emerging surveillance tools are governed by clear protocols, robust data protection standards and transparent oversight. The effectiveness of AI glasses security will ultimately be judged not just by arrests made or threats deterred, but by how well public trust is maintained as technology becomes an everyday feature of urban life.
Delhi Police trials AI glasses security
