The spiritual silence of the ghats of Varanasi — where chants of priests blend with the Ganga’s calm murmur — now hides something new, silent, and invisible to most: artificial intelligence-powered surveillance systems. Without public announcement or official confirmation, a secret pilot AI surveillance project has reportedly gone live along select ghats in Varanasi — India’s holiest city and one of the most surveilled religious zones in the world.
Residents, spiritual pilgrims, and activists are now asking: Who’s watching? And why weren’t we informed?
What’s Going on at the Ghats?
According to some sources from within municipal departments and a technology vendor, who wished to remain anonymous, high-definition video cameras with AI module capabilities have been installed at some critical locations at Dashashwamedh, Manikarnika, and Assi ghats without public notice. These systems are reportedly capable of:
- Facial recognition, even in low-light and crowded settings
- Behavioral analysis, flagging “suspicious gestures or group formations”
- Crowd heatmapping and predictive crowd management
- Automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) of vehicles near riverfront access points
While CCTV surveillance is not new in Indian public spaces, AI-powered, real-time monitoring and predictive flagging without public notice or consent is a stark shift, especially in a city with millions of annual pilgrims and deeply private spiritual rituals.
Why Varanasi? Why Now?
As to the reason why Varanasi, a senior official at the Ministry of Home Affairs, under confidentiality, stated that it had been chosen for three important reasons:
- Footfall density: 6 crore visitors every year
- Religious sensitivities: Avoidance of any unrest or communal violence
- Smart City inclusion: Varanasi is a flagship project under India’s Smart Cities Mission
The official admitted, “This is a controlled experiment, and yes, AI surveillance is the next phase. We want to test it in high-stakes environments like religious zones, where real-time decisions matter.”
But civil liberty groups argue this amounts to covert biometric policing.
No Public Notification, No Consent
What’s most controversial is the absence of public disclosure. Vendors and city contractors signed NDAs, and the project’s funding is routed through a mix of central tech grants and CSR funds of private companies, leaving little room for parliamentary oversight.
A local priest at Assi Ghat, Pandit Mahadev Shastri, says:
“If the gods can see us, that’s faith. But if the government hides its cameras, that’s surveillance. We were never told anything. It feels like someone is watching even our prayers.
Global Movement, or Local Overreach?
AI surveillance is gaining momentum all over the world — from train stations in London to school hallways in Beijing. Meanwhile, in India, data privacy laws are still being drafted, and the citizenry largely lacks the means to challenge abuses of surveillance.
Dr. Neha Kulkarni, a digital rights researcher at the Centre for AI & Law, warns:
“When AI is used in sacred and emotionally charged places without accountability, it crosses ethical boundaries. What data is being stored? Who has access? There are no answers.”
Who’s Behind the Tech?
Though unconfirmed officially, insiders hint at two private players — a Bengaluru-based AI startup, and a Hyderabad security solutions firm — contracted under the guise of “urban safety research.” The camera systems are reportedly trained on massive facial datasets, including historical footage from Kumbh Melas and previous Varanasi events.
If true, it is concerning about consent-less data harvesting over the years – there may be a violation of growing Indian data protection laws.
Silent Future Eyes
Life continues in the narrow streets behind Manikarnika Ghat as sadhus chant, tourists take selfies, and bodies are cremated in silence. And now, the silent observer is at work.
The more salient question isn’t just who is watching the watchers, but rather, who permitted them to watch [without asking]?
What Happens Next?
A student from Banaras Hindu University has filed a Right to Information (RTI) application and has not heard back. Local citizen forum groups are planning a symbolic protest of ghats-in-the-dark, with torches and faces covered, to contest against secrecy.
For now, the city is watching back quietly.
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