Ration card holders who receive benefits under the government’s free ration scheme should ensure that their e-KYC is completed. The government has made electronic Know Your Customer (e-KYC) verification mandatory for eligible beneficiaries to make sure that ration benefits reach the people who are entitled to receive them.
The process confirms the identity of every family member listed on a ration card. If a member’s verification remains incomplete, their access to ration benefits may be affected. Therefore, all eligible family members should complete the required verification on time.
Why Is Ration Card e-KYC Mandatory?
The main objective of ration card e-KYC is to improve transparency in the Public Distribution System (PDS). It helps authorities confirm the identity and eligibility of beneficiaries receiving subsidised or free food grains.
The verification process also helps identify duplicate and fraudulent ration cards. This allows the government to reduce misuse of the system and ensure that ration supplies reach eligible families rather than being claimed by unauthorised individuals.
How to Complete Ration Card e-KYC
Ration card e-KYC can be completed by visiting the nearest government-authorised fair price shop. Beneficiaries do not generally need to visit a separate government office for this process.
The verification is carried out through an Electronic Point of Sale (e-POS) machine. Ration card holders need to follow these steps:
- Visit your local authorised ration dealer.
- Provide your ration card number and the details requested by the dealer.
- Submit the Aadhaar card or Aadhaar number of each family member whose e-KYC is pending.
- Complete identity verification through fingerprint authentication on the e-POS machine. Iris scanning may also be available as an alternative.
- After verification, ask the ration dealer to confirm whether the e-KYC process has been completed successfully.
Every eligible family member listed on the ration card should complete the verification.
What Happens If Ration Card e-KYC Is Not Completed?
Failure to complete e-KYC can affect a beneficiary’s access to ration benefits. If a family member has not been verified, their ration distribution may be stopped or restricted, depending on the applicable government instructions and the system followed by the state.
To avoid possible interruptions, ration card holders should check the verification status of every eligible family member and complete any pending e-KYC. If there is a problem during the process, they can seek assistance from the local ration dealer or contact the Food Department.