West Bengal’s Directorate of Rationing has deactivated 11.12 lakh ration cards since the beginning of the current financial year on April 1.
According to insiders in the State Food and Supplies Department, although the official figure is counted from April 2026, the deactivation drive began in full force only from June, after the new state government took charge. The state is now led by Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, with Ashok Kirtania as the Food and Supplies Minister since May 9, 2026.
The key tool behind the drive is the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Lists of voters whose names were deleted in the SIR, including dead, duplicate and shifted voters, have helped the department identify ration cards for deactivation.