A big news is coming for ration card holders. If you also have a ration card, then from October 1, 2026, there is going to be an important change in the system related to ration card. According to the Department of Food and Public Distribution, a new facility will be introduced in the 'SMART-PDS' system from this date to handle cases related to 'silent ration cards' and duplicate beneficiaries. However, this new system will not be applicable to all the ration card holders in the country, so there is no need to panic.
Who will have to do e-KYC again?
This new rule will be applicable only to those ration cards and beneficiaries who have been marked as 'silent ration cards' or 'duplicate beneficiaries' in the system. 'Silent Ration Card' refers to those cases where a beneficiary has not utilized his/her ration entitlement at all for the last six months. Ration cards so marked may be temporarily deactivated.
Verification and three months chance
In cases of silent ration cards, e-KYC will be done through field verification within the next three months, so that the eligibility of the beneficiary can be re-checked. At the same time, if a person is identified as a duplicate beneficiary, he will also be given three months time to prove his eligibility. During this stipulated period, he will be able to prove his eligibility again by submitting the necessary documents and completing the e-KYC process.
What is going to change from October 1?
Under the new functionality that is starting in the SMART-PDS system from October 1, 2026, the identified silent ration cards or duplicate beneficiaries can be temporarily deactivated. In case of silent cards, re-verification will be done through field verification and e-KYC within three months. Apart from this, duplicate beneficiaries will also get a chance to prove themselves correct through documents and e-KYC.
Will all your ration cards be closed?
If you have a question in your mind whether everyone's ration cards will be closed from October 1, then the answer is clear- No. All ration cards are not going to be closed from October 1, nor is there any need for every normal ration card holder to get e-KYC done again. This entire process is related only to those special cases which have been identified as silent or duplicate. This rule will not automatically apply to those who are taking their ration regularly and in the normal manner.