Patna: The Bihar government has launched a large-scale verification drive to weed out ineligible beneficiaries from the public distribution system (PDS), with over 54.20 lakh names set to be deleted from ration cards across the state in the first phase. The process began after ration cards were linked to Aadhaar and discrepancies surfaced in multiple departments.
According to official data, 2.34 lakh names have been identified in Muzaffarpur, 1.5 lakh in East Champaran, and 99,000 in Sitamarhi for removal. A detailed report has already been submitted from all three districts.
Patna District Also Under Scanner
Patna has 10.33 lakh active ration cards, including 2.30 lakh in urban areas. E-KYC verification is underway, and officials estimate that 65,000 to 70,000 names may be deleted based on incorrect or ineligible documentation.
How the Mismatch Was Detected
The Supply Department matched ration card data with records from the Revenue and Land Reforms Department, Transport Department, Income Tax Department, and civil registration databases.
The discrepancies revealed that several beneficiaries:
• Own more than 2.5 acres of land
• Possess four-wheeled vehicles
• Are income tax payers
• Are deceased but still listed in ration records
District supply officers have been instructed to conduct field verification before final deletions.
Examples of Fraud Identified
Authorities highlighted several cases to explain the scale of irregularities:
• Case 1: Abhishek Kumar of Sugauli files income tax returns of ₹20 lakh yet continues to receive free rations.
• Case 2: Prem Yadav of Sugauli owns over 2.5 acres of land and also receives PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi benefits.
• Case 3: Amit Kumar Singh owns three four-wheelers, as reported by the Transport Department, but is still listed as a ration card beneficiary.
Central Government’s Query Triggered Action
The verification exercise intensified after the Ministry of Food Processing Industries sought updated data from all states following the rollout of the One Nation, One Ration Card scheme.
Under the rules, ration benefits cannot be extended to:
• Deceased individuals
• Four-wheeler owners
• Income tax payers
• Those owning more than 2.5 acres of land
A list of suspected fraudulent beneficiaries has been shared with the state for action.
Notices to Be Issued; 90 Days for Verification
Individuals found submitting incorrect documents will receive notices seeking clarification. Their eligibility will be verified within 90 days, after which names will be removed if violations are confirmed.
“An investigation is underway based on the list sent by the Ministry. Anyone found submitting wrong documents will be served notices and their names deleted after verification,” said Vijay Bahadur Singh, District Supply Officer, East Champaran.
