Patna: In a move aimed at tightening verification of welfare beneficiaries, the Food and Consumer Protection Department has mandated electronic Know Your Customer (e-KYC) compliance for all ration card holders in Bihar by February 28. Those who fail to complete the process may have their names removed from the state’s food security registry, potentially cutting off access to multiple government schemes.
Officials say the verification drive is intended to eliminate duplicate and ineligible entries, ensuring that subsidies and social welfare benefits reach genuine recipients. The state government has reported cases of ration cards linked to deceased individuals, families registered in more than one location, and beneficiaries who no longer reside in Bihar.
According to district supply data, around 80% of ration card holders have already completed e-KYC, but verification of the remaining 20% is still pending. Authorities fear that individuals who miss the deadline could be struck off the beneficiary list. Local supply offices have been running awareness campaigns through public distribution system (PDS) centres, yet officials acknowledge that significant numbers remain unverified.
The consequences extend beyond ration entitlements. Government officials have warned that cancellation of ration cards could also result in loss of access to schemes such as housing assistance, health insurance, agricultural subsidies, and social security programmes. The ration card often serves as a primary document for eligibility under these initiatives, meaning non-compliance with e-KYC could have wide-ranging implications.
To complete the verification, beneficiaries must visit their nearest PDS centre with their Aadhaar and ration cards, where biometric authentication is being used in most locations. The process is described as free and straightforward.
The department has issued a strict warning that no extension will be granted beyond the February deadline. Officials say pending cases will be identified and action taken thereafter. The government’s stated objective is to improve transparency and prevent fraud, ensuring that welfare benefits are directed to those who qualify.
Beneficiaries yet to complete e-KYC have been urged to do so at the earliest to avoid disruption in access to ration supplies and other government programmes. Authorities insist the exercise is essential for maintaining an accurate database of recipients and strengthening the integrity of social welfare delivery.
