Govt Tightens PDS Transparency: 1.27 Lakh Fake Cards Scrapped in Jammu and Kashmir
e-KYC and Digitization Drive Eliminate Fake Ration Cards in J&K, Ladakh
Jammu, Dec 17: In a decisive move to enhance the efficiency and transparency of the Public Distribution System (PDS), the Government has cancelled over 1,27,872 fake and duplicate ration cards in Jammu and Kashmir since 2013, while 702 such cases have been identified in Ladakh. This significant action forms part of a nationwide campaign to eliminate ineligible beneficiaries through the digitization of ration cards, Aadhaar linking, and e-KYC verification.
The announcement was made by Nimuben Jayantibhai Bambhaniya, the Minister of State for Consumer Affairs, Food, and Public Distribution, in response to a query in the Rajya Sabha. Highlighting the scale of the reforms, the Minister revealed that 5.87 crore ration cards have been cancelled across India between 2013 and 2024, with Jammu and Kashmir contributing substantially to this figure as part of efforts to ensure “rightful targeting” of food subsidies.
The Union Territory’s Aadhaar seeding of ration cards is nearing 100%, a milestone that has facilitated the identification of ineligible entries caused by factors such as duplicate records, permanent migration, and deaths. The Minister further emphasized that e-KYC verification is being prioritized to streamline the distribution process under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY), which currently benefits 80.67 crore people nationwide with free food grains.
Among states, Uttar Pradesh recorded the highest cancellations with 1.93 crore ration cards annulled, while Mizoram saw the least with 12,578. Among Union Territories, Delhi reported the highest cancellations at 3,27,297, whereas Ladakh registered the lowest with 702.
The reforms in Jammu and Kashmir have been pivotal in ensuring that food security programs reach only eligible families. Under the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS), fortified rice has been introduced in all districts to combat malnutrition, particularly under schemes such as the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) and PM Poshan.
“The Government is actively pushing for the completion of e-KYC for PMGKAY beneficiaries to further optimize food grain distribution,” the Minister noted, adding that approximately 65% of beneficiaries across India have already completed e-KYC, with Jammu and Kashmir being encouraged to expedite the process.
These measures reflect the Government’s commitment to improving accountability, reducing leakages, and ensuring the efficient delivery of food subsidies. The cancellation of fake ration cards marks a significant step in addressing systemic inefficiencies and underscores the critical role of digitization in transforming welfare programs.
As Jammu and Kashmir progresses in implementing these reforms, the UT is setting a precedent for ensuring that no eligible family is left behind in accessing essential Government support, thereby strengthening food security and fostering trust in public welfare initiatives.
