Ration Card: In a major step to streamline the Public Distribution System (PDS) and ensure fair delivery of food subsidies, the Central Government has flagged nearly 1.17 crore ration card holders who may be ineligible under the National Food Security Act (NFSA). The flagged names have been shared with state governments and Union Territories, who have been directed to complete verification by September 30, 2025.
Why Were These Ration Cards Flagged?
The Centre carried out a data cross-check exercise, matching ration card details with information from other departments. The findings revealed:
- 94.71 lakh beneficiaries are income tax payers.
- 17.51 lakh beneficiaries own four-wheelers.
- 5.31 lakh individuals serve as company directors.
According to NFSA norms, such individuals are not eligible for subsidised food grains, as the scheme is designed to support economically weaker households.
What Happens Next?
The responsibility of removing ineligible names rests with the state governments. Officials have been asked to carry out ground-level verification—ensuring that genuine families are not excluded due to clerical errors or technical mismatches. Once verification is complete, the names of ineligible beneficiaries will be struck off the ration card lists.
Why This Move Matters
Currently, the NFSA covers 19.17 crore ration cards, benefitting over 76 crore citizens. By removing fake or ineligible entries, the government aims to reduce leakage, save resources, and direct subsidies only to those who need them most.
This is not the first cleanup exercise. Earlier, between 2021 and 2023, over 1.34 crore bogus ration cards were cancelled. The latest effort highlights the government’s push for transparency and accountability in welfare delivery.
Concerns from Civil Society
Experts have welcomed the exercise but also warned that wrongful deletions must be avoided. They stress that families depending on subsidised grains should not suffer due to technical errors in Aadhaar seeding or e-KYC failures.
