Government to suspend 15.8 million inactive ration cards pending e-KYC verification
The Centre will temporarily disable the ration entitlements of 15.8 million cards that have not been used for six months, giving owners three months to complete e-KYC to reactivate them.
From October, the Centre will temporarily block the benefits of 15.8 million ration cards that have shown no activity for six months, labeling them “silent” cards. The amended Targeted Public Distribution System (Control) Order permits this provisional disablement, after which field verification and e-KYC must be completed within a three-month window for the cards to be reactivated. The government says the cleanup will help direct foodgrains to genuine beneficiaries and curb leakages from duplicate or ineligible records.
Experts such as Rajendran Narayanan of Azim Premji University criticize the policy, claiming it places the onus of proof on citizens and should instead involve grassroots committees to investigate reasons for non-use. The initiative is part of the broader SMART-PDS programme that seeks to modernize the public distribution system through technology.
Why it matters
It aims to tighten India's food subsidy system and prevent fraud, affecting millions of low-income households.
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