Ration card consumers are individuals whose names are included in the ration card list and are eligible to receive food grains and other benefits under the scheme. The government has now made it compulsory for all these beneficiaries to complete their eKYC.
Why is the Government Making eKYC Mandatory?
The government has mandated the eKYC process for two primary reasons.
First, it was discovered that a significant number of ration cards still contained the names of individuals who had passed away years ago. In many cases, families did not remove the names of deceased members, and rations were still being claimed against their names. The eKYC process aims to identify and remove these names to ensure that benefits reach only living, eligible members.
Second, the initiative is designed to combat large-scale fraud. It was found that many individuals had their names listed on three or four different ration cards, allowing them to illegitimately claim benefits from multiple sources. By linking each beneficiary’s Aadhaar through eKYC, the system will ensure that an individual’s name appears on only one ration card list, eliminating fraudulent claims.
The New Deadline for Ration Card eKYC
Initially, there was an earlier deadline for completing the eKYC process. However, this has now been extended. The final date to complete your Ration Card eKYC is December 31st.
Consequences of Not Completing eKYC
Completing the eKYC is extremely important, as failure to do so by the deadline will have serious consequences.
If a ration card has, for example, ten members and only five of them complete their eKYC, the names of the remaining five members will be removed from the ration card after December 31st. They will no longer receive their share of the ration.
If not a single member on a ration card has completed their eKYC by the deadline, the entire ration card will be canceled. The government will consider such cards to be fraudulent, as sufficient time was given to complete the verification process.
How to Complete Your Ration Card eKYC
The process for completing eKYC is not online in every state. More than half of the states have enabled the online process, while others still require it to be done offline.
Offline Method at Your Ration Dealer
For states where the online facility is not available, you must visit your local ration dealer or the ration distribution center where you collect your food grains. There, you can complete your eKYC through a biometric machine by providing your thumb impression. This process is quick, free of charge, and can be done right at the ration shop.
Online Method: A Step-by-Step Guide
If the online eKYC facility is available in your state, you can complete the process from home in just a few minutes.
- Open the Google search engine on your phone or computer.
- Type “Ration Card KYC Online” followed by the name of your state.
- Click on the official link that appears for linking Aadhaar with your ration card or for eKYC.
- You will be asked to enter your Ration Card number. Type it in and click the “Search” button.
- The details of your ration card will be displayed. You will see a status for “eKYC Done.” If it shows “No,” you will also see a button or link that says “Do eKYC.”
- Click on the “Do eKYC” option.
- You will then be prompted to enter your Aadhaar number.
- After entering your Aadhaar number, click “Send OTP.” An OTP will be sent to the mobile number registered with your Aadhaar card.
- Enter the OTP you receive and submit it.
Once you submit the OTP, your eKYC is complete. The status on the portal should update from “No” to “Yes” within about five days. This process must be done for every member listed on the ration card.
