No individual below 18 years of age will be eligible to hold a separate ration card.
How to Complete e-KYC of Your Ration Card Online and Offline?
The Central Government on Tuesday made e-KYC (electronic Know Your Customer) mandatory for ration card holders every five years under Section 3 of the Essential Commodities Act, 1955 (10 of 1955).
According to the official order, State Governments will be required to periodically review the list of eligible households, ensuring the deletion of ineligible ones and inclusion of eligible beneficiaries. As part of this process, mandatory e-KYC must be conducted once every five years.
It comes into force immediately from the date it is published in the Official Gazette — which is 22nd July 2025.
The e-KYC process is compulsory for all ration card holders to continue receiving subsidised food grains under the Public Distribution System (PDS).
The order further outlines several key provisions:
No individual below 18 years of age will be eligible to hold a separate ration card.
For children below five years of age, Aadhaar numbers shall be captured if available, and e-KYC must be completed within one year after the child turns five.
Ration cards of beneficiaries who haven’t availed entitlements in the last six months shall be temporarily disabled. The State Government must then conduct field verification and e-KYC within three months to assess eligibility and take appropriate action.
In cases where duplicate beneficiaries are identified — whether within the state or in other states — their ration cards will also be temporarily disabled. These beneficiaries will be given a three-month window to revalidate their eligibility by submitting the required documents and completing e-KYC.
The Ration Card e-KYC process involves Aadhaar authentication to verify the identity of beneficiaries by linking their Aadhaar card to their ration card. This can be done either online or offline and ensures that the Aadhaar number genuinely belongs to the same person holding the ration card.
How to Complete Ration Card e-KYC Online
Note: Online e-KYC is possible only if your Aadhaar card is already linked to your ration card. Availability of this service may vary by state.
Step 1: Visit the official Public Distribution System (PDS) portal of your state government.
Step 2: Navigate to the e-KYC section under ‘Ration Card Services’, ‘e-Services’, or ‘Update Details’.
Step 3: Enter your ration card number. Ensure the mobile number linked to Aadhaar is active.
Step 4: You will receive a One-Time Password (OTP) on your Aadhaar-linked mobile number. Enter it on the portal for Aadhaar authentication.
Step 5: Once verified, your e-KYC will be successfully updated.
How to Complete Ration Card e-KYC Offline
Step 1: Visit the nearest Fair Price Shop (FPS).
Step 2: Request the FPS dealer to initiate the e-KYC process through the electronic Point of Sale (e-POS) device.
Step 3: Provide your biometric data (fingerprint or iris scan) via the e-POS.
Step 4: Upon successful verification, your e-KYC will be completed.
Ensure your Aadhaar is linked to your ration card before starting the e-KYC process.
How to Check Ration Card e-KYC Status Online
Step 1: Go to the official PDS portal of your state government.
Step 2: Find the option labeled ‘Ration Card e-KYC Status’ or ‘Aadhaar Linking Status’.
Step 3: Enter your Aadhaar number or ration card number.
Step 4: Click on ‘Check Status’. Your e-KYC status will be displayed, indicating whether the process has been completed.
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