SRINAGAR: Amid confusion among ration card holders over the reported introduction of mandatory face authentication for drawing ration under the Public Distribution System (PDS) in Jammu and Kashmir, Commissioner Secretary, Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs (FCS&CA), Sourabh Bhagat, has clarified that face authentication is not compulsory and beneficiaries can collect their entitled ration through any of the four available Aadhaar authentication methods.
Bhagat said the Aadhaar-based authentication system had been in operation since around 2020 to ensure transparency in ration distribution, prevent diversion and black marketing of foodgrains, and ensure that entitled supplies reached genuine beneficiaries.
He said that initially, only thumb-based biometric authentication was available, but the system had subsequently been expanded to include three additional options, taking the total number of authentication methods to four.
“Earlier, there was only one methodology, which was thumb authentication. Now we have introduced three more technologies. One is iris scan, which is unique and can identify a beneficiary. The second is OTP authentication, under which an OTP is received on the beneficiary’s mobile phone and can be shared with the dealer for receiving ration. The third is face authentication,” he said.
Clarifying concerns over the reported mandatory use of face recognition, Bhagat said none of the four methods was individually compulsory and beneficiaries were free to choose any one of the available options.
He said the additional authentication facilities had been introduced to make ration collection more convenient and ensure that beneficiaries did not face unnecessary difficulties.
Addressing another misconception that only the head of a ration card-holding household could authenticate and collect ration, Bhagat said any adult member of the family could visit a Fair Price Shop (FPS) and receive the entitled supplies.
He said if the head of the household, including the father, was unable to visit the ration depot because of work or other commitments, another adult member, such as the mother, son, daughter, brother or sister, could collect the ration on behalf of the family.
“People have a misconception that only the head of the family can do it. No, any member can do it. Suppose your father cannot go to the ration shop, your mother can go. If she cannot go, you can go, or your brother or sister. Any adult member of the family can go and collect the ration,” Bhagat said.
However, he clarified that minor children should not be sent alone to collect ration, stressing that an adult family member should undertake the process to ensure that children were not misled or exploited.
He said the wife or any other adult member of the household could visit the ration depot and complete the authentication process.
Explaining the arrangements for beneficiaries facing physical difficulties with thumb-based biometric authentication, Bhagat said the availability of multiple options addressed such situations.
He said beneficiaries who had lost their right hand or were unable to use it could opt for face authentication instead.
“Suppose someone does not have a right hand, then he can go for face authentication. We have provisions for such circumstances,” he said.
He added that OTP authentication could also help households whose members were unable to visit the Fair Price Shop personally.
Citing the example of a household comprising a mother and two daughters, Bhagat said the OTP-based facility could be used to complete the authentication process through a mobile phone, with the assistance of the dealer, if the beneficiary was unable or unwilling to visit the shop.
Referring to the confusion among beneficiaries, Bhagat said messages claiming that face authentication had become compulsory were being widely circulated in WhatsApp groups, creating unnecessary apprehensions among ration card holders.
He alleged that certain elements, particularly those opposed to changes in the existing ration distribution mechanism, were spreading apprehensions and raising objections to the new system.
He said the technology-based mechanism introduced by the Government of India was aimed at ensuring accountability at every stage of ration distribution and preventing irregularities.
“At one time, there were instances of dealers indulging in irregularities and misappropriation of ration. Now the Government of India has established a very good system to ensure that every grain reaches the rightful beneficiary. You cannot divert ration without authentication,” he said.
Explaining how the digital mechanism monitored foodgrain distribution, Bhagat said the computerised system maintained records of the quantity allocated to dealers and the number of beneficiaries who had actually collected their ration through Aadhaar authentication.
He said that if a dealer received four quintals of ration for 500 beneficiaries but only 300 collected their supplies through Aadhaar authentication, the system would reflect that the remaining 200 beneficiaries had not collected their ration.
“Suppose we give four quintals of ration to a dealer for 500 people, but only 300 people take ration using Aadhaar, then the computer will show that 200 beneficiaries have not collected their ration. The system scrutinises everything. This is how the mechanism ensures accountability,” he said.
Bhagat alleged that some union leaders were uncomfortable with the new mechanism because it had restricted the scope for misappropriation and diversion of foodgrains.
He further alleged that certain people were citing issues such as poor internet connectivity, failure of thumb authentication and other technical difficulties while demanding that the system be suspended for a month or two.
According to him, such demands were aimed at temporarily discontinuing the existing accountability mechanism, allowing irregularities in ration distribution to continue.
Bhagat said the authentication mechanism was part of the broader Sarthak PDS initiative, introduced by the Government of India to strengthen the Public Distribution System across the country.
He said the technology was being implemented in different states, from Assam to Gujarat, while Jammu and Kashmir had adopted an advanced version of the mechanism by introducing face authentication.
Describing face recognition as a convenient and efficient option, he said the process generally took around 40 to 50 seconds at a Fair Price Shop.
Explaining the procedure, he said the dealer entered the beneficiary’s details into the system, following which a red circle appeared on the screen. The beneficiary had to position their face within the designated circle and blink to complete authentication.
He said the process took less time than thumb-based biometric authentication and OTP verification.
“Face authentication is a very solid technology. You can visit your ration shop and see for yourself. It will take a maximum of 40 to 50 seconds. The dealer enters your details, a red circle appears on the screen, and as soon as you blink your face within it, authentication is completed,” Bhagat said.
Bhagat also disclosed that the initiative was part of the Sarthak PDS project, which was launched nationwide by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on April 1.
He said the Government of India had increased the dealer margin for ration distribution in Jammu and Kashmir, the Northeastern states and other hilly states.
The dealer margin, which was previously Rs 108 per quintal, had been increased to Rs 195 per quintal, he said.
“Earlier, the dealer margin was Rs 108 per quintal. Now the Government of India has increased it to Rs 195 per quintal for Jammu and Kashmir, the Northeastern states and hilly states. This is almost double the earlier amount,” he said.
Bhagat said a dealer who previously earned around Rs 10,000 could now earn approximately Rs 20,000, depending on the quantity of ration distributed.
He said the increase in dealer margins was also intended to ensure that dealers did not face financial difficulties as the government strengthened monitoring and authentication arrangements.
“There is nothing for the dealers to worry about. Their earnings are increasing, while the system is becoming more transparent. The objective is to ensure that nobody can steal or misappropriate ration,” he said.
Bhagat said there should be no objection to a transparent mechanism that protected genuine beneficiaries and ensured that foodgrains reached those entitled to receive them. He added that irregular practices in ration distribution were being addressed through the strengthened system.
The clarification comes amid the FCS&CA Department’s ongoing efforts to strengthen Aadhaar-based e-KYC and introduce face authentication in ration distribution across Jammu and Kashmir.
During a review meeting held on November 5, Bhagat directed officials to intensify efforts to complete the e-KYC of pending beneficiaries and introduce the Face Authentication Application from the current month’s ration distribution cycle.
Bhagat chaired the online meeting to review the functioning and progress of various departmental initiatives across the Union Territory.
The meeting was attended by Director General, FCS&CA, Jammu, Rajesh Kumar Shavan; the General Manager of the Food Corporation of India (FCI); Director IT Sanjay Gupta; Deputy Commissioners; and Assistant Directors from various districts through video conferencing.
The Director General, FCS&CA, Jammu, along with Assistant Directors of the respective districts, presented a point-wise assessment of the latest status of departmental activities.
The review covered the lifting and distribution of foodgrains, winter stocking arrangements for six-month and three-month requirements, Aadhaar-based e-KYC, face authentication, implementation of Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) and other priority issues.
During the meeting, Bhagat directed the concerned officers to ensure the timely lifting and distribution of foodgrains well before the onset of adverse weather conditions, particularly in view of the approaching winter and the possibility of supply disruptions due to inclement weather.
He stressed that both six-month and three-month winter stocking arrangements should be completed within the prescribed timelines and directed FCI authorities to ensure the supply of quality foodgrains to the department.
Reviewing the availability of petroleum products, Bhagat directed district administrations to identify remote and far-flung areas where petrol pump facilities were currently unavailable.
He asked the concerned authorities to work out suitable arrangements in consultation with Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) for establishing department-owned petrol outlets to facilitate the general public, particularly during emergencies and other exigencies.
Bhagat also reviewed the implementation of the Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) project under the Public Distribution System and emphasised the need for coordinated efforts by all stakeholders to ensure its timely rollout in accordance with the timelines prescribed by the Government of India.
The meeting was informed that the project was scheduled for pilot implementation in Jammu and Srinagar districts from November 15, 2026.
The next phase would cover Samba, Kathua and Udhampur districts by November 30, 2026, followed by its implementation across the entire Union Territory by December 31, 2026.
Bhagat directed district administrations and Assistant Directors to complete the necessary groundwork, beneficiary data preparation and other implementation-related arrangements well in advance.
He also asked the National Informatics Centre (NIC) and Punjab National Bank (PNB) authorities to expedite beneficiary data validation and whitelisting, besides creating login IDs for Fair Price Shop dealers, to ensure that the project was implemented within the prescribed timelines.
Reviewing the progress of Aadhaar-based e-KYC of National Food Security Act (NFSA) beneficiaries, Bhagat directed district administrations to intensify efforts to complete the verification of all remaining beneficiaries.
He stressed that the Face Authentication Application should be implemented from the current month’s ration distribution cycle to strengthen transparency and ensure seamless authentication at Fair Price Shops.
The Commissioner Secretary also directed the concerned officers to organise special e-KYC camps across districts and ensure complete coverage of beneficiary verification.
He said districts achieving 95 per cent or higher e-KYC coverage would be suitably appreciated.
He added that consolidated progress in beneficiary verification would also help the department take up the matter with the Government of India for additional funding and support for innovations under the Sarthak PDS project.
Bhagat stressed the need for genuine and accurate verification of beneficiaries to ensure that the benefits of the Public Distribution System reached only eligible households.
The status of e-KYC for migrant ration card holders was also reviewed, with directions to expedite all pending cases.
As part of efforts to modernise the Public Distribution System, Bhagat directed all district administrations to identify five Fair Price Shops in each district for modernisation under a convergence plan involving the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) and other applicable schemes.
He also directed district administrations to identify suitable land for establishing additional granaries and government storage godowns, particularly in remote, far-flung and border areas.
He said strengthening storage infrastructure in these areas would help ensure the uninterrupted availability of essential commodities during emergencies and other exigencies, particularly when adverse weather conditions disrupted transportation and supply chains. (JKNS)
