Digital drive transforms Public Distribution System in Himachal
2 min read
Image Source Internet
Shimla, Oct. 05
- eKYC brings transparency and efficiency in welfare delivery
The State Government has taken a big step to make its Public Distribution System (PDS) more efficient and transparent by adopting the e-KYC process. This system links Aadhaar numbers with ration cards to make sure that government benefits reach only those who truly deserve them. It helps remove fake or ineligible names from the list, ensuring that subsidized food grains and other benefits go to genuine families. The e-KYC drive began in May 2022 and plays a key role in improving how resources are used across the state.
At first, from May 2022 to January 2023, around 60 percent of PDS beneficiaries completed their e-KYC at Fair Price Shops (FPS). Due to a lack of funds, the process slowed down for a while. Later, the state’s technical team created its own e-KYC application, which was launched in July 2023. This made it easier for beneficiaries to complete e-KYC using Aadhaar-based fingerprint verification at FPS outlets.
From July 2023 to July 2024, the number of people who completed e-KYC increased to seventy-seven percent. However, many people living in remote and hilly areas faced problems, such as difficulty reaching FPS centers or fingerprint mismatches during verification.
To solve these issues, the government launched a mobile application that allowed beneficiaries to complete e-KYC through Aadhaar-based facial recognition. This made the process easier for those in far-off areas, as they no longer needed to visit FPS centers physically.
After the introduction of face authentication, e-KYC completion jumped from seventy-seven percent in July 2024 to ninety-seven percent by March 2025.
This Aadhaar-based verification system has transformed the Public Distribution System. It cleaned up beneficiary records, removed duplication, and made the process faster and more transparent. The success of e-KYC and face authentication shows how technology can ensure that every resource is used wisely and reaches the right people.
