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Date: 2025-08-06 Category: Not Applicable State: Union Government Country: India

Parliament Question: PDS Access and Biometric Verification Issues

Issued by Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution · Not Applicable

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Executive Summary & Key Takeaways

Executive Summary: This document presents information regarding Aadhaar seeding of ration cards under the Public Distribution System (PDS) as of June 2025. It also addresses the reporting of failed biometric authentications and requests for exemptions from biometric verification. The information was provided to the Lok Sabha in response to Unstarred Question No. 2822 on August 6, 2025. Key Points / Main Content: Aadhaar Seeding Status: As of June 2025, 99.80% of ration cards (205,122,201 out of 205,440,099) have been seeded with Aadhaar numbers nationwide. A statement in Annexure provides a state-wise breakdown of total ration cards and Aadhaar-seeded ration cards. Biometric Authentication: The Department does not maintain reports of failed biometric authentications at PDS outlets. States and Union Territories (UTs) have been advised that no beneficiary should be denied their entitled food quota under the National Food Security Act (NFSA) due to biometric authentication failure caused by technical issues. Exemptions and Alternative Measures: No States or UTs have requested exemptions or alternative authentication methods due to high failure rates of biometric authentication. Impact Analysis: State Governments/Union Territories: Impact: Required to ensure that no genuine beneficiary is denied food grains due to biometric failure. Action Required: Adhere to the advisory that beneficiaries should not be denied rations due to biometric authentication failures caused by technical issues. Ration Card Holders/Beneficiaries: Impact: Entitled to receive their allocated food grains under NFSA, even if biometric authentication fails due to technical reasons. Action Required: Be aware of their rights and report any denial of rations despite biometric failure to the appropriate authorities. Department of Food and Public Distribution: Impact: Responsible for monitoring Aadhaar seeding progress and ensuring compliance with the advisory on biometric authentication failures. Action Required: Continue monitoring Aadhaar seeding and reinforce the advisory regarding biometric failures to States/UTs.

Key Entities Referenced

Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution: The Indian government ministry responsible for consumer affairs, food, and public distribution. Public Distribution System: A government-sponsored chain of shops entrusted with the responsibility of distributing basic food and non-food commodities to the poor at subsidized prices. Aadhaar: A 12-digit unique identity number issued to all Indian residents based on their biometric and demographic data. NFSA: National Food Security Act. It appears in the context of beneficiaries receiving foodgrains, even if biometric authentication fails. Andhra Pradesh: A state in India, specifically mentioned in the context of Aadhaar seeding of ration cards. Uttar Pradesh: A state in India, specifically mentioned in the context of Aadhaar seeding of ration cards. West Bengal: A state in India, specifically mentioned in the context of Aadhaar seeding of ration cards. Lok Sabha: The lower house of the Parliament of India, indicating that this document is a parliamentary question.
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GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2822 TO BE ANSWERED ON 6TH AUGUST, 2025 PDS ACCESS AND BIOMETRIC VERIFICATION ISSUES 2822. SHRI VIJAY KUMAR HANSDAK: SHRI CHARANJIT SIN(,H CHANNI: SHRI SAPTA(,IRI SANKAR ULAKA: SMT. JYOTSNA CHARANDAS MAHANT: SHRI K SUDHAKARAN: DR. KIRSAN NAMDEO: Will the Minister of CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION be pleased to state: (a): the number and percentage of ration cardholders in the country whose ration cards are Aadhaar-seeded as of June 2025, State-wise; (b): the number of failed biometric authentications at Public Distribution System (PDS) outlets recorded month-wise during the Financial year 2024-25; and (c): whether any States or Union Territories have sought exemptions or alternative (non-biometric) authentication measures due to high failure rates and if so, the details thereon ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE FOR MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (SHRIMATI NIMUBEN JAYANTIBHAI BAMBHANIYA) (a): A statement showing Aadhaar seeding in Ration Cards is at Annexure (b): No such reports of failed biometric authentications are maintained by the Department. Further, the Department has advised all States/UTs that no genuine beneficiary/household shall be denied their entitled quota of foodgrains under NFSA on the ground of failure of biometric authentication due to network/ connectivity/ linking issues or any other technical reasons etc. (c): No States/UTs have sought exemption or alternative authentication measures due to failure of biometric authentication SeSeSc SeScSeAnnexu re Statement showing Aadhaar seeding in Ration Cards (RC) S.No. State Name Total RC Aadhaar Seeded RC % of RC 1 ANDAMAN AND NICOBAR ISLANDS 17,989 17,989 100.00% 2 ANDHRA PRADESH 8,837,972 8,837,97? 100.00% 3 ARUNACHAL PRADESH 186,406 150,272 80.62% 4 ASSAM 7,030,347 7,025, 139 99.93% 5 BIHAR 20,696,745 20,653,930 99.79% 6 CHANDIGARH 85,825 85,504 99.63% 7 CHHATTISGARH 5,589,781 5,586,761 99.95% 8 Dadar & Nagar Haveli & Daman & Diu 57,773 57,773 100.00% 9 DELHI 1,746,316 1 ,746,316 100.00% 10 GOA 128,025 128,003 99.98% 11 GUJARAT 7,650,466 L642,509 99.90% 12 HARYANA 4,540,017 4,540,017 100.00% 13 HIMACHAL PRADESH 747,358 747,358 100.00% 14 JAMMU AND KASHMIR 1 ,658,431 1 ,658,424 100.00% 15 JHARKHAN D 6,071 ,140 6,025,668 99.25% 16 KARNATAKA 11 ,030,539 11 ,030,539 100.00% 17 KERALA 4,205,079 4,203,643 99.97% 18 LADAKH 28,748 28,748 100.00% 19 LAKSHADWEEP 5,435 5,431 99.93% 20 MADHYA PRADESH 12,964,517 2 99.990/, 21 MAHARASHTRA 16,752,994 16,752,752 100.00% 22 MANIPUR 580,641 578, 823 99.69% 23 MEGHALAYA 416,735 325,513 78.11 % 24 MIZORAM 180,032 179,709 99.82% 25 NAGALAN D 344,440 338,897 98.39% 26 ODISHA 9,646, 106 9,623,924 99.77% 27 PUDUCHERRY 207,349 207,023 99.84% 28 PUNJAB 4097,681 4,097,521 100.00% 29 RAJASTHAN 10,963,427 10,923,232 99.63% 30 SIKKIM 96,252 96,210 99.96% 31 TAMIL NADU 11 ,538,343 11 ,538,267 100.00% 32 TELANGANA 5,430,545 5,430,545 100.00% 33 TRIP U RA 607,594 606,555 99.83% 34 UTTARAKHAN D 1 ,394,825 1 ,394,768 100.00% 35 UTTAR PRADESH 36, 073,235 36,071 ,394 99.990/, 36 WEST BENGAL 13,830,991 13,822,101 99.94./, Total 205,440,099 205,122,201 99.80%

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