The Union Government has informed Parliament that a large-scale beneficiary verification exercise under the National Food Security Act (NFSA) in Punjab has led to the removal of over 2.90 lakh beneficiaries from the food ration system. A total of 23.79 lakh cases were flagged during verification, while Aadhaar-based e-KYC remains incomplete for more than 20.69 lakh beneficiaries in the state.
Responding to a question raised by Punjab Congress president and Ludhiana MP Amrinder Singh Raja Warring, Minister of State for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Nimuben Jayantibhai Bambhaniya disclosed that Punjab currently has 40.93 lakh ration cards covering 1.51 crore beneficiaries under the NFSA. Among these, 23.79 lakh cases were flagged for discrepancies and 2,90,940 beneficiaries were removed after field verification and due process.
The Centre also shared a comparative record of ration cards over recent years, stating that Punjab had 41.76 lakh ration cards in 2024, 37.87 lakh in 2023, and 40.67 lakh in 2022. It further clarified that despite repeated reminders, directives, review meetings, and video conferences, the state has not yet completed the mandatory Aadhaar-based e-KYC process for a significant number of beneficiaries.
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The Union Government maintained that while identification of eligible households under the Antyodaya Anna Yojana and Priority Household categories is the statutory responsibility of state governments, it provides constant support through technological tools such as the Rightful Targeting Dashboard. This platform highlights flagged beneficiaries for on-ground verification to ensure wrongful exclusions do not occur. Regular advisories and reviews with the Punjab government have also been undertaken to accelerate verification.
The issue has triggered a political standoff, with Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann earlier alleging that the Centre was attempting to delete nearly eight lakh beneficiaries, a move he warned would deprive around 32 lakh people of subsidised food grains. Mann has asserted that no beneficiary would be removed under his leadership and sought a six-month extension from the Centre, indicating his intention to take up the matter at the highest levels of the Union Government.
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