The Karnataka government has flagged 11.8 lakh social security pension beneficiaries as potentially fraudulent, including 13,702 income taxpayers and 117 government employees, Revenue Minister Krishna Byre Gowda announced during a review meeting in Karwar. Aadhaar verification exposed thousands receiving old-age pensions despite being underage, alongside able-bodied individuals using forged certificates for disability pensions. In Uttara Kannada alone, 11,956 suspicious cases, including 351 taxpayers, were identified, with re-verification ordered to curb misuse.

Gowda emphasized decisive action to eliminate these anomalies, aligning with Karnataka’s history of tackling pension fraud—7 lakh applications were rejected since 2019, saving Rs 451 crore. The state, managing 75.9 lakh pensioners and a Rs 9,483.51 crore budget, uses integrated databases (Aadhaar, ration cards, e-Janma) and the Beneficiary Management System for scrutiny. A toll-free number (155245) and the Navodaya app streamline verification, ensuring pensions reach only eligible elderly, disabled, and widowed individuals.

Concurrently, the government is addressing outdated land records under the Bhu Suraksha scheme, launched in 2024. Over 52.55 lakh land holdings, including 1.9 lakh in Uttara Kannada, remain under deceased farmers’ names, blocking access to schemes like PM-Kisan. In the past month, 20,000 titles were transferred to heirs, with a six-month deadline for free transfers. Of 100 crore land document pages, 33.1 crore are digitized, with online access promised by January 2026 to prevent tampering.

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