The Himachal Pradesh government has significantly upgraded its Public Distribution System (PDS) by implementing a digital e-KYC process, aimed at ensuring that welfare benefits reach the rightful beneficiaries. By linking Aadhaar numbers with ration cards, the initiative has eliminated fake or duplicate entries, improving both transparency and efficiency in the delivery of subsidized food grains and other essential commodities.
The e-KYC initiative began in May 2022, with initial enrolment taking place at Fair Price Shops (FPS). By January 2023, about 60% of beneficiaries had completed the process. However, progress was temporarily slowed due to funding limitations.
To address this, the state’s technical team developed its own e-KYC application, which was rolled out in July 2023. This new system enabled Aadhaar-based fingerprint authentication at FPS outlets, streamlining the process and increasing participation. Between July 2023 and July 2024, e-KYC coverage rose to 77%.
Recognizing the challenges faced by residents in remote and hilly areas—such as difficult access to FPS centers and fingerprint mismatches—the government launched a mobile application that introduced Aadhaar-based facial recognition. This innovation allowed beneficiaries to complete e-KYC remotely, without needing to travel.
Following the introduction of face authentication, e-KYC completion rates surged, reaching 97% by March 2025.
This digital transformation has had a profound impact on the state’s PDS, enhancing the accuracy of beneficiary records, eliminating fraud, and ensuring more efficient distribution of resources. Himachal Pradesh’s successful adoption of e-KYC and face recognition technology highlights the potential of digital tools in strengthening public welfare systems and promoting good governance.
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