If you hold a ration card under India’s Public Distribution System (PDS), there’s a crucial government requirement you must complete on or before 28th february 2026 to continue receiving subsidised food grains and other benefits. Missing this deadline could interrupt your ration entitlement.

📌 What Is the Deadline and What You Must Do

The government has made E‑KYC (Electronic Know Your Customer) mandatory for all ration cardholders, and the deadline to complete this process is 28th february 2026. If you fail to complete this E‑KYC requirement by that date, you risk having your free ration supplies stopped.

Why E‑KYC Is Required

• Ensure ration benefits go only to eligible and genuine beneficiaries.
• Eliminate duplicate or bogus ration cards from the system.
• Strengthen transparency and accountability in India’s food security network.

🛠️ What Is Ration Card E‑KYC?

E‑KYC is a process that links your Aadhaar details with your ration card and verifies your identity electronically. It confirms your family’s entitlement to benefits under schemes such as the National Food Security Act (NFSA).

Without E‑KYC, ration shops will be unable to verify your claim at the point of distribution — which may lead to suspension of free grains and other subsidised items.

🖥️ How to Complete Your Ration Card E‑KYC

1. Complete E‑KYC Online

You can finish the process from home by following these steps:

Visit your state’s Public Distribution System (PDS) official portal.

Choose the option labeled “Link Aadhaar with Ration Card” or “E‑KYC.”

Enter your Ration Card number and Aadhaar number.

You will receive an OTP (One‑Time Password) on your registered mobile number — enter this to verify.

Once the OTP is successfully authenticated, your E‑KYC process is complete.

🏬 Offline E‑KYC: How It Works

If you cannot complete E‑KYC online, don’t worry — you still have another option:

Visit your nearest fair price shop (FPS) dealer.

Carry your Aadhaar card and ration card (or at least the numbers).

The dealer can run your E‑KYC through the e‑POS (electronic point‑of‑sale) machine using your Aadhaar biometric or OTP.

Once verified, the system records your E‑KYC as complete.

There is no fee to complete this process — it’s free of cost.

🔔 Why You Must Act Before 28th Feb 2026

1. Free Ration Supplies Could Stop

If E‑KYC is not completed by the deadline, you may lose access to free subsidised ration from the PDS.

2. Family Members May Be Removed

Individuals in your household who are not E‑KYC verified may lose their names in the ration card database, affecting their eligibility for benefits.

3. Impact on Other government Benefits

Ration card status often helps in eligibility for other welfare schemes — losing it may affect those entitlements as well.

🧑‍💼 Who Should Complete E‑KYC

Every ration cardholder under the NFSA, regardless of whether they have been collecting subsidised grains regularly or not, must complete E‑KYC before the deadline.

Even if you have already done Aadhaar seeding or linked your ration card earlier, it’s important to check your E‑KYC status and complete it again if required by the system.

🧠 Important Tips

✔ Use your Aadhaar‑linked mobile number for E‑KYC — all OTPs are sent here.
✔ Keep your documents handy (ration card number, Aadhaar number, mobile phone).
✔ If online E‑KYC fails, visit the nearest FPS dealer for offline verification.
✔ E‑KYC will protect your right to receive benefits and keep your ration card active.

📝 In Summary

To keep your ration card benefits safe and uninterrupted, it’s critical to complete your ration card E‑KYC by 28th february 2026. This update ensures that only eligible beneficiaries continue to receive subsidised food grains and prevents misuse of the system. The process is simple, free, and can be done online or offline using your Aadhaar and ration card details.

 

Disclaimer:

The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any agency, organization, employer, or company. All information provided is for general informational purposes only. While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, we make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, reliability, or suitability of the information contained herein. Readers are advised to verify facts and seek professional advice where necessary. Any reliance placed on such information is strictly at the reader’s own risk.