Modi Govt's Extensive Digitization Drive Elimininates 5.8 Crore Fake Ration Cards Through e-KYC

Prime Minister Narendra Modi -led Indian government's extensive digitization drive has successfully eliminated 5.8 crore (58 million) fake ration cards through Aadhaar-based authentication and e-KYC verification. This initiative is part of the broader effort to reform the Public Distribution System (PDS), which serves 80.6 crore beneficiaries.

The digitization efforts have significantly reduced leakages and ensured that food grains reach the intended beneficiaries.

The One Nation One Ration Card scheme allows beneficiaries to access their rations anywhere in India using their existing cards.

The government has deployed 5.33 lakh electronic Point of Sale (e-PoS) devices at fair price shops to facilitate Aadhaar-based verification during distribution.

The Union Food Ministry said that almost all of the 20.4 crore ration cards have been digitalized, with 98.7% of beneficiaries’ credentials being validated through biometric identification and 99.8% being connected to Aadhaar.

This digital transformation has set a global benchmark for state-sponsored food security initiatives, ensuring targeted delivery to genuine beneficiaries while eliminating ghost cards and fake entries from the system.

SBI NCMC Cardholders Can Now Recharge Cards Online Through the Bharat Bill Pay-enabled Apps

The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) has partnered with the State Bank of India (SBI) to introduce the National Common Mobility Card (NCMC) recharge as a new biller category on the Bharat BillPay platform. This collaboration aims to enhance the convenience for travelers by allowing them to recharge their NCMC cards online, thus avoiding long queues.

SBI NCMC cardholders can now recharge their cards online through the Bharat BillPay-enabled application, SBI Unipay, and other digital front-end platforms.

The process ensures a hassle-free experience for users, preventing long waits and providing an instant and secure option for topping up their wallets.

The service is already live for Noida Metro, Nagpur Metro, MMRDA Line 2A & 7, Chennai Metro, Kanpur Metro, and Parliament Canteen, with more platforms expected to go live soon.

Customers can top up their NCMC cards with amounts up to ₹10,000 using multiple payment options including prepaid, debit, and credit cards. After the online recharge, customers just need to tap their NCMC card on the terminal to update their balance.

This initiative is a step towards easing digital payments and is backed by the certainty, reliability, and safety of the Bharat BillPay platform.

The National Common Mobility Card (NCMC), also known as the One Nation One Card, is an innovative initiative by the Government of India to create a seamless and interoperable payment system for public transportation across the country. Launched on March 4, 2019, the NCMC is a contactless smart card that operates on the RuPay card mechanism.