TFP Bureau, Raipur, December 30, 2025: Chhattisgarh has significantly strengthened its food security framework, with the Public Distribution System (PDS) now covering 2.73 crore people across the state. According to official data from the Food Department, a total of 82.18 lakh ration cards are currently in circulation, ensuring access to subsidised foodgrains for nearly 89 per cent of the state’s estimated population in 2025.
In line with directives issued by the Union government, the state has been intensifying the electronic Know Your Customer (e-KYC) process to ensure that benefits reach only eligible and genuine beneficiaries. So far, e-KYC has been successfully completed for about 2.3 crore ration card members, accounting for nearly 85 per cent of the total beneficiary base. Around 30.32 lakh members are yet to complete the mandatory verification process.
Food Department officials said that e-KYC facilities have been made available at all government-run fair price shops through e-POS machines, enabling beneficiaries to complete the process locally. In a major step towards convenience and digital inclusion, beneficiaries can also complete e-KYC from their homes using the ‘Mera e-KYC’ mobile application launched by the Government of India. The app, available on the Google Play Store for Android users, allows ration cardholders to enter their Aadhaar number and complete face-based e-KYC through Aadhaar OTP authentication without visiting a shop.
At present, 14,040 government fair price shops are operational across Chhattisgarh. Beneficiaries have the flexibility to lift their rations from the fair price shop of their choice. Officials said that extensive Aadhaar seeding has been carried out to improve transparency and eliminate duplication, with 99.7 per cent of ration card members already Aadhaar-linked. With 85 per cent e-KYC completion, the state is among the leading states in implementing digital reforms in foodgrain distribution.
The Food Department said that around 2.73 crore people are currently receiving regular foodgrain supplies through the PDS. Of these, more than 73 lakh priority households are being provided free foodgrains under the National Food Security Act, while approximately 8.5 lakh above-poverty-line families are receiving rice at subsidised rates. Priority households are also being supplied fortified rice enriched with iron, folic acid and vitamin B-12 to address nutritional deficiencies, particularly among women and children.
Special attention is also being given to remote and left-wing extremism-affected areas under the state government’s Niyad Nellanar scheme. Under this initiative, free distribution of foodgrains along with chana, sugar, salt and jaggery is being carried out for 42,220 ration cardholders in 402 selected interior villages across five districts of the Bastar division—Bijapur, Sukma, Dantewada, Narayanpur and Kanker.
Officials said the combination of wide coverage, digital verification through e-KYC, Aadhaar seeding and doorstep-friendly services like the ‘Mera e-KYC’ app has made the PDS more transparent, efficient and beneficiary-centric. The state government has appealed to the remaining ration card members to complete their e-KYC at the earliest to avoid any disruption in foodgrain supply and to ensure uninterrupted access to food security benefits.
