Himachal Pradesh has become the first state in India to implement Aadhaar-based face authentication (FaceAuth) for ration distribution under the Public Distribution System (PDS), replacing earlier OTP and biometric-based methods.
- Previously, authentication was done via OTP or biometric verification.
- These methods often faced issues like SMS delivery failures and biometric mismatches at UIDAI’s end, leading to inconvenience.
| OTP-based authentication uses a one-time password that is sent to the individual’s registered mobile number. |
About Public Distribution System (PDS)
- The Public Distribution System (PDS) is India’s food security mechanism, overseen by the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, to ensure access to essential foodgrains at subsidised rates.
- PDS took shape during the interwar years and gained national significance during the 1960s amid severe food shortages.
- Initially serving urban populations, its coverage expanded to tribal and economically weaker rural areas following the Green Revolution.
- Over the years, it has become a key element of India’s food security framework, intended to supplement household food needs.
- It mainly distributes wheat, rice, sugar, and kerosene, while some states extend the list to include pulses, edible oils, and salt.
- Operational Structure:
- Central Government: Manages procurement, storage, transportation, and bulk allocation via the Food Corporation of India (FCI).
- State/UT Governments: Responsible for identifying beneficiaries, issuing ration cards, distributing supplies, and managing Fair Price Shops (FPSs).
How the New System Works?
- The FaceAuth facility uses a mobile camera through an app on the fair price shop (FPS) owner’s smartphone.
- It enables direct facial authentication of beneficiaries, making the process more accessible and reliable.
- The system aims to streamline ration distribution, reduce verification time, and improve authentication success rate.
- It ensures faster, more efficient service delivery under the PDS.
Steps Taken to Improve Public Distribution System (PDS)
- Digitisation: Ration cards have been digitised to streamline beneficiary data and entitlement records. GPS technology tracks food grain movement from warehouses to fair price shops (FPS), reducing leakage.
- Technology Integration: e-POS devices at FPS enable real-time monitoring of grain distribution, improving accuracy and efficiency.
Examples
- Digitised Beneficiary Records: States like Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, and Gujarat have digitised ration cards to streamline beneficiary verification and entitlements.
- Computerised Stock Allocation: States such as Chhattisgarh, Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu use computerised systems to manage food grain allocation and track stocks efficiently.
- Smart Cards: Tamil Nadu, Haryana, Andhra Pradesh, and Odisha have introduced smart cards to securely store beneficiary details and prevent duplication.
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- One Nation One Ration Card (ONORC): Ensures portability of food security benefits, allowing beneficiaries to access subsidised grains anywhere in the country.
- Social Audits: Community-led audits promote transparency and hold the system accountable.
About Aadhar
- Aadhaar is a 12-digit unique identification number issued by the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI).
- UIDAI is a statutory body established under the Aadhaar Act, 2016.
- Data Collected in the Aadhar includes Demographic (Name, gender, date of birth, and address) as well as Biometric (Fingerprints, iris scans, and facial photograph).
- Section 7 of the Aadhaar Act, 2016, allows the government to mandate Aadhaar for accessing welfare schemes funded by the Consolidated Fund of India or state funds.
- As per the Supreme Court ruling, Aadhaar metadata cannot be stored for more than six months.
Additional Reading: Public Distribution System
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