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Government to cancel 16.67 lakh fake ration cards after major irregularities in free ration scheme; verification drive launched to ensure benefits reach truly eligible families.
16.67 lakh ration cards to be cancelled.
A big scam was found in the free ration scheme.
Car owners and taxpayers are misusing benefits.
Verification is ongoing in all districts.
Legal action is likely against ineligible holders.
The government has launched a massive crackdown on ineligible ration card holders after uncovering large-scale misuse in the free ration scheme. Around 16.67 lakh ration cards are set to be cancelled as the Food and Logistics Department found that several financially well-off individuals were wrongly availing free rations meant for the poor.
The Free Ration Scheme, launched to provide a monthly ration to low-income families, has been misused for years. Investigations revealed that many car owners, income tax payers, and large landowners were also taking free ration. In some districts, even people with businesses earning more than ₹25 lakh annually were found receiving government grains.
This scam was detected after cross-verifying data from the Income Tax Department, Transport Department, GST Network, and PM Kisan Samman Nidhi with the ration card database.
The investigation exposed several ineligible beneficiaries:
9.96 lakh are income tax payers.
4.74 lakh own cars or other vehicles.
1.89 lakh farmers own more than 5 acres of land.
6,775 have a registered GST number.
Uttar Pradesh has around 3.62 crore ration cards, covering 14.68 crore beneficiaries under the Pahal Grahasthi (PHH) and Antyodaya (AAY) categories.
PHH cardholders get a 5 kg ration per person monthly.
AAY cardholders get 35 kg of ration per family monthly.
A district-wise verification campaign is now underway to remove ineligible individuals from the list and ensure fair distribution of benefits.
Also Read: Good News: 2 Crore Women in Uttar Pradesh to Get Free LPG Cylinders Before Diwali
Category | District | Fake Ration Cards Found |
Vehicle Owner Ration Card Holder | Lucknow | 30,292 |
Kanpur City | 17,741 | |
Prayagraj | 16,652 | |
Ghaziabad | 13,912 | |
Bareilly | 12,494 | |
Income Tax Payer Ration Card Holder | Jaunpur | 39,269 |
Prayagraj | 36,182 | |
Gorakhpur | 31,972 | |
Azamgarh | 31,015 | |
Pratapgarh | 23,375 | |
Farmers with More Than 5 Acres of Land | Pratapgarh | 8,326 |
Sitapur | 6,636 | |
Aligarh | 5,854 | |
Mathura | 5,520 | |
Hamirpur | 5,145 |
According to Satyadev, Additional Commissioner of the Food and Logistics Department, investigations are ongoing in every district. Any ineligible card found will be cancelled immediately, and legal or recovery actions may also be initiated against those involved in fraudulent claims.
Antyodaya Card (AAY): For families with an annual income below ₹2 lakh and living below the poverty line.
PHH Card (Eligible Household):
In urban areas, annual income must be below ₹3 lakh.
In rural areas, income must be below ₹2 lakh.
Anyone exceeding these income or asset limits (such as owning vehicles or large land) will lose their ration card.
The PM Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana aims to provide food security to the poor. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, millions of families have benefited from free rations. Now, with the removal of ineligible cardholders, the scheme will become more transparent and fair, ensuring that only genuinely needy families receive benefits.
Cancelling 16.67 lakh fake ration cards will help distribute rations more effectively to deserving beneficiaries. The government’s action is being seen as a major step towards social justice, ensuring that no undeserving person deprives the poor of their rightful share.
The cancellation of 16.67 lakh fake ration cards marks a major step by the government to ensure fairness in the free ration scheme. This strict action will stop ineligible individuals from taking benefits meant for the poor and help genuine families get timely support. The move will make the scheme more transparent, strengthen public trust, and ensure that government aid reaches the truly deserving citizens.
Q1. Why are ration cards being cancelled?
The government discovered misuse of the free ration scheme through data analysis, showing many ineligible beneficiaries. Hence, fake cards are being cancelled.
Q2. Whose ration cards will be cancelled?
Those with annual income above the limit, vehicle ownership, more than 5 acres of land, or who pay income tax.
Q3. How is verification done?
The Food and Civil Supplies Department verifies income, property, and documents through district-level officers.
Q4. What happens after cancellation?
Once found ineligible, the person’s ration card will be cancelled, and they won’t receive free rations. Legal action may follow if required.
Q5. Who can get a ration card?
Families earning below ₹2 lakh (rural) and ₹3 lakh (urban) without luxury vehicles or large land holdings qualify for household or Antyodaya ration cards.