The government has weeded out 4.39 crore bogus ration account from 2013 to 2020, the government said today.

The detection of these accounts has been done after digitization of the ration beneficiaries’ database, which has been done through Aadhaar. The digitization helps the government detect ineligible ration cards and de-duplication of data. It also helps update data in case of migration or death of the beneficiary.

“The NFSA [National Food Security Act] provides coverage for 81.35 Crore persons to receive highly subsidized foodgrains through TPDS, which is nearly two-thirds of the country’s population as per the Census of 2011. Presently, more than 80 crore persons in the country are receiving foodgrains (rice, wheat, and coarse grains) at highly subsidized Central issue prices of Rs 3, 2 and 1 per kg respectively under NFSA, on monthly basis,” said an official press release issued by the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution..