In a significant relief for ration card holders across the state, the Odisha government has extended the deadline for completing the e-KYC process by an additional two months.
The previous deadline, set to expire today on December 31, 2025, will now continue until the end of February 2026.
Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Minister Krushna Chandra Patra announced the extension, emphasising the government’s commitment to ensuring that no eligible beneficiary is deprived of essential food security benefits. “As of now, 96 per cent of the beneficiaries in the state have completed their e-KYC,” the minister stated. “Only 4 per cent remain, and we want to give them ample time to finish the process without any disruption in ration supply.”
According to the minister, the pending cases are relatively higher in Cuttack and certain coastal districts. He urged all remaining beneficiaries to complete the e-KYC at the earliest through fair price shops or designated centres. “The government’s clear intention is that no genuine ration card holder should face cancellation or lose out on benefits,” Patra added.
The e-KYC process, linked to Aadhaar authentication, is part of efforts to streamline the Public Distribution System (PDS) and eliminate irregularities. In related developments, the state government has distributed nearly 8 lakh new ration cards to eligible families in recent months.
