99.4% of Fair Price Shops in Karnataka automated

The government has automated 20,741 Fair Price Shops (FPSs) accounting for 99.4% of the total 20,862 FPSs in the State by installing electronic Point of Sale (ePoS) devices, strengthening transparency and accountability in the Public Distribution System (PDS), according to Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department.

The large-scale automation enables the electronic distribution of foodgrains through biometric or Aadhaar-based authentication, helping reduce leakage, prevent fraud, and ensure that beneficiaries receive their entitled rations. The initiative is part of a broader digital push to modernise the PDS and has been under way since April 2023.

Officials said that the ration card and database of beneficiaries in Karnataka have been fully digitised, with ration cards Aadhaar-seeded to facilitate seamless authentication. Under the system, beneficiaries can access their full entitlement by entering either their ration card number or Aadhaar number into the ePoS device at the FPS, followed by biometric verification using fingerprints or iris scans.

“The digitised system ensures that beneficiaries can receive foodgrains with minimal human intervention,” an official told The Hindu, adding that the platform also enables access to allied digital initiatives such as One Nation One Ration Card (ONORC), the Mera Ration App, Anna Sahayata, and other welfare services.

According to officials, the ePoS devices provide a single handheld solution for retailers, wholesalers, and field operators to manage sales, billing, inventory tracking, weighing, and digital payments. This integrated approach not only improves efficiency but also acts as a strong deterrent against malpractices at fair price shops.

“Biometric authentication linked to Aadhaar plays a key role in eliminating “ghost beneficiaries” and curbing the diversion of subsidised foodgrains into the open market. Each transaction is recorded electronically and uploaded in real time to a central server, enabling end-to-end computerisation of the supply chain. This allows officials to monitor distribution at various levels, reducing dependence on manual registers and limiting the scope for manipulation,” the official explained.

Many ePoS systems are also integrated with electronic weighing machines, ensuring that beneficiaries receive the exact quantity of foodgrains they are entitled to and preventing under-weighing by dealers, officials said.

The automation drive aligns with directions from the Centre, which has asked all States to implement a comprehensive smart PDS system by March 2026. In a reply tabled in the Rajya Sabha, Union Minister of State for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Nimuben Jayantibhai Bambhaniya said that 100% digitisation of ration card and beneficiary databases has been completed across all States and Union Territories, with 99.9% of ration cards Aadhaar-seeded nationwide.