Smart PDS: Cancelled Yellow, Pink ration cards to become White cards

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Ration cards cancelled under the Centre’s Smart PDS scheme, set to be implemented next month, will have to wait three months for reissue. Cancelled priority cards will be replaced with non-priority (white) cards. The cancellation will also mean the loss of benefits linked to priority cards, including those under free treatment schemes.

Ration cards that have not been used to purchase ration for more than six months will be cancelled. Around six lakh cards covering more than 16 lakh beneficiaries fall into this category. Among them are around 45,000 yellow and pink priority cards, covering about 66,000 members. A cancelled card can be reissued only after all members listed on it complete e-KYC. If only one member completes the KYC update, ration will be provided only to that member.

The Smart PDS system will also detect whether the same person is listed on multiple ration cards in different states.

What is Smart PDS?

Smart PDS — the Scheme for Modernisation and Reforms through Technology in Public Distribution System — will centrally store ration card members’ details and allow the Centre to monitor the distribution system down to the grassroots level.

Kerala signed a memorandum of understanding for the scheme in 2024.