SRINAGAR: The Union Government has informed the Lok Sabha that Jammu and Kashmir currently maintains 1,657,861 active ration cards as of July 2026. The figures, presented on Wednesday, also revealed that 3,036 ration cards were deleted in the Union Territory in 2025, a decrease from the 4,767 deletions recorded in 2024.
Information was available with The Chenab Times indicating that across India, a total of 205,781,055 active ration cards are in circulation under the public distribution system. Out of this national total, Jammu and Kashmir accounts for approximately 1.65 million active cards. The neighbouring Union Territory of Ladakh has a significantly smaller number of active ration cards, standing at 28,105.
Further details provided to Parliament by the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution indicated that in Ladakh, 615 ration cards were deleted in 2024, with the figure rising to 764 in 2025. The Ministry’s data underscores the ongoing process of updating and managing beneficiary databases under the National Food Security Act (NFSA).
The Union Government reiterated that the responsibility for identifying eligible beneficiaries and maintaining accurate beneficiary databases rests with the respective State Governments and Union Territory administrations. This decentralised approach ensures that local authorities are best placed to manage the intricacies of food security programs within their jurisdictions.
Ration cards are typically cancelled for a range of reasons, including the identification of duplicate or ineligible beneficiaries, discrepancies arising from e-KYC (electronic Know Your Customer) or Aadhaar authentication mismatches, and the reporting of deaths or permanent migration of households. These measures are in place to ensure the integrity and efficiency of the public distribution system.
However, the Ministry took care to clarify that no ration cards have been reported as cancelled solely due to the failure of beneficiaries to complete e-KYC or Aadhaar authentication. This distinction is important, suggesting that while authentication is a key component, its failure alone is not the sole criterion for cancellation.
Adding to the assurance for residents, the government further stated that no specific reports or complaints concerning the wrongful cancellation of ration cards have been officially received by the authorities. This indicates a general adherence to established procedures in the management of ration card data within Jammu and Kashmir.
The Chenab Times News Desk