THE SARAL GUIDE

Ration Card e-KYC: How to Do It by Mobile App or at the Ration Shop, Step by Step

Updated Nov 4, 2026 Saral Jankari Team

How to complete ration card e-KYC from home with the Mera eKYC face-scan app or at any fair price shop, what you need, and how to check it worked.

Last reviewed: 5 November 2026

The short version

Many states now require every member of a ration card to complete Aadhaar-based e-KYC, so that subsidised grain keeps coming without interruption. There are two main ways: a face scan in a mobile app from home, or in person at a ration shop. The exact method and any deadline depend on your state, so also check your state food department’s notice.

Method	Where	What you need
1. Mobile app (face scan)	From home, Mera eKYC app	Aadhaar number, mobile linked to Aadhaar (for the OTP), a good camera and internet
2. Fair price (ration) shop	At the shop	Ration card, Aadhaar card, Aadhaar-linked mobile number

Which method should you use?

You have a smartphone and your Aadhaar mobile number works: use the app at home.
The app is difficult, or you need to do e-KYC for an elderly person or a child: take them to the ration shop.
You work in another state or city: in a reply in Parliament (11 August), the food department said NFSA beneficiaries can complete Aadhaar-based e-KYC at a fair price shop of their choice anywhere in India. You do not have to return home. The app route is also open.

Method 1: e-KYC with the mobile app

The steps below come from the official page of a district administration (Pauri Garhwal, Uttarakhand). In your state the app name or screens may differ slightly, so match them against your state’s official notice.

Download two apps: the Mera KYC / Mera eKYC app and the Aadhaar Face RD app. Use only the official ones, because similarly named apps are not the same.
Log in, choose your state under “Select State” and tap “Verify Location”.
Enter the 12-digit Aadhaar number and the OTP sent to the Aadhaar-linked mobile.
Tap “Face KYC”. Hold your face at an equal distance from the camera and blink to authenticate.
On success, the screen shows “e-KYC Successful”.

Repeat this for every member listed on the card.

Method 2: e-KYC at the ration shop

Take your ration card, Aadhaar card and Aadhaar-linked mobile number to the shop.
Take along each member whose e-KYC is pending, including children and the elderly.
The shopkeeper’s machine verifies identity with Aadhaar (fingerprint or iris).
Ask for a receipt or confirmation.

How to check that it worked

The National Food Security Portal (nfsa.gov.in) links to each state’s ration card report. Open it, choose the link for your state, and look up your card. Portal layouts and the details shown differ by state.

Common problems and what to do

OTP does not arrive. Your mobile number is probably not linked to Aadhaar. Call the Aadhaar helpline 1947 or visit an Aadhaar centre. See our Aadhaar guide.
The face scan keeps failing. Use good light, face the camera straight and clean the lens. If it still fails, do it at the ration shop.
Fingerprint does not match. Manual work can wear fingerprints. Retry at the shop with another finger.
Someone asks for money. Do not pay. You do not need an agent. Complain to the district supply officer.
Someone asks for your OTP or bank PIN. It is a fraud. Never share your OTP.

What can be different in your state

Deadlines are set by states. The Pauri Garhwal page asks holders to finish “as soon as possible” and gives no date. Ask your state notice or ration shop whether your state has set one.
Complaint helplines are state-specific. The NFSA portal lists the PDS helplines of all states and Union Territories.
Completing e-KYC does not guarantee that a disputed entitlement will be restored.

Frequently asked questions

Will my ration stop if I do not do e-KYC? The official page says the aim is that benefits continue without interruption, which implies pending e-KYC can cause disruption. What exactly happens depends on your state’s rule, so ask your ration shop.

Does every member need e-KYC separately? Yes, every member (unit) listed on the card.

Is there a fee? The official sources I used mention none. If someone asks for money, do not pay.

Can I do it while living in another state? Yes, at any ration shop or through the app, according to the Parliament reply.

For applying, adding members and fixing details, read our full ration card guide.

Sources

Procedures, apps and deadlines differ by state. The app steps come from one district’s official page, so confirm with your state’s notice before you act. Never share your OTP.