India is ramping up its efforts to digitize identity verification for accessing government welfare schemes and subsidies, with a strong push towards biometric-based authentication. The latest move comes from Maharashtra, the country’s leading agricultural state, which has made digital farmer ID cards mandatory for availing state subsidies starting April 15.
The digital farmer ID, officially called the Kisan Pehchaan Patra or Kisan Card, is linked to the Aadhaar biometric system and forms part of the national AgriStack initiative. This centralized identity system is designed to streamline benefits access for farmers and offer services such as subsidized credit, crop advisory, and eligibility for both central and state agricultural schemes. Maharashtra, home to 11.9 million farmers, is among the first states to implement this requirement at scale.
Nationwide, the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare has issued more than 20.5 million biometric farmer IDs as of March 2025, with a target of 110 million IDs by the fiscal year 2026-27. The ambitious rollout aims to enhance transparency and ensure accurate delivery of benefits, but challenges remain — particularly in rural areas with limited internet connectivity and low levels of digital literacy.
Meanwhile, similar digital verification efforts are reshaping the Public Distribution System (PDS), which provides subsidized food grains and essential commodities to millions of citizens. The central government has introduced Aadhaar-based biometric authentication to weed out fake or duplicate beneficiaries.
The deadline for ration card holders to complete their biometric Know Your Customer (KYC) process was March 31, 2025. The process, known as AP Ration Card eKYC, requires beneficiaries to verify their identity through fingerprint or iris scans using electronic Point of Sale (e-POS) devices and link their Aadhaar number to their ration card. Failure to comply may lead to suspension of food subsidies, officials have warned.
In Himachal Pradesh, the government is making it easier for citizens to complete the KYC procedure. Beneficiaries can now authenticate their identities at local fair-price shops and Common Service Centers, or use the Aadhaar-based face recognition feature in the eKYC PDS HP mobile app, as reported by Tribune India.
As India accelerates its transition towards digital identity systems, the emphasis remains on ensuring that welfare benefits reach the right people — while balancing the need for inclusivity and accessibility in a still-diverse digital landscape.
