Ration Card Reforms rolled out in Bhutan and Telangana, India

In Bhutan, a new rule requires all individuals listed on ration cards to visit public distribution system (PDS) outlets each year and provide thumb impressions for biometric verification. Failure to do so for a full year will result in the removal of the person's name from the card. The change follows concerns that previously completed KYC required no further updates. Workers at several food‑grain godowns have protested, claiming the Direct Door‑Step Delivery system has caused job losses.

In India’s Telangana state, the government is preparing to distribute compact smart ration cards the size of credit cards to more than 1.05 crore families. The cards embed QR codes and photographs of state leaders. Officials have been directed to achieve 100 % electronic KYC of beneficiaries by July 31, with special camps and field visits to complete biometric verification and to remove deceased or permanently migrated persons from the rolls. Distribution is expected to begin in early August or on Independence Day.

Both initiatives aim to modernise beneficiary verification and prevent fraud, but they impose new biometric compliance requirements on millions of households.