West Bengal government bars ration‑card access for voters removed in roll revision

The West Bengal government has begun verifying public distribution system (PDS) beneficiaries against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the state electoral rolls. Ration cards of people deleted from voter lists – marked absent, shifted, duplicate or dead – will be marked inactive, making them ineligible for food and cash‑transfer schemes. The verification, expected to finish by June 15, follows a Supreme Court ruling upholding the SIR, which has already removed about 9.1 million voters, roughly 12 % of the electorate.

Separately, the state’s Annapurna Bhandar scheme, which started disbursing funds on June 3, announced that all women who applied online on that date must submit a new application due to a portal update. Offline applications remain possible, and assistance will be sent to applicants unable to visit offices.