Latest news with #e-KYC
Indian Express
2 days ago
- Indian Express
After Puja Khedkar row, 92% UPSC applicants voluntarily opt for Aadhaar authentication on new exam portal
A week after the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) launched its revamped exam portal with Aadhaar-based authentication, over 92% of those who registered have opted to use their Aadhaar for identity verification, The Indian Express has learnt. The new portal, launched on May 28, is part of a broader push to streamline the application process for exams conducted by the UPSC. Candidates are now required to register through a four-step process—account creation, universal registration, common application form, and examination application—on the portal As of Wednesday, the UPSC said 2.65 lakh accounts had been created on the new platform. Of these, 1.13 lakh users completed the universal registration, and 1.05 lakh of them chose Aadhaar authentication. About 60,000 had filled the common application form, while 55,000 forms were still under process. 'We are continuously improving the features and user-friendliness of the portal. The focus is on eliminating duplication—candidates won't have to enter their information multiple times. Once submitted, it can be reused for various exams, improving their convenience,' UPSC Chairman Dr. Ajay Kumar told The Indian Express. This is the first time the UPSC is implementing biometric-based authentication for its exams. Though Aadhaar had been accepted as one of several ID documents earlier, the Commission did not previously carry out biometric authentication. That changed in August last year, when the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) authorised the UPSC to conduct Aadhaar authentication—on a voluntary basis—for verifying candidates' identity. The DoPT notification, issued on August 28, 2024, allowed the UPSC to use Aadhaar verification at the registration stage and during various phases of the examination and recruitment process, using either Yes/No or e-KYC authentication. The decision followed the high-profile case of Puja Khedkar, a probationary IAS officer who allegedly appeared for the 2022 Civil Services Examination despite exceeding the maximum number of allowed attempts. The UPSC later cancelled her candidature, citing discrepancies in her application, including changes to her name and her parents' names across attempts. The DoPT subsequently dismissed her from service. Khedkar has denied the allegations and challenged the decisions in court. The new portal covers 14 major UPSC exams, including the Civil Services Examination, Combined Defence Services Examination, and the National Defence Academy Examination. While Aadhaar authentication is voluntary, officials said the UPSC is encouraging candidates to opt for it, as it speeds up verification. Those choosing other forms of ID may face delays in the authentication process. In a statement on May 28, the UPSC had said: 'Applicants are strongly advised to use their Aadhaar Card as ID document in the Universal Application for easy, effortless and seamless verification and authentication of ID and other details, after which it serves as a permanent and common record for all examinations.' Damini Nath is an Assistant Editor with the national bureau of The Indian Express. She covers the housing and urban affairs and Election Commission beats. She has 11 years of experience as a reporter and sub-editor. Before joining The Indian Express in 2022, she was a reporter with The Hindu's national bureau covering culture, social justice, housing and urban affairs and the Election Commission. ... Read More
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- General
- Hindustan Times
Ludhiana: 3-lakh beneficiaries in district at risk of losing subsidised wheat due to incomplete e-KYC
Over 3.36 lakh beneficiaries in Ludhiana district—approximately one in every five people on the rolls—are at risk of losing their subsidised wheat under the National Food Security Act (NFSA) starting July 1, as they have yet to complete their mandatory e-KYC (electronic Know Your Customer) authentication, an official aware of the matter said. This process, mandated by the central government, aims to eliminate ineligible beneficiaries from the public distribution system (PDS). Despite the official deadline for e-KYC completion being set for May 31, and no further extensions expected, the e-KYC drive will continue until June 30, according to officials overseeing the process. The central government had earlier released a notification on March 17, 2023, urging all states and union territories to conduct a 100% e-KYC campaign at Fair Price Shops (FPS) to ensure transparency in NFSA implementation. While Aadhaar has been successfully linked to 99% of ration cards across India, the government has expressed concern over poor biometric authentication and duplicate entries, making e-KYC vital for the accurate rollout of the One Nation One Ration Card scheme. Ludhiana district, which has over 18.09 lakh beneficiaries, has completed e-KYC for approximately 14.7 lakh individuals. However, 3.36 lakh beneficiaries (19% of the total) have yet to authenticate their records and risk losing their access to subsidised wheat. The unverified individuals are mainly from areas with high migrant populations, including Giaspura, Dhandari Kalan, and Focal Point. These localities have been particularly challenging for verification as many migrants frequently travel back to their home states, complicating the process. District food and supplies officials have stated that only families whose heads have completed e-KYC will be eligible for wheat distribution during the July–September quarter. Additionally, the names of deceased beneficiaries have been removed from the records. In Ludhiana, 2,223 deceased beneficiaries were identified, and 2,155 of those names have already been removed from the records. Sartaaj Singh Cheema, district food supplies controller (Ludhiana West), confirmed that approximately 81.38% of e-KYC verifications have been completed in the district. 'We are conducting awareness drives and will share the list of pending beneficiaries with depot holders to ensure that no eligible beneficiary is left out of receiving subsidised wheat,' he said.
India Today
3 days ago
- Business
- India Today
PM Kisan 20th Installment: Check date, beneficiary list, and full scheme details
The Government of India continues to support farmers through the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana (PM-KISAN), a scheme designed to meet the financial requirements of farmers across the country. Under this initiative, eligible farmers receive an annual aid of Rs 6,000, distributed in three instalments of Rs 2,000 every four latest instalment, the 19th, was disbursed on 24 February 2025, transferring approximately Rs 22,000 crore directly into the bank accounts of around 9.8 crore DATEThe 20th instalment of the PM-KISAN scheme is expected to be disbursed in the first or second week of June 2025. However, there is no official confirmation from the government regarding the exact date. This financial aid plays a crucial role in supporting farmers with their agricultural inputs and household PROCESS FOR FARMERS To receive the upcoming instalment, farmers must ensure that their e-KYC is completed and that their Aadhaar is linked to their bank accounts. These processes are essential to avoid any delay in receiving the financial aid. Failure to complete these formalities could result in the credit being held back or BENEFICIARY STATUSFarmers can easily check their beneficiary status by visiting the official PM-KISAN website. They need to navigate to the 'Farmers Corner' and then select 'Beneficiary Status'.By entering their Aadhaar or account number, farmers can verify their payment history and eligibility. This digital service simplifies the process for farmers to stay updated on their instalments.e-KYC PROCEDUREThe e-KYC process involves visiting the PM-KISAN website and selecting 'Update Mobile Number' under 'Farmers Corner'.Farmers are required to enter their Aadhaar details and verify them using an this step ensures seamless deposit of the instalment directly into their bank accounts, aligning with the government's initiative to streamline support for the agricultural Watch
India Today
3 days ago
- Business
- India Today
Are you eligible for PM-Kisan yojana? Check 20th instalment and requirements
The Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana (PM-Kisan) is an initiative by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare to financially support farmers across India. Recently, the 19th instalment was distributed on February 24, 2025, transferring an estimated Rs 22,000 crore directly into the bank accounts of 9.8 crore upcoming 20th instalment is anticipated to be disbursed in the first or second week of June 2025. However, official confirmation from the government is still awaited regarding the exact CRITERIA FOR BENEFICIARIESTo be eligible for the PM-Kisan scheme, farmers must fulfil several criteria. The farmer must be a citizen of India and should own cultivable land. Only small and marginal farmers are allowed to receive this benefit. Those who pay income tax or receive a monthly pension of more than 10,000 are not eligible. Institutional landholders are also excluded from this these conditions ensures that farmers can receive the annual financial aid of Rs 6,000, distributed in three equal instalments of Rs 2,000 every four FORMALITIES FOR RECEIVING INSTALMENTSFarmers looking forward to the 20th instalment need to complete specific formalities to ensure timely receipt of includes completing the e-KYC process, linking their Aadhaar to their bank accounts, and verifying land records. Failure to perform these tasks may result in delays or holds on the credit being deposited into their bank TO CHECK BENEFICIARY STATUSadvertisementFarmers can verify their beneficiary status by accessing the PM-Kisan official portal. By navigating to the "Beneficiary Status" section under the "Farmers Corner," farmers can enter their Aadhaar number or account number to check payment history and is advised to always refer to the official website for the most accurate and up-to-date information regarding the PM-Kisan scheme is a significant effort by the Indian government to aid farmers with their agricultural and household needs. By providing a steady financial inflow, the scheme aims to alleviate some of the financial pressures faced by small and marginal farmers. As the 20th instalment approaches, beneficiaries are encouraged to complete all necessary formalities promptly and frequently check their status through the official channels to ensure they receive their due Watch
Hindustan Times
23-05-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Ludhiana: 15K e-Shram card holders in city miss out on free ration
Even as the Supreme Court mandated the inclusion of e-Shram card holders in the Public Distribution System (PDS) and directed states to issue ration cards to them for free ration, nearly 15,000 such workers in Ludhiana district remain excluded from the ongoing quarterly wheat distribution. According to officials of the food supply department, these beneficiaries had completed their e-KYC and were verified to receive 15 kg of wheat per person for three months, to be distributed in May. To meet the anticipated demand, the department had also procured an additional 2,250.3 quintals of wheat during the recent procurement season. However, when ration distribution began on May 16 across the district, the names of these beneficiaries were missing from the updated beneficiary list in the e-Point of Sale (e-PoS) machines managed by the National Informatics Centre (NIC). As a result, despite being verified and having received ration cards, these workers were turned away from fair price shops. This gap persists despite a Supreme Court order issued on October 3, 2023, that directed states and Union Territories to integrate nearly 8 crore migrant and unorganised workers registered on the e-Shram portal into the food security net across the country. The apex court had then instructed states to issue ration cards and ensure their e-KYC is completed simultaneously, as reiterated in the Union government's affidavit filed on February 12, 2024. Officials from the food supply department in Ludhiana confirmed that the data of registered e-Shram workers was shared with the food department in May 2024. After this, area-wise surveys were conducted using Aadhaar and UAN details, with the assistance of ration depot holders, to complete the e-KYC of these workers. 'Despite these directives, ration cards issued after the last quarterly cycle are yet to be reflected in the NIC's e-PoS system,' they added. Depot holders are also bearing the brunt of the confusion.'These e-Shram card holders were supposed to get wheat this season. However, their names are still not visible on the e-PoS machines. In the past five days, I have turned away 47 such beneficiaries despite their e-KYC being completed,' said Karamjit Singh Arechha, national assistant secretary and state president of the All-India Fair Price Shop Dealers Federation. Acknowledging the issue, Sartaj Singh Cheema, district food supplies controller (Ludhiana West) stated, 'This is a statewide issue. The NIC has uploaded the data from the last quarter, which excludes recently verified e-Shram beneficiaries. We have already procured the extra wheat and issued ration cards to these individuals. The matter has been escalated to higher authorities. The moment data is updated; they will get their due.'
