45,000 ration cards scrapped in Delhi in over a year; AI use to identify bogus holders in pipeline

The Delhi government revoked more than 45,000 ration cards over nearly a 14-month period, while the Department of Food, Supplies is mulling use of AI to identify bogus beneficiaries, an RTI reply said.

The Department of Food, Supplies and Consumer Affairs of GNCTD, in its reply, said 45,212 ration cards were scrapped between January 1, 2025 and February 17, 2026.

It stated that artificial intelligence (AI) is not currently being used to detect fake or ineligible beneficiaries, though the process to introduce such technology is underway.

The information was shared in a reply to an RTI application seeking details on ration card distribution and related measures in the national capital.

As per the response, 15,48,410 ration cards were in circulation in Delhi as of February 17, with an equal number of families receiving subsidised foodgrains under the public distribution system. According to officials, these ration card holders in Delhi, involving nearly 73 lakh public distribution system (PDS) beneficiaries, are provided a monthly quota of ration through around 2,000 fair price shops.

Of these, 60,372 beneficiaries are covered under the Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) category, while 14,88,038 fall under the Priority Household (PHH) category, according to the RTI reply.

Meanwhile, the Delhi government has cancelled 4.20 lakh ration cards over the past decade due to various reasons, making efforts to improve the public distribution system in the city.

As per the Targeted Public Distribution System (Control) Order, 2015, issued by the Government of India, Delhi’s ration card quota was set at 72,77,995, which has been filled. The Food Supply department mentioned that new ration cards are issued only when vacancies are created due to reasons such as the death of beneficiaries, migration, surrender of cards, or cancellation of ineligible cards.

Previously, the Delhi government had announced that it will issue two lakh fresh ration cards this year.