Himachal Pradesh Becomes First State to Use Aadhaar-based Face ID for Ration Distribution.

On July 5, 2025, Himachal Pradesh introduced Aadhaar-linked facial authentication (FaceAuth) for its Public Distribution System (PDS), making it the first Indian state to do so. Launched by the Department of Digital Technologies and Governance (DDTG), this initiative aims to overcome verification hurdles and ensure faster, more accurate delivery of subsidised food grain.

      - Himachal Pradesh Ministerial advisors and officials gathered in Shimla to unveil the new FaceAuth system, ushering in a major technological shift in ration delivery. Principal Advisor (Innovation, Digital Technologies & Governance) to the Chief Minister, Gokul Butail, highlighted that the move replaces unreliable OTP (One-Time Password) and fingerprint biometric methods, which had often failed due to poor SMS delivery or UIDAI (Unique Identification Authority of India) mismatches.

      - The system, developed by the DDTG, uses a mobile application installed on the fair price shop (FPS) dealer’s smartphone. Beneficiary authentication now happens through a mobile camera capturing a live facial scan, compared to their Aadhaar-linked photograph—thus bypassing dependence on internet or fingerprint scanners during POS (Point of Sale) authentication.

      - According to government statements, this FaceAuth mechanism has significantly increased the authentication success rate, reduced verification time, and minimised queues at FPS outlets. Gokul Butail emphasised that these improvements reflect Himachal’s ambition to harness digital tools for delivering essential welfare services more equitably.

Main Point :-   (i) The rapid rollout across all PDS ration shops in Himachal Pradesh occurred under the leadership of Chief Minister Sukhu, whose administration has prioritised e-governance initiatives aimed at enhancing transparency, efficiency, and social inclusion. The shift demonstrates the state’s readiness to adopt modern solutions to longstanding public service challenges.

      (ii) India introduced Aadhaar-based biometric authentication in PDS around 2015 to eliminate ghost beneficiaries, but issues like fingerprint mismatches and SMS failures continued. The new FaceAuth system aims to resolve these problems with more reliable and inclusive technology.

(iii) Experts suggest that Himachal’s successful deployment could serve as a model for nationwide adoption. The state government has urged central bodies, including the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution and UIDAI, to consider scaling FaceAuth to other states. A tech-driven rollout, they argue, will bolster India’s goals of ensuring no eligible citizen is denied food support due to authentication failures.
About Himachal Pradesh