Jammu Kashmir To Roll Out Digital Currency-Based Ration Distribution in Phases From November 15

The Jammu and Kashmir Government will begin pilot implementation of the Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) project under the Public Distribution System (PDS) in Jammu and Srinagar districts from November 15, followed by its expansion to three more districts by November 30 and the entire Union Territory by December 31, 2026.

The rollout schedule was reviewed by Commissioner Secretary, Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs (FCS&CA), Sourabh Bhagat, during an online meeting with departmental and district-level officers to assess the progress of key initiatives and winter preparedness.

According to the schedule presented at the meeting, the CBDC project will be extended to Samba, Kathua and Udhampur districts by November 30 before being implemented across Jammu and Kashmir by December 31.

Bhagat directed district administrations and Assistant Directors to complete beneficiary data preparation and other necessary arrangements ahead of the deadlines. He also asked the National Informatics Centre (NIC) and Punjab National Bank (PNB) to expedite beneficiary data validation, whitelisting and the creation of login credentials for Fair Price Shop (FPS) dealers.

PNB authorities were asked to prepare a comprehensive training programme for Jammu district to facilitate the onboarding of stakeholders and ensure smooth implementation.

The meeting also reviewed the department’s winter stocking arrangements, including requirements for six-month and three-month periods, foodgrain lifting and distribution, Aadhaar-based e-KYC and face authentication.

Emphasising the need to complete foodgrain distribution before the onset of adverse weather, Bhagat directed officers to ensure timely lifting and adequate stocking, particularly in view of the approaching winter and the possibility of weather-related disruptions. He also asked the Food Corporation of India (FCI) to ensure the supply of quality foodgrains.

Reviewing the availability of petroleum products, the Commissioner Secretary asked district administrations to identify remote and far-flung areas without petrol pump facilities. He directed officials to work out suitable arrangements with Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) for setting up department-owned petrol outlets to serve residents, particularly during emergencies.

On Aadhaar-based e-KYC, Bhagat called for intensified efforts to complete the verification of beneficiaries whose details remain pending. He also stressed that the Face Authentication Application should be introduced from the current month’s ration distribution cycle to improve transparency and facilitate authentication at Fair Price Shops.

He directed district administrations to organise special e-KYC camps and achieve complete beneficiary verification. Districts recording e-KYC coverage of 95 per cent or above would be suitably appreciated, he said.

The consolidated verification data would also enable the department to approach the Government of India for additional funding and support for innovations under the Sarthak PDS project, Bhagat said.

He stressed the need to verify beneficiaries properly to ensure that subsidised foodgrains reach only those entitled to receive them. The status of e-KYC among migrant ration card holders was also examined, with officers directed to clear pending cases.

As part of efforts to upgrade the distribution network, the Commissioner Secretary asked each district administration to identify five Fair Price Shops for modernisation through convergence with the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) and other applicable schemes.

He also directed district administrations to identify suitable land for additional granaries and government storage facilities, particularly in remote, far-flung and border areas, to ensure the availability of essential commodities during emergencies and other exigencies.

The meeting was attended by Director General, FCS&CA Jammu, Rajesh Kumar Shavan; General Manager, FCI; Director IT, Sanjay Gupta; Deputy Commissioners and Assistant Directors from various districts through video conferencing.

Rajesh Kumar Shavan and the district Assistant Directors presented updates on foodgrain lifting and distribution, winter stocking, e-KYC, face authentication, CBDC implementation and other departmental priorities.