Bihar Ration Card Pending? e-KYC Now Mandatory (2026)
Last updated: 11 October 2026
If you applied for a new ration card during Bihar’s recent drive and your card still hasn’t arrived, the reason may have nothing to do with your documents or eligibility. Your application may be stuck because e-KYC has not been done.
From mid-September 2026, district supply officials in Bihar have said that a new ration card will be issued only after the applicant’s e-KYC is completed. Until then, the application does not move forward. This guide explains what changed, who it affects, and what to do this week.
What Changed in September 2026
Earlier, the usual route was to apply, wait for verification, and then get your card. Now there is one more mandatory step before the card is generated.
According to reports published on 18 September 2026, the Food & Consumer Protection Department changed the issuing process. Key points:
- e-KYC is compulsory before a new ration card is issued. Without it, the card process will not move forward.
- It is done at your local PDS dealer (ration shop) on the dealer’s e-PoS machine.
- Identity is verified through Aadhaar. You need to carry your Aadhaar card.
- A Block Supply Officer said that the new card is issued only after e-KYC is completed successfully.
- Reports also said that people who applied earlier and still haven’t received a card need to complete e-KYC as well.
So submitting a form is no longer enough. Your identity also has to be confirmed biometrically.
Why This Step Was Added
Bihar has spent most of 2026 cleaning up its PDS database. Earlier this year, Aadhaar verification flagged more than 52 lakh beneficiaries across the state for removal. Existing cardholders were also given an e-KYC deadline of 28 February 2026.
Adding e-KYC at the issuing stage stops the problem at the start. A new card goes only to a real, verified person, not to a duplicate, a deceased person’s identity, or someone already listed on another card.
Who Needs to Do This
| Your situation | Do you need e-KYC now? |
|---|---|
| Applied during the 2026 drive, card not received | Yes, this is most likely what’s holding it |
| Applied earlier (online/offline), status still pending | Yes |
| Planning to apply for a new card | Yes, expect it as part of the process |
| Already have an active card with e-KYC done | No new step, keep lifting ration regularly |
| Have a card but e-KYC of members is pending | Yes, under the existing e-KYC requirement |
How to Complete e-KYC for a New Ration Card: Step by Step
Step 1: Check your application status first.
New ration card work in Bihar now runs on Smart PDS 2.0. The old RCMS services on the EPDS portal have been closed. Check whether your application is still pending or has been rejected. If it was rejected, e-KYC alone won’t fix it. (New to the system? Read our guide on Smart PDS 2.0 Bihar: What Changes for Your RC?)
Step 2: Go to the PDS dealer in your area.
This means the fair price shop that serves your ward or village. You don’t need to go to the block office for the e-KYC itself.
Step 3: Carry these documents.
- Original Aadhaar card of the applicant
- Your application or acknowledgement number (so the dealer can find your record)
- Aadhaar cards of the other family members named in the application. Ask the dealer whether each member must also authenticate.
- The mobile number linked with Aadhaar, in case an OTP is needed
Step 4: Give your biometric on the e-PoS machine.
The dealer will authenticate you through Aadhaar, usually with a fingerprint. Once it succeeds, your e-KYC is recorded.
Step 5: Follow up after a few days.
Recheck your application status. If it still doesn’t move after a reasonable time, contact your Block Supply Officer or the SDO office with your application number.
If Your Fingerprint Fails
This is the most common problem, especially for elderly people, labourers, and farmers whose fingerprints have worn down.
- Try the other fingers. The machine can sometimes accept a different finger.
- Update your Aadhaar biometrics at a nearby Aadhaar Seva Kendra if failures keep happening. A dealer cannot fix a biometric mismatch.
- Check your name and date of birth. If they don’t match between your Aadhaar and your ration card application, authentication can fail. Fix the error at its source first.
- Ask about alternatives. In some districts, cardholders have been told about face-based e-KYC through an app. Confirm with your dealer or the supply office whether it is accepted for new applications in your area before relying on it.
Don’t Pay Anyone for This
e-KYC at PDS shops has been offered free of charge to cardholders. If a dealer or middleman demands money to “do e-KYC” or to “speed up” your card, refuse. You can complain on the Bihar Food Department toll-free number 1800-3456-194, or to the Block Supply Officer or SDO.
Also, never share your Aadhaar OTP with anyone over the phone. Genuine e-KYC happens in front of you, on the dealer’s machine.
The Bigger Picture: Why So Many Cards Are Pending
The scale of the drive explains the delays. At a review meeting in August 2026, officials reported nearly 13.94 lakh offline applications. Of these, about 11.84 lakh were found eligible after verification, but at that point only a few thousand cards had actually been issued through the SDO login.
Being found eligible and having a card in hand are two separate stages. e-KYC now sits between them. Lakhs of eligible families may be waiting simply because this one step hasn’t been done.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is e-KYC mandatory for a new ration card in Bihar?
Yes. As reported in September 2026, a new card is issued only after the applicant’s e-KYC is completed.
Where do I get e-KYC done?
At your local PDS dealer, on the e-PoS machine, using Aadhaar.
I applied months ago. Does this apply to me?
Yes. Applicants who applied earlier and still haven’t received a card are also required to complete e-KYC.
Can I do it online from home?
The route reported for new applicants is the dealer’s e-PoS machine. Don’t rely on any other method unless your supply office confirms it.
What if my application shows rejected?
e-KYC won’t revive a rejected application. Find out the rejection reason from the block or SDO office and reapply or appeal as advised.
Whom do I contact for help?
Call the toll-free number 1800-3456-194, or visit your Block Supply Officer or SDO office.
Bottom Line
If your Bihar ration card is stuck in “pending,” don’t keep waiting. Take your Aadhaar and application number to your local ration dealer, complete your e-KYC, and then track your status. One visit can unlock a card that has been held up for months.
Note: This article is based on statements by district supply officials and news reports from September 2026. No separate notification has appeared on the EPDS portal yet. We will update this page if the department publishes a formal circular.
