Himachal becomes first state to launch Aadhaar-based face authentication for ration distribution
In a significant technological advancement, the department of Digital Technologies and Governance (DDTG), Himachal Pradesh, has introduced Aadhaar-based face authentication (FaceAuth) for the distribution of ration to eligible beneficiaries under the Public Distribution System (PDS).
Principal Advisor (Innovation, Digital Technologies & Governance) to the Chief Minister, Gokul Butail informed that until now, authentication was being carried out using either OTP-based or biometric methods. However, frequent challenges such as SMS delivery failures and biometric mismatches at the UIDAI end had been causing inconvenience to the beneficiaries. With the launch of the FaceAuth mechanism, the process has now been streamlined and made more accessible. He said that unlike traditional methods, this new facility uses a mobile camera via an app installed on the fair price shop (FPS) owner’s smart phone, enabling direct facial authentication of beneficiaries.
Gokul Butail said Himachal Pradesh has become the first state in the country to implement this innovative approach. The new system has significantly improved the authentication success rate and reduced the time taken for verification, thereby ensuring faster and smoother ration distribution.
He said that this pioneering initiative underscores the State’s commitment to leveraging digital technology for enhancing public service delivery and promoting inclusive access to essential services.
