Bhubaneswar, Feb 15: In a significant relief for people in remote areas facing network connectivity challenges, the Odisha government on Saturday extended the deadline for updating E-KYC for new ration cards by another 45 days. The revised deadline is now set for March 31, allowing more time for beneficiaries to complete the process and continue availing Public Distribution System (PDS) benefits.
Announcing the extension, Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Minister Krushna Chandra Patra said the decision was taken in response to persistent technological barriers affecting E-KYC verification in rural and tribal areas. The previous deadline was set to expire on Friday, but with lakhs of people yet to update their details, the state government opted for an extension to ensure no beneficiary is deprived of food security benefits.
The state is actively working to improve digital connectivity by deploying network devices in 341 locations across Odisha. Despite these efforts, connectivity issues remain a major hurdle, with reports indicating that 111 locations continue to experience slow network speeds, while 230 locations—mainly PDS centers—have no network access at all.
To resolve these issues, new network devices will be installed near PDS points within the next 2-4 days, significantly improving connectivity. More than 30 lakh people have been unable to update their E-KYC due to these technical constraints. With the extension, beneficiaries now have a greater opportunity to complete the verification process and continue receiving essential food security benefits.
Odisha extends E-KYC deadline for ration cards by 45 days to address network issues
