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Ration cards are distributed to all households in order for them to obtain subsidised food grains and fuel. Apart from documents such as a passport and a PAN card, the ration card also serves as proof of identity and address. However, there have been cases where an individual receives more than their fair share of rations or where individuals who are not eligible for rations receive them, depriving deserving people.

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By linking the Aadhaar card to the ration card, the government will be able to prevent individuals from obtaining multiple ration cards. It is also possible to detain people who are ineligible for getting rations because their income exceeds the threshold. This will also ensure that only those who are deserving receive subsidised fuel or food grains.

The linking also helps to eliminate duplicate ration cards and dishonest middlemen, allowing genuine and deserving beneficiaries to receive government-sponsored benefits.

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Steps to link Aadhaar-Ration online

– Go to the official website of state’s Public Distribution System (PDS) portal.

– Enter details like Aadhaar card number, ration card number, and registered mobile phone number.

– Hit ‘Continue’ button.

– A One Time Password (OTP) will be sent to the registered mobile number.

– Enter the OTP and click on the link ration card Aadhaar card.

Steps to link Aadhaar-Ration offline

– Make photocopies of all family members’ Aadhaar cards, as well as a copy of your ration card.

– If your Aadhaar is not linked to bank account, take a photocopy of your bank passbook also.

– Also, take a passport-sized photograph of the family’s head and submit it at ration office or Public Distribution System (PDS) or ration shop.

– You may be asked to provide a fingerprint ID on their sensors in order for that information to be validated against the Aadhaar database.

– You will be notified by SMS or email once the documents have been delivered to the appropriate department.

– The authorities will process your documents, and will notify once the ration card has been successfully linked to the Aadhaar cards.

Documents Required

-Original ration card photocopy

– Photocopies of all your family members’ Aadhaar cards

– A photocopy of the family head’s Aadhaar card

– A copy of a bank passbook

– Two passport-sized photos of the family’s head.

She urged the banks to remain vigilant about the interest rate risks and regularly undertake stress tests.

During the two hours meeting with MDs and CEOs of PSBs, an open discussion was held on the global scenario amid the failure of the Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) and Signature Bank (SB), along with the issues leading to the crisis in Credit Suisse.

The meeting was also attended by Minister of State for Finance Bhagwat Karad, Financial Services Secretary Vivek Joshi and other senior officials, an official statement said.

She also discussed the developing and immediate external global financial stress from both short and long-term perspectives.

During the PSB review meeting, she emphasised that the banks should undertake due diligence and adhere to the regulatory framework by focusing on risk management and diversification of deposits and assets base.

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The finance minister underlined that PSBs must look at business models closely to identify stress points, including concentration risks and adverse exposures, the statement said, adding that she also exhorted PSBs to use this opportunity to frame detailed crisis management and communication strategies.

The chiefs of PSBs apprised Sitharaman that they follow the best corporate governance practices, adhere to regulatory norms, ensure prudent liquidity management and continue to focus on having robust asset-liability and risk management.

Further, she was also informed by the PSBs that they are vigilant of developments in the global banking sector and are taking all possible steps to safeguard themselves from any potential financial shock.

All the major financial parameters indicate stable and resilient PSBs with robust financial health, it added.

The minister also stressed that PSBs must leverage the full potential of branches opened in International Financial Services Centres in GIFT City Gujarat to identify international opportunities, including prospects related to Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs).

She asked banks to take focused measures to attract deposits, given the steps taken by the government to reduce the tax arbitrage in some debt instruments and pivot their strengthened financial position to support the credit needs of the growing economy.

The minister asked banks to focus on credit outreach in states where the credit offtake is lower than the national average, particularly in the northeast and eastern parts of the country, and enhance business presence in new and emerging areas like One District One Product (ODOP), e-NAM and drones.

She said PSBs should promote the Mahila Samman Bachat Patra, announced in the Budget, through special drives and campaigns and also focus on increasing brick-and-mortar banking presence in border and coastal areas.