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UP Food Department Dismisses Rumours of Mandatory Mobile Phones for Rations
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News18•09-10-2026, 22:30
UP Food Department Dismisses Rumours of Mandatory Mobile Phones for Rations
- •The Uttar Pradesh Food and Civil Supplies Department dismissed social media reports claiming beneficiaries must buy new mobile phones to get free foodgrains.
- •Officials clarified that existing ration distribution rules have not changed and urged the public to ignore misleading rumours.
- •Ration distribution continues smoothly through electronic Point of Sale machines linked to electronic weighing scales.
- •OTP-based verification remains available as an alternative for elderly, disabled, or seriously ill individuals who fail biometric checks.
Key Questions Answered
No, the Uttar Pradesh Food and Civil Supplies Department dismissed social media claims stating that purchasing a new mobile phone is mandatory to receive free foodgrains, confirming that the information is misleading and ration rules have not changed.
If fingerprint authentication fails, beneficiaries are allowed two additional attempts followed by iris scanning, or another family member listed on the ration card can collect the foodgrains after verification.
OTP-based verification, which has been active since 2017 under the National Food Security Act, is provided as an alternative for extremely elderly persons, individuals with disabilities, and those with serious illnesses who cannot complete biometric or iris authentication.
