Karnataka's Public Distribution System Under Fire for Excess BPL Card Issuance
Bengaluru: The public distribution system (PDS) in Karnataka has come under intense scrutiny following a startling admission by the state government. Officials revealed that approximately 15 lakh more below poverty line (BPL) ration cards have been issued than the number of eligible families identified by the Central government. This discrepancy raises serious questions about the efficiency and accuracy of welfare distribution in the state.
Data Reveals Significant Discrepancy in Card Issuance
Data tabled in the legislative assembly by Food and Civil Supplies Minister KH Muniyappa last week paints a concerning picture. While the Centre has identified nearly 1.1 crore eligible families in Karnataka, the state has issued a staggering 1.24 crore BPL ration cards. Furthermore, nearly 7.8 lakh beneficiaries have been flagged as suspicious under current eligibility norms.
Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao, responding on behalf of Muniyappa in the assembly, defended the extensive coverage, particularly in rural areas where it reaches about 95% of households. "In many areas, ineligible people apply for ration cards for other purposes — hospitalisation for instance," Rao explained. He emphasized that if the Centre does not fund the excess cards, the state government will have to step in to cover the costs.
Strict Eligibility Criteria and Exclusion Rules
The department has identified over seven lakh suspicious beneficiaries based on stringent eligibility norms set by both the Centre and the state. Central criteria deem beneficiaries ineligible if:
- Their group annual income exceeds Rs 1.2 lakh.
- GST turnover crosses Rs 25 lakh.
- UIDAI records mark the person as deceased.
- They own more than 7.5 acres of land under the PM-Kisan database.
- They possess vehicles above a specified value.
Additional exclusion rules apply to permanent government employees and staff of government-run corporations who pay taxes, households owning more than three acres of land, urban houses exceeding 1,000 square feet, families owning four-wheelers for non-commercial use, or those with annual incomes above Rs 1.2 lakh.
Pending Applications and Policy Changes
Meanwhile, thousands of applications remain in limbo. As of February 22, nearly 1.8 lakh priority household (PHH) applications were awaiting disposal, with the highest numbers in Kalaburagi (26,941), Belagavi (16,712), and Bengaluru (16,475). Another 1.3 lakh non-priority household (NPHH) cards are pending clearance, including 11,267 in Belagavi, 10,147 in Bengaluru South, and 10,035 in Bengaluru West.
In a significant policy shift, the state suspended approval of new NPHH cards in September 2023. Legislators were informed that ineligible PHH cards were being converted into NPHH cards. By October 2025, the government directed officials to convert such cards while issuing an equal number of new priority cards to eligible applicants.
Distribution Schemes and Eligibility Revisions
The food and civil supplies department halted the open market sale scheme (domestic) of the Food Corporation of India in July 2023, which previously supplied subsidized rice and wheat to NPHH beneficiaries. "Grains were distributed until February 2024, and rice distribution for NPHH ration cards was temporarily suspended," Muniyappa stated in a written reply to Vedavyasa Kamath, the representative for Mangaluru South.
In response to evolving economic conditions, the state plans to revise the Rs 1.2 lakh annual income ceiling for ration card eligibility, acknowledging that the limit fixed in 2017 is now outdated. "The administrative reforms commission headed by RV Deshpande has recommended increasing it to Rs 3 lakh. The food department will evaluate the appropriate revision," Health and Family Welfare Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao told the assembly.
This comprehensive review highlights the ongoing challenges in balancing welfare outreach with fiscal responsibility, as Karnataka strives to ensure that its public distribution system serves those truly in need while preventing misuse and inefficiencies.
