Overview

• The Centre recommended removing 8,02,493 ration cards in Punjab under NFSA/PDS based on ineligibility markers such as owning a four-wheeler, holding a government job, higher turnover, or having more than 2.5 acres of land.
• Bhagwant Mann said the state will not delete any names and has requested a six‑month window to conduct on‑ground verification of beneficiaries.
• The Punjab government reports 1.53 crore beneficiaries under NFSA, with 1.29 crore already verified according to the state’s checks.
• Mann questioned the accuracy of centrally sourced lists, including data flagged as AI‑derived, and said the Department of Food will audit entries locally.
• The chief minister said Punjab will keep PDS grain flowing by coordinating with agencies such as PUNSUP and asserted there would be no paddy procurement shortfall as 10 lakh metric tons of grain are being moved out monthly.