Govt gearing up to 'universalise' facial authentication for supplementary nutrition

NEW DELHI: After introducing biometric verification through Facial Recognition System (FRS) for beneficiaries registered with anganwadis who receive ‘take home rations’ (THR), the Ministry of Women and Child Development (WCD) is working on a module to “universalise” FRS by extending it to ‘hot cooked meals’ served to children who visit these centres.

Under FRS, photo capturing of beneficiaries and e-KYC based on Aadhaar system during registration is done. For children, a parent or any guardian undergoes the process and not the child since Bal-Aadhaar (age 0-5 years) does not have biometrics. A fresh photo at THR distribution stage is matched with the already stored verified image of the beneficiary.

According to a statement from the ministry, as of Dec 31, 2025, out of 4.73 crore beneficiaries eligible for THR, a total of 4.51 crore (91.38%) have completed their eKYC and face matching. In Dec, 2.79 crore (52.68%) eligible beneficiaries received THR using FRS.

FRS-based verification to ensure last-mile tracking of THR delivery in anganwadis was made mandatory for existing beneficiaries from July 1 last year. The ministry, in a communication to states, had also said that FRS would be introduced at the stage of registration of all new beneficiaries under the supplementary nutrition programme from Aug 1 last year.

WCD minister Annapurna Devi on Thursday said that overall Aadhaar verification of around 99% beneficiaries registered on the Poshan Tracker has been done. Mandatory biometric verification through facial authentication was also introduced from May last year for all new enrolments under Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana.

“To ensure that actual genuine beneficiaries get the benefits, we are planning to universalise Facial Recognition System-based verification and will extend it to hot cooked meals at anganwadis. We have collected data and are working on implementing FRS in the entire supplementary nutrition programme (THR and HCM),” WCD secretary Anil Malik said.

Under the Supplementary Nutrition Programme (SNP) that aims to fill the gap in nutrition amongst children under six years of age as well as pregnant, lactating women and adolescent girls, the supplementary diet is delivered through two modalities – ‘Hot-Cooked Meal’ and ‘Take-Home Ration’ (THR), delivered in the form of raw ingredients or pre-cooked packets.

The FRS-based verification being made mandatory has been criticised by anganwadi unions and civil society organisations who have raised fears of many genuine beneficiaries getting excluded.

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