Yogi govt to roll out OTP and face recognition for take-home ration across UP by July 2025

Lucknow : To strengthen the fight against malnutrition, the Yogi Adityanath government has integrated the Face Recognition System (FRS) into the Poshan Tracker, ensuring the targeted and transparent delivery of Take-Home Ration (THR) to pregnant women, lactating mothers, adolescents, and children aged 6 months to 6 years.

Under the Chief Minister’s leadership, this initiative is gaining momentum, with a directive to achieve 100% FRS coverage across the state by July 1, 2025. To support this, a statewide awareness and registration campaign will be conducted.

FRS operates as a dual-authentication mechanism, combining facial recognition with one-time password (OTP) verification. Beneficiaries’ photographs are matched with Aadhaar-linked e-KYC data, and OTPs sent to their registered mobile numbers are verified at Anganwadi centres. This robust system helps prevent fraud and ensures that rations reach the intended recipients.

Launched in 2024, the FRS pilot began in Bidhanu and Sarsaul (Kanpur Nagar) and was scaled up across the state by November 14, 2024, on the directives of CM Yogi. As of June 13, 2025, e-KYC for 1.18 crore eligible beneficiaries is underway, with Kanpur Nagar leading at 45.34% progress. Meanwhile, districts like Badaun and Bahraich have shown slow performance and will receive focused attention.

Key directives include State funds for THR will be released only to FRS-registered beneficiaries, FRS will be mandatory for new beneficiaries from August 1, 2025, District Magistrates have been instructed to hold registration camps at the block and panchayat levels, monitor progress daily, and raise awareness, and Chief Development Officers are to conduct regular reviews to ensure timely implementation.
Nutrition experts have hailed the move as a game-changer.

Lucknow-based social worker Vanshika Ahuja remarked, “FRS is ensuring accurate ration distribution. This step by Yogi Ji is a boon for the poor and needy families.”

CM Yogi has made it clear that no leniency will be tolerated in achieving full implementation by the deadline. The government’s goal is to achieve a malnutrition-free Uttar Pradesh where every eligible beneficiary receives timely nutritional support. With this initiative, Uttar Pradesh is not only leading the nation in combating malnutrition, but also setting a benchmark for other states to follow.