SSC Selection Post 2025 PYQ — Question 10

Correct Answer

Providing universal access to subsidized foodgrains

Explanation

The 'One Nation, One Ration Card' (ONORC) scheme aims to ensure the portability of food security benefits across the country. It allows beneficiaries, particularly migrant workers and their families, to access their entitled foodgrains (under the National Food Security Act) from any Fair Price Shop (FPS) in the country, regardless of where their ration card was originally issued. This eliminates the dependency on a specific location for accessing subsidized rations.

Key Points

The scheme relies on Aadhaar-based biometric authentication to identify the beneficiary at any FPS, ensuring that the correct individual receives the allocated grains. By removing geographical barriers, it prevents the loss of food security benefits due to migration, thereby supporting the most vulnerable sections of society. It is a critical component of strengthening the public distribution system through technology-driven national integration.

Important Questions and Answers

Question: How does the ONORC scheme verify the beneficiary's identity?

Answer: The scheme uses Aadhaar-based biometric authentication, which allows Fair Price Shops to verify the identity of the cardholder in real-time, regardless of their home state.

Question: Who are the primary beneficiaries of the ONORC scheme?

Answer: Migrant workers and their families are the primary beneficiaries, as they frequently move between states for work and previously faced challenges in accessing subsidized food outside their home states.