AP Pension Scheme: New Spouse Pensions, eKYC Mandatory; Discrepancies Emerge

• Andhra Pradesh government introduces new spouse pensions under NTR Bharosa Pension Scheme.
• eKYC is now mandatory for spouse pensions, facilitated by village/ward secretariat staff using fingerprints and Aadhaar.
• The process for eKYC is streamlined, taking approximately 3 minutes to complete.
• Significant discrepancies noted in pension distribution: 1.5 to 2 lakh people consistently miss out monthly.
• Concerns raised about officials not explaining non-payment and not updating pensioner lists, potentially misleading CM Chandrababu.

Why It Matters: AP introduces spouse pensions with mandatory eKYC, but faces scrutiny over consistent non-payment to many beneficiaries.