Andhra Pradesh is preparing to roll out a QR code–enabled Smart Family Card, a move that could transform welfare delivery into a unified, family-centric digital system.
The initiative forms the core of the proposed Family Benefit Management System (FBMS), which aims to replace scattered scheme-wise databases with a single, dynamic information source, said an official of the state government.
“Under the plan, every household will be issued a Smart Family Card that consolidates essential data and links citizens directly to government services. During a recent review meeting at the Secretariat in Amaravati, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu outlined the roadmap and set ambitious deadlines. The government aims to issue Smart Family Cards to 1.4 crore households by June 2026, following full data consolidation by January that year,” said the official.
Officials say the Smart Family Card will serve as more than an identification tool. “It is being positioned as a gateway to governance, enabling citizens to access services, track entitlements and maintain essential family records through a single card. The card is expected to integrate 25 categories of information—from Aadhaar details, vaccination history and caste certificates to ration card entries, nutrition indicators, scholarships, pensions and other welfare entitlements,” the official added.
At the heart of this system lies the Real-Time Governance (RTG) Data Lake, which will function as the central, authenticated repository of citizen information across all departments. Officials have been directed to treat RTG as the baseline reference for welfare eligibility to eliminate inconsistencies that arise from fragmented records.
Continuous, real-time data updates will flow in from Swarna Andhra Vision Units operating across urban and rural areas. The state hopes this will prevent duplication of benefits, plug leakages and ensure timely support for all eligible families.
Departments handling finance, health, planning, municipal administration and the village or ward secretariat system have been instructed to work in coordination to design the Smart Family Card and ensure seamless data access, including integration with Aadhaar. However, the success of the initiative depends heavily on the state’s ability to merge vast datasets, keep them accurate in real time and maintain strict privacy protections for sensitive citizen information.
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