Between April 1, 2024, and May 31, 2025, nearly 5,66,155 ineligible individuals were found to be receiving social security pensions in Rajasthan. The fraud was unearthed during a physical verification drive via the Jan Aadhar system, which exposed systemic failures in identity and eligibility checks.
Among the most alarming findings were:
- 1.75 lakh people continued to receive pension payments posthumously.
- 99,677 beneficiaries were below the eligible age but managed to enroll using fake birth certificates.
- 78,947 people were drawing pensions while residing in other states.
- 42,810 individuals got pensions by submitting incorrect or false information.
The scale of the scam suggests possible collusion between applicants and officials, especially in how Pension Payment Orders (PPOs) were issued without due verification.
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Faces of Fraud: False Claims, Duplicate Records, and Misuse
The scam involved multiple forms of deceit:
- Duplicate entries: 17,720 people were found listed multiple times.
- Government families: Over 22,000 people whose family members were employed in government jobs still claimed benefits.
- Income bracket violations: 13,326 people received pensions despite being taxpayers.
- False claims during service: 1,061 individuals were still employed in government service while receiving pensions.
Cases such as that of Ram Phool from Alwar, who faked his birth year as 1953 instead of 1974, and Harji Lal from Jaipur, who manipulated records to claim benefits at age 35, reflect the depth of the data fraud.
Economic Impact and Government Response
The state offers ₹1,250 per month to eligible pensioners (aged 55+ for women and 58+ for men). The scam is estimated to have cost the government over ₹1 crore, with not a single rupee recovered yet from fake beneficiaries.
Chief Secretary Sudhansh Pant has ordered immediate recovery, while Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Avinash Gehlot emphasized that efforts are underway, albeit slow. “We are taking strict steps to stop ineligible pensions and ensure recovery,” Gehlot stated.
As of now, over 77.72 lakh individuals are enrolled under the pension scheme, with categories including elderly, widows, disabled persons, and leprosy patients. The minister reiterated the goal: ensuring rightful beneficiaries are served, and fraud is eradicated with full transparency.