Bengaluru: The Karnataka government has extended the deadline for re-verification of documents submitted by beneficiaries of the Gruha Jyothi free electricity scheme by one month, allowing homeowners and tenants to complete the process by October 31, 2026.
The extension is intended to ensure that all eligible households covered under the flagship scheme undergo verification and that their beneficiary records are updated. Electricity supply company personnel have been conducting door-to-door visits to verify details, but some cases remain pending despite substantial progress.
The verification drive began on July 1, with September 30 set as the original deadline. Although approximately 98% of the exercise had been completed, verification was still pending in a few locations. The additional month is expected to help officials cover the remaining households and close the exercise.
Why has the deadline been extended?
The extension is particularly intended to address cases where officials have been unable to complete physical verification during their visits.
These include locked houses, properties where the registered beneficiaries were unavailable, instances in which homeowners or tenants declined to provide information, and vacant houses. Such cases have required additional visits and follow-up to establish the correct status of the properties and update the records.
The government has therefore given electricity supply companies more time to complete the pending verification and ensure that the exercise covers all households included in the scheme.
Details being checked during verification
Meter readers and other personnel from electricity supply companies collect information from beneficiaries during household visits and update the details on the Seva Sindhu portal.
The verification process covers several aspects of the beneficiary’s household and eligibility records, including:
- Details recorded on the beneficiary’s ration card and voter identity card.
- The applicant’s latest photograph and category details.
- Income tax payment status and occupation.
- Changes in the property’s tax assessment.
- Information about houses equipped with rooftop solar power installations.
The exercise aims to update beneficiary information and ensure that records maintained under the Gruha Jyothi scheme reflect the current details of households.
What should beneficiaries do?
Eligible beneficiaries whose documents have not yet been verified should cooperate with visiting electricity supply company staff and provide accurate information and the required documents before October 31.
If the registered beneficiary is unavailable during the visit, an elder member of the family may sign the declaration form, according to the verification procedure outlined for the exercise.
Officials have also specified a process for properties that remain locked during verification visits. Staff will make three visits at different times in an effort to complete the verification. During these visits, they will record the property’s GPS location.
Following the visits, an SMS containing the name and phone number of the concerned meter reader will be sent to the consumer’s registered mobile number. Beneficiaries should use the contact details provided in the message to get in touch with the meter reader and arrange a suitable time to complete the process.
One more month to complete the process
With the deadline extended to October 31, households whose records remain unverified have additional time to complete the formalities. Beneficiaries who have not yet received a verification visit should remain attentive to communications from their electricity supply company and respond promptly to requests for information.
The extension is expected to help officials address pending cases, particularly those involving locked or vacant properties and unavailable beneficiaries. Completing the exercise will enable electricity supply companies to update household records and bring the re-verification drive under the Gruha Jyothi scheme closer to completion.