Daijiworld Media Network – Bengaluru
Bengaluru, Oct 12: In welcome news for beneficiaries of the Gruha Jyothi free electricity scheme, the Karnataka government has extended the deadline for re-verification of documents submitted by homeowners and tenants by another month, giving them until October 31, 2026, to complete the process.
The extension comes as the state government seeks to complete the verification of all households covered under its flagship free electricity scheme. Electricity supply company staff have been visiting homes to check beneficiary details and update records, but a small number of cases remain pending despite substantial progress in the exercise.
The door-to-door 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 government has therefore granted an additional month to ensure that the remaining cases are covered.
The extension is particularly intended to facilitate the physical verification of locked houses, properties where beneficiaries were unavailable, cases in which homeowners or tenants refused to provide information, and vacant houses. These exceptional cases have made additional time necessary to complete the exercise and update beneficiary records.
During household visits, meter readers and other personnel from electricity supply companies collect information from beneficiaries and update it on the Seva Sindhu portal. The details being verified include information 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, and information on houses equipped with rooftop solar power installations. The exercise aims to update household records and complete the verification of beneficiaries covered by the scheme.
Eligible beneficiaries should cooperate with visiting staff and provide accurate information and the required documents before October 31. If the registered beneficiary is unavailable, an elder member of the family may sign the declaration form.
In cases where houses are locked during verification visits, officials will make three visits at different times in an effort to complete the process. During these visits, staff will record the property's GPS location. An SMS containing the meter reader's name and phone number will then be sent to the consumer's registered mobile number. Consumers should contact the concerned meter reader using the details provided in the message and make arrangements to complete the verification.
With the deadline now extended to October 31, 2026, beneficiaries whose documents remain unverified have another month to cooperate with officials and complete the process. The extension is expected to help electricity supply companies address outstanding cases and bring the verification exercise to a close.