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Govt issues notification under Aadhaar Act that requires more than 800 million beneficiaries to furnish their unique IDs to avail food subsidy. In a step aimed at better targeting of subsidies and checking leakages, the government has made it mandatory to have an Aadhaar number for availing benefits under the National Food Security Act (NFSA). The centre issued a notification on under the Aaadhar (Targeted Delivery of Financial and Other Subsidies, Benefits and Services) Act, 2016, which requires over 800 million beneficiaries to furnish their Aadhaar numbers to avail subsidized food. So far, about 72% of beneficiary households have linked their ration cards with the Aadhaar number. Those without Aadhaar have to enrol by June, the food ministry said in a statement on 09 February 2017.