12 Common Error Codes on Seva Sindhu

Below are the 12 pop-up error codes most Karnataka users hit on Seva Sindhu in 2025, why each one shows up, and one-minute fixes that have worked for real applicants. Screenshot the table, then scroll to the code that’s bugging you.

Error code (verbatim)	What it really means	60-second fix
MOBILE_NOT_VERIFIED	OTP pop-up never loaded, so the site thinks your phone isn’t confirmed	Reload in incognito or after 9 pm; pop-up appears when traffic dips
OTP_NOT_RECEIVED	UIDAI SMS got blocked by DND or wrong Aadhaar-linked number	Send “GETOTP” to 8147500500 WhatsApp bot or place the request before 8 am
RC_VERIFICATION_FAIL	Ration-card number not found in PDS master file	Double-check RC prefix (KA/EDB/ADB). If correct, update card at Taluk Food Office and retry in 24 h
AHL_GENDER_MISMATCH	Gender on Aadhaar ≠ gender on ration card	Visit any Aadhaar Seva Kendra to update gender OR make Food Dept. change on RC—either one must match
AADHAAR_DEDUPE_FAIL	Same Aadhaar already tied to another Seva Sindhu login	Use OTP-login on the first profile → “Add Service” instead of creating a second account
BENEFICIARY_ALREADY_MAPPED	Someone on your ration card has already claimed this scheme	Only one woman per household can enroll; switch the “Head of Family” in RC if needed
DBT_FAIL_AADHAAR_INACTIVE	Bank hasn’t mapped your Aadhaar in NPCI mapper, so payment bounced	Re-seed Aadhaar at branch → SMS “Aadhaar seeding done” to 8247480500; amount re-credits next batch
INVALID_CAPTCHA	Google reCAPTCHA token expired or blocked by an extension	Hard-refresh (Ctrl+Shift+R) or disable ad-blocker; news sites logged mass failures during June 2023 spike
SESSION_EXPIRED	Inactivity >15 min or multiple tabs open	Log out, close extra tabs, log back in; Seva Sindhu kills idle sessions for security
SERVICE_NOT_AVAILABLE	Scheduled maintenance / server overload	Try the lighter mirror https://sevasindhugs.karnataka.gov.in after 11 pm
DOCUMENT_SIZE_EXCEED	Upload >1 MB (PDF) or >300 kB (JPEG)	Compress image at compressjpeg.com or scan PDF at 150 dpi
FILE_TYPE_UNSUPPORTED	You picked HEIC/WEBP/Pages	Re-save as PDF/JPEG/PNG; mobile-scan apps default to PDF, which always works

How to squash each error (detailed walk-through)

1. Registration & OTP stack

• MOBILE_NOT_VERIFIED / OTP_NOT_RECEIVED
  Root cause: The Google-reCAPTCHA layer sometimes fails to spawn the OTP modal during peak traffic (10 am–4 pm). Users on Airtel also reported a 48-hour gateway outage in May 2025.
  Fix in < 60 s: Open a private window, hit the quieter 6-8 am / 9-11 pm window, or let the WhatsApp bot push the OTP.
  

2. Ration-card & Aadhaar mismatches

• RC_VERIFICATION_FAIL – 1 in 8 Gruha Lakshmi applicants hit this after hurried RC edits in September 2024. Force-sync by having the Taluk Food Officer print a fresh RC extract; Seva Sindhu pulls the nightly PDS dump.
  
• AHL_GENDER_MISMATCH – Happens when a widow switches to “head of family” but hasn’t updated Aadhaar. E-KYC at any post office fixes it in 10 minutes.
  

3. Duplicate or conflicting profiles

• AADHAAR_DEDUPE_FAIL – The Service-Plus backbone blocks more than one citizen-ID per Aadhaar. Use OTP-login on the first profile and add new services there.
  
• BENEFICIARY_ALREADY_MAPPED – Only one woman per RC can claim Gruha Lakshmi. If the wrong member was mapped, change “Head of Family” at the Food Dept. → wait 30 h → re-apply.
  

4. Payment & DBT hiccups

• DBT_FAIL_AADHAAR_INACTIVE – Means your bank never sent the NPCI mapper file. Re-seed Aadhaar, then SMS confirmation for auto-requeue; money lands in the next cycle.
  

5. Front-end annoyances

• INVALID_CAPTCHA – Spike recorded on 22 June 2023 when 12 lakh Gruha Jyothi users flooded the portal; clearing cookies or switching browsers un-sticks it.
  
• SESSION_EXPIRED – Security timeout; always complete a page within 15 min.
  
• SERVICE_NOT_AVAILABLE – Heavy maintenance days follow payout uploads; the GS (Guarantee Schemes) mirror stays lighter.
  

6. File-upload blockers

• DOCUMENT_SIZE_EXCEED / FILE_TYPE_UNSUPPORTED – Stick to ≤1 MB PDF or ≤300 kB JPEG/PNG. HEIC photos from new iPhones fail; just “Save as JPEG” in Photos or use a scan app.
  

Pro tips that bypass half these errors

1. Use the GS mirror https://sevasindhugs.karnataka.gov.in during crunch times—it’s on a separate load balancer.
   
2. Install the PWA on mobile once; cached assets mean fewer CAPTCHA reloads.
   
3. Queue-bust: If a form lets you upload later, submit it blank—attach docs from the dashboard once the rush dies down.
   

Still stuck? Here’s who to call

• 8088 304 855 / 9380 206 704 / 6361 799 796 – first-line helpdesk, Mon-Sat 9 am-6 pm.
  
• 1902 – 24×7 IVR → Option 2 for Seva Sindhu.
  
• Tweet @GoK_SevaSindhu with the error code + Application ID; social team responds within 4 business hours.
  

Last verified: 9 July 2025 — we’ll update if new codes surface after the August 2.0 portal launch.