Download Online Ration Card and Track Your Foodgrain Allocation Status
Download Online Ration Card: A Complete Guide
A ration card is an official document issued by the state governments in India to households that are eligible to purchase subsidised food grain from the Public Distribution System under the National Food Security Act (NFSA). It also serves as a common form of identification and address proof for many Indians.
With the advent of technology, many state governments have introduced online facilities for applying, updating, and downloading ration cards. This makes it easier and faster for citizens to avail the benefits of ration cards without visiting any office or waiting in long queues.
download online ration card
In this article, we will explain everything you need to know about online ration cards, such as their types, benefits, eligibility criteria, documents required, application process, and download procedure. We will also answer some frequently asked questions on this topic.
Types of Ration Cards in India
There are two types of ration cards issued under NFSA by the state governments in India:
Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) ration card: This card is issued to households that are identified by the state governments as the \"poorest of poor\". These households are entitled to 35 kg of food grain per month per family at subsidised rates of Rs.3 per kg for rice, Rs.2 per kg for wheat, and Rs.1 per kg for coarse grains.
Priority Household (PHH) ration card: This card is issued to households that meet the eligibility criteria set by the state governments based on their income, family size, and other factors. These households are entitled to 5 kg of food grain per person per month at subsidised rates of Rs.3 per kg for rice, Rs.2 per kg for wheat, and Rs.1 per kg for coarse grains.
Please note that the earlier types of ration cards, such as APL (Above Poverty Line), BPL (Below Poverty Line), and AY (Annapoorna Yojana), are no longer issued in India.
Benefits of Ration Card
A ration card offers several benefits to its holders, such as:
Subsidised food grains and other essential commodities: A ration card enables its holders to buy food grains and other essential commodities from the fair price shops (FPS) or ration shops at subsidised rates under the NFSA. These commodities include rice, wheat, coarse grains, sugar, kerosene, edible oil, salt, etc. The quantity and price of these commodities may vary from state to state.
Proof of identity and address: A ration card serves as a valid proof of identity and address for many purposes, such as applying for a passport, voter ID card, Aadhaar card, PAN card, bank account, driving license, etc. It also helps in availing various services and facilities provided by the government and private entities.
Eligibility for various government schemes and benefits: A ration card helps its holders to access various government schemes and benefits that are meant for the poor and vulnerable sections of the society. Some of these schemes and benefits are:
Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY): This scheme provides free LPG connections to women belonging to BPL households.
Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY): This scheme provides affordable housing to urban and rural poor.
Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY): This scheme provides financial inclusion and access to banking services to every household.
Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY): This scheme provides skill development and training to youth.
National Health Protection Scheme (NHPS): This scheme provides health insurance coverage to poor and vulnerable families.
National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP): This scheme provides pension and other assistance to elderly, widows, disabled, and other needy persons.
Eligibility Criteria for Ration Card
The eligibility criteria for ration card may vary from state to state, but some of the common criteria are:
Citizenship and residence: The applicant must be a citizen of India and a resident of the state where he/she is applying for the ration card. He/she must not possess a ration card in any other state or union territory.
Income and family size: The applicant must belong to a household that meets the income and family size criteria set by the state government for the AAY or PHH ration card. The income and family size criteria may differ from state to state.
Exclusion criteria: The applicant must not belong to any of the categories that are excluded from the NFSA, such as:
Income tax payers
Owners of four-wheeler vehicles
Owners of land above a certain limit
Government employees
Pensioners with monthly income above a certain limit
Documents Required for Ration Card Application
The documents required for ration card application may vary from state to state, but some of the common documents are:
Application form: The applicant must fill in the online or offline application form with all the required details, such as name, address, family members, income, etc. The application form can be downloaded from the respective state/UT food portal or obtained from the nearest FPS or ration office.
Identity proof: The applicant must submit any one of the following documents as proof of identity: Aadhaar card, voter ID card, PAN card, driving license, passport, etc.
Address proof: The applicant must submit any one of the following documents as proof of address: Aadhaar card, voter ID card, electricity bill, water bill, telephone bill, rent agreement, etc.
Income proof: The applicant must submit any one of the following documents as proof of income: salary slip, income tax return, bank statement, etc.
Family photograph: The applicant must submit a recent passport size photograph of the entire family along with the application form. The photograph must be attested by a gazetted officer or a member of parliament or a member of legislative assembly or a municipal councillor.
How to Apply for Ration Card Online
The online application process for ration card may vary from state to state, but some of the common steps are:
Visit the respective state/UT food portal: The applicant must visit the official website of the food department or civil supplies department of the state or union territory where he/she resides. For example, for Delhi, the website is
Register or login with Aadhaar or ration card number: The applicant must register on the website by providing his/her Aadhaar number or ration card number and mobile number. A one-time password (OTP) will be sent to the registered mobile number for verification. The applicant must enter the OTP and create a username and password for future login. If the applicant already has a username and password, he/she can login directly.
Fill in the application form and upload the documents: The applicant must fill in the online application form with all the required details, such as name, address, family members, income, etc. The applicant must also upload the scanned copies of the documents mentioned above as proof of identity, address, income, and family photograph. The documents must be in PDF or JPEG format and within the prescribed size limit.
Pay the fee and submit the application: The applicant must pay the application fee online through debit card, credit card, net banking, or any other mode of payment available on the website. The fee may vary from state to state, but it is usually nominal. The applicant must submit the application after paying the fee and take a printout or save a copy of the acknowledgement receipt.
Note down the reference number and track the status: The applicant must note down the reference number or application number generated after submitting the application. This number can be used to track the status of the application online on the website. The applicant can also check the status by visiting the nearest FPS or ration office with the acknowledgement receipt.
How to Download Ration Card Online
The online download procedure for ration card may vary from state to state, but some of the common steps are:
How to download online ration card in India
Download online ration card application form
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