A ration card is a document issued by the government, which serves as proof of Nationality. Any eligible individual can apply for new ration card, by following the state deemed criteria. It enables people to acquire food grains from the Public Distribution System. There is a large population in India who cannot afford the basic food grain items, and the government provides those at subsidized rates. So, it is highly advisable for everyone to apply for new ration card.
Types of Ration Cards under TPDS:
The Targeted Public Distribution System was launched in 1997. Under this, there were three types of ration cards,
- Above Poverty Line (APL) ration cards- These were issued to people above the poverty line, as determined by the Planning Commission. The recipients received about 15 kilograms of food grains, at rates fixed by the respective state governments.
- Below Poverty Line (BPL) ration cards- These were issued to the people falling under the below poverty line category. The eligible families received 25 kilograms of grains at a subsidized rate decided by the state government.
- Antyodaya Anna Yojana(AAY) ration cards- These cards were issued to the households identified as impoverished, and with people over the age of 65 years. They were to receive 30 to 35 kilograms of grains per month.
Types of Ration Cards under NFSA:
Under the National Food Security Act, (NFSA) 2013 the eligibility criterion is established by the State Governments, and the qualifying households can purchase subsidized food grains from the Public Distribution System (or Ration shops). There are two types of ration cards under this,
- Priority Household (PHH) ration cards- These are issued directly by the state governments to eligible households, and the criteria differ from state to state. Families can apply for new ration card to be able to acquire 5 kilograms of food grains per person per month.
- Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY)ration cards- These are provided to the families which do not have a sustainable source of income. Retired and unemployed people can be placed under this category. Such families receive 35 kilograms of grains per month.
Eligibility criteria to apply for new ration card:
Although different state governments have separate procedures and eligibility criteria, these are some of the common requirements asked for throughout the country. Any person who wishes to apply for new ration card must meet the following criteria:
- The recipient should be a citizen of India.
- He/she should be eligible under the specific criteria as mentioned by their respective states.
- He/she should not be a recipient of ration card in any other state.
Documents required to apply for new ration card:
The person, who wants to apply for new ration card, must possess the following documents, in addition to the documents asked by his/ her respective state government:
- Driver’s Licence
- Aadhaar Card issued by UIDAI
- Voter ID card
- Passport
Apart from this, the state can ask to submit any document as a proof of income, identity and address. The individual who wishes to apply for new ration card is required to submit all these documents carefully.
How to apply for new ration card in different states:
Since the different states in India have slight differences in there criteria and procedures to apply for new ration card, we will go through the online and offline processes involved in some of the major states separately. Let’s start with the procedures mandated by the Andhra Pradesh State Government,
Apply for new ration card in Andhra Pradesh:
- Offline Application– In order to apply for new ration card, the person can download the application form from the Meeseva website, or acquire the form from any nearby ration shop. He/ she then needs to fill the form and submit at any government approved ration shop, along with all the required documents. It may take up to 10 days for the new ration card to be authorized and delivered. He will be given a reference number upon submitting the form, which can be used to gain information about the status of the ration card until it is delivered.
- Online Application– Follow the following steps to apply for new ration card online in Andhra Pradesh:
- Visit the Meeseva website, and click on the online portal for registration.
- Once you have opened the portal, click on ‘New Registration’
- Fill out the form in order to create a login id and password. You can use this later on to enter the portal.
- Enter the portal through your login id and fill out the application for new ration card, and attach all the essential documents.
- Click on ‘Submit’. You will get a reference number to track the status of the ration card until you receive it.
Apply for new ration card in Rajasthan:
The individual who wants to apply for new ration card in Rajasthan must posses the documents like, domicile certificate, aadhaar card, previous electricity bills, a document for age proof (birth certificate), previous gas connection bills, bank statement details, passport size photograph and any other document stated by the government.
The application process can be either online or offline, depending on the preference of the individual. All offline forms can either be downloaded online from the website or from the nearby e-Mitra centre. The online procedure is very simple and user-friendly. Any eligible individual can fill out the application available in thee-Mitra portal by generating a login id and password.
The application process in Rajasthan sometimes takes up to 30 days, owing to the large population and sparsely distributed ration shops or e-Mitra centres. The individual will be allotted a reference number for tracking the status of the ration card.
Apply for a new ration card in New Delhi in 2021:
The New Delhi state government offers both online and offline application procedures to apply for a new ration card. The eligibility criteria and document requirements are similar to those of Rajasthan. In addition to those, possession of an income certificate and PAN card is a must. The form can be submitted in the online portal available on the website.
Here is a copy of the Application Form for the new ration card for reference.
Apply for a new ration card in Tamil Nadu:
The process to apply for a new ration card online or offline is similar to that prevalent in Andhra Pradesh. Users can also apply for smart ration cards by visiting the state-operated website and clicking on the portal.
Apply for a new ration card in Telangana:
The application process for both online and offline mode is similar to what is described above. Here is the link to the online portal in order to generate the login id and password for filling out the form.
Conclusion:
Possessing a ration card is a must for every Indian citizen, as it has its own perks. Apart from being a proof of nationality, it enables a household to purchase food grains at subsidized rates. Every person should definitely apply for a new ration card to cater to the needs of themselves and their families.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) on How to apply for a new ration card:
There are many complications and common doubts on how to apply for a new ration card. We will try to clear those doubts with a list of these Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) based on our independent research.
- What does it mean by a temporary ration card?
Ans- Temporary ration cards can be issued to any individual who is temporarily living out of his home state and wishes to obtain a new ration card until his stay is over.
2. Can APL people apply for a ration card?
Ans- Yes, they sure can. There is a category of APL ration cards that allow you to do so.
3. How long till the ration card expires, if not used?
Ans- The ration card does not expire if not used. Moreover, you will have the option to surrender it.
4.How do I track the status of my ration card application?
Ans. The reference no. which you have received while submitting the form, will help in you tracking the status. You just have to enter the number in the tracking engine available in the portal.
5. Is there an online mode to apply for a new ration card?
Ans- Yes, you can go to the website of your respective state and enter the portal by creating your login id and password.