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A Ration Card is a document that state governments issue and approve for their citizens. Food, kerosene, cereals, legumes, and dairy products, among other things, are the products that a Ration Card holder can purchase at reduced prices with the use of the card.

People who live below the poverty line (BPL) are more likely to use a Ration Card regularly. These cards are divided into several categories based on an individual’s earning potential. Different states have different plans, but they are all dependent on a family’s total number of members and a person’s annual income.

What are the Eligibility Criteria for Obtaining a  Ration Card?

For getting a Ration Card, each state government has mandated unique application forms that can be completed manually or electronically. The following are the requirements for acquiring a Ration Card from the state government:

• You must be an Indian citizen.
• You should not hold a Ration Card in another state.
• There should be no other family member’s card in the same state.

Documents Required for Online Or Offline Ration Card Applications:

The documentation you’ll need for a Ration Card relate to your identity, where you live, and how much money you make.

• A duplicate of the state application form.
• Identity Proof i.e Driving License, Election ID, Government ID Card, Passport.
• Proof of Residence i.e Telephone Bill, Electricity, LPG Receipt, Bank Passbook, and Rental Agreement.
• Receipt of your annual income.
• If you have a ration card, it must be canceled or surrendered.

How can You Apply for a Ration Card, Ether Online or In-Person?

You can apply for a Ration Card in several different ways. You have the option of applying for a Ration Card either online or offline. Below you’ll discover a step-by-step guide to the procedures you’ll need to follow if you wish to apply for a Ration Card online or in person.

To Apply Online, Follow these Steps:

• You might start by going to the official website of your state’s Department of Food, Civil Supplies, and Consumer Affairs.
• All you’ll need are the documents listed on the portal, which you must submit after completing the online application form.
• Following your submission, a representative will contact you to further assist you with the process.
• The Ration Card will be mailed to the address you provided if all of the documents you supplied are correct and verified.

Apart from following these steps, You can also go to third-party websites that specialize in assisting Ration Card applicants with the application procedure. You can go to their website, fill out the form you downloaded, and upload it together with the necessary papers. You can then expect to obtain the Ration Card shortly after that.

Offline Ration Card Application Procedures:

• You must follow an SMS format (as specified on the website of your local Food, Civil Supplies, and Consumer Affairs Department) and send it to one of the numbers listed on the website.
• After that, you should receive a message advising you to complete a certain procedure to apply for a Ration Card.
• You can also contact them through the state government’s Toll-Free/Customer Care number. Once you’ve made the call, you’ll be given instructions on how to apply for your Ration Card.
• You can also go to your local Food, Civil Supplies, and Consumer Affairs Department in person with all of the necessary documents. To successfully apply for a Ration Card, you must follow the process outlined by them.

How to Check Ration Card Application Updates?

• You can check the status of your Ration Card on the state’s Food, Civil Supplies, and Consumer Affairs Department’s official website under E-services.
• Either a list of those who have recently applied for a Ration Card and their status will be displayed, or you will be required to provide your credentials and log in.
• You’ll be able to monitor the status of your card once you’ve logged in.

The Bottom Line

Ration Cards have been in use in India for some time to provide subsidies on food grains and other culinary essentials to a specific economic stratum of society. The procedure for applying for a Ration Card, whether digital or offline, differs depending on the Indian state from whence the applicant is applying. Each state has its unique system, but the fundamental foundation and structure remain the same.