In India, the Public Distribution System (PDS) is a government-run scheme that provides basic food and non-food items to eligible citizens at subsidized rates. Ration cards are an essential part of the PDS and are used to identify eligible citizens and track their purchases. In this blog post, we will take a look at the different types of ration cards that are issued in India.
There are two main types of ration cards in India: above poverty line (APL) cards and below poverty line (BPL) cards. APL ration cards are issued to households that have an annual income above the poverty line, while BPL ration cards are issued to households that have an annual income below the poverty line. In addition, there are Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) ration cards, which are issued to destitute families and families living below the poverty line who do not own any land.
APL ration cardholders are entitled to purchase up to 35 kg of rice per person per month, while BPL and AAY ration cardholders are entitled to purchase up to 35 kg of rice per person per month at subsidized rates. In addition, all ration cardholders are entitled to purchase up to 5 kg of sugar, 2 kg of wheat, and 1 kg of kerosene per family per month. Eligible citizens can also purchase additional supplies of rice, wheat, sugar, and kerosene at market prices.
Ration cards play an important role in the Public Distribution Scheme in India. There are three main types of ration cards – APL, BPL, and AAY – which are issued to households based on their annual income. All ration cardholders are entitled to purchase a set quota of essential food and non-food items at subsidized rates from government-run outlets.
The first step is to visit the website of the Food and Civil Supplies Department of your state or union territory. A list of websites for each state/UT’s food and civil supplies department can be found here. Once you’re on the website, look for a link that says “Apply for ration card” or something similar. This will take you to the online application form.
On the application form, you will be asked to enter your personal details such as name, address, date of birth, etc. You will also have to upload some documents such as proof of identity and proof of residence. Once you have filled out the form and uploaded the required documents, submit the form and pay the processing fee (if applicable). Your application will then be processed and you should receive your ration card within a few weeks.
It’s important to note that in some states/UTs, physical forms are still used instead of an online application. In such cases, you will have to visit your local food and civil supplies office to fill out a paper form. Just like ration card, it I possible to apply for various forms online, like that of birth certificate, employment card etc.
