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Learn more about different types of Ration Cards like BPL Ration Card, PHH Ration Card, APL Ration Card, AAY Ration Card, & Antyodaya Ration Card
Ration cards help the members of the economically underprivileged sections of society with the procurement of essential products and commodities at heavily subsidised rates through the Public Distribution System (PDS). Earlier, under the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS), state governments issued four or five types of ration cards in India - APL (Above Poverty Line), BPL (Below Poverty Line), AAY (Antyodaya Anna Yojana) and AY (Annapoorna Yojana) based on household income. After the National Food Security Act (NFSA) 2013, most states issued mainly two types of cards – Priority Household (PHH) and Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY). These ration card types are mentioned below.
The ration cards in India are primarily classified under the National Food Security Act (NFSA), which determines the level of subsidy a household receives through the Public Distribution System (PDS).
Two types of ration cards are issued in several Indian states that adhere to the rules and norms of the National Food Security Act (NFSA) of 2013 under the Public Distribution System (PDS). They are as follows:
The PHH ration card type means that the holder can procure up to 5 kilograms of food grains every month per family member at subsidised prices. PHH ration card holders can secure rice at ₹3 per kilogram, wheat at ₹2 per kilogram and coarse grains at ₹1 per kilogram. These subsidised prices are fixed by the Central Government under the National Food and Security Act (2013) and may be revised periodically by the government. The people who can be holders of PHH ration cards are as follows:
Each AAY ration card household is entitled to 35 kilograms of food grains per month (typically 20 kg of rice and 15 kg of wheat) at subsidised prices of ₹3 and ₹2 per kg, respectively. The Antyodaya Anna Yojana ration cards are issued to the following beneficiaries:
The different types of ration cards that are issued by several Indian states under the old Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) regime are as follows:
The BPL ration cards are issued to individuals who live below the state-defined poverty line under the Public Distribution System (PDS). The same is subject to constant change depending on income and eligibility criteria.
The APL ration cards are given to those individuals who live above the state-defined poverty line. The poverty line is redefined on a periodic basis by the respective Food and Civil Supplies Department.
Any household that is an owner of a PHH ration card will receive 5 kgs of food grains per person every month at a subsidised price. Such ration card beneficiaries are charged ₹3 for a kg of rice, while they can procure wheat for as low as ₹2 and grains for ₹1. These prices are fixed by the Central Government under the National Food Security Act (NFSA).
While the official categories are based on schemes like NFSA (PHH, AAY) and TPDS (APL, BPL), many states use colour-coding to visually distinguish between card types and their entitlements. The colour scheme varies from state to state (e.g., Yellow, Saffron, or Pink may denote a BPL/AAY category depending on the state). This colour is a quick identifier for the Fair Price Shop (FPS) dealer to determine the beneficiary's level of subsidy.
| Card Type (Common Classification) | Common Colour (Varies by State) |
|---|---|
Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) |
Yellow/Red/Pink |
Priority Household (PHH) |
Blue/Pink/Saffron |
Non-Priority Household (NPHH) |
White (or State Specific) |
Above Poverty Line (APL) |
White/Green |
Below Poverty Line (BPL) |
Yellow/Red/Saffron |
The eligibility criteria for different types of ration cards, such as the PHH ration card and AAY ration card, have been put in place by the Government of India under the National Food Security Act (NFSA). The government has furnished both inclusion and exclusion guidelines for each ration card type. These are as follows:
Any person who belongs to the transgender community
A person with a disability that affects up to 40% of his or her body
All of those households that are part of primitive tribal groups
Households that have no shelter
Households that have a widow pension holder
Households that are living on alms
Any household that has a pucca roof with at least three rooms
Households that pay income tax or professional tax
Households that have a member who earns more than ₹10,000 on a monthly basis in a rural area and ₹15,000 in the case of an urban area (These numbers may vary from state to state)
Households that have a formally employed person, gazetted or non-gazetted, of the Central or State Government. (If the employed individual is involved in Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) or with Government-aided autonomous/local bodies, they cannot apply for such a ration card.)
Homes that are powered by a domestic electric connection that has a load of 2 Kilowatts or more, or consume an average of 300 units of energy per month
Households that have enterprises that are registered with the Government for manufacturing and services
Any household that owns a motorised four-wheeler/heavy vehicle/trawler or two or more motorboats
Households that own mechanised agricultural equipment like tractors and harvesters, among others
Households that are issued the AAY (Antyodaya Anna Yojana) ration card are entitled to approximately 35 kgs of food grains every month under the Public Distribution System (PDS). The AAY ration cardholders are charged a subsidised amount of ₹3 and ₹2, respectively, per kg (these numbers may vary from state to state).
Single men or women with no family/societal support
Disabled people, widows, terminally ill individuals and persons aged above 60 years or those households that are headed by such persons
Agricultural labourers who are not landowners
Marginalised members of the farming community
Households that are a part of primitive tribal groups
People employed as rickshaw pullers, daily labourers, etc.
Those who do not have a stable source of income
People earning their livelihood on a daily basis by working in the informal sectors
By holding a ration card, you can access several ration card benefits under the Public Distribution System (PDS). You can:
Get food supplies and essential commodities at subsidised rates from a Fair Price Ration Shop
Use it as an official proof of identity and address for documentation purposes, such as:
Applying for a PAN card
Opening a bank account and making money transfers
Getting a new Voter ID
Buying a new SIM card
Applying for a passport
Getting a driving licence
Enjoying the benefits of various government schemes for ration card beneficiaries
Applying for a new LPG connection through Seva Kendras or authorised centres
In case you end up moving to a new city, you’d need your ration card to be transferred as well to update your family record under the Public Distribution System (PDS). To do this, you can send an application to the nearest Food and Civil Supplies Department or Seva Kendra in your jurisdiction, stating that you need your ration card transferred.
You need to submit an application, proof of your new address, and pay the applicable service fee. After your application has been processed, your ration card details will be updated, and the transfer will begin.
Renew your ration card by following these simple steps:
Head over to the nearest ration card Seva Kendra or Food and Civil Supplies office
Complete the Aadhaar card linking and biometric verification process (not applicable to children below the age of 5 years)
Pay the required service fee as requested by the authorities to initiate the ration card renewal process
The various types of ration cards in India highlight the strength and inclusivity of the Public Distribution System (PDS) implemented under the National Food Security Act (NFSA). Each ration card type comes with its own set of benefits and eligibility criteria for beneficiaries. To make the most of the ration card benefits, check which card your family is eligible for and apply accordingly.
Households under the AAY and PHH, may also qualify for housing assistance under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY), provided they meet the scheme’s eligibility criteria. The programme extends interest subsidies and supports affordable home ownership for low-income families.
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Under the National Food Security Act (NFSA) 2013, two main types of ration cards in India are issued: Priority Household (PHH and Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY). Some states also classify Non-Priority Households (NPHH) separately or continue older TPDS categories like APL (Above Poverty Line), BPL (Below Poverty Line) and AY (Annapoorna Yojana).
Economically underserved households living on charities and/or without any shelter are eligible for PHH ration cards under the Public Distribution System (PDS). Members of primitive tribal groups, widowed pension holders, and individuals from the transgender community can also apply for a PHH ration card. Additionally, persons with disabilities affecting more than 40% of their body are eligible under this ration card type.
The National Food Security Act (NFSA) was implemented in 2013 to provide food grains at subsidised rates to nearly two-thirds of the Indian population through the Public Distribution System. The Act was enforced on 12th September 2013. Under this Act, two types of ration cards were introduced: the Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) ration card and the Priority Household (PHH) ration card.
Coloured ration cards vary across states. For instance, Maharashtra uses yellow (BPL cards), saffron (AAY ration cards) and white (APL ration cards), while other states like Delhi, Assam, and Gujarat follow different colour schemes for their types of ration cards.
No. An individual or a family member is not permitted to hold two separate ration card accounts. The PDS system is designed to provide food security to each eligible family member only once. If you are residing separately from your original family, you can apply for a new ration card by submitting a surrender certificate (de-linking certificate) from the original card to the Food and Civil Supplies Department. This ensures no double-counting of beneficiaries under the National Food Security Act (NFSA).
Yes, you certainly can. If a new member, such as a newborn or a new spouse, joins your household, they should be added as a ration card beneficiary. You must submit an application form, along with the relevant supporting documentation (like a birth certificate or marriage certificate), to the Food and Civil Supplies Department or a local Seva Kendras. This process updates your family record and ensures that the newly added member receives their ration card benefits and entitlement under the specific types of ration cards you hold (e.g., PHH or AAY).
Yes, this is possible due to the implementation of the 'One Nation One Ration Card (ONORC)' scheme. Under this initiative, all eligible ration card beneficiaries under the NFSA can lift their full or partial food grain entitlement from any Fair Price Shop (FPS) in any State or Union Territory of India. This national applicability significantly enhances the ration card benefits for migrating family members across the country.
Yes, linking your ration card with your Aadhaar Card is mandatory for all beneficiaries under the NFSA. This process, often referred to as Ration Card e-KYC, helps in the de-duplication of ration card holders, prevents fraudulent usage, and is essential for seamless transactions at the FPS using biometric authentication. It ensures that subsidies reach the genuine family member holding types of ration cards like the PHH ration card type and AAY.
The fee for renewing a ration card is not uniform across the country. It generally involves a nominal service fee as requested by the authorities at the local Food and Civil Supplies office or Seva Kendras. Since the fee can vary by state and the type of service, it is advisable to check the current schedule of fees from your respective State’s Food and Civil Supplies Department website.
Yes. A ration card is a widely accepted document that serves as valid proof of both identity and address for various documentation purposes. Therefore, you can certainly use the document when applying for a new Voter ID.
Yes. A ration card is accepted as a valid proof of residence/address by income tax authorities when applying for a Permanent Account Number (PAN Card). It falls under the list of acceptable documentation benefits for citizens.
There are different types of ration cards in India to ensure a targeted and inclusive delivery of food subsidies based on the economic status of families. The differentiation, involving categories like AAY (for the 'poorest of the poor') and PHH (for priority households) under the NFSA, and older categories like APL (Above Poverty Line) and BPL (Below Poverty Line), allows the Public Distribution System (PDS) to allocate greater subsidies and food quantities to the most vulnerable beneficiaries. Categories are also visually represented using Colour Ration Card schemes (e.g., White Ration Card, Saffron Ration Card).
Eligibility for all types of ration cards in India is primarily determined by the eligibility criteria set by the Central Government under the National Food Security Act (NFSA) and state-specific norms. For AAY and PHH, detailed inclusion/exclusion criteria exist. For older categories like APL and BPL cards, eligibility is based on a household’s income being Above Poverty Line or Below Poverty Line. You can check the detailed eligibility criteria on the official portal of your State’s Food and Civil Supplies Department. The types of ration card in Gujarat, types of ration card in Assam, or types of ration card in Delhi may have slightly different specific criteria.
The time taken to receive a new ration card after applying online can vary significantly from state to state. Generally, after submitting the required documents and application, the process involves verification by the local authorities. The entire process, including document verification and printing/issuance of the e-ration cards or physical card, can take anywhere from 15 to 45 days. You can track your ration card status online using your application reference number.
While the exact requirements may vary depending on the State and the specific types of ration cards, the fundamental documents generally required for new applications are:
Duly filled application form.
Proof of Residence (e.g., Electricity Bill, Water Bill, Rent Agreement).
Proof of Identity (e.g., Aadhaar Card, Voter ID).
Passport-size photographs of the family head.
Family details/list of all members to be included as beneficiaries.
Income Certificate (especially crucial for PHH and AAY applications).
Mobile Number and Bank Account Details.
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