All You Must Know about Government’s One Nation One Ration Card' Scheme & How to Apply for It?

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman while addressing people on Rs. 20 lakh crore Covid-19 relief package announced by PM Narendra Modi said that national portability will be attained in the 'one nation, one ration card' system by March 2021 across India. She said, "This will be implemented by August for around 67 crore beneficiaries in twenty three states. 67 crore is 83 percent of the entire PDS system".

What is 'one nation, one ration card' system?

• Under this system, eligible beneficiaries can collect entitled foodgrains under the National Food Security Act (NFSA) from any Fair Price Shop in the country through the same ration card.

• Centre wants to implement 'one nation, one ration card' scheme across India effective 1^st June 2020.

• A standard format for ration card has been prepared after taking into account the format used by different states and after consultation with other stakeholders.

• Till now, 17 states are on integrated management of the PDS (public distribution system).

• The eligible beneficiaries would be able to buy subsidized foodgrains - wheat at Rs. 2 / kg, rice at Rs. 3 /kg and coarse grains at Re 1 / kg, from anywhere in the country.

• In the present system, a ration cardholder can purchase foodgrains only from an FPS that has been assigned to him in the locality in which he lives.

• For national portability, the state governments have been told to issue the ration card in bi-lingual format.

• Maharashtra, Haryana, Rajasthan, UP, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Gujarat, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Goa, Jharkhand, Tripura, Bihar, Daman and Diu have been integrated with the 'one nation, one ration card' system.

• The data available on the IMPDS portal says, the number of transactions done via inter-state ration card portability is only 274 as on 15^th

• The Integrated Management of Public Distribution System, also known as IM-PDS portal provides a technological platform for the inter-state portability of ration cards.

One Nation Ration Card: Essential Documents

The lists of documents that you will need to apply for Ration Card are as follows.

• Aadhaar Card

• Pan Card

• Recent Passport Size Photo

• Bank Statement or Passbook

• Income proof of the applicant

• Latest Electricity Bill

• Gas connection passbook

How to apply for ration card?

There are different websites and links to apply for ration card that is dependent upon the state a person lives in. All he needs to do is go to the website of his state and apply for the ration card. Download the application form from the official page. Then fill in all your personal details and other required information. Upload all the documents & click on “apply online” button.