Andaman and Nicobar Ration Card

Ration card is an important multi-purpose legal document issued by State Governments/Union Territories. All residents of a State should hold ration card to avail subsidised food commodities. The administration of Andaman and Nicobar Islands union territory is implementing PDS (Public Distribution System) across the union territory to ensure food security to the region's population. This article seeks the guidelines to obtain the Andaman and Nicobar Islands Ration Card in detail.

Purpose of Obtaining Ration Card

The following are the purpose of obtaining a ration card in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

Ration card can be used as a primary identity proof for citizenship.
Ration card is necessary to apply for a loan from the banks.
Ration card acts as a proof of residence while selling or buying of property/land.
It is required to avail several government services which are granted to the residents of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
It also supports as an identity proof for the entire family, which contains details about the number of family members, income levels, number of children, gender, photographs, etc.

Types of Ration Card in Andaman and Nicobar Islands

Essential food commodities such as wheat, rice, kerosene, sugar, and kerosene oil are provided at the subsidised rates approved by the Government to the eligible beneficiaries and their families as per the classification of the Government of India as the APL (Above Poverty Line), AAY (Antyodaya Anna Yojana Cards), and Below Poverty Line (BPL). APL Ration Cards: Any families with income above the poverty line index can apply for APL cards. BPL Ration Cards: Any families with annual income less than that specified in the poverty index can apply for BPL ration cards. AAY Ration Cards: Antyodaya Anna Yojana Cards are provided to families those who meet special conditions. This card allows the family to have the highest level of subsidy rates.

Eligibility Criteria

The resident of Andaman and Nicobar Islands The applicant and his/her family member should be a permanent resident of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and the applicant should be the head of the family. New applicant The resident of the State must not already have a ration card. Applicant has a ration card at the previous place If an individual transferred from one place to another. In this case, it requires a surrender certificate from the concerned authority of the respective area where the person was residing previously. Marriage In the case of marriage, if the entry is to be recorded in the ration card Birth of a Child For adding the name of the child in the ration card the birth certificate of the child is needed along with the ration card in which the addition has to be made, and the application addressed to the concerned office.

Link Aadhaar with Ration Card

Aadhaar linking with Ration card would support in securing transparency in the Public Distribution System (PDS) network. The primary objective of linking Aadhar with Ration card is to avoid the issuance of duplicate and multiple identities by digitising it and also to streamline the benefits attached to it. Linking of Ration Cards with Aadhaar of all the beneficiaries would facilitate in ensuring the accurate targeting of the beneficiaries for distribution of subsidised food grains or cash transfer of food subsidies under NFSA ( National Food Security Act, 2013)

Required Documents

To obtain a ration card in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, submit the following document along with the application:

Address Proof
Passport size photograph of family members
Deletion Certificate
An affidavit to prove that the applicant was not holding any ration card previously.
Aadhar Card
Voter ID
Income Certificate
Driving License
Bank passbook details

Ration Card Issuing Authority in Andaman Nicobar Islands

The applicant has to submit an application form to the Directorate of Civil Supplies, Supply Lane, Port Blair, in respect of Port Blair and South Andaman.