Puducherry Ration Card

Ration card is a vital multi-purpose document that entitles the resident of a state to obtain essential goods at highly subsidised rates through the Public Distribution System (PDS). Ration card helps to efficiently implement the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) and the provisions of the National Food Security Act (NFSA). It also helps to ensure food and social security. In this article, we look at the procedure for obtaining a Puducherry ration card in detail.

Uses and Benefits of Ration Card

Ration card is one of the necessary document, considered as identity proof of the head of household, but of his/her entire family since the card comprises of details about the whole family members such as name, age, relationship with the head of the family, gender, income levels, etc. and further serves as a proof of your residence.

Linking Aadhar to Ration Card

Ration card linked with Aadhaar is further connected with the cardholder's bank account to ensures that the bogus cards are eliminated from the system. 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. Aadhaar linking with ration card would help in maintaining transparency in the Public Distribution System (PDS) network. Linking of Ration Cards with Aadhaar of all the beneficiaries would facilitate in ensuring correct targeting of the recipients for distribution of subsidised food grains or cash transfer of food subsidies under NFSA. To know more about Linking Aadhar to Ration Card.

Types of Ration Cards

The Government of Puducherry issues the citizens with three types of ration cards based on the annual income of the families.

Red Cards: The red card is issued to the economically weaker families who earn Rs. 15,000 or less annually from all the income sources.
Green Cards: These cards are issued to the families whose annual income is more than Rs. 1,20,000.
Yellow Cards: These yellow cards are provided to the families whose annual income is greater than Rs. 15,000 but lower than Rs. 1,20,000.
Antyodaya Anna Yojana: The beneficiaries identified under the AAY (Antyodaya Anna Yojana) would be entitled to receive 35 kg food grains every month per household at the subsidised prices.

Eligibility Criteria

The eligibility criteria are based on the economic status of the beneficiary families. The applicant needs to satisfy the below criteria laid down by the Government of Puducherry.

The applicant must be an Indian citizen.
The applicant must not possess another ration card.

Documents Required

In Puducherry, when applying for a new ration card, it is necessary to submit the following documents along with the application form.

Proof of Date of Birth.
Address proof (electricity bill, water bill, telephone bill, passport, etc.)
Family group passport size photograph
Aadhaar Card
Bank Passbook
Caste Certificate
Income Certificate
For the government employees, the order for transfer form from the Head of the Office.

Online Application Procedure

The Puducherry government operates both online portal and offline modes, where the citizens can file their complaints regarding the Public Distribution System. To apply for the new ration card in the state, kindly follow the given procedures below: Step 1: The applicant must visit the Puducherry Civil Supplies and Consumer Protection Department's official website. Step 2: Log in to the portal with our username and password. If a new user, sign in to the web portal with all the personal details and click on the "submit" button. Step 3: Click on "Service menu" on the homepage of the portal. Step 4: Select the "Apply for New Ration Card" option from the list of services shown. Step 5: Now fill all the required details in the application form and submit it online. Step 6: Upon submission, the applicant will receive an application number as an acknowledgement to Track the Status of an application.