Different Types of Ration Cards in 2026

Use of Ration Cards

Ration card is used as an official document which is not only used to avail food grains at subsidised rates but has other utilities, such as:

• Used as official identification throughout India issued by the government.
• When applying for a PAN card, it is used as identification proof.
• While opening a bank account.
• Making money transfers between bank accounts.
• Withdrawal of life insurance maturity amount.
• While paying income tax as per your income tax level.
• To get a new voter id card.· Purchasing a mobile SIM card.
• Purchasing a mobile SIM card. 
• Applying for a passport.
• Getting a driving license.
• Applying for a new LPG connection.

Five Different Types of Ration Cards in India

Here is the list of five types of ration cards in India:

1. Priority Household (PHH) ration card - Households that fulfill the government's eligibility requirements are granted this card. Every household has a monthly allotment of 5 kg of food grains per person. It is an NFSA category.
2. Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) Ration Card   - The Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) ration card is given to households that the government has designated as Antyodaya families. Every family has a monthly allotment of 35 kg of food grains. It is an NFSA category.
3. Above Poverty line (APL) ration card - The APL ration card was issued to households living above the poverty line. It is a pre-NFSA (erstwhile TPDS) category that only some States still issue outside the NFSA quota.
4. Below Poverty line (BPL) ration card - Families that have been classified as living below the state-government poverty line are those that possess BPL (Below Poverty line) cards. It is a pre-NFSA (erstwhile TPDS) category that only some States still issue outside the NFSA quota.
5. Annapurna Yojana (AY) ration card - The AY ration card was issued to poor people who are older and aged above 65 years. It is issued under the Annapurna scheme, which is separate from the NFSA categories.

Eligibility Criteria for Applying Different Types of Ration Cards

The following is the list of eligibility criteria for different types of ration cards available in India:

Ration Cards Under NFSA

The corresponding state governments issue ration cards, which are provided by the NFSA. Food is distributed in affordable stores in accordance with the NFSA's guidelines for quantity and quality. The NFSA offers the following varieties of ration cards:

The NFSA covers up to 75% of the rural population and up to 50% of the urban population, and it has only two categories of ration cards: Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) and Priority Household (PHH). 

Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY)

• The state governments in each state identify low-income households that do not have a steady source of income to receive this kind of ration card

• This card is given to people who do not have steady jobs, like coolies, daily laborers, and rickshaw pullers

• This card is also given to women, the elderly, and those without jobs

• Each family of these cards can receive 35 kg of food grains per month

• The wheat and rice split that each family receives is decided by individual States.
• Foodgrains are provided to them free of cost under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY), which has supplied the NFSA entitlement free since 1 January 2023 and was extended for five years from 1 January 2024, as of October 2026. Rs.2 per kg for wheat and Rs.3 per kg for rice are the statutory issue prices under the National Food Security Act, 2013 and are not charged at present.

Priority Household (PHH) Ration Card

Families not covered under the Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) are categorized as Priority Household (PHH) families and here are a few more details about PHH ration cards:

• Based on specific inclusion and exclusion criteria, the state government identifies the PHH families under TPDS.
• Cardholders are entitled to receive 5 kg of food grains per person each month.
• Foodgrains are currently supplied free of cost to Priority Households under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY), which has been extended for five years from 1 January 2024, as of October 2026. The rates below are the statutory issue prices fixed under the National Food Security Act, 2013 and are not being charged at present:

a. Rs.3 per kg for rice

b. Rs.2 per kg for wheat

c. Rs.1 per kg for coarse grain

The eligibility criteria for the priority ration card are calculated by the government through inclusion and exclusion guidelines.

The guidelines are listed below:

Inclusion criteria

1. Any transgender person
2. A person having a disability (percentage of disability criteria is set by each state)
3. All households belonging to primitive tribal groups
4. Households have no shelter
5. Households having a widow pension holder
6. Households with destitute living on alms.

Exclusion criteria

1. Any household which has a pucca roof with at least three rooms with pucca walls
2. Households who pay income tax or professional tax.
3. Households with an earning member who earns more than a specific amount in a month, the criteria of which is set by each State for both rural and urban areas separately.
4. Households having a regular employee who are either gazetted or non-gazetted of the following sector:
   a. Central Government
   b. State Government
   c. Public Sector Undertakings
   d. Government aided autonomous bodies, and local bodies
5. Households which have a domestic electric connection with a specific load of energy per month (in KWH) and consumes an average of specific units, the criteria of which is set by individual states.
6. Households which have enterprises registered with the Government for manufacturing and services.
7. Any household which owns a motorized a four-wheeler or a heavy vehicle or a trawler or two or more motorboats
8. Households which own mechanized agricultural equipment like tractors, and harvesters.

NPHH

Households who do not meet the PHH eligibility criteria set by the government are issued with NPHH ration cards. This card serves only as identity proof and does not provide any food grains.

Ration Cards Under TPDS

Ration cards were previously issued under TPDS by the state government. As the NFSA now operates in all States and Union Territories, the following cards are not NFSA categories. BPL and APL are pre-NFSA (erstwhile TPDS) categories that only some States still issue outside the NFSA quota, and Annapoorna Yojana (AY) is a separate scheme under the National Social Assistance Programme:

Below Poverty Line (BPL):

• Issued to families Below Poverty Line as per the state government.
• At 50% of the economic cost the beneficiaries are provided with a specific quantity of food grains per month as set by each issuing State.
• The prices for wheat, rice, sugar and other food items vary from one state government to another.

Above Poverty Line (APL):

• Issued to families Above Poverty Line as per the state government.
• At 100% of the economic cost the beneficiaries are provided with a specific quantity of food grains per month as set by each issuing State.

• The subsidised rate for rice, wheat, sugar and kerosene oil for a specific quantity is set by the state government.

Annapoorna Yojana (AY):

• Issued to older people who are poor and above 65 years.
• Per month 10 kg of food grains are provided to the cardholders free of cost.

The Annapurna scheme is a sub-scheme of the National Social Assistance Programme and provides food security to eligible senior citizens who are not covered under the Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme. States and Union Territories identify the beneficiaries, and the Department of Food and Public Distribution has reported no demand for these grains since 2021-22. 

Colour Ration Card

The tricolour ration card system was introduced in 1999. This type of ration card aims to eliminate discrimination in food supply. Below are the popular types of ration cards in India:

Yellow Ration Cards

• Intended beneficiaries: Issued to low-income families with an income limit set by each State.
• Eligibility: Holders receive subsidized food and essential commodities.
• Purpose: Provides direct food support, thereby aiming at alleviating poverty.

Saffron Ration Cards

• Intended beneficiaries: Designed for middle-income families with an annual income as decided by each State.
• Eligibility: Families should not possess irrigated land or land area more than one hectare.
• Purpose: Offers essential aid and encourages financial independence.

White Ration Cards

• Reserved for affluent families with an annual income as decided by each State.

How to Renew a Ration Card

To renew your ration card, follow the steps mentioned below:

Step 1: Go to the closest Seva Kendra for ration cards.

Step 2: Complete the biometric procedure.

Step 3: An Aadhaar-based biometric authentication is required to add you and your family members. Biometric authentication is not required for children under the age of five years, but the Aadhaar card is mandatory.

Step 4: Pay the necessary fee.