Link Aadhaar to Ration Card

In a major move to link documents with Aadhar Cards, the government has initiated a drive to link aadhar with a ration card. The ration card as a document is the oldest proof of residence used in India and linking it with aadhar will help to receive an array of benefits apart from preventing cases of fraud.

The linking of aadhaar with ration can be done both online and offline.

Link Aadhar to Ration Card – Offline

Follow the simple steps to link your aadhar card with ration card:

• Visit the nearest Public Distribution System (PDS) Centre or Ration Shop
• Carry photocopies of both aadhar card of all your family members, a passport-sized photo of the head of the family and ration card.
• If in case, if your bank account is still not linked with aadhar, then submit a copy of your passbook.
• Submit all the relevant documents at the PDS shop along with a copy of aadhar card number.
• The concerned officials will ask for the biometric details (fingerprints) verification for Aadhaar authentication.
• After submission of documents, an SMS notification will be sent to the registered mobile number in Aadhaar and you will receive another SMS notification upon the successful linking of both the documents.

Link Aadhar to Ration Card – Online

 Follow the below-mentioned steps to link aadhar with ration card through online mode:

• Visit the official web portal of Aadhar Card – UIDAI webpage
• Click on the ‘Start Now’ option.
• Proceed further and enter your address details – district and state. 
• Select the benefit type as ‘Ration Card’ from the available options
• Choose the scheme name as ‘Ration Card’.
• Enter the ration card number, your aadhaar number, e-mail address and mobile number. 
• A one-time password (OTP) will be sent to your mobile number and the same has to be entered in the form. 
• Enter the OTP, post which you will get a notification which will appear informing the completion of your application process 
• Post this, your application will be verified and post successful verification your aadhar card will be linked to your ration card. 

Advantages of Linking Aadhar to Ration Card

• Elimination of duplicate ration cards
• Linking of unique aadhar card with ration card check the fraudulent activities.
• Issue of multiple ration cards under a single name can be cancelled.
• Biometric enabled distribution system will help the PDS to identify the genuine beneficiaries and thus helps in streamlining the benefits accordingly.
• Diversion and leakage of PDS ration can be restrained.
• Aadhar card helps in creating an audit trail in the PDS thus identifying and eliminating corrupt middlemen and this helps in adding efficiency in the framework.

Documents Required for Linking Aadhar to Ration Card

• Passport size photograph of the head of the family
• Photocopies of Aadhaar of all the family members
• Photocopy of Aadhaar of the head of the family
• Photocopy of Ration card along with the original card (for verification)
• Bank Passbook copy, if in the case bank account is not linked to aadhaar card

Ration Card

Ration Card is a document which is issued by the respective State Governments in India and it serves as a proof of nationality to the holders. It acts as an important document which serves as an identity proof and also indicates an individuals economic status. It is a voluntary document and is not a mandatory one for every resident Indian to possess one. The holders of ration card are eligible to purchase subsidized food grains from the Public Distribution System (under the National Food Security Act).

This ration cards have multiple categories and are issued based on the earning capacity of the individuals.

Different states have different schemes and are issued to the holders based on the annual income of the holder, total members in a family and so on. 

As per the National Food Security Act (NFSA), all the state governments in the country should identify those households which are eligible for purchasing subsidized food grains from the Public Distribution System and should provide them with ration cards. Currently, there are two types of ration cards under the NFSA. 

Priority Ration Card – This type of ration card is issued to those households which meet the eligibility criteria as set by the respective state government. Each household is eligible to get 5 kilograms of food grains per member. 

Antyodaya (AAY) – This ration card is issued to those households who are categorized as the “poorest of poor”. Each AAY households are eligible to secure 35 kilograms of food grains. 

Note: Those who have a higher earning capacity as predetermined by the respective state government cannot obtain rations at a subsidized cost. 

Here are the advantages of Ration Card Aadhar Linking :

• This will decrease the number of fake ration cardholders who profit by endowments that are generally proposed for families living beneath the destitution line (BPL).
• When Aadhaar is connected to a Ration card, families won't have the option to possess more than one apportion card dependent on bogus subtleties.
• False Activities Can Be Prevented After Aadhaar Is Tied To A Ration Card
  The biometric delivery system would help PDS stores identify the true beneficiaries and optimize profits accordingly.
• PDS ration redirection and spillage can likewise be controlled
• Aadhaar makes a review trail in the public dispersion framework, subsequently distinguishing and killing degenerate middle people and expanding the proficiency of the system.

The reasoning for the idea of having a Ration card in India:

• Ration cards are utilized by individuals to acquire food at a sponsored rate as referenced previously. In any case, actually, it has been seen that at times an individual acquires more than one Ration card in view of which other qualified families can't get benefits.
• To battle such cases, the public authority chose to interface Aadhaar to the Ration card.
• The Ration card is the most seasoned report which is viewed as verification of residency in India and subsequently, the Aadhaar Ration card connection won't just assist with accomplishing a scope of advantages yet in addition stop extortion.

FAQ's

Q: Is the ration card aadhaar link compulsory?

ANS: No, it is not mandatory to link aadhaar to the ration card. It is mandatory only to avail services from the government.

Q: Is biometric control essential while making the aadhaar link of the ration card?

ANS: Yes this is a must as it will authenticate the details of you as the aadhaar holder and it will help to complete the ration card aadhaar linking process.

Q: What is a priority ration card?

ANS: The priority ration card is issued to families who meet the eligibility condition established by the government of the state concerned. Under this, each household has the right to obtain 5 kilograms of food grains for each member. Priority ration cardholders can also combine an Aadhaar with a ration card, but they will only receive the benefit as defined by the government.

Q: What is AAY-Antyodaya?

ANS: AAY or the Antyodaya card is issued to families considered to be the poorest of the poor. All AAY families can get 35 kilograms of food grains.

Q: Is the Aadhaar Link ration card mandatory?

ANS: No, it is not mandatory to link an Aadhaar to the ration card.

Q: Is biometric verification a must when making the Aadhaar ration card link?

ANS: Yes, it is a must as doing this will authenticate your details as an Aadhaar holder and this will help complete the Aadhaar link process of the ration card.

Q: What is a priority ration card? Does this mean that a person holding such a card does not need to link Aadhaar to a ration card?

ANS: The priority ration card is issued to those families who meet the eligibility condition established by the particular state government. According to this, each household is eligible to obtain 5 kilograms of food grains for each member. Priority ration cardholders can also link Aadhaar with the ration card, however, they will get the benefit only as set by the government.

Q: What is AAY- Antyodaya?

ANS: AAY or the Antyodaya card is issued to those families who consider themselves the poorest of the poor. All AAY families are eligible to obtain 35 kilograms of food grains from the state government.

Q: Can anyone get a ration card?

ANS: Yes, any Indian citizen can have a ration card.

Q: Which fields can be updated through the self-service update portal?

Citizens can update all the details mentioned on the Aadhaar card by visiting an Aadhaar enrollment center.

You can update your name, address, gender, date of birth, mobile phone number, email, and biometric details in Aadhaar.

Q: Are there any criteria that must be met to request changes online?

ANS: If you want to change the address online, you will need to send a scanned copy of the proof of address. If this document is not accepted by UIDAI, the application will be rejected.

Q: Do I also have to send the application in a local language?

ANS: There is no problem regarding the language in which you are submitting your update request. You can submit the application in whatever language you are comfortable with.

Q: My mobile number is not registered with Aadhaar. What do I do now?

ANS: If your mobile phone number is not registered with UIDAI, you will not be able to use any online services related to Aadhaar. You will need to link your mobile phone number with Aadhaar by visiting the Aadhaar Enrollment Center.

Q: Can I correct my Aadhaar details online even if my mobile phone number is not registered with the Aadhar card?

ANS: You must select the option to verify using an OTP through an unregistered mobile number.

This feature is only available online if you have not registered your mobile phone number with Aadhaar.

About ration card shops in India

There are around 538,164 fair price shops also called ration shops in India. There are also about 4,38,000 fair price shops that have enabled with POS. The government has so far issued 19.82 crore ration cards as on July 4, 2023, giving the under previledged people easy access to foodgrains, oil etc. In fact, today with the avent of technology if one is under previledged it is easy to get important things for daily living through the ration cards. If you need help there are also helpline numbers that are made available by the Government of India for any issues pertaining to the issue of ration cards. There is also an online grievance cell that the government has established to address any problems that may have arisen.