• Application form (Form D — state-specific) — Downloadable from state Civil Supplies portal
• Aadhaar of ALL family members — Mandatory for all listed members + e-KYC during application
• Address proof — Aadhaar (with current address) / Voter ID / Electricity bill / Rent agreement (registered)
• Family head identity proof — Aadhaar + photo
• Income certificate — For BPL/AAY classification; from Tehsildar
• Caste certificate — For SC/ST/OBC priority categorization
• Bank account details — For DBT cash transfers in lieu of grain (some states)
• Two passport-size photos of family head — Recent, white background
• Affidavit — Family composition declaration; Rs. 10 stamp paper, notarised

• LPG / Gas connection — Establishes household separately
• Electricity / Water connection in family head's name — Strengthens household claim
• Surrender certificate from old ration card — For inter-state migration
• Birth certificates of children — For age verification of family members
• Marriage certificate — For spouse addition
• Death certificate — To remove deceased family member

• eKYC of all family members is mandatory since 2024 — biometric at FPS or online via state portal.
• Categories: APL (Above Poverty Line), BPL (Below Poverty Line), AAY (Antyodaya Anna Yojana — poorest of poor), PHH (Priority Household).
• ONORC (One Nation One Ration Card) — your card works in any state where you are physically present (since 2022).
• Add member — separate Form A6 + supporting documents (birth/marriage certificate); takes 15-30 days.
• Replace lost card — Form D + duplicate fee Rs. 25-50 + Aadhaar; takes 7-15 days.
• Photographs — only family head's on the card; some states show all members.

Tehsil Food Inspector OR District Supply Officer (DSO) office. Online via state Civil Supplies portal (e.g., tnpds.gov.in for TN, mahafood.gov.in for MH, ahara.kar.nic.in for KA).

→ Official source: https://nfsa.gov.in

If ration card application is delayed beyond 30-day SLA, file RTI to Tehsil Food Inspector + DSO under §6 for application status + verification report + projected issuance.

→ Use our 🪄 AI RTI Drafter to generate a free §6(1) application asking for the rejection reason in 60 seconds.

• Q: How long does new ration card take? — 30 days under NFSA. In practice, 30-60 days for AAY/BPL (income verification), 15-30 days for APL.
• Q: What's the difference between AAY, BPL, APL? — AAY = poorest (35 kg foodgrain + extras). BPL = below poverty line (35 kg). APL = above poverty line (limited entitlement).
• Q: Lost ration card — can I get duplicate? — Yes — Form D + Rs. 25-50 fee. Don't apply for new; old card details preserved.
• Q: Inter-state migration — what to do? — Surrender old card via online portal of origin state, then apply at destination. ONORC lets you ration in any state with same card.
• Q: eKYC — must I visit FPS? — Yes for biometric. Online eKYC available in some states (Aadhaar OTP) but biometric preferred.

1. Gather mandatory documents above before applying — saves a re-visit
2. Apply via official portal (link above) — no agent needed
3. Track status: see our status-check guides
4. If rejected for “documents inadequate”: request specific deficiency under §4(1)(d) RTI Act
5. For state-specific guidance: see state portals directory

• 🪄 AI RTI Drafter — type problem, get §6 application
• 🎤 AwaazRTI — voice-to-RTI in 11 Indian languages
• 🔮 Outcome Predictor — score draft win-likelihood
• ⚖️ First Appeal Generator — §19(1) draft on Day 31
• 📅 Timeline Calculator — track 30-day window

• Track status: How to check ration card status
• State-by-state: Ration Card across all 36 states
• If rejected, file RTI: Full RTI guide
• Citizen RTI playbook: All 100+ scenarios
• All documents checklists: All 30 checklists

• Statutory references: as cited in Specifications above
• Official portal: linked in “Where to apply” above
• RTI Act 2005 §§4, 6, 7, 19

Last reviewed: 25 April 2026.