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Ration card apply online 2026: fees, documents and status by state
A family card issued by the state food department for buying subsidised or free foodgrains from fair price (ration) shops. It is also widely used as proof of address and family details.
The short answer
A family card issued by the state food department for buying subsidised or free foodgrains from fair price (ration) shops. It is also widely used as proof of address and family details.
Source: nfsa.gov.in. Not yet matched to an official page; confirm on the official portal before paying.
Ration card fees by state
This fee is set by each state, so it differs. Each row shows whether we matched it to the official government site.
| State | Fee | Time | Where to apply |
|---|---|---|---|
| Delhi | No official fee publishedNot officially verified Source | No time limit published by the state. Track your application status on edistrict.delhi.gov.in. | edistrict.delhi.gov.inNew NFSA cards issued only when slots are free under the state quota; food dept site did not load |
| Maharashtra | No official fee publishedNot officially verified Source | 30 days | rcms.mahafood.gov.inYellow, Orange and White cards; 30 day limit notified on Aaple Sarkar (Demand for new ration card) and by the Controller of Rationing, Mumbai; fee not stated on either |
| West Bengal | FreeUnverified estimate Unofficial source | 30 days | food.wb.gov.in30 day limit per Food and Supplies notification 2950-FS of 25.10.2013; fee not stated officially |
| Tamil Nadu | ₹60 at e-Sevai centreChecked on 28 Sep 2026 Source | 15 days | tnpds.gov.inCan also apply on tnpds.gov.in; card types PHH, PHH-AAY, NPHH, NPHH-S |
| Karnataka | Application ₹0. ₹20 service charge at Grama One, B1 or K1 centres (APL card online: no service charge)Checked on 18 Oct 2026 Source | 7 days | sevasindhu.karnataka.gov.inSeva Sindhu service listing; Aadhaar of all members is mandatory |
| Telangana | No official fee publishedUnverified estimate Unofficial source | No time limit published by the state. Track your application status on telangana.gov.in. | telangana.gov.inCalled a Food Security Card (FSC); apply through MeeSeva, centre charges may apply |
| Gujarat | AAY free, BPL ₹5, APL 1 ₹10, APL 2 ₹20Checked on 28 Sep 2026 Source | 7 days | digitalgujarat.gov.inFee and 7 day limit as listed by the Mehsana district office |
| Uttar Pradesh | No official fee publishedUnverified estimate Unofficial source | No time limit published by the state. Track your application status on fcs.up.gov.in. | fcs.up.gov.inApply online or at CSC; secondary source quotes 30 days |
| Bihar | No official fee publishedNot officially verified Source | No time limit published by the state. Track your application status on rconline.bihar.gov.in. | rconline.bihar.gov.inApply via RTPS portal or counter; fee not verified |
| Rajasthan | No official fee publishedNot officially verified Source | No time limit published by the state. Track your application status on food.rajasthan.gov.in. | food.rajasthan.gov.inApply via e-Mitra or SSO; fee not verified |
| Madhya Pradesh | No official fee publishedNot officially verified Source | No time limit published by the state. Track your application status on rationmitra.nic.in. | rationmitra.nic.inEligibility slip (patrata parchi) linked to Samagra ID; fee not verified |
| Haryana | No official fee publishedNot officially verified Source | 15 days (new card on receipt of the D-I application form) Checked on 19 Oct 2026 Source | haryanafood.gov.inCitizen services page of the Haryana Food and Supplies Department: 15 days for a new card on the D-I form, 7 days on a surrender certificate. No fee is listed there. Card tied to Family ID (PPP) |
| Chhattisgarh | APL (general) card ₹30 at a Sewa Setu centre or onlineChecked on 18 Oct 2026 Source | 30 days | sewasetu.cgstate.gov.inSewa Setu listing for the general (APL) ration card; BPL and AAY fees are not listed there |
| Uttarakhand | ₹5Checked on 18 Oct 2026 Source | No time limit published by the state. Track your application status on rcmspds.uk.gov.in. | rcmspds.uk.gov.inFee on the food department page; the card is valid for 5 years |
| Goa | ₹5 court fee stampChecked on 18 Oct 2026 Source | 3 to 7 days | ga.smartpds.nic.inApplications only online on ga.smartpds.nic.in. The ₹5 stamp is from the 2021 citizen's charter, so confirm on the portal |
| Chandigarh | No official fee publishedNot officially verified Source | No time limit published by the state. Track your application status on chdfood.gov.in. | chdfood.gov.inPortal listed on the NFSA state page (nfsa.gov.in). No fee or time limit is listed there. |
| Himachal Pradesh | No official fee publishedNot officially verified Source | No time limit published by the state. Track your application status on epds.hp.gov.in. | epds.hp.gov.inPortal listed on the NFSA state page (nfsa.gov.in). No fee or time limit is listed there. |
| Jammu and Kashmir | No official fee publishedNot officially verified Source | 30 days, subject to the Government of India allocating food grains Checked on 19 Oct 2026 Source | fcsca.jk.gov.inConsumer Affairs and Public Distribution Department, J&K (Samba page): new card 30 days, surrender certificate or duplicate 7 days. No fee is listed there. Portal listed on the NFSA state page |
| Kerala | No official fee publishedNot officially verified Source | No time limit published by the state. Track your application status on ecitizen.civilsupplieskerala.gov.in. | ecitizen.civilsupplieskerala.gov.inPortal listed on the NFSA state page (nfsa.gov.in). No fee or time limit is listed there. |
| Andhra Pradesh | No official fee publishedNot officially verified Source | No time limit published by the state. Track your application status on apseva.ap.gov.in. | apseva.ap.gov.inPortal listed on the NFSA state page (nfsa.gov.in). No fee or time limit is listed there. |
| Punjab | No official fee publishedNot officially verified Source | No time limit published by the state. Track your application status on ercms.punjab.gov.in. | ercms.punjab.gov.inPortal listed on the NFSA state page (nfsa.gov.in). No fee or time limit is listed there. |
| Odisha | No official fee publishedNot officially verified Source | No time limit published by the state. Track your application status on pdsodisha.gov.in. | pdsodisha.gov.inPortal listed on the NFSA state page (nfsa.gov.in). No fee or time limit is listed there. |
| Assam | No official fee publishedNot officially verified Source | No time limit published by the state. Track your application status on fcsca.assam.gov.in. | fcsca.assam.gov.inPortal listed on the NFSA state page (nfsa.gov.in). No fee or time limit is listed there. |
| Jharkhand | No official fee publishedNot officially verified Source | No time limit published by the state. Track your application status on jsfss.jharkhand.gov.in. | jsfss.jharkhand.gov.inPortal listed on the NFSA state page (nfsa.gov.in). No fee or time limit is listed there. |
Applying online is usually free. Service centres may charge a small service fee; ask before paying.
Ration card services
Click a state name above for its own guide. Other help:
Official fees
| Service | Fee |
|---|---|
| NFSA card (PHH or AAY), most states | Free in most states; ₹60 at TN e-Sevai centres |
| Gujarat: AAY / BPL / APL 1 / APL 2 | Free / ₹5 / ₹10 / ₹20 |
Not officially verified Some figures are from secondary sources. Confirm on the official portal before paying.
Documents to keep ready
Tick what you already have. The shared list shows each one as ready or pending.
How to apply
- Open your state food department portal from the table above (or nfsa.gov.in, which links to every state)
- Register or log in with your mobile number, then choose New Ration Card
- Fill in the family details and pick the card type (AAY, PHH or state card)
- Upload Aadhaar of every member, address proof, income proof and a photo of the head of family
- Submit and note the application number to track the status
- Attend field verification by the inspector if called
- Download the e-ration card, or collect it from the fair price shop or food office once approved
- Under NFSA, AAY families get 35 kg grain a month and PHH members get 5 kg each, free of cost under PMGKAY
- With One Nation One Ration Card you can draw ration at any fair price shop in India using Aadhaar biometrics
- Keep e-KYC done for every member, or names may be removed
- Use only the official state portal; agents who promise a BPL card for money are not authorised
After you apply
What to do once the form is submitted: where to track it, how long it takes, why it gets rejected and what the law says if you do not have it.
Track your application
Typical time
About 7 to 30 days after verification, depending on the state
Not officially verified
If you do not have it or miss the deadline
There is no fine or jail for not having a ration card. You only lose the subsidised foodgrains (5 kg per person per month for eligible households). The Act lets the State Food Commission fine a government official up to ₹5,000 if they ignore a grievance officer's order; this is a penalty on officials, not on citizens. We could not confirm from an official source the penalty for giving false details, but states can cancel cards got with wrong information.
Law: National Food Security Act 2013, sections 13 and 33
Checked on 5 Oct 2026 Source
Common reasons for rejection and how to fix them
| Reason | How to fix it |
|---|---|
| Your family income is above the limit or you are not in the state's eligible list | Check the eligibility rules on your state food department site and attach proof of income if asked. |
| Aadhaar or e-KYC details of family members do not match | Update Aadhaar or complete e-KYC at the ration shop or food office, then apply again. |
| Name is already on another ration card | Ask for deletion from the old card first, then apply for the new card. |
| Address proof or family photo is missing or unclear | Upload a clear address proof and photo as listed by your state. |
Not officially verified
Govt License is an independent guide. Fines and rules change, so confirm on the official portal. Items marked Not officially verified could not be checked on an official page.
Free formats you may need
Printable samples you can copy, fill in and print. Each is only a sample, so check it with the issuing office.
Common questions
How much is the fee for a new ration card?
Can I get ration in another state with my card?
What is the difference between PHH and AAY?
Can I have ration cards in two places?
How do I check my name in the ration card list?
How do I do e-KYC for my ration card?
How do I add a name to my ration card?
Is the ration card fee the same in every state?
Can I apply for a ration card online?
How long does a new ration card take?
Aksar pooche jaane wale sawaal
Yahi jaankari, Hinglish mein.
Ration card kaise banaye?
Ration card me naam kaise jode?
Ration card list me naam kaise dekhe?
Ration card e-KYC kaise kare?
Ration card ki fees kitni hai?
Ration card kitne din mein milta hai?
Ration card ka application status kaise check karein?
Ration card ka application reject ho jaye to kya karein?
Bina Ration card ke pakde gaye to kya hoga?
Sources: nfsa.gov.in controllerofrationing-mumbai.gov.in aaplesarkar.mahaonline.gov.in mahesana.nic.in g.indiacustomercare.com (secondary)
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