A ration card is a document which is issued in the name of Indian residents by the government of India. This particular document allows the economically underserved sections of the country to secure the necessary items for human survival such as cooking utensils, gas and groceries at subsidised rates. This article will take you through the process of applying for a ration card through the online route as well as offline. Read on to know more.
Before we jump into the application process itself, we should take a look at the eligibility criteria an individual must satisfy in order to avail of a Ration card.
Eligibility Criteria for a Ration Card
To successfully become a Ration cardholder, you must:
- Ensure that no one has applied for a ration card on your behalf in the past.
- Make sure that no one from your family has ever applied for a ration card for you.
- Be an Indian citizen.
Now, we will take a look at the ways in which you can get your ration card either through the net or a series of in-person meets.
How to Apply for a Ration Card Through the Internet?
To apply for ration card, you need to visit the official website of the Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department of the state that you live in. Through that site, you will get to download the application form for a ration card, which you must duly fill out and then upload the required documents as per the list on the website.
Then, you will need to submit the soft copy of the form and the documents as well as per the procedure mentioned on the site. Post which, a representative from the relevant department will get in touch with you and then take you through the process. If all of the documents submitted by you are correct and have been verified successfully, your ration card will reach you by mail at the address given by you.
If you find the whole process confusing and time-consuming, you can always visit third-party websites that specialise in such things and take their help in order to get the needful done. Just like in the case mentioned above, these particular websites will take charge after a point and take care of the remainder of the process on your behalf.
How to Apply for a Ration Card Offline?
If you are uncomfortable carrying out the Ration card application process on the internet and prefer to go about it the traditional way, you can do that too. To start the offline ration card application process, you can send a text message from your phone as per the format specified on the website of your state’s Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department. You will then receive a message which will say that you must start the ration card application process by following the instructions specified on your state government’s website.
Alternatively, you can also call the toll-free number that you will find on your state government’s website. Once you call on that number, an executive will lay down the offline ration card application process for you.
If you think that none of the methods mentioned thus far works for you, you can also directly visit your nearest local Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department office branch. You will need to do so with all of the necessary documents and then apply for a ration card by simply submitting the application form along with them.
If you would like to learn more about the concept of ration cards, types of ration cards, their benefits, uses and other things related to them, you can visit websites such as Bajaj MARKETS to educate yourself further.
