Aadhaar Card Link to Ration Card

Ration Card is an important official document that entitles its holder to government-subsidised food grains and fuel. The card was introduced around five decades ago and has maintained its popularity in India. Apart from providing necessary food grains at reduced prices, it enables the poor to establish a proof of identity in the country and connect to the government database. It is classified into three types:

• Antyodaya,
• BPL (Below Poverty Line) and,
• APL (Above Poverty Line).

Whereas the eligibility for each card is determined by the family's financial situation. The government has been urging people to link their Aadhaar cards with important documents such as PAN, Bank accounts, and other important documents including the ration card. Under the National Food Security Act, the state government in India issues the Ration card, which is an authorised document to every household that is entitled to purchase subsidised food grain from the PDS System-Public Distribution System. It also serves as a means of identification for many Indians. The combination of Aadhaar and Ration Card entitles you to the government's subsidised LPG. Because ration cards are one of the oldest forms of identification in the country, it is critical to link them with Aadhaar so that the benefits received by the holder can be streamlined and cases of fraud can be avoided.

How to Link an Aadhaar Card with Ration Card

Mainly there are two major ways by which you can link your aadhaar card with ration card. You can get your aadhaar card linked to your ration card by either offline means or by online means. Both the methods are discussed below:

Link Aadhaar card with Ration card Offline

By visiting the nearest PDS or ration shop, you can link your ration card with Aadhaar. Ration Card Aadhaar Link will benefit you in a variety of ways, including the ability to search for ration cards using your Aadhaar Card, check ration card status using your Aadhaar Card Number, and so on. The process for the same is as follows:

• Visit your local PDS or Ration Shop.
• Bring photocopies of your Ration Card as well as Aadhaar Card copies for all members of your family. Carry a passport-sized photograph of the family's head as well.
• If your bank account is not linked to Aadhaar, submit a copy of your bank passbook.
• Submit all of these documents, along with a copy of your Aadhaar card, to the PDS shop.
• The Ration shop representative may request fingerprint authentication for the first time you use Aadhaar.

An SMS notification will be sent to your registered mobile number once the documents are submitted. When the two documents are successfully linked, you will receive another SMS notification.

Link Aadhaar card with Ration card Online

There are various states in India that provide the option of linking your Aadhaar card with your Ration card online. The process for the same is as follows:

• Go to your state's PDS portal's official website.
• Enter your Ration Card information.
• Provide your Aadhaar number.
• Type in your registered mobile phone number.
• To proceed, click the continue/submit button.
• You will receive an OTP to your registered mobile number.
• Enter the OTP you received to submit your ration card Aadhaar link request.

Moreover, it is important to understand that because there is currently no official portal for ration card Aadhaar link, each state has its own portal for ration card.

Documents Required to Link your Aadhaar Card with Ration Card

There are several documents that you need in order to link your Aadhaar card with a ration card. Below is a list of documents that are needed for Aadhaar card and Ration Card Link:

• Ration Card photocopy along with an original card for on-site verification
• Aadhaar card copies of all family members
• A copy of the Aadhaar card of the head of the family
• Passport size photograph of the head of the family
• Copy of bank passbook in the case bank account is not linked with Aadhaar

Benefits of Linking Aadhaar Card With Ration Card

The following are the advantages of linking your Ration Card and Aadhaar:

• It will reduce the number of bogus Ration Card holders who receive subsidies that are otherwise intended for low-income families.
• Once Aadhaar is linked to a Ration Card, families will be unable to possess more than one ration card due to false information.
• After Aadhaar is linked to a Ration Card, fraudulent activities can be avoided.
• The biometric-enabled distribution system would assist PDS shops in identifying genuine beneficiaries and streamlining benefits as needed.
• PDS ration diversion and leakage can also be controlled.
• Aadhaar creates an audit trail in the Public Distribution System, identifying and eliminating corrupt middlemen and increasing framework efficiency.