How to Link Aadhaar Card with Ration Card Online

The Ration Card is the oldest form of proof of residence in India. Linking the Aadhaar Card to the Ration Card will provide you with multiple benefits. In addition, it will be easier for the government to intercept fraud and instances where individuals opt for multiple Ration Cards. 

The Ration Card is an authorized document for every household issued by the state government of India. It is a common identification of several individuals entitled to buy subsidized food grain from the Public Distribution System or the PDS system under the National Food Security Act. Additionally, linking Aadhar with Ration Card also enables you to avail of subsidized LPG offered by the government.

The government has been urging people to link their Aadhaar with the Ration Card, through which the government can prevent the illegitimate uses of benefits. 

The article provides step-by-step guidance to link your Aadhaar with the Ration Card, the required documents and the benefits you enjoy.

Table of contents:

• Process of linking an Aadhaar Card with a Ration Card online.
• Process of linking an Aadhaar Card with a Ration Card offline.
• Documents required to link your Aadhaar with your Ration Card
• Benefits of linking an Aadhar Card with a Ration Card?
• FAQs on linking Aadhaar-Ration Card.

Linking your Aadhaar with a Ration Card is simple and effortless. The process can be conducted in both online and offline modes as per the convenience of individuals. 

This article provides you with a gist.

Process of linking an Aadhaar Card with a Ration Card online

The process to link an Aadhaar Card with a Ration Card through an online mode is mentioned below:

Step 1: Visit the official website of your State’s Public Distribution System (PDS) portal. 

Step 2: Select the option to link Aadhaar with active cards

Step 3: Enter your Ration card number, followed by your Aadhaar Card number. 

Step 4: Enter your registered mobile phone number.

Step 5: Click on the Continue/Submit button to proceed further. 

Step 6: An OTP will be generated to your registered mobile number. 

Step 7: Enter your OTP on the Aadhaar Ration Link page. Your request will be sent.

Step 8: On completing the process, an SMS notification is generated to your registered mobile phone number regarding successfully linking your Aadhaar and Ration Card.  

Process of linking an Aadhaar Card with a Ration Card offline

The process to link an Aadhaar Card with a Ration Card through an offline mode is mentioned below-

Step 1: Visit your nearest Public Distribution System (PDS) or Ration shop along with all the required documents.

Step 2: Submit all the relevant documents to the PDS or Ration shop.

Step 3: You need to verify your Aadhaar Card at the PDS or Ration shop, for which the representative may request fingerprint authentication. 

Step 4: Once the documents are submitted and the process begins, you will be notified with an SMS on your registered mobile number. 

Step 5: Once the Aadhaar gets successfully linked with the Ration Card, an SMS will be generated to your registered mobile number. 

Documents required to link your Aadhaar with your Ration Card

Preparing a checklist of the required documents is always recommended to carry the process smoothly. To simplify, we have prepared a list by compiling the required documents to link an Aadhaar Card to a Ration Card. Please note that these documents are mandatory for both online and offline modes. 

• Photocopy of the original Ration Card. For on-site verification, carry your original Ration Card
• Photocopy of the Aadhaar Card of all your family members
• Photocopy of the Aadhaar Card of the head of the family
• Copy of bank passbook in case the bank account is not linked to the Aadhaar Card
• Passport size photograph of the head of the family

Benefits of linking an Aadhar Card with a Ration Card

The advantages of linking an Aadhaar Card with a Ration Card are mentioned below-

Firstly, linking an Aadhaar with Ration Card will lower the number of fake Ration Cardholders who are enjoying an unfair advantage of the benefit provided only to the Below Poverty Line (BPL) families. The government can easily track any fraud or undue advantage taken by any. 

Secondly, each family is entitled to hold a single Ration Card. After linking an Aadhaar with a Ration Card, families won’t be able to possess multiple Ration Cards. In short, linking an Aadhaar Card with a Ration Card will prevent fraudulent activities.

Thirdly, Aadhaar creates an audit trail in PDS. Linking will help eliminate the middleman and add efficiency to the framework.  

Fourth, the biometric-enabled distribution system will permit the PDS shops to identify genuine beneficiaries and accordingly streamline the beneficiaries. 

Fifth, linking an Aadhaar with Ration Card will prevent the leakage and diversion of the PDS Ration Card.

Check the Status if the Aadhaar card is linked with a Ration Card 

• Go to your state’s food security portal. You can navigate to your State’s portal by clicking on this link. 
• Enter the Captcha and click on verify. 
• The reports page will open up. The state will be automatically selected. Enter your District 
• Enter your sub-division and the name of the shopkeeper of the ration store 
• Select the other details from the drop-down list. Select All in the List.
• Click on view report. 

Here, you will see the list of all ration cardholders. You can go to your name and look at your ration card status.   

Change the mobile number on a Ration Card

To change the mobile number on a Ration Card, follow the steps given below-

• Step 1: Visit the official website of the state government PDS portal.
• Step 2: Enter the unique Ration Card number.
• Step 3: Enter the registered mobile number and click Submit.
• Step 4: Enter the OTP received in your registered number to proceed further. 
• Step 5: Upon verification, a reference number will be displayed.
• Step 6: Your request to change/update your number will be submitted. 

Priority Ration Card

The priority Ration Cards are issued to households fulfilling the eligibility criteria set by their state government. Each priority household is entitled to receive five kilograms of food grains every month for each family member under the provision.

What happens if you don’t link your Aadhaar to your Ration Card?

The government of India has mandated linking your Aadhaar with the Ration Card to get the benefits provided by the government.