A guide for connecting Aadhaar with Ration Card

The ration card, a traditional proof of residence in India, can now be connected to the Aadhaar card to unlock various benefits and prevent fraud. Whether online or offline, the process of linking these cards is simple and straightforward.

To begin, gather all the necessary documents and visit the nearest Public Distribution System (PDS) or Ration shop. Hand over the required documents to the representative at the PDS/Ration shop. In order to validate your Aadhaar card, fingerprint authentication may be requested. Once the documents are submitted, you will receive an SMS notification confirming the commencement of the process. Another SMS will inform you of the successful linking of your Aadhaar card with your Ration card.

Make sure to have all the essential documents, including photocopies of the Aadhaar card for each family member, the original ration card for verification, a passport-sized photograph of the head of the family, and a copy of the bank passbook (if the Aadhaar card is not linked to a bank account).

To proceed with the linking process, access your state's Official Public Distribution System (PDS) portal. Look for the option to link Aadhaar with active cards. Provide your Ration card number followed by your Aadhaar card number. Enter your registered mobile phone number and select the Continue/Submit option. An OTP will be sent to your mobile phone for verification. Enter the OTP on the Aadhaar Ration Link page and submit your request. You will then receive an SMS notification upon completion of the process.

By linking your Aadhaar card to your ration card, you can enjoy several advantages. Firstly, it helps eliminate fraudulent ration card holders who unjustly benefit from resources meant for Below Poverty Line (BPL) families, ensuring the rightful distribution of benefits. Additionally, linking these cards reduces instances of fraud and eliminates duplicate ration cards within a single family. This linking also helps eradicate dishonest middlemen by creating a trace in the PDS. Finally, fingerprint authentication aids in the identification of genuine beneficiaries.

Prepare a checklist of the required documents and keep them readily available. To assist you, we have compiled a list that includes Aadhaar photocopies of all family members, a photocopy of the head of the family's Aadhaar card, the original ration card for verification, and a bank passbook copy (if the bank account is not linked to the Aadhaar card). Additionally, a passport-sized photograph of the head of the family is required.

To receive government benefits, it is now mandatory to link your Aadhaar card to your ration card. Priority ration cards are allotted to eligible families, and each household receives 5 kilograms of food grains per member. If your mobile phone number is not registered with UIDAI, you will be unable to access any Aadhaar-related online services. Therefore, it is crucial to visit an Aadhaar Enrollment Center and connect your mobile phone number to Aadhaar.